Questions from a newbie diver

[nubediver]

How much would it cost for a nitrox class and night diving class?
How much should it cost for a good quality wet suit and what is recommended?
What are the kind of equipment that is available for rent? Are they good quality equipment? My dive shop tells me that most of the equipment is very poor quality and it would be foolish to risk one's life on it.

 

[Trixxie]

specialties can run $150 - $185 or so

where are you diving? cold? warm? the cost of the suit will depend on the thickness and brand.

We're a new shop so we have new gear. I'm sure some places have really old gear and I have never personally ever rented gear but I am in some cases you prolly wouldn't want to trust your life to some shops stuff.

 

[Doc]

What are the kind of equipment that is available for rent?

Almost anything, but usually not snorkels or masks.

Are they good quality equipment?

For a dive-op to put junk into a rental situation would not be cost effective. Most rental gear is the "Mack Truck" of SCUBA Gear. Very solid, easily worked on.

My dive shop tells me that most of the equipment is very poor quality and it would be foolish to risk one's life on it.

So... this dive shop doesn't provide any rental gear? Or are they the one exception to that rule?

 

[Arizona]

nubediver,

I suggest updating your profile so that more can be known about your location. You will find a wealth of knowledge on the board and updating your profile will help get more "local" responses. Every area is different but it sounds like your dive shop wants to make some money and may be misleading you a bit.

I would say the vast majority of beginning divers use rental equipment. It may not be in the best shape but in general it is good enough.

IMO, don't buy anything except a mask and snorkel until you get certified and get a few dives under your belt. See what others are wearing and try to rent different items till you find your own way. The equipment section is a great place to look for info about items you may be interested in.

Good luck and welcome to scuba,

Arizona

 

[NancyLynn]

So... this dive shop doesn't provide any rental gear? Or are they the one exception to that rule?

Why rent to you, if they can convince you that you need to buy new gear from them before you can dive

Skepticism aside, until this latest trip I have used nothing but rental gear (aside from mask, fins, and snorkel).

Renting wetsuits is a pain (they never fit unless you are tall and slender to medium build) and not terribly cost effective (it doesn't take too many rental dives to equal the cost of your own wetsuit). On the other hand, if you're like me, you'll end up diving in so many different conditions you'll need many different wetsuits which may make it more cost effective to rent initially at least.

I haven't had any trouble with rental BCs and regs. They tend to be barebones workhorses - which matches the kind of equipment I purchase for most activities. I am looking forward to fine tuning my buoyancy control and trim, which is easier to do when you have your own equipment that doesn't change from dive to dive. On the other hand on the other hand I got a fair amount of practice adjusting to a variety of equipment which probably makes me a more versatile diver.

Always check it out before you leave the shop, and try to pick a dive shop that has been around a while and has a good reputation.

 

[ToddK]

"What are the kind of equipment that is available for rent? Are they good quality equipment? My dive shop tells me that most of the equipment is very poor quality and it would be foolish to risk one's life on it."

It sounds like they want to sell you some gear. Rental gear won't be as nice as what you will eventually own, but it is normally good enough. That said, it pays to do a good once over of the gear that you are renting. I'd recommend buying a mask & and a watch, and then renting everything else for a while, so that you can decide what you like and don't like. The problem with buying everything up front is that you'll probably end up rebuying some of the gear.

 

[seaducer]

How much would it cost for a nitrox class and night diving class?
How much should it cost for a good quality wet suit and what is recommended?
What are the kind of equipment that is available for rent? Are they good quality equipment? My dive shop tells me that most of the equipment is very poor quality and it would be foolish to risk one's life on it.

A nitrox class can would probably average 150$, sometimes you can find them cheaper, sometimes they are more money.

Just about everything can be rented. Wetsuits, bcds, regulators, computers, tanks. You can even find HID lights and wreck reels for rent in some cases. If that is what your dive shop is telling you, then find another shop. #1, why would they put students in an OW class in poor quality gear that they wouldn't trust their own lives with? #2, they are just trying to get you to plunk down a nice chunk of change in their shop for gear. #3 if rental gear fails and someone gets hurt or killed, that shop will be out of buisness faster than you can say liability.

Your wetsuit, you can find decent ones for as cheap as 60$, that is a shorty. They run into the several hundreds for top brand name 7mm suits and such. It really depends where and how much diving you will be doing. Caribbean vacations? Buy a shorty for under 100 and have a blast. NE or NW, or quarry diving, 7mm is a minimum, and you may will want a dry suit later on in your career.

Hope that helps...

 

[Scott]

What are the kind of equipment that is available for rent? Are they good quality equipment? My dive shop tells me that most of the equipment is very poor quality and it would be foolish to risk one's life on it.

Are you looking at renting from a resort/destination or your local dive store (LDS)? Most resort/destinations will rent all of the gear a traveler needs. LDS typically will rent everything except mask, fins, snorkel or booties depending on location.
There is a reputation that resort equipment is poor quality. Some resorts I've been to have gear that is at the end of it's life cycle and should be or is scheduled to be replaced. The equipment is going to get worn. I personally have not seen an accident caused from poor quality gear. I have also dove with operators that have great gear (new) because the old gear had just been replaced. Call and ask them before you go if you have a concern.
As for LDS, I know our store generally turns their rental gear over every 2 or 3 years and has a maintenance program for all the gear. If renting local give it look before you rent.

Just my .02 worth.

 

[Zoomer]

nubediver... where are you located?

I paid about 150..00 for my Nitrox class with all materials.
I paid about 250.00 for my AOW which a night dive is one of the options to take.
There is another way to go and that is a night diver specialty, not sure how much that runs.

 

[jbd]

My dive shop tells me that most of the equipment is very poor quality and it would be foolish to risk one's life on it.

If the best your dive shop can do is use scare tactics to sell you gear then I would suggest you not buy anything from them. They will probably be charging you full retail price and will base the sale on fear as opposed to features and benefits.

Rental gear is usually low to medium priced products, but even so its is usually quite reliable.