My own equipment not allowed for Open Water class?

[KitHuff]

I do now, and did for my second daughter, but can’t recall from the first daughter. If I did, it certainly wasn’t long term.

Their gear was a bit different than the rest of the students’. Back inflate vs. jacket, DIN regs, their own wrist mounted DC, etc. The instructor did point out their different gear to the other students as an awareness of different types that they may encounter.

That's cool. I was curious for when my grandkids want to get certified.

 

[Horgh]

if you're already set on getting DIR regs and a bpw, just go take gue rec 1. costs the same really as ow/aow/nitrox rolled into one.

I would, but as far as I can tell, there are no GUE shops/centers/classes anywhere near me. I could be searching wrong, so please correct me.

 

[rx7diver]

... Their gear was a bit different than the rest of the students’. Back inflate vs. jacket, DIN regs, their own wrist mounted DC, etc. The instructor did point out their different gear to the other students as an awareness of different types that they may encounter.

This is certainly a legitimate consideration, IMHO. In the case of my daughter (mentioned above), I decided to have her use my Scubapro gear (reg, SSJ, and AIR 2) because this gear is very similar to the university's gear she and her classmates used in the confined water part of her scuba course.

She does know, though, that I personally typically wear different gear (e.g., either SS Freedom Plate + Halcyon Pioneer singles wings + Y-valve on a steel 72; or, more recently, DH regulator + VDH Classic plate + Argonaut wings). If she shows interest, I will transition her to these configurations. However, IMHO, it was prudent to NOT have her use this gear during her checkout or first dives after certification.

rx7diver

 

[Esprise Me]

I would, but as far as I can tell, there are no GUE shops/centers/classes anywhere near me. I could be searching wrong, so please correct me.

Is it fair game to post on the Alabama board here and ask for instructors? I'm not familiar with the etiquette yet and don't want to cause any issues.

Sorry I missed your earlier message. Yes, you can absolutely post in the regional forum; there's also a DIR forum if you're specifically interested in GUE. I can't personally speak to what's available in Alabama, but I've known instructors who travel; maybe one will pass through your neck of the woods.

In fact I appreciate ALL of your feedback and I didn't mean to start a flame war here.

Don't worry about that. Just keep being courteous in your own posts; flame soldiers gonna wage flame wars. Let's hope the parties involved can drop that hijack now.

 

[jlcnuke]

Hey all,

A while ago I found the Dive Talk channel and really became interested in diving (I realize people have split opinions on that channel, we don't need to discuss that here). I'm a Type A personality who soaks up knowledge on subjects he finds interesting, so I have been learning and researching a TON on various dive topics, from the science, to equipment, to procedures, etc. I have a pretty decent high-level understanding of a lot of topics now, which you could argue is good or bad, seeing how I've had no formal training yet.

So on that note, there are two shops in my area, one a PADI shop, and one SSI. I checked out both and signed up for a "try SCUBA" class with the SSI shop. However, the SSI shop then told me that for the Open Water class I have to use their equipment, either rented or bought from them. Their reason was "liability and insurance", though they did say that beyond the Open Water class I can use my own equipment. The PADI shop does not have a rule like that.

I'm a bit torn. I know that if I like the "try SCUBA" I'm going to take many classes, dive a ton, with the eventual goal being tech diving and overhead environments. I also believe in the "buy once, cry once" principle, as well as not having to re-learn stuff (muscle memory). As such, I wanted to purchase a Deep 6 "signature" DIR (long hose) regulator bundle right away, along with their Eddy fins, and start with a BP/W setup, likely the DGX package as it seems to fit my needs (Dive Rite XT package being my second choice). However, I wouldn't be able to take the Open Water class with those through this SSI shop, and I'd have to use a rented vest BCD and standard hose Aqualung regulator and octo.

From what I've read and heard, SSI would be the preferred agency to do my training as PADI has some issues (I don't want to start a flame war in this thread). So what do you experience divers think? Am I overthinking this? Would you buy your own equipment and go PADI, or go SSI with rented equipment for the first class, and then buy your own?

