new diver here

[xsports]

hey everyone im just learning to use this site so bare with me..Yes you guessed i am a new diver.I have done alot a vacation diving but not any real stuff. I tried to post somthing like this in the greeting section but im not sure if im doing this right.Any ways i have bought fins skins mask snorkel and i finish my classes next couple weeks.I need to buy real gear NOW..Regs computers tank bcd. I could really use any advise right about now..I really want good gear that i can use just about anywhere i dive.I plan on diving all over and also alot of local lakes here in co. Any ifo would really help.It was nice to talk to all of you and thanks again for your help:shakehead

 

[wallacm]

Welcome to the board. My best suggestion on equipment is to go to you LDS, and talk with them. Pretty much any of the gear out there on the market will work for recreational dives. I would use the rental gear you get from the class, and try on different gear at the LDS. My preference is a backplate and wing for a BCD, and Scubapro regulators (many people rave over apeks and atomic, just never used them before)
I would also search around on the forums and in the gear section, you should be able to get some good ideas there.

Good luck on your OW class, and have some fun while you do it

 

[Santa]

Why do you have to do it like NOW? No question having your own gear is a homebase in a potentally harsh environment but why not wait until you're certified or have had a chance to try out different stuff? I'm sure the LDS will let you try different gear during the course - and if you're diving with them after you can do the same renting for a few dives ...

What type of diving are you planning to do?

 

[REII]

Hi xsports. Welcome to the forum and the world of diving.

My advice for what its worth is to rent some different types of gear from your LDS and gain some experience. Then when you see what you like and what types of equipment you would like to have you can go buy exactly what you want.

Good luck!

TOM

 

[ckjacques53198]

Welcome XSports. I'm newly certified and spent a lot of time on these boards and visiting my LDS's and looking at scubatoys and leisurepro before buying my gear. I bought gear with a good reputation and built well. I'd recommend visiting your LDS at least for gear that requires fitting and regular maint. such as a regulator and wetsuit.
Don't be in a rush - you might regret it. Bear in mind also that everyone has their own favorite brand.

 

[nolatom]

I'll offer a slightly different take...I bought gear from my LDS based on their recommendation (and my insistence that I didn't have a "Cadillac" budget) and what they sold me, I'm still using happily 7 years later. It was Scubapro basic stuff, MK2 and R190 as primary, Oceanic Slimline alternate, Tradewinds (tropical) BC, basic Genesis computer (mail-order), and a used 3mm wetsuit bought from a friend.

I found that buying gear initially, rather than renting, made me get out and dive regularly, in part motivated by the need to "get my money's worth" out of the gear I'd bought. If I'd rented 10 times while looking for the "perfect" gear, I'd have gone through half what I spent for new gear, in rental fees.

Some day I'll update, all divers do if they stick with the sport. But when I do, I won't have broken the bank on my first set of dive gear, and have gotten lots of mileage out of it while gaining experience. I had a friend who finished OW with me, was going to get the "Cadillac" gear once his budget permitted. It never did, and he never followed up with diving. Me and my "Chevy" gear went out and dived.

I'm probably the minority opinion here, and the brands/models of "basic" but safe gear may have changed since I bought mine, so your mileage may vary, but this approach worked for me.

 

[proffumdiver]

welcome. we all know what its like to be a new diver when it comes to selecting new equipment( kid in a candy store) but really dont rush into it as it will have to last u for a long time so u need to comfortable diving with the same gear day in day out. DONT go for the most expensive stuff its not always the BEST. something mid range should last u for yrs with proper care and attention. speak to many other divers about there own eq. happy diving.

 

[xsports]

santa you asked me what kind of diving i am planing to do.well the answer to that is (all kinds i hope)I know thats sounds funny but when i get into somthing i tend to go all the way if that makes sence.I want to do all the classes for adv.scuba and every other one that they let me do..One day i would really like to be dive master or more..I have always been blowen away by underwater and scuba..I have done lots of diving on vacation but now its for real..Anyways i am really excited about all of this and i dont want to get in a hurry but i really would like to buy my own gear..I also plan on doing local stuff here in colorado on a weekly basis.Cold water you know.so i bought a 7mm skin and a dry suit. anyways i hope to talk to you again and thanks again for your advise.......

 

[GLENFWB]

hey everyone im just learning to use this site so bare with me..Yes you guessed i am a new diver.I have done alot a vacation diving but not any real stuff. I tried to post somthing like this in the greeting section but im not sure if im doing this right.Any ways i have bought fins skins mask snorkel and i finish my classes next couple weeks.I need to buy real gear NOW..Regs computers tank bcd. I could really use any advise right about now..I really want good gear that i can use just about anywhere i dive.I plan on diving all over and also alot of local lakes here in co. Any ifo would really help.It was nice to talk to all of you and thanks again for your help:shakehead

I was in your same situation a couple of months ago. Found this site and have been reading it ever since. There is a LOT of GREAT advice on SB and I have learned a lot from the people on here. I know everyone's circumstances are different and one size doesn't fit all. But, for me the wait and purchase stuff later once you know what you want didn't make financial sense to me. I understand the reasoning of it but with so much good information and people and reviews available it is easier now days to make an informed decision without personally having to test a great deal of equipment.

My problem was that the gear that the two local LDS recommended you buy was not the gear they rented. Also, the price difference was close to $1,000.00 in LDS and buying from the great folks at ScubaToys (I guess you know where I ended up buying from). I buy as much as I can at my local LDS and have given them a great deal of business in the last few months. I do agree with not buying expensive stuff thinking it is the best.

Now, I am not advocating just going out and buying "stuff". I spoke with a great many people on here and local divers before I made the decsion of what to buy. Educate yourself on the equipment and then make a "reasonable" investment and start diving. I completely agree with those who say that you will dive more once you buy your equipment. That has certainly been true for me.

Okay, that is just my two cents....GOOD LUCK

 

[pacchill]

I will throw my 2 cents in here too. The position I am in is a bad one. I am about to buy my 4th and final BC, new regs so on. I have really good gear now but its not going to suit the kind of diving I am getting into. I have been diving a long time and am working my way into what most folks would call "tech". It actually goes a little deeper than being just tech diving. For instance, my wife who is a new diver has no interest in diving deeper than 60 feet. She has no desire to see the inside of wrecks, or breath trimix. She does however love diving her back plate and wing, and love the piece of mind she gets from diving a long hose and a have her back up on a necklace.
What I am getting at is take a look at some back plate and wing setups. The work great, last forever, and if you decide to get on some doubles you just swap wings. It is that easy. With all that being said, I am selling my Zeagle Ranger.
PacChill