Newbie Equipment?

[DNK]

I'm sure that this has been asked a million times but please help me out.
I'm fairly new to diving - got OW two years ago and have done about 10 dives. Most in a local quarry on rented equipment. Since I really enjoy it, I'm planning on taking the leap and purchase my own equipment. The only problem I have is sorting all the various information I have gotten from either LDS, friends that dive, or online.

1] Don't ever buy used equipment
2] Don't ever buy equipment online
3] Only buy equipment from an LDS
4] Buy the best equipment(expensive) you can
5] Buy the cheapest, it all works
6] Go ahead and buy used, as long as you can have it checked it out and serviced it should be no different than buying new.
7] Go ahead and buy it online, the stuff doesn't break if you get it serviced.

I'm so confused, my LDS has me about half terrified that I'll die if I buy equipment from anybody but them. I really like these guys for all of the help they have given me. But I can't seem to get over the fact that they want to sell me a $2000 set up.
Environmental midlevel zeagle primary, secondary and octo
Integrated air computer(when I already have a nice wrist mounted one that I bought from them), they keep telling me I should have a backup.
Zeagle stilleto bcd
Hyperstretch wetsuit

It seems to me that
1] This is totally overkill for my experience level
2] Overpriced by at least $500 when I compare it to online prices

I'm really not trying to be a cheapskate, but from what I have read, I would think that I should be able to get a respectable brand new rig for $1000

Please help me out,

I'm seriously getting throughly disillusioned with the whole thing.

 

[H2Andy]

I'm really not trying to be a cheapskate, but from what I have read, I would think that I should be able to get a respectable brand new rig for $1000

trust your instincts. i got my initial rig for about $700, on-line, and am still alive.

also, not all dive shops are created equal. i take it you only have the one shop
where you live, right? any way you can make a day-trip to another shop, just to
look around, get a feel for what is there?

as for on-line purchases, i've bought probably 80% of my stuff on line.
i would highly reccomend http://scubatoys.com/

they have manufacturer's warranties, are very reputable, and are good people.

also, if you call them on the phone, they'll give you on the spot prices that can
be very nice.

don't believe everything your dive shop says. they have a vested interest in
scaring you (so you buy from them)

and you don't need a backup computer at this time, if ever. just say no.

I'm seriously getting throughly disillusioned with the whole thing.

please don't!!! diving is a wonderful activity. it can seem bewildering with all the
array of stuff that is thrown at you, but you can make minimal purchases now
and get a very good (and complete) kit that will last you for years. in a few
months, you will have a much better idea of what's what and where you want to
go with your diving, and you can upgrade your equipment at that point.

 

[Gary D.]

Find another LDS! Sounds like the're on LSD!

Gary D.

 

[mxracer19]

Iv done business with leisurepro.com. they told me they support all manufacturers warrenties....but that doesnt mean they offer mfgs warrenties. I ordered a bare arctic 7mm. i looked at one at my LDS and one of the principal reasons i wanted it was because it had a no-pill outer, with titanium inner skin. for 320. i foud it on leisurepro.com for 165, but when it came, it did NOT have the titanium skin OR the no-pill outer. I was disappointed, but for 165 im not going to complain too much. my point is, sometimes the gear you get off the internet might be a different product YEAR, so it might not have up-to-date features, thus you get it very inexpensivly.
my ideal setup, consisting of the oceanic chute 3 bcd, with delta 3 cdx5 reg, an alpha 7 octo, oceanic veo 200 air/nitrox comp wrist mount, and a pressure guage will cost me roughly 750 on leisurepro.com. a little more from scuba.com but WITH mfgs warrenties since they ARE authorized dealers, or $1200(!!!) from my LDS...just for bcd regs and a comp. no gear that you buy should be expected to FAIL, it's all life support from professional manufacturers. the differences are in things like support, service and warrenties, customer service. id love to buy from my LDS solely because theyre awsome, but I just cant afford it. it all comes down to what youre willing to sacrafice.

