JDelage
Contributor
Hi,
I'd like to start buying equipment (I've been renting up to now), and I would like some recommendations.
My style of diving is recreational, mostly in temperate / warm waters, but hopefully in colder waters too (in the Pacific Northwest). I am not into highly technical diving, and I don't expect it's going to be an area of focus for me. I need to be able to do things like several dives in a row, night dives, have the 2nd stage lower than 1st, etc - pretty basic stuff.
I'm a 5'10" guy, with the usual 20Lbs too many...
At this time, I'm not concerned about the whole dry suit / 7mm thing. It's something I'm comfortable renting for now, until I have thoroughly analysed the landscape.
Money shouldn't be an issue for *normal* high quality gear (I'm not going to need a $1,000+ light anytime soon).
My local shop is http://www.underwatersports.com/ in Seattle, and they have a divers fair which apparently has great prices, and I want to take advantage of it. The brands that will be represented are: Atomic, Apollo, Atlan, Cetacea, DeepSee, DiveRite, DUI, Harvey's, High Tide, Ikelite, JBL, Light & Motion, Mares, McNett, Northern Diver, Oceanic, OMS, O'Neill, PADI, Pelican, ScubaPro, SeaLife, Sea & Sea, SeaSoft, Stahlsac, Trident, USIA, Underwater Kinetics, Viking, XS Scuba, and Zeagle.
I have no idea which of those are "eye-closed trustworthy", which are "OK" and which are "nope..." BTW, I'm not married to the idea that I need to buy here - but it might make sense, given the proximity and this opportunity.
Here is what I think I need:
Top priority:
- Gear bag
- Boots
- Fins + mask + snorkel
- Computer + compas
- reg / octo / gauges
- BCD
Low priority:
- maybe a skin for warm water diving
- Light (for night dives and murky Pac NW waters)
Any recommendation would be very much appreciated. Even simple brand comments would be useful.
Thanks,
JD
I'd like to start buying equipment (I've been renting up to now), and I would like some recommendations.
My style of diving is recreational, mostly in temperate / warm waters, but hopefully in colder waters too (in the Pacific Northwest). I am not into highly technical diving, and I don't expect it's going to be an area of focus for me. I need to be able to do things like several dives in a row, night dives, have the 2nd stage lower than 1st, etc - pretty basic stuff.
I'm a 5'10" guy, with the usual 20Lbs too many...

At this time, I'm not concerned about the whole dry suit / 7mm thing. It's something I'm comfortable renting for now, until I have thoroughly analysed the landscape.
Money shouldn't be an issue for *normal* high quality gear (I'm not going to need a $1,000+ light anytime soon).
My local shop is http://www.underwatersports.com/ in Seattle, and they have a divers fair which apparently has great prices, and I want to take advantage of it. The brands that will be represented are: Atomic, Apollo, Atlan, Cetacea, DeepSee, DiveRite, DUI, Harvey's, High Tide, Ikelite, JBL, Light & Motion, Mares, McNett, Northern Diver, Oceanic, OMS, O'Neill, PADI, Pelican, ScubaPro, SeaLife, Sea & Sea, SeaSoft, Stahlsac, Trident, USIA, Underwater Kinetics, Viking, XS Scuba, and Zeagle.
I have no idea which of those are "eye-closed trustworthy", which are "OK" and which are "nope..." BTW, I'm not married to the idea that I need to buy here - but it might make sense, given the proximity and this opportunity.
Here is what I think I need:
Top priority:
- Gear bag
- Boots
- Fins + mask + snorkel
- Computer + compas
- reg / octo / gauges
- BCD
Low priority:
- maybe a skin for warm water diving
- Light (for night dives and murky Pac NW waters)
Any recommendation would be very much appreciated. Even simple brand comments would be useful.
Thanks,
JD