Need help from the locals

[Ca_Ghost]

Hey guys fairly new to the site and need some help / advice from the locals.

I live in the central Valley (Manteca to be exact) and have gone to all the local LDSs in the area and find that no one will demo the gear they sell. To me this makes no sense as its only hurting their business NOT to allow demoing. I understand that by demoing gear it runs the risk of damage but the offer set of the customer service seems to out way the shrinkage perspective.

I haven't been diving in a few years and am just starting to get back into it (heading out to MOnterey on Friday!!!) and would like to start getting my gear.

Does anyone know of a LDS that will allow demoing of their gear in the pool? I refuse to buy anything on word of mouth only cause I know we are all different and prefer different things. Being a new diver I don't know what I like better about anything really and will only find out by trying them out. I've found one thing in common with most of the LDSs in my area, they all rent their low end gear.

So far I have my basic snorkeling package and would love to get a BCD but can't find anywhere to try out different models.

Thanks for all the help!

D

 

[mossym]

diver dans in santa clara offered to let my girlfriend try her wetsuit in the pool when whe was buying...give them a call and ask them. the fact that they have the pool right there on site might help

 

[melfox26]

Hey guys fairly new to the site and need some help / advice from the locals.

I live in the central Valley (Manteca to be exact) and have gone to all the local LDSs in the area and find that no one will demo the gear they sell. To me this makes no sense as its only hurting their business NOT to allow demoing. I understand that by demoing gear it runs the risk of damage but the offer set of the customer service seems to out way the shrinkage perspective.

I haven't been diving in a few years and am just starting to get back into it (heading out to MOnterey on Friday!!!) and would like to start getting my gear.

Does anyone know of a LDS that will allow demoing of their gear in the pool? I refuse to buy anything on word of mouth only cause I know we are all different and prefer different things. Being a new diver I don't know what I like better about anything really and will only find out by trying them out. I've found one thing in common with most of the LDSs in my area, they all rent their low end gear.

So far I have my basic snorkeling package and would love to get a BCD but can't find anywhere to try out different models.

Thanks for all the help!

D

I live in Tracy, not too far from you, and I'm a Divemaster at Diver Dan's in Santa Clara. Unfortunately there's not too many LDS in our area to check gear out from. The ones I frequent when I can't make it all the way down to Santa Clara are Capt. Aqua's in Dublin (www.captainaqua.com) and obviously now Dolphin in Stockton.

I know there's an LDS in Modesto and Tracy, but I can't speak of the quality nor selection since I've never been there. Unfortunately, you said it yourself, most LDS rent low(er) end gear and that's the type of gear that you probably would be allowed to go in the pool with. Chlorine will damage/fade gear really fast, so I can understand why they wouldn't demo an expensive setup only to find out that a person didn't like it. However, even demo-ing a rental setup in the pool may lead you to decide what type of BCD to buy, back-inflate, jacket-style, or my suggestion, a BP/Wings.

I'm a member of a Sacramento area dive group (www.sauedir.com) that several members of SB belong to. Occasionally the organizers will setup demo days where they will bring gear that you can try on and dive with, as well as be on hand to answer any question regarding that setup. I'd strongly encourage that you look into doing that as well.

Good luck, PM me if you have questions.


Mel

 

[Ben_ca]

Hang around the Breakwater ona Saturday or Sunday and you should be able to find any/every kind of BC out there... I would try calling Monterey Bay Dive Center or Aquarius II and see if they'll let you pay for a rental and swap them out after a quick dive....

 

[BrianM]

EDIT- I was going to recommend trying the new stockton Dolphin but I guess you already did...

Hey guys fairly new to the site and need some help / advice from the locals.

I live in the central Valley (Manteca to be exact) and have gone to all the local LDSs in the area and find that no one will demo the gear they sell. To me this makes no sense as its only hurting their business NOT to allow demoing. I understand that by demoing gear it runs the risk of damage but the offer set of the customer service seems to out way the shrinkage perspective.

I haven't been diving in a few years and am just starting to get back into it (heading out to MOnterey on Friday!!!) and would like to start getting my gear.

Does anyone know of a LDS that will allow demoing of their gear in the pool? I refuse to buy anything on word of mouth only cause I know we are all different and prefer different things. Being a new diver I don't know what I like better about anything really and will only find out by trying them out. I've found one thing in common with most of the LDSs in my area, they all rent their low end gear.

So far I have my basic snorkeling package and would love to get a BCD but can't find anywhere to try out different models.

Thanks for all the help!

D