I don't know if the liability and insurance explanation is real or if it's a gimmick to lock me into products the shop carries, but if the latter, I question the ethics and values of said shop. I realize everyone needs to make money, but I was already willing to buy various big ticket items from them that they do carry (Shearwater computer, Henderson wetsuit(s), etc.) AND spend money on lots of training in the future. Let me know your thoughts, thanks!

Well, you mentioned that Marietta is too far for you to go for the course, so you're not going to be taking the class from me (I do pool work in Marietta, Open Water dives in a quarry such as Dive Land in Glencoe, AL). That said, since unlike most of the responders in here so far, I teach in the general area you are in so I'll tell you what my policy is.

A "try dive" (PADI discover scuba experience) that convinces you to sign up with me for the OW course is credited towards the cost of the OW course assuming everything went well, and helps to shorten the course since I can count that work towards the skills in the OW course. If a student is "very sure" they want to get certified, however, I recommend they just sign up for the OW course. If on the first day you decide it's definitely not something you want to do, I refund all but the cost of the elearning and price of a discover scuba experience.

If you want to bring your own gear, bring your own gear. I'll give it a brief inspection, and if it appears fine and works okay when we set up the gear then feel free to use your gear. I do require students provide their mask/fins+booties/snorkel and any exposure protection required (rent or buy the last), and pay their entry fees for the OW dives. I provide all other rental gear needed as part of the cost of the course ($700 for a private course currently).

I teach neutrally buoyant because that's the best way for divers to learn to dive properly and I strongly suggest that you make sure whatever instructor you choose to go with does the same.

Good luck in your journey into this sport, and I'm sure I'll see you out at Dive Land sometime in the future

 

[Belzelbub]

Their business, their rules. We may not agree but we need to accept it.

Agreed. We can choose to go elsewhere.

No problem with that shop setting their own rules. Just be honest about it. State that it’s store policy, rather than deflecting to an external cause, ie. liability.

 

[runsongas]

@Horgh you will need to contact some instructors and be willing to at least travel to florida as there doesn't look to be one scheduled for the rest of the year

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[pasley]

1. I do not go into a pool with any gear I use in the ocean. Pool water is very hard on the gear.
2. With no scuba certification a business in the USA sold you scuba gear. Interesting. No further comment. on this.
3. As you are already paying for the use of their gear (it was as you said included in the price of the course) then why not. You too need to learn the other side of the house and the common beginner diver gear which you will often see on the boats too.
4. Congratulations on your decision to buy Backplate and Wing. Modular and position you horizontally in the water. Vest BCDs are not normally used in tech diving as tech diving often involves diving doubles, and the jacket BCD is not equipped to handle that.
5. For the advanced course for example my certification agency requires students to supply their own equipment.
6. I have not heard of this brand before. But then there is a whole host of things I have not heard of so don't put a lot of stock in what I or others have heard of.

I see on their website that their business model from day one was to sell dive gear strictly on the Internet. The vast majority of SCUBA Equipment MFG to not permit online sales unless you also have a brick-and-mortar store. Why is this important? Well, Brick and mortar stores make a profit off the equipment they sell. Most will match internet prices from authorized dealers. But when you are buying from the internet remember to ask yourself the following questions:
a. Where will I get my equipment serviced.? The shop that sold you the product is normally also a certified repair facility for that brand. So will you have to mail your gear off every year for service?
b. Where will I get my air fills? If the local dive shop (called LDS) is not selling and servicing your gear their bottom line suffers. This translates into fewer LDS. That means you will have to use the USB AirFill adapter. We all know the USB Airfill adapter simply does not work. Translation, if the LDS closes, where are you going to get your airfills.

 

[Bob DBF]

. With no scuba certification a business in the USA sold you scuba gear. Interesting. No further comment. on this.

No dive shop I've been in asks to see a cert to buy gear.

As you are already paying for the use of their gear (it was as you said included in the price of the course) then why not. You too need to learn the other side of the house and the common beginner diver gear which you will often see on the boats too.

The shop will charge $300 for rental of their gear, so is not included in the course,

 

[Marie13]

OMG, needing to be certified to buy gear?