Getting started again after 25 years

[Larry H PA]

Just bought a new mask and snorkel,im going to tampa in feb,want to dive and snorkel. Taking a refesher course this month. My questions are, does anybody still use weight belts,or the weight integrated bc s. I like the weight belt since that is what I used years ago. What would you get ,if you were buying equipment? Also really like the dive computers,what are the ,lowest price,reliable ones,that can do most functions? I want to buy bc and regulators,what are top three or four? Also what mm suit is advised for florida in feb, west coast? Thanks.

 

[jar546]

Happyjack,

I too took off about that amount of time from diving. To be honest with you, I just started from scratch and took the lead of my local dive shop with advice, etc. Too much has changed since my J-Valve, horse collar, etc. I would certainly buy any gear that needs to be serviced from my LDS but anything else is game unless your LDS is competitive with pricing (which they actually can be if you let them know you are looking online for prices).

If you live in PA and don't want to dive dry, then just buy a 7mm and a hood. You can use that just about anywhere in Florida in Jan-Feb-Mar and it is about the only suit you can use in PA anywhere, anytime.

 

[Rich Keller]

The good news is the old equipment you may still have is probably better built then what you can find on the market today so I would look into having them serviced before I would look into buying new equipment. As far as weights or anything else having to do with how you setup your gear I would suggest you stick with what you already know and are comfortable with until you have put some hours in the water. Keep it simple and shallow until you become comfortable being back in the water again then start tweaking your rig as you see fit.

 

[Jax]

Welcome, HappyJack! :wavey:

I'm partial to ScubaPro's line - this is a great starter: ScubaPro Aladin 2G Air / Nitrox Dive Computer Watch 05.036.110 with reviews at scuba.com . Also, look on eBay. This computer will take you as far as you want to go, except Trimix. I know of many tech divers that dive it.

I recommend you find some people that will let you try their BC -- many people learn from this 'board and go to a Back Plate with Wing (BP/W). Since you are getting back it, it's a good time to go slow in choosing your gear, and making sure of what you want.

If you look at regulators, look at Edge HOGs D1 sets -- read around on this board -- everyone loves them.

 

[RTee]

HappyJack, . I did something very similar to you. In addition to the suggestions you already got, I would also recommend you talk to other divers as well to get their recommandations keeping in mind that only you know what type of diving you may be contemplating in your future so you will have to weight the pros and the cons of each advice...including the one you get from the various LDS you have access to.


I also come from the Horsecollar, weight belt, J valve and single reg era. While I did buy a very good BCD when I resumed diving in 2009, it was replaced by BP/Wg systems (doubles and single/travel) a year later. Now my son uses it when we dive together. Weight belt...some folks abide by that system while others will either prefer a weight integrated approach (BCD) and/or a combination of both system (weight distribution ditchable, non ditchable, trim, etc). If you go the BP/Wg route, in all likelihood weight belt will be part of your set-up.

Computer...many models to choose from offering a wide variety of features...and cost. Here again, we all have our own preferences...some will prefer air integrated while others won't, air only vs air/nitrox/gauge modes, one button operation vs multi-buttons op, backlit vs OLED system (night diving), etc.

Regs...many good companies to choose from and a wide variety of features. Between me and my GF, we own four different brands (Sherwood SR1, Zeagle FH VI, Mares Abyss and HOG). They all perform very well and I have been blessed with great customer support from each of those companies as well as the facilities that I purchased them from. Knowing what I know now, it would just make more sense to stick with a single brand and that may come at some point in the future. As Jax mentionned, Edge/HOG seem to offer a great quality to price ratio.


Finally, may I recommend you dig into the various equipment sub-sections of Scubaboard. It represents a great wealth of information...some more opiniated than others. Just another tool to complement your fact searching process. Welcome back to the world of diving.

 

[p1p]

Jax is right. Just plan on starting back at the beginning. I was a former military diver, and hadnt been wet for 35 years. Just got re-certified in September. Its been almost like starting over.

Equipment and configurations are totally different nowadays.


I started with a weight integrated BCD, but quickly found the flexibility of a BP&W to be a more welcome choice. You can choose to use weight pockets on the waist strap, a weight belt, or a DUI weight and trim (my choice).

Computers are personal choice, I actually carry 2. One air integrated (Oceanic Pro Plus 2.1 with big numbers!), and one on my wrist (mostly for depth checks, but also as a backup ((Suunto Vyper))).

Fins, you'll need to decide if you want old school, or new school ones. I love my Scuba Pro Jet Fins.(old school). The longer, flippy, or split fins drive me nutz.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Welcome home! As noted above, there are as many opinions about gear as there are gear options. I recomend buying at a local dive shop that will be there to service and repair gear, make recommendations for you based on the kind of diving you will be doing most of the time, and who will let you try out the gear ( or gear like it) before purchase. I like the simplest gear around for recreational diving- not too many bells and whistles. But unlike Jeff Pack, I swear by my split fins- good propulsion with less chance of a cramp. Happy diving.
DivemasterDennis

 

[beaverdivers]

If you are comfortable with a wt. belt, you may want to get a B.C. that is not wt. integrated. We just got in a B.C. that has small pockets that can used for wts. or
other stuff. This B.C. would give you the option. It is less expensive than a normal wt. integrated B.C.

As far as dive computer, the XP10 has had great reviews. I would recommend it in a three gauge console.

Regs, Scubapro - #1 - Mk25/S600, #2 - Mk 11/C300, #3 - Mk2 Plus/R295


Wetsuit - 5mm with hooded vest or 7 mm


Good Luck & Good Diving

 

[dumpsterDiver]

You will most definitely want a full 7 mm suit with a hood. I myself do not use the weight integration feature of Bc's. Buy a regulator that you can get service at the local dive shop and don't buy the most expensive one unless you drive a $40,000 car. Buy a nitrox computer.

 

[gypsyjim]

You are going in the right direction, and getting some good advice.

I was very fortunate that I survived my experience when I returned to diving after some years away (I was also an old style J valve, no SPG or BCD diver). Unfortunately I did NOT go the route of retraining that first time back, and my first experience in all new gear, especially that new fangled BCD thingy, was a near disaster.

I became a big fan of retraining that day.

Listen to the advice of whoever you choose for your retraining, but my suggestion is that you might want to consider simply renting gear for a while, until you see what direction you will choose. There are far more options than in the old days, and many different styles of both gear and diving available, and renting for a short time would allow you time to get reacquainted with the sport and to experiment some, before you spend a lot of $$$. You hopefully might avoid buying all new gear that you will soon decide is not the best choice for yourself.