Newbie that's learned something

[Raven8020]

Hey all, thanks for your advice regarding my earlier post, ended up not buying used package so i went shopping today. I didn't buy anything, but did get a quote from the store. It's basically the same thing as the other package, but all new. Here's what I'm looking at:

Zeagle Escape BCD
Atomic Z2 primary
Atomic SSI secondary
generic analogue gauges

The LDS quoted me a price of $1180, a whole lot nice then the $1999 the other one wants. Just wanted to get some feedback if this is a good price, seems decent enough to me but wanted to know what you all thought.

Raven

 

[Garrobo]

Sounds high to me. Check out Ebay.

 

[emttim]

Check ScubaToys.com too. Their prices are usually quite good.

 

[Raven8020]

Checked ebay and could get the BCD a little cheaper, but really wanna support my LDS and it is my first bcd purchase so want to get it right. Don't see how it's high, I figure:

BCD $400
Primary $400
Secondary $250
Gauges $200

I know that adds up to more than the price, but put it together and you get a deal. I've heard nothing but great things about the Atomic regs and the same for the Escape. I'd rather spend some more money now then replace the stuff in a year when I move to AOW. Any other thoughts.

Raven

 

[ronbeau]

Hey all, thanks for your advice regarding my earlier post, ended up not buying used package so i went shopping today. I didn't buy anything, but did get a quote from the store. It's basically the same thing as the other package, but all new. Here's what I'm looking at:

Zeagle Escape BCD
Atomic Z2 primary
Atomic SSI secondary
generic analogue gauges

The LDS quoted me a price of $1180, a whole lot nice then the $1999 the other one wants. Just wanted to get some feedback if this is a good price, seems decent enough to me but wanted to know what you all thought.

Raven

You will be happy with the Atomic Z2 regulator and the SS1. I won 2 Atomic B2 regulators (wife's and mine) and 3 Atomic SS1 (wife, daughter & mine).

We have not had any problems with any of them. The deepest I have been in warm water with the B2 regulator is 132 feet (Big Island, Hawaii) and the breathing was just as easy at 132 feet as it was at 30 feet.

The deepest I have been in cold water is 95 feet (Atlantic off Massachusetts) and Dutch Springs). The water temperature was in the low to mid 40⁰ F range. Again the regulator was as easy to breath from as it was at 30 feet.

Another advantage of the SS1 that you are considering is that it make rinsing out the interior bladder of your BC so easy that you will do it much more often. The SS1 simply unscrews from the corrugated hose which make the BC bladder flushing so much easier.

The only difference B2 regulators that own versus the Z2 is the material they are made from and the fact that the B2 comes standard with a swivel turret on the first stage while the Z2 does not. Other than that the design of the regulators is identical.

I have never used a Zeagle BC so I cannot comment from personal experience. From everything I have read Zeagle make quality products and stands behind their products.

 

[Trixxie]

Checked ebay and could get the BCD a little cheaper, but really wanna support my LDS and it is my first bcd purchase so want to get it right. Don't see how it's high, I figure:

BCD $400
Primary $400
Secondary $250
Gauges $200

I know that adds up to more than the price, but put it together and you get a deal. I've heard nothing but great things about the Atomic regs and the same for the Escape. I'd rather spend some more money now then replace the stuff in a year when I move to AOW. Any other thoughts.

Raven

Thanks for posting you would rather support your LDS rather than buying on line to save a few bucks, that's not always a popular thing to do around here. If they are worth their salt then it should be mutually beneficial to you as well in building a customer relationship with them.

 

[snoballz]

You may want to give Scuba Toys call. However, Atomic Aquatics do not support sales via Internet so I doubt you'll get any relief unless packaged with a BC and gauges like you have now. Savings may be minimal so it may not be a bad idea to support the LDS if you are uncomfortable with online sales, albeit ST is a brick an mortar with great customer support for both online as well as retail sales.

Any reason why you think that you will need to replace your stuff when you get AOW cert? Perhaps incorrect usage of "then" and "than"?

If you think you'll be replacing stuff in a year, you are better served to rent and get a better idea of what you want out of a BC and other life-supporting gear. It's a big initial investment and seems wasteful to drop a load of cash only to replace with new gear a year later.

However, if you meant "than", that is to say, you would rather drop the money now on good gear than replacing it a year later, you can't go wrong with Zeagle and Atomics.

Good luck!
:14:

 

[Raven8020]

priced out scubatoys.com and it came to more than the "discounted" price even with substituting regs due to Atomics online policy. Just got an email back from the guy selling his used gear, maybe another bidder went away don't know. The gear was bought back in 2001 and has not been used since 2004, so I'm concerned about how it has held up over the past 4 years. The seller has offered to have the gear checked out at a local dive shop to verify the condition of it before selling it to me. I'm thinking that if everything checks out okay, $700 for a bcd and AERIS dive computer, even if both are 7 years old, alone makes it worth while. Here's the entire package:

Zeagle Concept II Pro BCD + Octo backup regulator + MKII BC Inflator/alt air source (retail $600)
Genesis Atlas Regulator
Aeris Atmos Pro Dive Computer
Xcel 3/2MM full wet suit
Amara 2MM diving gloves
Micro Pro diving knife
Ikelite PC Lite
Akona Diving deluxe rolling duffel bag

Don't really care about the wetsuit as it probably won't fit me and will probably get new gloves, but I'm thinking that just for the BCD and dive computer, never mind the regs, it's not a bad deal. If anyone knows of a better deal on a Zeagle BCD with similar accessories let me know.

Raven

 

[PePaw]

Raven, that shop will give you a pretty good student discount on your gear. And annual service is important as well.
Comfort and fit is everything. You may want to wait until after your classes to buy and try a different model with each pool session.
My wife really liked the feel of one BC in the shop. But when she tried it in the pool another brand and model was far more comfortable.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.
BUY ONCE !

 

[FF-EMT Diver]

Hey, I am a newb also and yes the price for equip. is high BUT... this is stuff you will be using for years to come and it is also LIFESAVING stuff, So I would stop worrying so much about price, Pick good quality stuff that is in your range, saying that I would not go with the used stuff, (1) with new gear you get NEW gear not something already7 years old (2) you get warrantys on your new stuff (3) you can spend a chunk on having the stuff refurbed, I know you said the guy would take it to a shop BUT..., Also I also prefer to buy from LDS, because you get a familarity with who will be caring for you and your gear for a long time to come.