Newbie..equipment question....

[jschili]

Just a quick question as well as to what equipment everyone carries, what they feel is essential and how it is configured (in b.c. pocket, on b.c., on inflator, on body, etc.....and using lanyards, clips, 'biners...retractable attachments, etc.) It's a gadget sport of sorts and I want to have the essential equipment I will need without going overboard and weighing myself down needlessly or not being streamlined which wouold increase my drag, fatigue, air consumption, etc...Thanks!

 

[hdtran]

Depends on where you dive, how often, & where you live

If you live in land-locked ND (OK, I'm sure there's great Scuba in ND), and fly to dive in Hawaii or the Caribbean, you probably want to start with just mask, exposure protection; & rent everything else. If you live in, say, Churchill, Manitoba, and like to dive year-round in the Hudson Bay :11:, you probably want to buy everything (including a super-duper heated drysuit )

Go find a recent post for Clay Coleman's book; I highly recommend it. I ditto the various recommendations that people have on renting equipment until you decide what you really like.

For me, I consider a dive computer to be a "personal essential," but I'm quite willing to rent BCD, regulator, etc. I prefer personally-owned exposure protection, as my "pleasantly pear-shaped" body form doesn't quite fit standard rental wetsuits.

YMMV, and have fun!

 

[H2Andy]

trying to keep equipment to a needed minimum is a good idea (less clutter,
less stuff to go wrong, less stuff to get in the way when you really need something)

here are my OW basics:

mask -- with after-market neoprene strap. more comfortable, sturdier

fins -- with spring straps. a LOT easier to get in and out of, also comfortable

octo -- on a bungee chord around my neck. i always know where it is

computer -- on my wrist -- i.e. no danglies

pressure gage -- clipped to a d-ring on my left hip -- i.e. no danglies

line cutter -- on the left side of my harness, next to the pressure gage

sausage -- (for signaling) in a pocket

emt shears -- (for emergency cutting) in a pocket

emergency horn -- hooked up to the air inflator

-----------------------------------------------------

i should probably get a signaling mirror as a final piece of safety
equipment, but haven't gotten around to it yet. it would
also go in a pocket

 

[Laser]

What do you think you need?

 

[ParamedicDiver1]

Let see, starting from the top and going down...
Head- Dew Rag and Mask with neoprene strap, snorkel stored in BC pocket until needed
BC with weight integrated pockets...no extra belt.
Alternate Air Source - Clipped to my BC with a strap.
Computer w/ SPG cliped accross Chest so it does not dangle and I can easily look at it.
Dive Tool - Fastened to BC
Fins - with spring strap...way easier to use
Shorty Wet Suit and Booties - Maily because it is warm enough in Texas to dive in this.
Safety Sausage - In a BC pocket

Safe Diving!

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

In terms of essential add ons:

One small sheath-mounted line cutter on waist belt
Torch and safety sausage in pockets added to drysuit/wetsuit. Torch attached to internal pocket D ring.
Computer and compass on left arm.

Optional: Airhorn on inflator hose (when diving strong currents or with a new group). Jon line in pocket. Slate in pocket (useful if mapping or playing the guide, otherwise it’s a lot easier to spell out what you think of a buddy with a suitable hand gesture...).

Clips are zip-tied to slate, torch and sausage. Adding pockets on the exposure suit, combined with a minimalist bc (or backplate/wing) will keep things streamlined and uncluttered.

Clutter I use to dive with, but no longer carry: leg knife, catch bag
snorkel and retractors - bought two at a dive shop, never dived with them.

Cheers,
Rohan.

 

[ScubaSarus]

A note I like to pass on is to be wary of metal to metal connections were you cant cut a gadget free if it snares on something. Also be wary of those spring clips (suicide clips) that can catch on a line, cable etc unknowingly. I see many new divers using these clips that all the dive stores seem to sell and I see DM's wearing them too. I told a newbie one about a clip the dive store gave her for her rental gage and she seemed offended by me warning her about that clip. No apologies here.

 

[J75]

jschili,

I try to keep retractors to a minimum. They seem to be a good idea when you're first starting out. However, you'll soon realize how easily they can become entaglement hazards. I dive with a wrist mounted computer and a wrist slate, a knife mounted on my BC, a safety mirror and whistle also mounted to my BC, and a console with SPG, compass and back up computer tightly attached to minimize danglies.

J.

 

[EuphoriaII]

Being a newbie myself, I read this board extensively and developed this plan for my equipment:
Spend as much as you can buying quality stuff. Then spend 15%more. When the wife complains about excessive spending on gear, spend another 10% :11:

But seriously, get a mask thats comfortable on your face and forms a good seal. I can't comment on the prescription lenses part because I had Lasix surgery last year. I went with a more basic traditional mask, fins and snorkle and decided to spend the money on a quality BC and reg.

 

[Rookie_J]

Spend as much as you can buying quality stuff. Then spend 15%more. When the wife complains about excessive spending on gear, spend another 10% :11: