Nebdiver:
I am on the slow countdown for my OW class (4 wks!) and am trying to figure out what equipment I will need after I take the plunge. My question is when getting your first regulator setup do you need to get the reg, octo, and gauges at the same time? It doesn't seem likely that you would be able to just rent the different components separately (aren't they all connected?) and I am trying to at least get a rough estimate of cost through my LDS. Is an octo required at the time of purchase? My plan is to get my OW this spring and spend the rest of the year working on skills in the local quarry or lakes while renting and gradually getting my own gear but I am not sure how to plan the regulator purchase. Thanks!
Congrats on a wise choice to join the world of underwater fun.
Couple of things.
Depending on the dive shop, you might be able to rent components such as a console... however I don't recall ever seeing a shop in my area do this, other than possibly renting an air integrated computer console.
You CAN buy it all seperately, such as add the octo/backup later, however you shouldn't really dive it, without a reg to donate to an OOA buddy, you aren't a very effective buddy. And without an SPG you can't monitor your own air supply very well.
The BEST advice one can give (and you will get many people who say the same thing I think) is to rent as MUCH and as different of things as you can. Some shops will rent bottom end gear, some will rent mid range, and there are some who will have demo/rentals of high end regs.
Get to play with as many as you can (after cert) and figure out what you like. There are many good brands out there... many people prefer a few major brands such as ScubaPro, Atomics, Aqualung, Apex, and others, but most all are fairly similar in design and function.
Also Rodales is a good place to look at how well a particular regulator actually performs.
It is my opinion that after a certain point, all regulators are the same performance wise, other than having a different feel... on a recent dive with my buddy we practiced our OOA drills, and when I recieved his Apex primary, I was surprised at how different it felt from my ScubaPro, it wasn't better, it wasn't worse, just different, and it had a different feel to it... after so many dives with mine, it felt weird. You will probably rent a regulator at some point, and go WOW I love this thing, and that will probably be what you buy.
Don't belive everything a sales person tells you as the only true word... there are sales people out there who don't have a clue what they are talking about, and who will sell you what you don't want or need. Just be aware of it, and try and research as much as you can prior to talking to them, it gives you a feeling for if they know what they are talking about and selling, or if they don't have a clue, or are flat out lying to you.
Enjoy the sport, and good luck in your class.
