Hi all, I am new to this and am asking a little advice on equipment i would need to purchase. i really dont want to rent anything. my first question is on regulators. there is so many out there and at a wide variety of pricing. i read a lot of there discriptions and that doesnt really give me a lot of info. i dont want to go out and by an inexpensive one and not feel compfortable with it. any suggestions? also a friend of mine told me to get a spare air bottle instead of an octo. now my classes dont start for over a month so i have no idea what the heck an octo is. and last i hate being cold so what type of wet suit should i purchase. i live in So Cali and plan to dive out here for the most part.
Nwbie Equipment Purchasing
- Thread starter Tresguey
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Most popular brands produce good regulators. My favorites are, Atomic, Apeks, Scuba Pro, Oceanic and Mares. I would purchase one that you can get serviced near where you live. My advice is don't by the low end of any line but you may not need the high end. The low end of most lines are not good performers with the exception of Apeks and Atomic. Do some research, read some reviews, talk to other divers.
As far as the spare air, I'm not a big fan of them. Buy a standard safe second then buy a pony bottle later if you find you really need or want one. Spare Air's just don't hold enough air for my tastes. They don't allow a diver to make a long safety stop if it is required.
I'm sure you will get a lot of opinions but take them all with a grain of salt and make up your own mind. Research is the key.
As far as the spare air, I'm not a big fan of them. Buy a standard safe second then buy a pony bottle later if you find you really need or want one. Spare Air's just don't hold enough air for my tastes. They don't allow a diver to make a long safety stop if it is required.
I'm sure you will get a lot of opinions but take them all with a grain of salt and make up your own mind. Research is the key.
Wayward Son
Contributor
Don't buy anything. Go take your class & get certified. In the meantime, read a lot, educate yourself about gear.
For the most part, all the major brands make quality gear. Some models are better for specific uses, such as cold water diving. But the most expensive gear you can buy is the stuff you rush into before you're fully informed, only to discover 6 months later that it's not what you really want so you have to replace it.
So relax & take your time.
For the most part, all the major brands make quality gear. Some models are better for specific uses, such as cold water diving. But the most expensive gear you can buy is the stuff you rush into before you're fully informed, only to discover 6 months later that it's not what you really want so you have to replace it.
So relax & take your time.
skinerd
Contributor
My advice and I am willing to risk most peoples advice will be to wait untill after your course to purchase your equipment. Try as many different options as you can in the water, and see what feels best for you. It would be a shame to spend upwards of $1000 now only to find out in three months time that some or none of it suites your needs. Aside from that, take a look at what other experienced divers in your area are using and make sure that the shop/s in your area will be able to service what ever regs you get. Best of luck.
Tresguey:
Welcome to the Board!
Concerning the regulators and wetsuits, it sounds like you don't even want to rent for the OW class?
(If you rent, you can sample some of the gear avaliable to you, and see how you like it,) But if that's the case you should go to your LDS (Local Dive Shop) and talk to them for some gear recommendations. They know what works well around their shop, including regulators and wetsuit thicknesses and will be VERY happy to help you.
The only thing I would suggest with regulators is that if you are going to dive more than a few times a year, go for a balanced reg.
As for the octopus question, an octopus is an alternate second stage (what you breathe out of) attatched to your first stage (the part that screws onto your tank) in case a buddy runs out of air and needs to share yours. Spair air is a very small tank with an integrated regulator. It is not intended to replace your octopus, but to be used with it. If you are at 60 feet (which will be your maximum allowable depth), and your buddy runs out of air, they're not going to be thrilled when you hand them a tank with a few breaths of air in it. (as opposed to the rather large tank on you back.)
H2Andy
Contributor
Tresguey:
ditto on the "go to class" first. buy your minimum gear (mask, snorkel, fins) and
rent the rest through the dive store.
in the meantime, read a lot about the different possible choices available to you.
once you have a sense of what things are and what they do, you'll be in a much
better position to dedcide for yourself what you want.
btw, an "octo" is short for "octopus," slang for a secondary (or back up) second
stage.
a second stage is the "mouthpiece thingie" that you put in your mouth and breath
through. it's connected to the "first stage" by a hose. the first stage screws onto
the tank itself.
an octopus is another second stage connected by a different hose to the first stage.
thus, you end up with one first stage (attached to the tank) from which two hoses
lead out, each with a second stage (mouthpiece) attached. the one you breathe
from is called the primary, and the one you keep for emergencies is called the
back-up (commonly known as the octopus or octo)
[dang it, Jesse...i type too slow]
Wayward Son
Contributor
Correction: The one item I would say to consider buying, if not immediately but possibly prior to your OW dives, is a wet suit. Fit is everything, so unless it's real easy to get a rental that fits you really well, once you have enough time in the pool that you're pretty sure you'll continue, then I'd say go ahead & buy a suit that fits you.
Damselfish
Contributor
Other than smaller stuff like mask/fins/snorkel/booties, and maybe gloves, almost everyone rents the major gear for class. Some classes they break out the cost of this and some they just include it. Until you have at least taken the class, it's really hard to understand what you want no matter how much research you do. Gear selection should be one of the things covered in class. Even for mask/fins/snorkel, there are some things you need to know to make good choices.
As has already been said, Spare Air is definitely not a replacement for an octo. I'm not sure I would ask that person for any more advice!
Also, don't count on getting the best gear advice from your LDS. You may get great advice, or you may have an LDS that is more interested in selling what they have in stock or will make them the most money, rather than pointing you towards the right stuff.
I do agree, after you've been through at least some pool time, if you think you're going to stick with it getting your own wetsuit that fits well is not a bad idea.
As has already been said, Spare Air is definitely not a replacement for an octo. I'm not sure I would ask that person for any more advice!
Also, don't count on getting the best gear advice from your LDS. You may get great advice, or you may have an LDS that is more interested in selling what they have in stock or will make them the most money, rather than pointing you towards the right stuff.
I do agree, after you've been through at least some pool time, if you think you're going to stick with it getting your own wetsuit that fits well is not a bad idea.
thanks for the advice.....i guess its buy the basic stuff for now. and do a lot more research on the main equipment i would need. this seems like a good forum and i'm sure i'm gonna have a lot of questions to ask
Buoyant1
Contributor
Welcome! Keep reading and asking questions...search the forums on specific pieces of gear, you'll hear good and bad things about most, but it will be from the USERS not someone being paid to try something out and write a review!
I tried a few different things after getting certified on trips, and found what I DIDN'T want, asked a lot of questions, and read a lot of text here there and everywhere!
But definately try a few things out first, you might like a wrap around jacket better than a back inflate, or even might like the back plate and wings set up, but try them all before buying.
Same with regs....Some have adjustments, some don't, some breathe better etc.
Good luck!
I tried a few different things after getting certified on trips, and found what I DIDN'T want, asked a lot of questions, and read a lot of text here there and everywhere!
But definately try a few things out first, you might like a wrap around jacket better than a back inflate, or even might like the back plate and wings set up, but try them all before buying.
Same with regs....Some have adjustments, some don't, some breathe better etc.
Good luck!
Tresguey:thanks for the advice.....i guess its buy the basic stuff for now. and do a lot more research on the main equipment i would need. this seems like a good forum and i'm sure i'm gonna have a lot of questions to ask
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