New to diving, New to forum - help getting started

[Toby from MO]

Hey all,

Newby here…from St. Louis, MO. I’m in the midst of getting my OW certification and I’m loving every minute spent chasing my new found hobby. I have finished the course work and confined dives with only my OW water dives remaining, which will take place in a few weeks then it will be official. I intend on purchasing my own gear and in preparation I’m trying to educate myself so that I feel confident in the equipment choices I make. For me, I typically don’t choose the cheapest stuff but realize I probably won’t get to dive enough to justify the most expensive. My dive buddy is my wife and with two very young children babysitters are expensive and sometimes hard to come buy, not to mention we are 2 hrs from the closest quarry and/or lake. Anyway...enough gabbing, I was hoping for some guidance to get me started. I’ve got good local support for ScubaPro, SeaQuest, Sherwood and Oceanic. I’ve already purchased my boots, fins, mask and snorkel…required for the class.

First Stage: Piston or Diaphragm? I am getting mixed direction from my LDS. I have already decided my first stage will be balanced. I have been told the diaphragm is the better for cold water choice and that it equal to a piston in warm water. I have noticed most diaphragms have an option for an environmental seal. Are pistons not environmentally sealed? Are there major performance difference between the two? Is there any concern for cost of maintenance between the two?

Second Stage: Balanced/Unbalanced…pneumatic/mechanical balance? Pre-dive venturi adjustments or not? What are the major differences? I’m not sure how far to go with these features because I’m not positive on the amount and/or depth of diving I’ll be able to participate in. I can almost say for sure that diving around home will be in less than 100’ of water. Frequency…I’d love to say I could dive once a month but that may be pushing it. I’ll most likely participate in the local adventure dive groups but again, other than my annual vacations, the majority of my diving will be local quarries and lakes.

BCD’s: Not exactly sure yet what to consider a pro vs. con. I’ve been looking at jacket style vs. back inflate. Any suggestions to the pro vs. con on these two styles would be appreciated. I intend on opting for integrated weights, although the ScubaPro system doesn’t seem “quick” to release. I already know I want multiple dump valves, both low and high. I’ve heard mixed reviews with integrating the alternate air source with the LP BC inflator. My ScubaPro dealer says, “there is no question, get it” and my Oceanic dealers says, “he replaces/repairs more than he sells”. To date I have tried on the ScubaPro Glide Plus and the Oceanic Probe. I have yet to dive with anything other than the base model ScubaPro being provided with the class.

Computers: Already decided I will buy a computer. Although it would be nice, I have already ruled out the transmitter style…too expensive. Again, based on price, I have already ruled out some the higher end console mounted computers…those integrating everything into one display. I most likely opt for an analog SPG and compass. At this time wrist or console mount would be OK. I assume all that remains is depth, temp, bottom time, ascent rate, time to deco, dive log…did I miss anything? I could see where programmable alarms for every major area would be nice, i.e depth, bottom timer, ascent rate, time to deco, safety stops. Obviously, I’ve not yet used one, so I don’t exactly know all the features to be considered but at this time I just wanting a “starting point” to hopefully identify the “best bang for the buck”.

Thanks for any help.
Toby

 

[CantDiveEnough]

As for Regs, i would make sure you get what is best for cold water. Because like you said they are just as good in warmer waters as well. Keep in mind where you are and most other places the water is cold a lot longer than it is warm.

Well Toby, I am interested in seeing an intelligent response to the Regulator question... As far as BCs go, I have the Sherwood Magnum. Its an awesome BC, but I have come to find that Im not a big fan of feeling the squeeze when its inflated. SO I think Im going to upgrade to a back inflated BC, probably the Zeagle Ranger LTD. I chose the Ranger LTD because it can be used for some serious diving. It can be modified to mount double tanks, etc. But either way, I am going with a back inflated BC. The Ranger LTD runs about 700.00

There are a lot of fancy computers out there. But my father has been using the
Aeris Atmos 2. I have done my research, its a wrist mounted computer. Its very simple and can do everything a recreational diver needs and runs about 250.00 i think. That is the comp I will be going with. You may want one on your guage console though. Well thats about it for what I want, I hope this helped a little bit.
Good luck!

Justin

 

[Skeeter1097]

Most people say the diaphragm first and scent stage regs are better in cold water. In worm water it doesn't mater. balanced first stage is mot a must but noticeable nice. Most secant stages are balanced witch id good. The BCD is a preference too. I like my jacket inflater sea pro. I have a legend reg. I have a titan I use too. So you pick and have fun.
Welcome to the board, enjoy.

 

[Scottri]

A piston reg can be sealed but not as easily as a diaphram. I dive in cold water year round and I have 2 piston regs and I've never had the need to seal them. I even did an ice diving class and they did not freeze up. I dive in water that is 40 to 50 degrees year round with surface temps in the winter in the low 30's. You really can't go to far wrong with most major brands of reqs. I would stay away from an unbalanced 1st stage but you already know that Most manufacturers make pretty good mid range regs. I am fond of Atomic, Apeks, Scuba Pro, Mares, Oceanic and Sherwood regs.

