Need help with buying equipment!

[lauren22510]

Hey all,
After renting equipment for my 2 years of diving, I've decided it's time to buy a set. I don't want to spend a lot of money...so I was hoping someone could give me some suggestions on entry level regulators (also looking for a BC...). There are so many brands and types out there, I feel lost, and I don't want to buy the wrong thing.

I've talked to dive shops, and I get the general impression they're trying to rip me off. (I find the same products online for half the price.) I've looked at ebay, but haven't really seen anything that has popped out at me as a super deal. How do you feel about buying stuff online? Any good websites you can suggest?

I apologize for all the questions...I'm new at this!

Thanks so much for your help!! :10:

 

[Dutch552]

Give us more of an idea of what type of diving you do, your budget and your future plans in diving so we can offer suggestions more tailored to your particular needs. What did you like/dislike about the different rental gear you have tried?

 

[Brandon]

Lauren,

Welcome to Scubaboard!

There's a ton of discussion on this board over the main topics of your thread: regulator recommendations, buying online vs. at your local shop, etc.

A search on both subjects will yield you literally hundreds of threads, in short:

What regulator to buy? Depends on where you're going to dive, mainly.

LDS vs. Online? Contentious issue. Best answer is that you "maybe sorta definetly can"
​

Hopefully this thread won't get too sidetracked...

Do a search, and again... Welcome!

-Brandon.

 

[GONEHAWKN]

SCUBATOYS!!! thats my first stop while shopping via the internet. keep in mind, they price match and give 10% off to Scuba Board members to boot. i am sure that you will get some fine suggestions on gear to get started. i was lucky. i have 2 great long time buddies(now my dive buddies) that have been diving for sometime, and were able to help me out by providing their input on what gear i should be looking into(that matched by budget) now, almost a year later, i have quite a collection of gear. i am hooked to say the least.

good luck,
Bill

 

[underwaterwill1985]

gonehawkn is so right. SCUBATOYS is absolutely awesome and they have packages with everything your looking for from an entry level package all the up uber macdaddy stuff.

 

[lauren22510]

Give us more of an idea of what type of diving you do, your budget and your future plans in diving so we can offer suggestions more tailored to your particular needs. What did you like/dislike about the different rental gear you have tried?

Well, most of my diving has been in Hawaii, where I used to live. I also plan on doing some diving in Mexico. I now live in southern California. I hate the cold, so it's a safe bet that I will do all my diving in warm waters. I've rented several brands of BCs, and I can't tell the difference between any of them...they all seem to do their job. Weight integrated would be cool because I get bruises on my hips from using a weight belt. As far as regs, my jaw gets tired easily when using big regs that rentals usually are. Perhaps I haven't tried out enough equipment, because the only complaints I can think of are leaks, etc.

I'd like to spend no more than $500 (e.g., my tax refund ), and if that means that I can only buy a regulator now, and wait to buy a BC, then so be it.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[lauren22510]

SCUBATOYS!!! thats my first stop while shopping via the internet. keep in mind, they price match and give 10% off to Scuba Board members to boot. i am sure that you will get some fine suggestions on gear to get started. i was lucky. i have 2 great long time buddies(now my dive buddies) that have been diving for sometime, and were able to help me out by providing their input on what gear i should be looking into(that matched by budget) now, almost a year later, i have quite a collection of gear. i am hooked to say the least.

good luck,
Bill

Thanks for the scubatoys tip! Especially the 10% off!!!

 

[Brandon]

For $500, I'd get a Zeagle Flathead VI or Envoy Deluxe.

Flathead VI - $485 before discount

Envoy Deluxe - $295 before discount

Flathead will do anything, Envoy would suit you just fine if you're not going to do cold water.

If you choose the Envoy Deluxe, you'll be able to put together a full package - Regulator, Alternate Second, and a simple 3 guage console, and still stay in your price range.

Another Scubatoys bonus? Full manufacturer's warranty and 49.95 regulator services for life!

-Brandon

 

[RS]

Leisure Pro
DiveTank
Ebay

Sometimes it's better to pay your local DS than to go back and forth w/ an online store. But, I've had great service from leisurepro and divetank. Also from my local DS.

Also check the classified's here. Sometimes old cantankerous divers underestimate the value of their old gear. D'o! Did I say that?

PS. I have a backup SB MK10 and G250 I might sell; just switched to dive rite.

 

[spectrum]

Thanks for the scubatoys tip! Especially the 10% off!!!

Make sure you get someting that you can get local service for betwen trips. Also since it sounds like you are limiting yourself to vacation diving be sure to stay with something that is very easy to find service for in far flung places. Sherwood and Scuba Pro come to mind.

Based on what you describe you have no need to consider a DIN connection nor do you need a regulator that is cold water capable. For all intents an purposes it can probably boil down to the sevicing considerations mentioned above, price and whatever strikes your fancy.

With an alternate second, QD (BC) hose and basic instruments I don't see you getting into a new BC. However if you know of some that fit you well low mileage ladies BCs, especially non weight integrated are a dime a dozen on EBAY. There is an element of risk here so see if you can find somebody to help you screen the auctions and test what you get should you purchase.

Pete