New diver from New Zealand

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N

NZ Dive

New
Messages
3
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0
Location
New Zealand
# of dives
0 - 24
Hi all, I've just completed a PADI dive corse, and now researching what gear i should be using. Mixed as you can imagine with each dive shop running each other down. I live in Northland, New Zealand and we have a world top 10 dive desination on our door step called the Poor Knight Islands. Which I intend on diving at some stage. but for now now, just keen to get hold of my own gear and get some dives under my belt(no pun intended)!

Regards
Brendon
 
Hi- good to see another kiwi join Scuababoard.

From my experience all basic equipment (regs, BCDs etc) work- some a bit better than others. There is no need to blow thousands of dollars on the latest equipment- stay with something simple and easy to maintain in the area that you will live in. A bit like cars- don't be the guy who buys an expensive foreign model and complain about the costs to get it fixed.

Buying a new reg is a good idea- you get warranty and you know that the shop can service it. Don't get sold on something too expensive- you'll most likely never need the extra bling, and if you get bitten by the diving bug, it's not uncommon to buy a second reg after a couple hundred dives.

What gear do you have now?
 
Nothing what so ever, Wanted a weight intergrated BCD jacket, looking at a SeaQuest Pro QD, titan reg and octi and suunto 2 Gauge at this stage. Winter over here so shops keen to move gear. Thats just what i have had prices on but very open to advise from those in the know!
 
Not a bad choice
I have Seaquest Balance
Aqualung Legend (Titan's Big Brother)
Suunto Gecko computer

I assume then you have fins and mask etc.

The Titan will be probably all the reg you'll ever really need but there's always the problem of gear-lust. It performs well and is a workhorse- take care of it and it'll work for 20 years.

Seaquest is a solid brand IMO and I reckon you'll have no problems with that BCD for years (again if you take care of it properly)- trim pockets are always nice as well in NZ to redistribute some of the weight up on the tank. I didn't specifically look for this BCD- I just pulled it out of the ceiling of a dive center I was working for- they weren't using it so I offered some $$ for it. I like the Balance a lot- only problem IMO is it has only one pocket for holding stuff- meh, it just means I have to be more selective with what I carry.

Eventually I'd look to get a computer as well- depending on what you want to do with your diving depends a bit on what kind of computer you should look for. Then there's wrist vs console. IMO, go for a wrist computer- if you want to go lobstering, then you can attach it to a BCD D-ring to get it off your hands. The Gecko or Zoop is a computer I can recommend- big screen, Nitrox compatible, sensibly priced.

I used to work in Milford Sound and out at White Island- there's some quality diving all around NZ, but too many kiwis miss out by not going to Fiordland. Get over the fact that she's not tropical and the diving/atmosphere is amazing. Go South!
 
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