As for BC's, try as many styles as you can and buy the one that fits your diving the best. It's really a personal choice. I prefer back inflate BC's because I hate the way jacket style bc's hug you when they are inflated.

Computers, I really like Aeris and Oceanic, they are made by the same company so the features are very similar. I've had mine for 8 years now and I've never had problems. I would suggest buying a Nitrox compatible computer since you may end up using it later and don't want to have to buy a new one later. Suunto makes good computers as well but they are a little conservative for my tastes.

I always recommend new divers rent and borrow as many types and styles of gear as they can before they buy to find what works for them. There is no right or wrong. It's really a personal choice. Buy good quality and you will be happy for a long time.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[DandyDon]

Its an awesome BC, but I have come to find that Im not a big fan of feeling the squeeze when its inflated.

Can't, since you're new, too - you're probably carrying too much weight, and have to inflate too much. See if you can shed some weight, and leave some breathing room in your cumber bun?

BTW, I'm an Oceanic fan - love my Probe BC and my Versao Pro computer, which is being replaced with the VEO line. Do make sure you get Nitrox compatible, as you'll either want this in time, or you'll have more resell value if you drop out.

 

[El Orans]

You might like to try a BP/W combo...

My regs: Apeks DS4 with two ATX50's.
(I dive both cold and tropical waters)

BTW, welcome (Scub)aBoard!

 

[nolatom]

You're way more sophisticated than i was when I purchased my first (and only) gear a few years ago. Asked my LDS what good, basic gear they'd recommend, and bought it. Had no idea what type of primary it was, or whether balanced, nor did it matter. They sold me a basic Scubapro semi-tropical BC, MK2 primary (which is piston, I guess), R190 reg, Oceanic Slimline octo, and I bought a used wetsuit, and a mail-order computer (Genesis Resource, then upgraded to Genesis ReAct when I wanted nitrox.

I didn't spend much on any of this, it worked, and works, just fine. Maybe I don't know any better. The $250 computer has all the basic features you mention.

My theory was/is, if I bought gear, then I'd go dive so it'd be worth the expense, and that theory worked, and if I really got into it, I could upgrade and not regret what I spent on my first gear. A friend took the OW class with me, he was going to rent, and wait til he could afford "Cadillac" gear. I bought the "Chevy" gear and went diving. He never bought gear, never dived.

Your studied approach to equipment is probably superior to my "sell me the reasonably cheap but reasonably safe stuff, and I'll go out and get experience". But I'm happy with this basic gear for basic diving. Been to 140 feet with this stuff (ever so briefly, at Hole in the Wall in Jupiter FL) and in the colder New England water, and it was just fine. Never been in a quarry and not planning to. And I don't get in hundreds of dives a year, 25's more like it (and not even that since Katrina).

I've run on, and answered absolutely none of your well thought-out questions. There a lot of gear-heads on boards like this, and they'll give you great advice, listen to them, not me. I just wanted to say that even if you don't get the 100 percent perfect reg, bc (or backplate I guess) or whatever, the 90 percent one will do all right, the important thing is to get stuff that fits, you're comfortable and confident with, and just go dive. I've been on dive boats where I bet everyone's gear cost at least triple what mine did, but mine did okay.

So good luck, have fun, be safe, whether you go Cadillac, Chevy, or some other "car" type of gear. You'll love it whatever you do and whatever you spend.

 

[cummings66]

One thing I would add to the questions is where do you intend to dive? If it's in the state of MO I would suggest a sealed first stage due to all the much we have floating in the waters. I'd also get one that won't freeze up because our waters are not that warm, last time I dove it was 37 degrees at depth and 36 degrees the time before. During the summer I see low 40's routinely at Table Rock and other lakes like it.

I dive with a Blizzard and like it, there are better regs of course but it's pretty good. Regarding the BC's and computer I can't say much beyond buy what you can get local support on and consider where you're diving. Can you get parts and support in a third world country with your choice? Can you get support at our big lakes if you need it? The only thing I'd say you need to worry about is support and buy the best gear you can afford, if not you'll replace it later.

 

[crisis_12]

Backplate and wings will be cheaper than a lot of the jackets/back inflation bcds and will allow you "room to grow" if you decide to go in a technical direction as you mature as a diver. In addition to a lower initial price tag, they are rugged and actually very comfortable.

I like my Dive Rite regs, but Scubapro and Apex make good products as well. Consider the Salvos too. Good regs and the price is great.

Buy a nitrox computer. I have an Aeris Atmos 2 and a Dive Rite Nitek HE. The Aeris was my first computer and I still enjoy it for simpler dives. The HE is frankly too much computer for what I do now, but it gives me room to grow.

Remember: Try to predict where your diving will progress in the future and buy those products. This will keep you from having to re-outfit everytime you grow as a diver. (My bank account would be a lot bigger if I had done this....)