How Do You Know What To Buy?

[Scottri]

Like everyone else already said, rent for a while. Rent different brands and styles. Also, check your area for what brands are available. Getting gear serviced is a big consideration for me. You need to be able to get it serviced in your local area. If you buy an off brand regulator or BC and can't get it serviced without shipping it out of town you will be without your gear for weeks. Visit local shops and ask a lot of questions. Ask your fellow divers for advice, read reviews and dive!

After a while the right gear configuration and brand will come to you. Just don't get caught up in price as much as quality. A good quality regulator will last you years. A poor quality one will be on the garage floor pretty quick. Big brand names are nice because they have a large customer base and easy to get serviced or fixed. Off brand stuff can be a real pain.

Another thing to keep in mind is that everyone thinks their choice is the best one. Take it all with a grain of salt and decide for yourself. Ask a lot of people don't just take a few peoples advice.

I've been happy with the following brands:
Scuba Pro
Atomic
US Divers
SeaQuest
Apexs

I've been unhappy with:
Cressi Fins
Tusa
IDI

Good luck and take your time!

Scott

 

[wreckchick]

Before you decide on WHAT to buy, may I suggest that you research all the configuration possibilites before you decide what you want to dive and then your brand choices might be more limited and styles within the brands. For BCs there are jackets, back inflates and backplate and wings.

You didn't say where you live or where you plan to dive, but may I suggest that there are pretty substantial arguements for going with high performance diaphram regulators if you're going to be diving in cold and/or murky water.

In addition to those factors there is the direction you think your diving might take you. If you plan to go on a couple warm water vacations a year you can pretty much get what you want, but if you want to pursue a more technical path, it would serve you well to start out and get gear you can take with you all the way through.

Search the archives and ask specific questions about specific items as they arise.

Good luck!

Rachel

 

[Humba]

During OW class, I purchased my mask/snorkel. After cert and before first real dive, open heel fins and boot (had to walk on rocks in the surf during class and was very uncomfortable). Then I realized I only wanted to do warm water diving (carribbean) and the consensus amongst the experts was a 3 mm Full suit, and they were right. I rented the rest of the gear for the next two years until recently. Over the past winter, I researched equipment relative to my dive goals and have started spending the $$$$$. Not done yet, but at least I feel as though I've made the best choices for ME. I found that there's alot of great products out there, and the SB (as I'm sure you've found) is a great place to acquire answers.
:dazzler1:
Have fun and be safe!!