Newbie Equipment Help Needed

[Ed66]

Hi I 1st want to say this board is super for help and info, I have used the search feature and have found bit's and piece's of answers to the questions I have, so here it goes maybe I can get it in one shot I plan on diving mostly in NJ during May -Sept,(inlets and getty's) maybe a trip here and there. My LDS were I am taking lesson's wants to set me up with a Sherwood Magnum reg / Sherwood standard octo & Genesis console w/React Pro or Resource Pro computer & compass the price he gets is $799. less 10% and then he said the BC would be around $499 or maybe a little more. I checked out LP and they had two packages that fit my buget and sound just about the same stuff he is selling less the computer( I can get a wrist mount later). The 1st package comes with the follwing,Blue Reef Regulator Bag,Sherwood Minimus Octopus,Sherwood Oasis Regulator,Sherwood Compact Navigational 3 Gauge Console with Compass,Sherwood Avid BCD with CQR Integration Weight System. Price $705. The 2nd package(I like this the best)Blue Reef Regulator Bag,Sherwood Compact Standard Two-Gauge Console With Optional Compass,Sherwood Magnum Regulator,Sherwood Magnum BCD,Sherwood Standard Octopus. Price $569. I was wondering would either package be good for me for the type of diving I am planning on doing. The second package I listed is almost the same thing he wants to sell me for almost $1200.(they are a little pushy on the sale's, "You need this or gatta have that") They also wanted to sell me the same Akona wet suit I bought for $164 at LP for $425, I know they need to make something to make living but it seems if I buy my stuff their I am throwing my money away. Thanks Ed

 

[shellbird]

Are you just doing recreational diving? Are you going to advance your skills into technical diving?

Let me tell you how it went for me... I bought my reg, bc, and etc. right off the bat, started diving with people from SCUBABoard and had a chance to see their gear configurations and realized I wish I had known more about equipment than I had or than the LDS cared to share with me.

You will hear mention of DIR and I have seen some backplate/wing set ups and some technical rigs that seem to have some appeal even though I am only a recreational diver.

I am really happy with my Genesis control panel and octo although I wish I had gone with a smaller sized set, but for the price of the Genesis you can't go wrong. I think I spent $600 for SCUBAPro MK16 and RM360 (I am pretty sure that is the model, forgive me if I am off on that), genesis octo and gauges from my LDS and am very happy with that purchase.

My only regret is my jacket style BC. I dive in colder New England waters, like to carry a light and some little things and my jacket style bc is limited to what I can hook on to it. It has pockets that are useless.

I am not familiar with the BC you referenced but if it has some d-rings and is more of a tech set up you might be happier in the long run. Also, I was told that integrated weight bc's that use velcro run the risk of the velcro wearing out on the weight pockets, not sure if that is true but it happened to someone I was talking to at my LDS.

Bottom line, I am no gear pro but wish I had seen first had the options that are out there in use before making my decisions. This is a place to start but until you see first hand some applications in use, it is hard to see what is right for you.

 

[mleong]

Consider the Bp/wing combo. That might be the last BC you will ever buy. For the rest of the gears, maybe you could it read up at www.scubadiving.com gear reviews sections. Then proceed to but the gears that you want at LeisurePro. That will save you some bucks.