Can be problematic when diving the US or Caribbean. I have been on numerous boats where the captain had to make a detour to pick up DIN tanks while everyone waits. Yoke is fine 90% of the time. When it's not, there are always plenty of spare tanks around before you get wet and spare O-rings are cheap and readily availalable everywhere.
New Diver Please Help With Gear Selection
- Thread starter Og_elpatron
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Can be problematic when diving the US or Caribbean. I have been on numerous boats where the captain had to make a detour to pick up DIN tanks while everyone waits. Yoke is fine 90% of the time. When it's not, there are always plenty of spare tanks around before you get wet and spare O-rings are cheap and readily availalable everywhere.
OK, not sure which part was BS. I didn't say that you couldn't fix the o-ring on the boat, I was referring to the only 3 OOG and potential OOG emergencies I have ever been involved in. All 3 of them were pinched o-rings that gave way during the dive, on one of them I came across a buddy pair trying to ascend together while gas sharing and not doing a great job of it. After i assisted them it turned out to be the o-ring
There is a reason that all serious divers I know ( by which I mean Tech and cave and CCR etc) use DIN valves exclusively. it costs nothing extra and reduces the potential failure modes. I have dived in quite a few countries, not in the USA yet, and have NEVER had a problem finding DIN valves. Almost all the valves I have used for the last 10 years were DIN valves with an insert. We import valves from the US here, my tanks are US imports from Catalina and Luxfer and all came standard with the DIN/insert valves.
Also, a DIN to yoke adapter is pretty damn cheap as well, I have one I bought when I fist started using DIN valves in 2003 in case I had a problem finding a valve. Never been out of its plastic wrapper.
As far as computer rentals go, out here the dive centres charge for "tank and weights" or "Full gear". a PDC costs around 8$ a day to rent. The BCD and reg costs around 45 $
Thanks Murky, now I know to bring my trusty adapter with when I finally get a chance to dive the US. Would this be solved by letting them know upfront when booking that you need DIN? Like reserving mixed gases etc?
Solved? No. Ameliorated? Yes. Annoying to the dive op? Apparently.
I would just buy a better-than-entry-level reg kit, and a good computer with a compass and nitrox. Also, have a look at the Dive Rite TravelPac. This is my experience.
eelnoraa
Contributor
I will say slow down. Get a few more dives in rental, preferably try different rental stuff. The best way to save money is to buy once. I am afraid some if not all of the items in these packages may not be what you want 50 dives later.
Also, don't fall into the "life support" equipment scam. It is hard to find unreliable or dangerous equipments nowaway expecially for recreational dive. A lot of gear choice is down to personal preference, but you only know your preference after some experience.
Also, don't fall into the "life support" equipment scam. It is hard to find unreliable or dangerous equipments nowaway expecially for recreational dive. A lot of gear choice is down to personal preference, but you only know your preference after some experience.
BertStevens
Contributor
eelnoraa
Contributor
Different opinion here. Buy what you will be using most of the time. If you are a vacation diver, buy Yoke. You can find yoke tank anywhere in the world's rental fleet. I can't say the same for DIN, at least for North America, Central American, South East Asian. A DIN 1st stage with Yoke adaptor is the worst of both world.
outofofficebrb
HARRO HUNNAYYY
Hi!
I don't know if you have (I didn't see it mentioned) but if you haven't, please go to a shop and try the BC on and ideally, try it on in a pool as well. Breathe with the reg. Don't feel like you have to buy everything as a "set" online. A good dive shop will work with you in creating a set that works for you, that fits your budget and your needs and will likely give you a discount for purchasing it together. An honest dive shop will want you to go with something that will work for you long term and the end in mind if your budget allows. Maybe you buy in pieces as you discover things that you like. I don't have many dives yet (almost 50 accumulated in the past year) but I have had the opportunity to dive a lot of rentals in the past year and I think I've finally figured out what I like, what I don't like.
I do agree with the other posters that the Zoop console is a great value. I would definitely get that.
I don't know if you have (I didn't see it mentioned) but if you haven't, please go to a shop and try the BC on and ideally, try it on in a pool as well. Breathe with the reg. Don't feel like you have to buy everything as a "set" online. A good dive shop will work with you in creating a set that works for you, that fits your budget and your needs and will likely give you a discount for purchasing it together. An honest dive shop will want you to go with something that will work for you long term and the end in mind if your budget allows. Maybe you buy in pieces as you discover things that you like. I don't have many dives yet (almost 50 accumulated in the past year) but I have had the opportunity to dive a lot of rentals in the past year and I think I've finally figured out what I like, what I don't like.
I do agree with the other posters that the Zoop console is a great value. I would definitely get that.
Now that Ive had some sleep and can think clearly again....
There are obviously many different approaches, all valid ones. The OP had seemed to have made up his mind to purchase gear and asked which of the 2 sets he had chosen would be best for him. Obviously that is a hugely subjective question, my intention was purely to look over his choices and see if any issues jumped out at me.
Based on my PERSONAL experience and that of my diving community, I made some comments and suggestions based on what I would do given his situation. I also had a look at some options that would achieve the same result at possibly a lower price point since he seemed to be on a pretty tight budget.
As far as the DIN issue goes, as I said i haven't dived anywhere where it was an issue, now I know that it is an issue in some parts of the world I will investigate a bit more. A DIN/yoke adapter is not ideal but would allow some choices. What I have also found is that all the regs I have used / bought have been rated to 300 bar, but the yokes have been limited to 232. When I ordered the DIN version of my regs, I received a 300 bar DIN. granted, HP fills are also not super common but I have found them and it has allowed me to dive longer with smaller tanks on the occasions that they have been available, an option i would not have had with a yoke.
Again, the usual disclaimer that YMMV and that these are PERSONAL opinions was implied but not stated definitively by me, Im going to blame tiredness and move on.
BTW, thanks for the info Murky and the way you gave it, Ive learnt something new while trying to help someone else, which is kinda the point of boards like this in my opinion.
There are obviously many different approaches, all valid ones. The OP had seemed to have made up his mind to purchase gear and asked which of the 2 sets he had chosen would be best for him. Obviously that is a hugely subjective question, my intention was purely to look over his choices and see if any issues jumped out at me.
Based on my PERSONAL experience and that of my diving community, I made some comments and suggestions based on what I would do given his situation. I also had a look at some options that would achieve the same result at possibly a lower price point since he seemed to be on a pretty tight budget.
As far as the DIN issue goes, as I said i haven't dived anywhere where it was an issue, now I know that it is an issue in some parts of the world I will investigate a bit more. A DIN/yoke adapter is not ideal but would allow some choices. What I have also found is that all the regs I have used / bought have been rated to 300 bar, but the yokes have been limited to 232. When I ordered the DIN version of my regs, I received a 300 bar DIN. granted, HP fills are also not super common but I have found them and it has allowed me to dive longer with smaller tanks on the occasions that they have been available, an option i would not have had with a yoke.
Again, the usual disclaimer that YMMV and that these are PERSONAL opinions was implied but not stated definitively by me, Im going to blame tiredness and move on.
BTW, thanks for the info Murky and the way you gave it, Ive learnt something new while trying to help someone else, which is kinda the point of boards like this in my opinion.
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