Newbie wanting some tips and advice

[divedownunder]

Hi there, im just doing padi ow in rotorua, and i have been offered some dive gear
$700

8yr old dacor nautilus bcd
Sherwood Brute Reg(used 3 times)
Sherwood Standard octi(used 3 times)
Performance Diver Gloves (new)
old gear bag
old Dacor fins and booties

Do you think this would be a good deal for a beginer like me?
I plan on diving in less than 18metres of water for crays etc

Also has anyone looked at www.leisurepro.com they seem so cheap and send to nz in 7 to 10 days.

Also is there any good places to dive withing 2 hours of rotorua, shortly i will also be looking for a dive buddy, so if anyones keen ?

Cheers

 

[Packhorse]

$700 buys you alot of gear on Trade me.
Is $700 your budget or can you spend more?
www.blackart.com.au sells a really well priced BP/W for $450AU
If you want a standard jacket BC (not sure why you would when you can get a BP/W) then dont pay more than $250 second hand.
Second hand regs can be had cheap. I have brought quite a few. Just make sure you know what you are buying and if they can be serviced still (most Dacor cant).
Boots and gloves and fins and masks can be brought cheap new on trade me once again.
Becarefull of some advice you may get from your dive shop. They may tell you to never buy second hand gear or that BP/W are only good for tech diving. Its not true.

As for dive buddys and where to dive check out www.scubadive.net.nz and www.sods.co.nz

And that line about less than 18m depth. Believe me that will soon change. And there is a lot more to diving in NZ than crays although it is still one of my favorite dive activitys.

 

[divedownunder]

I was hoping to be able to get everything i needed to start diving not counting tank for no more than $1000

 

[Packhorse]

You can do it. But if you are going diving long term you will end up out growing the $1000 real quick.

My advice. Buy a good fitting mask that suits.Many divers soon dive without a snorkel so dont go spending too much on one to start with. These can be brought cheap new on TM along with boots and gloves.
The big ticket items are regs/gauges, wetsuit, BC.
Id buy a good wetsuit that would last. A cheap BC that can be upgraded later (maybe to a BP/W) and depending on how much is left either rent the regs or buy the best regs you can. I like my scubapro regs and if you keep an eye out there are some really good sets that go on TM real cheap. Just remember that you have no idea whenthey were last serviced and you should add the service price to the cost price.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/SCUBA-snorkelling/Tanks-regulators/auction-88209059.htm

This could be a good buy. the G250 reg has a very good rep. Although if the 1st stage is 300 bar it may be DIN not yoke. (even better as long as you can get DIN tanks).
This set is well worth $400

 

[divedownunder]

thanks alot for your help i have added that auction to my watch list.

 

[Packhorse]

It is a DIN mk10 1st stage and an older G250 2nd. If you do buy it and want a Yoke 1st stage I have a yoke MK10 I am willing to swap.

 

[divedownunder]

sounds great, how much would it cost to get the reg and octi serviced if I do buy these?
I think I would prefer yoke system

 

[Packhorse]

I dont really know.
I brought a book or two, some specialist tools and some chrito lube and service my own regs. Its not that hard.
I stripped down and checked and relubbed my MK10 and it works well. IP is a constant 140psi. No leaks.
The parts you need to do both regs will cost $50NZ and the labour is less than 1 hour.
If you have a LDS that you trust the ask them to check your regs instead of servicing them.

 

[Packhorse]

So did you buy it?

 

[divedownunder]

no, i was too worried about the srvicing and the fact they looked really old and worn on the outside.
If i had of read that last message of yours I think I might have bought them.

I ended up getting the set listed above, in the hope that the guy i bought it off can be a prospective dive buddy for me