New Diver - what's the right gear for me?

[dpaustex]

Any reason you're not visiting a dive shop and asking them? A lot of them have good used gear packages, AND you can get local service.

"only" 50 feet? That's enough to easily get bent, so I wouldn't skimp on gear. Gear stuff that is environmentally sealed, too (keeps the silt off the 1st stage mechanism).

 

[RonFrank]

The thread is over a month old, and the OP has purchased a good amount of gear (none of which was in the original post! ).

For a BC, I like the Zeagle Stiletto, but I think you could pick up a used Ranger on the cheap.

The only difference between the C4/C8 is the battery life. The C8 uses double the batteries, and has longer battery life. It is also a LOT larger.

I don't like the pistol grip lights. They are bulky, and require one hand to hold them. I prefer lights one can strap on the hands. C/D batteries are also large, and I like lights that use smaller batteries, or can lights.

 

[RonFrank]

"only" 50 feet? That's enough to easily get bent, so I wouldn't skimp on gear.

Gear choice has little to do with getting Bent!

It's going to take about a 90 minute dive AT 50' to get bent on air. At 40' the NDL is 130 minutes, or over two hours! I'm not sure I call that *easily bent*! Many divers will run out of gas long before that, so you may have to work at it... for a minimum of 90 minutes! :blinking: With EanX 32%, the NDL at 50' is 200 minutes or 3 hours and 20 minutes. Try to stretch a tank that far!

 

[bottlediger]

Ron, thanks for the light info

And I did end up going with a Zeagle Ranger LTD for 332.00 Brand new from LP after a price match and 5% off.

Thanks again!

 

[RonFrank]

Nice.

My buddy dives a Ranger LTD, and I *used* to have one. He likes the large wing/lift as he teaches. He dives over weighted (passes out lead on occasion), and may have to carry over weighted students to the surface. However he picked up a Stiletto wing for pool use which IMO is a much nicer and more appropriate wing for most.

Lights are IMO a BIG problem! I say this because they range sooo much in price. IMO go for big light in a small size like this:

250lumes, variable power, rechargeable batteries/adapter included $175

This is an Oxycheq Ranger III, and retails for $220. I've saw one for $175 with one quick search.

-or- you can go with something less bright on the cheap like:

For around $50, and is 130 lumes. No rechargeable batteries included.