I invested in my first set of gear!

[stiebs]

I plan to remain a recreational diver (cold water, wreck dives mainly) but wanted the flexibility for travel and to change it up in the future if needed.

Just re-reading your original post, I thought I'd respond again with a touch of local experience weighing in. I think that gear is a great start and will last you a while. Where you go from here will depend on your diving choices and your gear headedness

Compared to twins, a single and pony are somewhat limiting, especially if you want to extend your wreck diving beyond the small selection of local shallow wrecks. If you're doing a double boat dive, even coming back to the pier in between, you'll need a tank for each dive, plus the pony. If you're on twins, you just need your twinset.

But having said that, nothing wrong with getting yourself an al80 as a slung pony. Get the same regs as your current setup, and then when you move to twins, you can reconfigure your regs. And then get another reg for your pony, which can now be used for deco gas.

Also, if you're doing a lot of local diving, I'd definitely suggest a drysuit - especially in winter, and especially with some of the deeper dives, and definitely if you're going to dive twins.

But then you slide down down the slippery slope of getting a complete second set of gear because you couldn't be bothered reconfiguring all the time for deep wrecks on twins one day and then a 5m pier dive the next. .

Happy to help out in person or go on some dives if our schedules line up..

 

[Brett down under]

Just re-reading your original post, I thought I'd respond again with a touch of local experience weighing in. I think that gear is a great start and will last you a while. Where you go from here will depend on your diving choices and your gear headedness

Compared to twins, a single and pony are somewhat limiting, especially if you want to extend your wreck diving beyond the small selection of local shallow wrecks. If you're doing a double boat dive, even coming back to the pier in between, you'll need a tank for each dive, plus the pony. If you're on twins, you just need your twinset.

But having said that, nothing wrong with getting yourself an al80 as a slung pony. Get the same regs as your current setup, and then when you move to twins, you can reconfigure your regs. And then get another reg for your pony, which can now be used for deco gas.

Also, if you're doing a lot of local diving, I'd definitely suggest a drysuit - especially in winter, and especially with some of the deeper dives, and definitely if you're going to dive twins.

But then you slide down down the slippery slope of getting a complete second set of gear because you couldn't be bothered reconfiguring all the time for deep wrecks on twins one day and then a 5m pier dive the next. .

Happy to help out in person or go on some dives if our schedules line up..

Thanks for the suggestions. All great points. Yeah I’m definitely torn on the next step being either pony or twin I have to admit. Either way I need a second first stage which is a struggle to find. And then probably a Project Wing. I take your drysuit point too for winter, it can get cold in July / August in the 7mm.
Sure, always up for a dive if schedules align

 

[stiebs]

Either way I need a second first stage which is a struggle to find

Does not compute.

 

[iliketopetsharks]

Undergarment works well for me - toasty warm yesterday in 15 deg c. Second dives can get cold in 12 deg, but otherwise it works well.

Diving wet in those temps, you're tough as nails!
Very nice BPW, i'm a bit jelly...

Btw, Waterproof makes great drysuits too

 

[Micko1974]

Congrats on your first purchase.Buying Scuba equipment becomes addictive. You have been warned!!

 

[Brett down under]

Congrats on your first purchase.Buying Scuba equipment becomes addictive. You have been warned!!

Anyway to stop the addiction?! Can you ever have too much gear?

 

[FreqFlier]

Anyway to stop the addiction?! Can you ever have too much gear?

Unfortunately appetite comes with eating... It's a one way ticket!

 

[Micko1974]

Unfortunately appetite comes with eating... It's a one way ticket!

It's so shiny and nice. I will just sell my old gear when I buy new stuff. It never happens)))