 

[mxracer19]

in addition(sry i shouldve just added to the above) I personally feel that dive gear is grossly overpriced. compare climbing equipment with dive equipment. both have life-support features, but with climbing equipment, its much more cut and dry. if you fall, and your harness breaks, you WILL die. and most of the upper level climbing harnesses are around $60-80. good rope is only $160. I just dont understand why a bp/w combo, with a ss backplate and some 2" nylon strap has to be $400. the steel alone probobly cost under $40. the wings, i could see. but the rest? burn me at the stake but it feels like everyone has to make money off you, even on something as simple as 6 lbs of bent steel with straps.

im going to make a better BP/W. and mine is going to f'ing rock. AND it's going to be affordable.

-Matt

 

[kidspot]

If as H2Andy suspects you only have 1 LDS, that would be the biggest incentive to give them the business as if you make them mad you don't have anyone else to go to . . . that said I'd hate shopping for that reason alone and as long as I could still get air fills from them I'd take my business elsewhere...or buy my own compressor - But that's just me and I live in a city with many LDS's just walking distance away. I have currently given my business to a shop that is happy to get business even if they don't get all of it. I refuse to do business with another LDS down the street (which is closer) because they gave me "flack" over an SPG I had bought online - so he gets no business at all from me.

If it matters I priced a very inexpensive regulator, octo, gauge, bc combo (minus the computer) for a friend at $450 after shipping the other day - combination of leisurepro and triple-l.biz ... but Larry at Scubatoys would be well worth calling and getting a quote.

 

[DiveMaven]

You definitely don't need to spend a fortune to get decent gear. I bought my BC on e-bay for $150 (barely used....basically brand new when I got it), and my regs/computer from Larry at ScubaToys. I bought my Henderson Hyperstretch in Florida (new), and the rest of my stuff is SeaQuest, Zeagle, and Aeris. I'd say everything was around $1100 total.

IMO if you have a computer, you don't need to buy another one, and whether or not you buy a Henderson wetsuit (I'm assuming that's what you meant when you said Hyperstretch since that's a Henderson trademark) is totally up to you. Personally, I wouldn't own anything but a Henderson Hyperstretch, but not everyone is so freaky about feeling squished by a tight wetsuit like me. There are much less expensive wetsuits on the market that you might be very comfortable in, so you'll want to try on as many brands as you can.

Just be prepared to want to change or upgrade your gear in a few years. I haven't been diving long (couple of years), but in that time I've come to realize that I would rather have a different BC, so one of these days will be trading up for a Dive Rite Transpac. No, not interested in tech diving, am purely a recreational diver, but I'm a minimalist and love how minimal the Dive Rite is. Fortunately for me, although my SeaQuest BC is a Diva, it's the original Diva and basically has NO doodads or extras. It's as minimalist as a jacket style BC gets IMO, so I'm okay with it for awhile yet.

 

[616fun]

Why not do both. Online is good for things. I have purchased things like weighting systems, lights, hoods and gloves, even a drysuit. My intial kit came from the LDS. I was trying to really support them because they are your door to diving (air fills, etc).

Well - I couldn't get them set up a drysuit class where I would rent a suit to see if I liked it - then purchase later. They were only interested in setting up a class if I would buy a $2000 suit. I began to realize that I was not their biggest priority, my wallet was. I wanted to see if drysuit was for me before I invested that much cash. Their loss I guess, because I bought a suit online with a better return policy and warrenty.

Needless to say I only get air fills from this shop now. Sounds like with the way they are treating you about the computer - they may like your wallet too.

Just go with your gut. As mentioned above - most of my online purchases have been from www.scubatoys.com. They are a LDS that offers online store as well. Get the number from their website and call Larry. Tell him you found out about him on Scubaboard and we'll take care of you. (BTW - he carries the Zeagle stuff your LDS is trying to sell you - and I'll bet it signficantly cheaper than $2000)

 

[Shasta_man]

Forget the redundant computer. You don't even need air integrated though its a nice to have.

The best thing you can buy is the hyperstretch suit. Worth every cent, especially if you're diving 7mm suits. You can be much more comfortable in the water and on land without being compressed by the rental quality 7mm. But this applies to all thicknesses and most of all to the hood if you need one. No more tearing your hair out. I have 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm suits, but not gold core because the inside is harder to get on and I'm still fine without it or the cost.

