How long did you wait before ...

[mitosblog]

nice advice...

 

[Papa_Bear]

My suggestion is to wait until your first class session and listen to your and try different gear and equipment! Most LDS will give their students a discount during the class and that way you can ask your instructor their opinion! Believe me they have one! They can explain the different masks, Fins, Snorkels, and other gear! But be aware the gear you learn in may not be the gear you decide to dive in in short time! Back inflation Vs Vest, a number of different wight belts styles, and regulators! I will tell you that in cold climates the most important piece of dive gear you can buy is a CUSTOM wet suit made to fit you! It will give you more freedom of movement, keep you warmer, and make you comfortable while your friends wish they had one as they turn blue! The suit will be your most important investment! It will allow you to dive all year and your equipment will not sit in the garage waiting for summer to arrive!

 

[Papa_Bear]

dup post canncelled

 

[ScubaAddictedLisa]

I'm off to the LDS today. I'm going to rent a BC and regulator for my upcoming trip to Turks and Caicos. I have all the other gear (except the tank and weights, but I'd never bring a tank or weights on a plane unless I absolutely had to ... why spend on the extra weight in your luggage?)

I also plan to rent another BC and reg for one of my days of diving while I'm down there (if they have something different to offer). This way I'll have used 2 different kinds on the trip and be that much closer to seeing what I like vs. what I don't like!

 

[spectrum]

That sounds like a great plan. Sometimes in trying gear you may not find what you like but you do identify what you don't like. That can be a big help in identifying what you really do want to buy.

Have a great trip!

Pete

 

[StevenN]

I bought all my own gear but I did it pretty cheaply. For holidays, birthday, father's day etc. I ask for gift certs to my LDS. That's how I saved up to buy my reg and wetsuit. I spent less than $200 of my own money for those two items.
There was also a dive shop near me that went out of business so I bought two used rental tanks for $50 ea.
I've had three trips cancelled due to weather or conditions in the last few months so it's nice that I was only out the cost of the drive down to Monterey and not the cost of rental gear as well.

 

[Chris Hipp]

I started buying gear right after class was over. I am a tightwad so I just looked for stuff on sale or clearance. I spent about $1000 for everything. Of course, you will find that you always want something else. You have a wetsuit, but you need a shorty and a full suit. Then you have a full suit, but you want one full suit for warm water and one full suit for colder water...etc. I don't know if buying dive gear ever stops.....

Another thing to consider is repair and regular service costs. You can easily spend more than what your reg cost brand new to get it serviced. So think carefully about how much you are going to be diving, and how much is local or by flight, before buying everything.