Reality Set In - Feeling Overwhelmed

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JodiBB

Guest
Messages
529
Reaction score
1
Location
Sunny So. Cal!!
# of dives
25 - 49
Okay...I'm still new, but already have my OW, AOW and almost my Wreck Specialty completed. I've been renting equipment up to this point, but I had to return my rentals today, which has caused me to accept the reality that either I have to continually rent or finally purchase my own equipment.

So now I'm becoming overwhelmed...I've been doing research, but that is just overwhelming me even more. I know I want to at least look at the Zeagle Zena BCD as it's gotten so much good feedback here on these threads. It might not be my final decision, but I want to at least explore this option.

Where I'm becoming even more overwhelmed is the reg setup. Basically, most of my diving will be off the So. Cal coast with the exception of vacations to the Caribbean, which we do every 1-2 years. Currently, I'm using air-filled tanks (usually a steel 63 or 80), but may one day look into Nitrox.

So where do I start? I've looked on the internet at ScubaToys and Ebay, but that's even more overwhelming....So what is a "newish" diver supposed to do?? :06: :06: :06:

Thanks in advance!
 
JodiBB:
....So what is a "newish" diver supposed to do?? :06: :06: :06:
You're supposed to go down to your local dive shop with a fist full of money and walk out with whatever they sell you!

On a more serious note, there are lots of good regulators out there and it's hard to go wrong. Don't sweat it too much. Do look into service costs. Over the life of the reg, you'll probably spend more in service costs than you spend to buy it initially.

On BCD, the important things are fit, fit, and oh yeah, how well does it fit. Zena should do fine. So would a Diva or a dozen other BCDs.

Make sure you get a good set of safety gear, if you haven't already ----
knife, EMT shears, mirror, whistle, surface marker buoy.
 
Charlie99:
You're supposed to go down to your local dive shop with a fist full of money and walk out with whatever they sell you!
Hmmmm.....now why doesn't that just feel right?? :06: :05: :D
 
Start by looking at what you've rented. What did you like? What didn't you like?

I don't know of any regs out there that won't handle Nitrox so you can just decide which reg you like and it will handle that step in your progression.

Check with the local shops and see if they have the BC you are interested in and if so if they will let you try one in a pool or have them in the rental fleet.

Try lots and get what serves you best. You will see that many on the board have a lot of strong opinions. That is because what they have works well for them. Decide if you like back inflate or jacket style and so on. That being said don't rule out the Back Plate and Wings Try it and see if it is right for you....it might not be....but check it out too. (easy to pack for those trips)

I wish you luck in your search. Have fun.

Chad

PS. Like was said above fit is very important if you are to be happy with your purchase.
 
BigWhiteSquare:
You might get better responses (or not :D ) if you post questions about specific pieces of gear you're interested in.
I agree, but I don't know what I'm interested in! That's part of my problem! :06:

For my rental, here's what I used & became accustomed to:

SeaQuest Pro XD - size medium...I liked the integrated weights and the pockets and D-rings...It's jacket-style, which didn't bother me except when I needed to replace my weights while the BCD was inflated...so I'm moving more for the backinflate at the very least.

The 2nd stage was an AquaLung, but I couldn't tell you which model. The computer/gauges were Suunto, which weren't bad, and the octo? Have no clue...

I know this isn't helpful, but I'm trying to sort this all out....*SIGH*
 
Charlie99:
You're supposed to go down to your local dive shop with a fist full of money and walk out with whatever they sell you!

I'll try not to be so cynical ;)

1. Figure out your budget. You may not be able to buy a complete kit all at once...accept that. (My personal mantra when buying something is to figure out my budget and buy the best in that area. How many people really say, "I could have bought the cheaper model?"? But that is me, that is how I roll.)

2. Decide the order in which you want to purchase gear. (I would suggest; exposure suit, BC, reg/computer, cylinder. My reasoning is this: exposure suit; we are diving cold water, being comfortable adds to the whole dive experience. BC and reg/computer can be interchanged, but I was thinking along the line of comfort again as far as BC. Everyone has their own order in which to purchase gear. Putting the BC before the regs give you a chance to rent different brands of regs at different shops.)

3. Go to the SCUBA Show, it is coming up in June (which is also when Sport Chalet has their SCUBA month and will have things on sale). Tobin (*see the foot note at the end*) has been there in the past, as well as other dive manufactures and of course Sport Chalet.

4. Figure out what you want your equipment to do. Are you comfortable in the water? Look into back inflation or wing instead of jacket style. Nitrox in the future? Make sure your reg and computer can handle it. Want to write logs or download them? How often are you diving? How often do you want to replace your gear?