You can buy stuff from online but you want it all to fit. Exactly. That's another why you buy your own gear. Because it fits correctly so your vacation is spent enjoying the dive, not hassling with gear.

I'd also suggest a BC that the air surrounds your body rather than purely back inflation. It's easier for newbies and is great for warm water diving. The back inflation tends to be more difficult to subtly change, though the experts can easily do so.

I'm sure that this has been asked a million times but please help me out.
I'm fairly new to diving - got OW two years ago and have done about 10 dives. Most in a local quarry on rented equipment. Since I really enjoy it, I'm planning on taking the leap and purchase my own equipment. The only problem I have is sorting all the various information I have gotten from either LDS, friends that dive, or online.

1] Don't ever buy used equipment
2] Don't ever buy equipment online
3] Only buy equipment from an LDS
4] Buy the best equipment(expensive) you can
5] Buy the cheapest, it all works
6] Go ahead and buy used, as long as you can have it checked it out and serviced it should be no different than buying new.
7] Go ahead and buy it online, the stuff doesn't break if you get it serviced.

I'm so confused, my LDS has me about half terrified that I'll die if I buy equipment from anybody but them. I really like these guys for all of the help they have given me. But I can't seem to get over the fact that they want to sell me a $2000 set up.
Environmental midlevel zeagle primary, secondary and octo
Integrated air computer(when I already have a nice wrist mounted one that I bought from them), they keep telling me I should have a backup.
Zeagle stilleto bcd
Hyperstretch wetsuit

It seems to me that
1] This is totally overkill for my experience level
2] Overpriced by at least $500 when I compare it to online prices

I'm really not trying to be a cheapskate, but from what I have read, I would think that I should be able to get a respectable brand new rig for $1000

Please help me out,

I'm seriously getting throughly disillusioned with the whole thing.

 

[Scubaguy62]

I'm sure that this has been asked a million times but please help me out.
I'm fairly new to diving - got OW two years ago and have done about 10 dives. Most in a local quarry on rented equipment. Since I really enjoy it, I'm planning on taking the leap and purchase my own equipment. The only problem I have is sorting all the various information I have gotten from either LDS, friends that dive, or online.

1] Don't ever buy used equipment
2] Don't ever buy equipment online
3] Only buy equipment from an LDS
4] Buy the best equipment(expensive) you can
5] Buy the cheapest, it all works
6] Go ahead and buy used, as long as you can have it checked it out and serviced it should be no different than buying new.
7] Go ahead and buy it online, the stuff doesn't break if you get it serviced.

I'm so confused, my LDS has me about half terrified that I'll die if I buy equipment from anybody but them. I really like these guys for all of the help they have given me. But I can't seem to get over the fact that they want to sell me a $2000 set up.
Environmental midlevel zeagle primary, secondary and octo
Integrated air computer(when I already have a nice wrist mounted one that I bought from them), they keep telling me I should have a backup.
Zeagle stilleto bcd
Hyperstretch wetsuit

It seems to me that
1] This is totally overkill for my experience level
2] Overpriced by at least $500 when I compare it to online prices

I'm really not trying to be a cheapskate, but from what I have read, I would think that I should be able to get a respectable brand new rig for $1000

Please help me out,

I'm seriously getting throughly disillusioned with the whole thing.

There are some LD shops that put to shame used car salespersons. On that note, don't take what they tell you as the "rule of law."

My first rig cost me about the same H2Andy paid for his, and I bought it at Divers Direct (in person). I got more than 100 dives off the reg and the BC, and then, when my wife started diving, guess which regulator she used....she put quite a bit of dives on it. Also, I purchased a used reg, octo, console combo from my dive instructor, and dove it for about 75 dives before buying my Abyss 2005. Key thing is to keep your gear properly maintained by an authorized dive shop. If you buy used gear, insist the seller produces maintenance records, and don't be afraid to check out the sign offs.

Whatever you do, don't get disillusioned with diving.....it's the greatest of sports (with fishing a close second )