Is anyone as mental as I am?

[MichiganScott]

I kinda have a problem and have, I believe, offended a co-worker. I'm a bit of a pack rat, and a bit anal about having a back up for everything when preparing for a dive trip. In addition to everyone having an extra "almost everything" I also take a general bag with extra extras, not to mention the stuff I leave home... Anyway I have several extra reg's, masks, etc., even an extra BC, but I can't get rid of them. While they are used, they are all servicable and in good order, but I can't part with my gear, I guess "just in case". Any way there is a co-worker who is learning to dive, who wants to buy some used equipment to use until he gets enough experience to decide if he wants to continue and invest in this "not cheap" recreational pastime. If asked I probably would let him borrow some gear but even that makes me uncomfortable, (not really fearing damage or loss of said gear) but how would I feel if something went wrong with..... I don't know, sounds like I'm a bit OCD to me.

Is anyone else like this with their gear, that has taken them time to aquire and care for?

 

[ScubaSteve]

I do not think I would let my gear leave my possession if I intended to keep it. I would glady let a friend use it while diving with me (as frequently as they wanted as long as I was diving with them), but I would be hard pressed to let someone take it and keep it until they decided what they want. Scuba Gear is too personal for me...partly because each piece of gear has a story but also because no matter how small or insignificant the item, it is all part of the greater system designed to allow you to break the surface and return safely. I want to know that each part is there and functioning when needed. Some of the smaller items like reels etc, I would part with while they decided.....regs etc., I could not do it.

 

[battles2a5]

I have a ton of gear outside of "my gear" and back-ups that I am happy to lend to anyone, especially someone getting into doubles, etc. A lot of that gear is very expensive but also very foreign to someone coming from a stab jacket. So I think it's good to let people try or borrow gear like that until they know what they want/need. I look at it as an investment in future dive buddies

 

[Pearldiver07]

Scott,

I wouldn't say "mental" so much as particular.

You have a good point about "what if" scenarios. Let's say your friend has a catestrophic accident and doesn't make it. You and I both know that your friend wouldn't have gone after you legally, but next-of-kin get pretty strange after an accident. Especially if the gear's functionality was called into question.

Like you, I hate to loan out equipment, only to CLOSE friends.

But I am sure that many out there will disagree with us. That's OK too. There's lots of room for differences in opinions.

 

[MichiganScott]

Thanks for your thoughtful replys so far, it's good to hear others are also protective of their gear. Maybe I'm not as mental as I thought.

 

[pwl]

i'm happy to lend stuff to friends i dive with, but i'm not happy for them to take it away; i have more friends with no gear than gear to lend out, so i like to keep a hold on the few extra bits i have.

 

[diver 85]

ALWAYS put the disclaimer in there & you're covered-----remember, we all have to go sometime & somehow.......(btw, I bet you'll be fine ---& you're friend will be fine----).......

 

[BDSC]

If it were me, I'd let the co-worker borrow the gear during class or when they go to do the checkout dives. Then get it back. If that person decided to take a trip, then maybe let him borrow it again for the trip but then get it back. You may even suggest to him as a precaution, he may want to have the regs serviced before he takes a trip. It would be cheaper for him to do that than rent all his gear (good for him) and you get your extra regs serviced (good for you).

Of course you may not want to do this forever. Eventually after a trip or two, the guy should get his own stuff.

You don't say if the co-worker is a friend or not. (Co-workers don't have to be) But if it's a friend, I'd offer the gear for him to try out. As much as you think of your gear, it is after all, only gear.

 

[Guba]

I will loan NEARLY anything I own with a few EXCEPTIONS.

I never loan out... 1) guns 2) cameras 3) equiment that could cause injury or death if misused (I guess this rules out some pieces of scuba equipment) and 4) my wife.

 

[TSandM]

I think it's personal. I'll lend anything I own, in part because people have been so generous with me over time. The generosity of the diving community is part of what I love about it.

A person getting certified would really only need to borrow a mask, snorkel and fins (or at least, that's all the gear I was required to provide for myself in my OW class). I guess they could break a mask, but really, what damage could they do to a snorkel and fins? But it's your gear, and if you don't want to lend it, simply tell the person that you don't lend out your gear.