Regulator

[industrious95]

Why not just keep using the free rental gear until you feel ready to buy your own?

I think I made it through about 5 rentals until I decided I wanted my own. Then I bought cheap junk.

Then I bought the same regulator that half the divers I met on the boats were using (Scubapro 250 with MK10/2) and have been using it ever since. I hope I never have to replace it.

 

[chrisch]

I have a big lake that my dive shop is on and I dive there every weekend sometimes weekdays to. What I'm wondering is sense I can rent gear without cost and don't plan on going and diving elsewhere is it worth it or should I get my own regulator. Which would be a better buy right now? A regulator or BCD?

If you can get good gear free why on earth buy it? You dive every weekend and presumably haven't drowned yet as a result of poor rental kit.

The most important things to own IMPO are things that are personal to you - drysuits for example. Rental equipment is as good or bad as the outfit you rent from. If they are a school and the kit is in frequent use and properly looked after it will be fine - I worked at a school for a couple of years and was responsible for kit - we serviced it more often and washed it every day and never had any problems. Until I left I never owned any kit as I could borrow it all for free.

 

[freewillie]

How do you dive rental gear for free? If it's free and you trust the gear no actual need to buy any gear.

If you are only diving on vacation and not very often then you might as well just continue with rentals. But if you are going to dive locally and then often and frequently you might think about purchasing at some point. It will fit better and your diving might improve if you are familiar with the fit and feel of having your own. Especially if you are not standard fit for scuba.

 

[wolflegresley]

Even if you never buy any other gear, the one thing you MUST be willing to spend money on and KEEP in good shape is your reg. You will KNOW that your reg has been serviced, how its been treated and where its been stored.

Some people will tell you unless you dive a minimum of 5-6 dives a year (the equivalent cost of maintenance vs renting) not to bother because its not cost effective...and they are right. HOWEVER when it comes to your life, its not about being cost effective its about being safe. All other things being equal you dont need them to survive underwater (loose your fins/mask/lights/reels/DC and arguably your BC) you need a solid regulator.

I live in Canada (cold water) and want to make sure my reg is 100% GTG, when I dive local I use it and know its rated for cold water, when I dive abroad I use it and know its more than enough for warm water, has been serviced and WELL looked after. (Plus no hygiene concerns).

I purchase an Apeks and would recommend it to anybody...best of luck in your research and I hope you make the safe decision!

 

[redacted]

Even if you never buy any other gear, the one thing you MUST be willing to spend money on and KEEP in good shape is your reg. You will KNOW that your reg has been serviced, how its been treated and where its been stored.

Some people will tell you unless you dive a minimum of 5-6 dives a year (the equivalent cost of maintenance vs renting) not to bother because its not cost effective...and they are right. HOWEVER when it comes to your life, its not about being cost effective its about being safe. All other things being equal you dont need them to survive underwater (loose your fins/mask/lights/reels/DC and arguably your BC) you need a solid regulator.

I live in Canada (cold water) and want to make sure my reg is 100% GTG, when I dive local I use it and know its rated for cold water, when I dive abroad I use it and know its more than enough for warm water, has been serviced and WELL looked after. (Plus no hygiene concerns).

I purchase an Apeks and would recommend it to anybody...best of luck in your research and I hope you make the safe decision!

Yet you will probably rent a tank and not give it a second thought. Go figure.

Regulator and tank failures are a PITA that may end your dive. But If you really think such failures are likely to end your life, you might want to switch to golf.

 

[Spencer Crabtree]

I play golf too but I'm terrible so I tried to find something I'm good at. I love the water and being able to stay under at depth always interested me. I think I will go with getting a reg. I never thought about it failing on me so better be safe. Thank all of you for the input.

 

[UnixMarine]

I have a big lake that my dive shop is on and I dive there every weekend sometimes weekdays to. What I'm wondering is sense I can rent gear without cost and don't plan on going and diving elsewhere is it worth it or should I get my own regulator. Which would be a better buy right now? A regulator or BCD?

Regulator, you could dive without a BCD. The regulators are the life support equipment in that equation.

 

[chrisch]

Most regulators that fail do so after servicing (freeflow normally). I do think people get rather worked up about it for no good reason. I would advise you to read around the subject a little and if you get the chance take an old reg to bits. I would say (freeflow aside) you are much more at risk from a burst tyre on the drive to the dive site than a sudden regulator failure. Statistics on diver fatalities are available for many places in the world. You will not find many regulator failures in them. That's not to say don't take care of your kit - of course that is important, but I do wonder why so many people bang on about this terrible risk and the imperative to have some unqualified chump at a dive shop change your O rings every so often. I am far more worried about bad servicing than I am reg failure.

 

[FinnMom]

Do wait for black Friday though. It's not that far off & you are in no rush.

Amusingly enough, UK and European shops have started having Black Friday sales too.

 

[scubastingray]

ITT: regulator scare tactics. When someone uses the word life support system, run. It's the best marketing the industry has and runs with a tone of,
"Isn't your life worth a $400 more than the basic version?"

If a shop spews that crap at you walk away and never return.