List of Equipment

[Lord Northern]

Ok, so while I'm waiting for my course to begin, I'd like to know how much my new hobby will cost me.
Could somebody list all the equipment I'll need?
I understand I need a suit, tank, mask, fins and some other things so just give me the complete list of "must have's" without optional things like knife and camera...
I'm certainly buying the equipment rather than renting once I'm certified because having your own equipment is just better.

Thanks.

 

[tzeyap]

Must have : Suit, Mask, Snorkel, Fins, booties

High Priority : Regulators, BCD, Dive Computer, Sausage (SMB), Small torch for
signalling, dive bag

Maybe's : Tank. (I have tanks and compressor which I do not use any more)

 

[DET]

I need a suit, tank, mask, fins and

BCD, reg and octo, spg, bottom timer (or watch or computer) weights. And depending on your environment gloves, booties. And your local laws may require flag/float or smb. A knife or line cutter would be highly suggested for entanglements, ie fish line.

 

[Lord Northern]

1. Why aren't TANKS required for diving? Hehe...
2. As for a knife, is it even legal to carry a knife?

 

[Bruce3]

a good dive buddy!

 

[wallacm]

Depends for your class, most ones that I know supply you the BCD Reg and tank
therefore you need : mask fins snorkel booties gloves and a time monitoring peice to get your started and a bag to put all that crap in

In general diving you need: mask, fins, booties, gloves, bcd, regs, tank, exposure suit, a surface marker buoy (smb), a cutting device whether it be a knife or scissors, time peice, maybe a computer, slates are always nice. But those things for sure the rest are just extra nice things

 

[Jcsgt]

As far as what your new hobby will cost, you may want to take out a second mortgage on your house. You generally start out with a fairly short list of "must haves", then slowly graduate to becoming a gear junky.

Good luck and welcome to the dive community!

 

[Carribeandiver]

What you really want to know is how much do you have to fork over to be a fully equipped diver, right? That can range with the quality of equipment and what you would consider essential. I suspect some people will tell you that you can be fully equipped for under $2000 US but most would tell you the amount will be closer to $3000 US or more.
Most OW courses require the student to have fins, mask, snorkel, weight belt and weights. Some shops provide this for the student, but not many.
In my opinion, since your life is on the line down under, it is best to know exactly how dependable your equipment is. Familiarity with that equipment is also a must. For that reason it is advisable to dive with the same equipment every time. Therefore, I recommend, if possible, to own your own set of equipment.
The problem with that is most students have no idea what equipment is best suited for them. Read all you want, research until your eyes are bloodshot, it will not help. Until you try different systems, you will not know what you like and trust.
So, in short, get a mask that fits and feels comfortable, get fins that you like and get a snorkel, weight belt and weights.
Some shops, I think most shops, will let you try different equipment before you have to buy it. Try full vest BCs, back inflated BCs, weight integrated, non-weight integrated BCs.
What is great for one diver is not great for all divers. Just be sure to get quality stuff; otherwise, you will end up buying gear twice or more.
Good luck.

 

[NEWENGLANDCHARTERS]

1. Why aren't TANKS required for diving? Hehe...
2. As for a knife, is it even legal to carry a knife?


You can Free Dive without Tanks Its called "Skin Diving" and is lots of fun.

A Knife. Why it is Required! and of course legal. If you get caught up in nets, lobster pot warp or kelp you will be dam glad that you have it. And aside you can use it to fight off sea monsters and crack open clams and pry the **** ( Sheet?) out of wreaks that you find. A good pry bar and hammer and catch bag also


http://home.maine.rr.com/newengland

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

BC or Back plate and wing: $300-1000
Reg $300-1000
Computer $225-1000
Weight belt $50
Wet suit $100-500
Fins $60- 250
Booties $20-80
Tank $120-400
Reg bag $20
Gear bag $20-150
Mask $30-100
Snorkel $10-30


Slate $20 or a Toys R Us Magna doodle $5

Safety gear
Safety sausage $20-60
Whistle $ 2
Two Signal mirrors $10 each
Knife $10-100 everyone should carry some sort of cutting device and have the other above safety items

You can check out www.scubatoys.com
www.leisurepro.com www.diveriteexpresscom www.golemgear.com www.deepseasupply.com
and spend hours looking at gear online. If you buy from your LDS this will give you and idea of fair pricing. Most LDS will not be able to meet the online price, but it will give you some bargaining info. For things like a reg, I would buy local. If you buy from Leisure Pro, you do not get a manufactures warranty, the warrantee is fulfilled by Leisure Pro. The others above are either authorized dealers or the manufacturers themselves.

You should try as much gear as you can before you buy. That way you will know what you like and don’t like. I just bought a Golem stainless steel back plate with #35 wing. For me it is the right piece of gear. This rig is fully adjustable and feels like a custom fit for me. I like it simplicity and I like that it doesn’t squeeze me like a jacket. Some people like the squeeze and it makes them feel secure. So what I like might be what you hate or visa versa.

Get your cert, rent some gear, talk to lots of other divers, and then when you KNOW what you like and don’t like----then and only then buy your gear.

As you see from the list above equipment costs on certain items vary a great deal. The most expensive choice may or may not be the best choice. I did not buy the most expensive back plate and wing on the market—I waited and got a killer deal from Golem. Even his regular price or Deep Sea Supplies price on a bp/w is a good deal. But if you decided that a bp/w is not for you then any price is not a good deal. Only you will know what works for you.

Happy diving!