New Diver Please Help With Gear Selection

[RainPilot]

Oh and i would advise getting a DIN fitting on your 1st stage, no extra cost and much less chance of blowing a dive with a burst o-ring

 

[RainPilot]

You will need an octo anyway. The dive computer CAN wait , most shops have rentals and tables work fine, but if you can spring for it a PDC will be a valuable investment. Any idea if you'll be in my neck of the woods any time soon?

 

[Og_elpatron]

You will need an octo anyway. The dive computer CAN wait , most shops have rentals and tables work fine, but if you can spring for it a PDC will be a valuable investment. Any idea if you'll be in my neck of the woods any time soon?

Not quite sure, have been planning a trip to Qatar. Maybe this year, possibly in 2017.

 

[RainPilot]

If you are I can hook you up with some gear, got a whole room full of miscellaneous odds and ends.

 

[RainPilot]

Also, eBay can be very useful, picked up a lot of my gear there, also craigslist. Guys have financial issues, the dive gear is the first casualty.

 

[Og_elpatron]

Thanks, maybe I can pick up the sea elite package and find a PDC second hand.

 

[RainPilot]

I would say to stick with your original TUSA package, maybe substitute the Zeagle Scout if you can, will save 20 bucks, and add one of these, they will breathe from left or right so nice for sharing:
Mares Mv Octopus

Edit: never mind i see the original package has an octopus already so all good.

 

[RainPilot]

This is what I would buy for the money:

The Mares regs breathe really well and can be left or right handed use. Ive used them for years and never had a hiccup

 

[dmaziuk]

I think I may have miscommunication here. By 30 dives I meant 30 dive trips, my apologies. I imagine each trip would be about 3 dives. From everywhere that I read planning future trips, it appears that gear rental is between $55-$65.

I suppose if it's that much where you plan to dive... In FL I think BC&regs is more like $25/day so for 30 days it's getting close. Couple of weeks ago on Roatan we paid about $250 for 1 BCD and 2 reg sets for full 7 days, a few dives shy of 20, no way you can get anywhere near $800 on package rates in Bonaire, Roatan, etc.

 

[dmaziuk]

Oh and i would advise getting a DIN fitting on your 1st stage, no extra cost and much less chance of blowing a dive with a burst o-ring

You will need an octo anyway. The dive computer CAN wait , most shops have rentals and tables work fine, but if you can spring for it a PDC will be a valuable investment. Any idea if you'll be in my neck of the woods any time soon?

BS. DIN tanks aren't that common on this side of the pond, "save a dive" key fobs full of o-rings are. Computers tend to be the 2nd most expensive rental after cameras, so in terms of cost-effectiveness you're better off buying a computer and renting a BCD, not the other way around. Tables are workable of a single day 3-dive trip, but if you want to go for a week you really want a computer.