Learning and Changing Things

[WVRICK]

It seems the more I read, research and talk with you SB members the more my initial equipment purchase changes. After talking with Jim Lapenta I have decided to go with a HOG BP/W if I can work it into my budget. So now the equipment list is HOG D3 with Zenith, Classic octo, HOG BP/W, Hollis DG 03 or Suunto Zoop, HOG brass/glass SPG (black/2.5" for easier reading), long reg hose, bungee under chin octo. My research tells me this is a better set than I originally looked at and cheaper. I was going to go with DSS BP/W and really apprecaite Tobin and his time educating me but I remember one of you told me to go LDS if possible for easier service. Jim is 3.5 hours DSS is 3,000 miles. I can drive up to Jim's in a Saturday and be home before dark. Or, if I can talk a friend into taking us out on his boat for a dive at Mt. Storm lake (45 minutes from me) Jim might come to me. This is a total flip from where I started.

 

[BVickery]

That is what a smart consumer does, researches their choices and makes the best one they think fits their circumstances. Hog has had some overall excellent reviews and great Customer Service.

 

[raftingtigger]

Ditto above, my only other recommendation is if you can try it before you buy it, great.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Good research and thoughtful decision making. However, as much as I respect Jim, he like all professionals, has personal preference and biases. Be sure to acquire gear that will be best suited to the diving you will mostly be doing. If you will be in varied condition, you will ultimately end up like me, with 4 full sets of gear, each for different conditions or activities, plus a room full of accessories. Even simplifying over the past three year, I can still fill a 300 square foot " scuba room" with my gear and Debbie's. Then there are repair and service tools, o rings and other parts, the "camera center," training and reading materials. And we are in Colorado! Will the madness ever end? Probably not. For with me and Debbie, and me and my scuba gear, it is "until death do us part."
DivemasterDennis

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I told Rick if he's willing to come to me not only will I sell him the gear but we will take the time to adjust it, head to the pool for a couple hours and/or go to a local lake to dial it in and get everything adjusted. Depends on time we have. I will also do a few rescue drills with the long hose and BPW just to illustrate the differences and benefits. I do this with everyone who comes and picks up their gear.

I'm also open to heading down to Mt Storm for a day if we can work out the schedule.

By the same token if he wanted to drive up on a weekend, other than the next two as I will be in Ohio diving, I'll put him in one of my rigs to try out. I have different size wings and steel and al plates. We'll do a quick harness adjust and get an easy dive or two in. It'll give me more practice time in my SM rig.

 

[WVRICK]

That folks is the difference in dealing with a dive shop owner who cares about his customers.

I am checking to see if I can make the trip to pick up the equipment. It is hard to get away on the weekends for longer than a few hours since I spend a lot of time with my father. My brother and sister do the weekday routine and I get the rest. It is nice to spend time with my father, especially since my mother passed away in March and he misses her a lot. They were married 74 years and were more in love than when they first got married. He is 93, has a sharp mind and likes it when I visit because I bring him a cold beer to the nursing home and spring him for lunch.

 

[BVickery]

That folks is the difference in dealing with a dive shop owner who cares about his customers.

I am checking to see if I can make the trip to pick up the equipment. It is hard to get away on the weekends for longer than a few hours since I spend a lot of time with my father. My brother and sister do the weekday routine and I get the rest. It is nice to spend time with my father, especially since my mother passed away in March and he misses her a lot. They were married 74 years and were more in love than when they first got married. He is 93, has a sharp mind and likes it when I visit because I bring him a cold beer to the nursing home and spring him for lunch.

I agree about that added 'value' to the sale that some people go out of their way to do.

 

[fjpatrum]

Good research and thoughtful decision making. However, as much as I respect Jim, he like all professionals, has personal preference and biases. Be sure to acquire gear that will be best suited to the diving you will mostly be doing. If you will be in varied condition, you will ultimately end up like me, with 4 full sets of gear, each for different conditions or activities, plus a room full of accessories. Even simplifying over the past three year, I can still fill a 300 square foot " scuba room" with my gear and Debbie's. Then there are repair and service tools, o rings and other parts, the "camera center," training and reading materials. And we are in Colorado! Will the madness ever end? Probably not. For with me and Debbie, and me and my scuba gear, it is "until death do us part."
DivemasterDennis

I'll respectfully disagree with the insistence that you will have multiple sets of gear for different environments. I have 1 wing that works in all my suits from my 3mm to my dry suit and every level of wetsuit (even up to 14mm) in between. I have one set of regs (that I am currently using--- I buy used gear for fun and education) that works in all water down to 40 degrees and obviously my computer works in any environment.

I carry all of this gear when I travel for diving and it all fits in a small backpack that I can use as a carry on if need be.

If you do the right research early enough, there's no need to buy a bunch of different gear, the right choice can be made for the initial purchase. While I agree that most pros (including yourself, I believe) have their own biases but it looks like WVRick is getting lots of good advice from varied sources, thus allowing him to make an informed decision.

 

[LowDrag]

It sounds to me like you are making a good choice. I went from a jacket style BC to a wing and won't go back. I dove the jacket after diving the wing and my tank was all over the place. Jim will get your wing adjusted to you properly and I would be willing to bet you will love it.

Good luck wit your diving.

 

[rivers]

Good research and thoughtful decision making. However, as much as I respect Jim, he like all professionals, has personal preference and biases. Be sure to acquire gear that will be best suited to the diving you will mostly be doing. If you will be in varied condition, you will ultimately end up like me, with 4 full sets of gear, each for different conditions or activities, plus a room full of accessories. Even simplifying over the past three year, I can still fill a 300 square foot " scuba room" with my gear and Debbie's. Then there are repair and service tools, o rings and other parts, the "camera center," training and reading materials. And we are in Colorado! Will the madness ever end? Probably not. For with me and Debbie, and me and my scuba gear, it is "until death do us part."
DivemasterDennis

I will also have to disagree. I have 2 wings, one for a twinset and one for a single tank. My single wing will do any and all single tank diving I may do, and my twin wing will do the same for any and all twinset diving I intend to do. If I dive a single tank, all I need to do is swap my wing out (I mainly dive twins) and a 5 minute reg swap job. Not everyone has the money or the space to keep multiple sets of kit. I know I don't. I live in what is considered to be a large one bed flat in greater London. I barely have the space for the kit I have, never mind 4 sets of kit. The only divers I know that have multiple sets of kit are independent instructors. I know a few tech divers who have a couple of sets of twinsets, one for trimix, one for rec dives. but the kit they use for those dives is the same.