5. Make sure that if something doesn't fit or you don't like it there is a return policy. Look into the warranties of the equipment. More manufactures are giving parts for life but you have to be willing to keep good records and have your equipment serviced within a specific window.

6. Talk to your friends. Get their advice. Perhaps you can test out their equipment on a dive. (I live in So. Cal too and if I can ever free up my schedule to attend another Wrinkles Dive, I would be more than happy to bring some of my equipment that you can take on a test dive if it fits.)

**(I know you mentioned Zeagle but check out Tobin's gear at DeepSeaSupply.com. I just got his back plate and wing and love it. I also have the Aqualung Libra and love that too.)

Hope that gives you a starting point! Good Luck!
 
It has been my experience that some, not all, repeat, not all, diveshops operate somewhat like a bad car dealer, trying to sell you what THEY want to sell you, not necessarily what is best for you.

As others have said, attempt to try before you buy, and don't make an impulse purchase.
 
Jodi, It took me almost a year of diving before I'd buy a BCD. I just couldn't decide what I wanted and just rented or borrowed from friends. I'm glad I did because it gave me the opportunity to try different styles and finally decide on what I was comfortable with. After diving various BCs I knew I wanted back inflate and then some of my dive buddies who were diving a backplate and wing suggested I try one of their setups. Well, I finally did and for me that is what worked. Before I decided on the backplate/wing I was looking at the Scubapro Ladyhawk which fitted nice. I liked the ladyhawk but I like even better not having a BC wrapped around me.

Regarding regs...well I got a deal on a Genesis2000 and bought that because as we know money doesn't grow on trees and this lifestyle is EXPENSIVE! :D BTW, I love the reg and still dive it. It has been two years now. It works for me and that is what I'm sticking with for now. Here is Genesis' site if you want to check them out: http://www.genesisscuba.com/regs_dad.html

Decide on a reg set up and then maybe rent the other stuff until you decide what you like. There are a lot of threads on here where people talk about buying stuff and regretting it later. Dont feel like you have to buy it all at once. Who can afford it anyway? ;) Also, you NEVER stop buying gear. :D There is always something that you convince yourself that you have to have. lol

Edit: Anna Marie is right. If you haven't already get your exposure suit. I couldn't stand the thought of wearing one that others had probaby peed in.

Another Edit: I will suggest the Scubapro Jets. I started with splits and ended up hating them. I dive the Jets now and love them! See if you can borrow a pair from a friend and try those out as well.
 
Charlie99 is absolutely right when he tells you to consider the service costs of a regulator. A year ago I got two new sets of regulators for my doubles and I actually chose to pay a slightly higher cost at a particular brick and mortar dive shop because they offered discounted prices on the anual service for the regulators purchased from them. I would consider it reasonable to factor the costs of ownership for a period of between 5 and 10 years into the future, you can certainly keep a regulator longer than that, but it is a good place to start.

Most of the major manufacturers selling regulators in North America offer a "free parts for life" program. These programs have a few strings attached. Usually they require that you bring the regulator to any authorized service facility EVERY YEAR. If you miss a year you are out! From that point forward you will need to pay for both parts and labor. If you keep in the program, you still pay for the labor, but at least the parts are free. ScubaPro is the only manufacturer that I am aware of that allows you to "buy yourself back into the program". With ScubaPro if you skip a year you simply pay for the parts the next time you bring it in, and then for subsequent years the parts are free again.

As far as different regulators go, you should be happy with any of the middle or higher end regulators from almost any manufacturer. If Southern California is the coldest water you will be diving in you do not need a "cold water" regulator. Stick with the major brands and make sure that you have more than one choice of shops locally for service, and don't consider Sport Chalet one of those sources.

Sport Chalet is certainly able to service gear but the long wait required rules them out as a good choice.

If you purchase through a mail order or internet source most, but not all, of the major manufacturers will NOT provide the free parts deal since most of the cheapest on line dealers are not authorized retailers. ScubaToys is a notable exception, but you should still check closely.

Where ever you buy your gear you need to keep the recipts for everything, purchase and EVERY service, these are your best tools to maintain that free parts deal.

For a BC, since you have been on ScubaBoard for longer than 20 minutes you have at least read about the BP/W, or Back plate and wing. It is what I use and I would not easily go back to a jacket. Having said that, you need to decide for yourself. Get a BC that you like and that fits well. Remember the important place for the BC to fit is IN the water, not in the showroom of the dive store. Rent different types and make up your mind IN the water, not out of it.

When it comes to all the little accessories, please, less is more! Do yourself a favor and don't look like a christmas tree festooned with ornaments when you jump in the water. Carry only what you need and keep entanglement hazards to a minimum. Kelp is a grabber, so keep the junk to a minimum.

Good luck, I hope I have been of some help.

Mark Vlahos
 

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