New Diver looking for basic equipment advice.

[BigWhiteSquare]

How much do they get for those XTs ? Been thinking about trying some of those myself.


Edit: Nevermind, I called them myself. I inquired about the XTs with spring straps. $270 ! They are out of their minds! Anyone who would pay that for a set of fins probably shouldn't be diving... or let out of their padded cell for any reason.

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[SangP]

Edit: Nevermind, I called them myself. I inquired about the XTs with spring straps. $270 ! They are out of their minds! Anyone who would pay that for a set of fins probably shouldn't be diving... or let out of their padded cell for any reason.

Quite a number of us have Apollos, I personally have 2, so are we nuts?

SangP

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

If you paid $270 for a set of fins then yes, you are nuts.

And just because "quite a number" of people do something, does not necessarily make it a good idea.

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[scubadobadoo]

ScubaToys. they'll put together a great package for you.

Don't go anywhwere near LeisurePro. ScubaToys will match their prices and if you buy from LP, you don't get a warranty. You shouldn't even consider them for BC or regulator. Search this board for the account of a lady who got a BC full of holes that LP wouldn't take back.

ScubaToys will beat the pants off your LDS prices. Those sound ridiculous.

If Scuba Toys has what LP has then go with Scuba Toys. I did and highly suggest Scuba Toys as well. Great company and great service without pressure sales.

LP DOES offer a warranty. I have used it and so have others. If you do a search, you will also find people without LP complaints. MOST LP complaints come from people with no first hand experience with LP. LP even does my annual service on my regs. They even match the Scuba Pro policy of not having to pay for parts with reg service. No complaints and no problems here. A BC full of holes sounds like fishy story with holes in it...

At any rate, the good news is you will likely have a blast diving in whatever you choose! Welcome to the sport!

Here is a link to a recent LP war...http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=44244&highlight=Leisure+pro+bc

 

[Marek K]

Don't go anywhwere near LeisurePro.

Fair enough -- advice based on personal opinion.

if you buy from LP, you don't get a warranty.

*sigh* Not quite accurate, is that? What you mean to say is that if you buy from LP, in most cases you won't get a manufacturer's warranty

ScubaToys will match their prices

True, in almost all cases -- or beat them. If ScubaToys carries the particular piece of equipment you're looking for. If so, or if you're a little flexible, then I agree that ScubaToys -- with manufacturers' warranties -- can be highly recommended.

--Marek

 

[SangP]

If you paid $270 for a set of fins then yes, you are nuts.

And just because "quite a number" of people do something, does not necessarily make it a good idea.

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I certainly didn't pay $270 for them. So, El Cheapo what fins do you use and what makes you think the Apollos aren't worth the $$$? eyebrow

SangP

 

[mccabe]

What I did was buy the gear I felt best suited my diving ambitions. I didnt go out and buy everything straight away, I rented the gear and went to several dive shops and tried the kit. After some time I found the perfect combo and still dive with most of the gear I first bought. Dont rush in to buying everything straight away, especially if you dont know what it is you want. I would advise getting your mask and fins out of the way, then look at regs....

 

[ninedives]

BigWhiteSquare -

Thanks for the tips. I think for now I'll save some money (AKA Put it towards my taxes owed!)

But that seems much more reasonable for a BC/reg combo. I'm also never afraid of buying used equipment, and apparently there are swap meets where instructors sell 2-3 year old equipment at very cheap prices so I will look into that once taxes are taken care of. For now Im just going to go with fins and a mask.

Now i'll just ask my dive instructor what the differences are between a black and clear mask and then put in my order at leisurepro (have the mask I like and scubatoys does not)

-Matt

A black mask stops me getting cross eyed and is easier to "focus" in.
An instructor has an enormous amount of influence over the choice of equipment a student sees and knows about, this trust in the teaching postion can be abused by some, just ask yourself how much the advisor has to gain out of advising you what he tells you is good equipment.
Spend some time renting different bits of gear or ask for a testdive with some stuff to see how you get on, always try before you buy !
I say keep it all simple, do it right, do not look like a X mas tree, do not buy an expensive knife. I have found tons of stuff people have lost diving.

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

I certainly didn't pay $270 for them. So, El Cheapo what fins do you use and what makes you think the Apollos aren't worth the $$$? eyebrow

SangP

TUSA X-Pert Zooms... that I got for $60 on ebay.

I'm still thinkin' 'bout gettin the Bio-Fins with spring straps though. The cheapest I've been able to find them is about $190 (that's why I don't think they're worth $270).

If anybody knows anyplace cheaper let me know.


your "Frugal Friend",
El Cheapo

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[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

A BC full of holes sounds like fishy story with holes in it...

Here ya go:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=118060&highlight=leisurepro+holes+punch

I'm sure you can PM the member and tell them you don't believe their story. But anyone who has worked with ScubaToys knows they would replace such a defective piece of equipment and take it up with the manufacturer themselves.

LP has no relationship with the manufacturer, which is why you don't get a warranty (sorry...LP warranty doesn't count to me..when the rubber hits the road, they don't cover you because they have to cover stuff like replacements out of pocket wheras an authorized dealer simply takes it up with the manufacturer). It's also why you'll get stuff with the serial numbers removed from them. Because the shops that sell to LP don't want to get busted by the manufacturer tracing the sale back to them.

Might as well buy your scuba gear from some guy in an alley out of the back of a truck...don't worry, he'll cover the warranty for you.

I have personally seen enough crap from LP that I would never use them again, and stories like the one I just posted only reaffirm that decision, but to each his own.