Must-have equipment for rookie diver in Raja Ampat?

[Marvelle]

OK,

Have mercy, I know this thread likely belongs in "new divers" but since it's equipment related, I have gathered the courage to ask it here. I'm a new diver with only 10 dives under my belt but lucked out and am heading to Raja Ampat for work soon.

- What must-have equipment of my own should I have when diving in Raja Ampat islands? I've heard they only have tanks and air (and bad masks/snorkels) upon the liveaboards. I want to maximize my safety and am planning on taking the following (financial reasons prohibit my ability to buy more of my own equipment prior to this trip):

- Mask/fins/snorkel
- shorty wetsuit
- sausage (2m)
- possibility of buying/renting a friend's Suunto Stinger dive computer

As for BCD and regulator, I'm screwed and am just hoping the liveaboard's stuff is up to snuff. Should I skip the Suunto and get my own regulator or BCD instead? Anything else I MUST HAVE or am I OK with the above equipment provided I take it safe and don't dive out of my league (literally)?

Many thanks.

 

[chocolate]

It is hard to say because it also depends on the quality of the boat and your DM.
This is what I bought in order, I bought the more "personal" stuff first, but there is really no fix rule.

- Mask/fins/snorkel/wetsuit
- regulator & BCD
- computer

However, if you are most concerned about safety, then maybe you should get the regulator & BCD first.
To this day, I still do not own a sausage, I just follow the DM.

 

[Rickg]

Computer since you are going to be on a LOB. Most LOBs won't allow you to do more than 2 dives a day if you don't have a computer and up to 5 a day conditions permitting if you have a computer.