OldNSalty
Contributor
Neither -Buy used and save some cash for the dive boat.
Regulator vs Computer
- Thread starter Wolfdiver
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I agree with Dave to some extent. If you are going to save up the money to buy a computer you're likely going to be looking at something air-integrated. If you go that route you wont be able to use the air-integrated feature with a rental reg.
IMO, I would go with a hose-less air integrated computer. You can start off by using the computer without the air integration and then when you have a chance to purchase a regulator you can add in the air-integration.
After all, every rental reg will come with a set of gauges and I'm sure you know how to use them already.
IMO, I would go with a hose-less air integrated computer. You can start off by using the computer without the air integration and then when you have a chance to purchase a regulator you can add in the air-integration.
After all, every rental reg will come with a set of gauges and I'm sure you know how to use them already.
I say get the reg for now, and get a good one. Rental regs are usually lower performance economy regs, which work, but don't breathe as easy as a good quality reg. Also, the technology for regs is mature, if you buy a good reg it will perform as well as a new reg that will be introduced 10 years from now.
Computers are still rapidly evolving, and if you buy one now, next year a much better one will come out, and for less money.
As was pointed out earlier, you can dive without a computer, but you can't dive without a reg (not very long, anyway). It would be tragic to have a chance to dive in some exotic location and have the only local dive shop run out of rental regs.
Ron
Computers are still rapidly evolving, and if you buy one now, next year a much better one will come out, and for less money.
As was pointed out earlier, you can dive without a computer, but you can't dive without a reg (not very long, anyway). It would be tragic to have a chance to dive in some exotic location and have the only local dive shop run out of rental regs.
Ron
If you're going to be diving don't you usually call ahead to book your trip/boat/etc? If you don't, how you would know to take you reg or even your computer with you in the first place? Part of the reservation is taking inventory of the gear that you will need to be provided to you for your trip.
I can honestly say that on all the trips I've been on, not a single person has missed out on diving because there wasn't rental gear available.
elan
Contributor
A regulator, you own it you have it serviced, you know how it works and you get no surprises like falling off mouthpiece at 100ft, leaking hoses and other crap that you can come across with rentals, given you take care of it, of cause. Besides you never know who puked in that regulator on the previous dive. But even if you did it would not be of a much help
Computer,, ah I own one but it's laying in the box when I go diving.
Computer,, ah I own one but it's laying in the box when I go diving.
Not the case. My wife (Suunto Cobra) and brother in law (older Suunto) both travel with hose-attached AI computers, but no regs. The dive operators we've been at have yet to have a problem attaching their AI computers to the rental first stage in place of the rental gauge console. If that issue is a factor in your decision, it's not a stopper.
I'm a little obsessive about such things, so I bought her a stainless 7/16-20 acorn nut from McMaster-Carr to protect the threads and cover the HP orifice of the hose 1st-stage connection during travel: McMaster-Carr See attached drawing. Hand tight up against the O-ring works quite well.
I'd expect that the operators would also install a transmitter for a hoseless AI in place of their gauge console if you had that.
And FWIW, I'd go with the computer first, for the same reasons as others above.
Attachments
It's always been about the BREATHING.
I also like knowin' it's my mouth thats been on my reg.
A computer is an accessory, not a necessity..won't give you air/gas..can't breathe off it.
I understand new divers being worried about ascent rates..lookin at a depth gauge, a timer(watch) and venting your B/C..too much..stuff to do..
Stayin under exhaled bubbles is a good "Pinky" rule..yes it's stressful..breathe SLOW and DEEP and wait a long time before there's a new set of bubbles to watch. So??
No rules for descents, other than equalizing...and crash landings.
It's always been about the ascent..an off gassin'
Never ascend any faster than you can stop..never know when you may need to handle a reverse block...
Does mean you have to fin up.. you stop finnin.. you stall out..and plan on stoppin..way before you get there..around 20ft..for a safty stop.
Hope this helps...just my 2cnts
agree to disagree.. Just stay safe.
I also like knowin' it's my mouth thats been on my reg.
A computer is an accessory, not a necessity..won't give you air/gas..can't breathe off it.
I understand new divers being worried about ascent rates..lookin at a depth gauge, a timer(watch) and venting your B/C..too much..stuff to do..
Stayin under exhaled bubbles is a good "Pinky" rule..yes it's stressful..breathe SLOW and DEEP and wait a long time before there's a new set of bubbles to watch. So??
No rules for descents, other than equalizing...and crash landings.
It's always been about the ascent..an off gassin'
Never ascend any faster than you can stop..never know when you may need to handle a reverse block...
Does mean you have to fin up.. you stop finnin.. you stall out..and plan on stoppin..way before you get there..around 20ft..for a safty stop.
Hope this helps...just my 2cnts
agree to disagree.. Just stay safe.
Ordinarily you would plan ahead, but sometimes last minute opportunities come up. If you were sent on a last minute trip for your job, you could end up in a nice location with all available regs reserved. Same for a last minute cruise. That having been said, I have only been on a few trips, and no one had problems finding equipment. But given the right circumstances, it could happen.
Ron
JohnB47
Contributor
If you don't already have a wetsuit, I would get that first. That is the thing that must fit right in order to work right. But if the choice is between a regulator or computer, I would get the regulator first. I have had rental regs that breathed wet. And, as several others have said, you can dive without a computer, but you can't dive without a regulator.
I agree that some operators will do it for you but I bet that there are an equal number that won't want to mess with it.
I myself wouldn't suggest someone make a purchase of a hose-attached computer with the expectation that every operator will convert rental gear. I do beleive that most reputable operators will do if there is time but there are going to be those times where the operator either doesn't have time/resources or they don't want to mess with their gear.
So, yes you are correct and I applaud your efforts to protect your dive gear and sharing that tip with us.
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