rental equipment at utila dive center

[aqua22]

Hey,
I am heading off to Utila in March to get my dive masters at UDC. While the rental equipment is included it is recommended to bring a wet suit fins, snorkel, and mask for comfort reasons. I am considering bringing some gear but after I get my divemasters I want to go backpacking for a while and it is a bit difficult to carry around my fins. Has anyone had experience renting equipment from UDC? Are the fins comfortable? Should I bring my own gear?
Thanks

 

[scubafied]

I can't personally speak to the condition of UDC's rental equipment but the majority of rental gear I've seen tends to take a pretty solid beating and people pee in wetsuits far too often. If they are suggesting you bring your own, it is probably for a reason. When I did my DM we had to have all of our own gear for a couple of reasons. If you ended up renting, on busy days guests get first priority on gear and if that means they take the reg set or the BC you were using cause there's not enough to go around then you sit out that day. That can cause delays to your program if you are on a schedule of any kind. The second reason was that you are training to be a Professional and as such, you should own your own set of gear. You won't instill a lot of confidence in the people you are supposed to be guiding/helping if you have a haggard set of equipment that doesn't look safe or doesn't function properly.

If you are backpacking through Central America when you're finished you shouldn't have much with you anyways. Wetsuits roll up small even with a mask tucked into the middle of one and you can strap one fin to each side of your pack.

 

[Searcaigh]

Surely you could store your dive gear somewhere while doing the backpacking bit, then just pick it up before you head home!

 

[Bratface]

I would also look into storing my gear with someone. Maybe the dive shop could do this for you. I would personally prefer having my own gear, especially is I was taking a course.

 

[Stout]

Your own mask most definitely.

Snorkel ? use the shop's, but what the hey, just get a cheap one when you're getting your mask.

Wetsuit ? recommended. DMTs usually get last pick of gear and you might find yourself wearing that xxs. Uitla's waters are warm enough to dive without a wetsuit however YMMV.

Fins ?...this is where you have some choices. You want fins that fit and if you're doing your DM at UDC they you'll be diving a lot. Ultimately, you'll want cold water fins, booties and fins with straps because unless those warm water slip on fins fit perfectly you won't be a happy diver. I'd budget for fins and booties with an eye to buying them on the island. Who knows, you may run into someone in your position and looking to sell their gear when they're leaving the island.

Just budget a few hundred extra dollars, you may not need to spend it.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Maybe I'm not getting something here but if you're not planning on using your DM rating after you get it for awhile why even bother doing it? Why not just go down and dive your butt off then when you decide it's time to use the rating do it with your local shop or instructor?

 

[Mike]

You won't instill a lot of confidence in the people you are supposed to be guiding/helping if you have a haggard set of equipment that doesn't look safe or doesn't function properly.

I have the opposite view, maybe being from Colorado I'm used to a different mindset. When it comes to skiing, the people with duct tape on their coats and worn, battered equipment can ski the pants off some once a year tourist with all the latest brand new expensive never scratched gear. Real divers have worn out wetsuits and gear because they use it daily and they aren't getting rich doing it.

Hey,
I am heading off to Utila in March to get my dive masters at UDC. While the rental equipment is included it is recommended to bring a wet suit fins, snorkel, and mask for comfort reasons. I am considering bringing some gear but after I get my divemasters I want to go backpacking for a while and it is a bit difficult to carry around my fins. Has anyone had experience renting equipment from UDC? Are the fins comfortable? Should I bring my own gear?
Thanks

Have you considered buying a decent/not crazy expensive set of fins just to take with you and just donating them to somebody down there when you go on your back-packing part of your trip? You're going to make a lot of new friends and you'll discover after becoming one of them (dive master) that divemasters don't have a tremendous amount of spare funds for equipment, your fins will be gladly accepted by someone when you pay it forward.

 

[scubafied]

I'm from Utah and work in the snow industry for half the year so I understand what you're trying to say Mike. The difference is you are comparing 2 different types of skiers and not 2 instructors with different sets of gear. More specifically, RENTAL gear. Snow/Scuba rental equipment is usually marked as such and if I had the choice between a guide/instructor with all of his own, new gear or the one who is wearing a rental kit, I'm going with the new kit (not that I'm relying on them for anything other than a briefing and ride to/from the dive site anyways). Now, if we're talking about a seasoned professional who looks like they bought some quality equipment, has put it through it's paces and is trying to squeeze every last minute out of it because it was just to good to bear parting with, my vote would swing the other way. My main point was that rental equipment in general, is going to take a heavier beating than most peoples personal kits.

 

[aqua22]

Thanks for all the responses! I am going to bring my gear and find place to store it while i travel.

 

[bhubb]

Hey,
I am heading off to Utila in March to get my dive masters at UDC. While the rental equipment is included it is recommended to bring a wet suit fins, snorkel, and mask for comfort reasons. I am considering bringing some gear but after I get my divemasters I want to go backpacking for a while and it is a bit difficult to carry around my fins. Has anyone had experience renting equipment from UDC? Are the fins comfortable? Should I bring my own gear?
Thanks

They do not have the newest equipment but it was all in working condition. The fins are all closed back fins so if you do not like that or have larger feet, I highly recommend you get a cheap pair that are comfortable. Would be easier to buy a cheap pair and toss them when done then wear uncomfortable ones the entire time doing your DM.

They had loads of wetsuits in good condition when I was there so I wouldn't spend the money on one.

I would buy a mask and snorkel though.

Also if you are doing the DM at UDC and staying at Mango inn get a comfortable pair of shoes because it is a 10 minute walk (one way) every time!!

Just my 2 cents