Rental Gear Question

[Skittl1321]

So I know I need to email back the dive ops I am planning on booking with and ask specifically, but I want to have sorted out exactly where I am booking, and exactly the questions to ask, and not seem neurotic to them. I'm okay seeming neurotic here.

Can someone explain to me how rental gear works?
The dive ops say "everything you need", but I've surmised that doesn't mean any safety equipment- I should bring my own whistle, mirror, safety sausage (drift diving in Cozumel, but I'm assuming it won't hurt to have it with me in Roatan). Do I need a dive knife? Is there a 'cruise safe' alternative?

I finally got one dive op to be specific on what was included "mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, regulator and a shorty 3mm wetsuit". (Another says the same, but no mask, fins, snorkel.)
Am I missing something? Are there no guages? Computer? (I would think they don't rent computers, but you'd still need a a pressure gauge, at minimum, right? And probably a depth gauge?) Or are these gauges just integrated into the other things they are renting you and it is so obvious they are provided they don't mention them?

The only gear I have is mask, fins, and snorkel. Is that, plus standard rental gear enough?

 

[tbrix]

Unless you are renting through a DS that is totally locked in the stone age, your mask fins and snorkel should be enough. Most DS have the standard pressure gauges, depth gauge, and even a compass attached as part of the reg assembly. For instance at our shop when we rent a reg people are getting a reg, and octo, and a set of guages.

There is nothing wrong with bringing your own safety equipment.

 

[PsyWulf]

At minimum renters have a reg with Pressure guage/Depth meter combo (analogue),BCD,Weights,cylinder,and might have soft gear (suit,mask,snorkel,boots,fins). Any safety equipment is deal but assume they don't have it. Dive knives are handy sometimes ( blunt tip to push off if there is a worry of exposure to irritants or edges ). I'd never dive without a deployable SMB and whistle in case

 

[windapp]

Generally:

Full hard gear will include Regulator, BCD, and tank (included on the boat in Cozumel). Weights are included on the boat in cozumel, but are not generally considered part of a full gear rental. The regulator set will include an SPG, two second stages, and an analog depth gauge.
Full gear rental including soft gear will also include mask, fins, snorkel, and a weight belt, and weights if not included on the boat.
A wetsuit is usually an extra item.
A computer is almost always an extra item.

Dive knives are never rented. It is illegal to carry a dive knife in the marine park in Cozumel although your dive-op will probably not say anything as long as you keep it sheathed except in emergencies.

By the way, unless you are going in summer, a 3mm shorty will probably be a bit cold.

 

[Skittl1321]

Unless you are renting through a DS that is totally locked in the stone age, your mask fins and snorkel should be enough.

No these are reputable ops that get good reviews. I'm guessing it must be so 'obvious' they forget to mention anything about guages and bottom timers. It just seemed to really stand out because you can't dive without these things, yet no one claims to rent them. Or else, like you say- it is understood as part of the regulator rental to those 'in the known' (which I'm not yet!)


Although I know these cruise ship tourist dives tend to be 'follow the leader" with a divemaster, I'm definety planning on my own safety equipment. I don't want to have to rely on someone else, though it is nice to have someone there as a newbie. Good to know I can't have a dive knife anyway, since cruise ships make those a real hassle.

The shorty is in Roatan, I think the Cozumel op rents a full suit- this will be December. Since I am an odd size (really short), I was thinking of buying my own wet suit anyway though.

 

[windapp]

Actually, nobody rents bottom timers. You will need your own watch if you are not diving with a computer.

 

[doctormike]

Most divers have their own mask, fins and snorkel.

Rental gear in the caribbean typically includes a BC, regulator and a wetsuit. Tanks and weights are generally supplied for all non-resident divers, since people don't really bring those with them.

The term "regulator" usually refers to a first stage with two second stages (primary and backup), a low pressure inflator hose for your BC, and a console with a submersible pressure gauge and a depth gauge.

Some dive shops rent computers. While you can certainly dive tables without them, they do let you extend your dive in some circumstances.

I always have at least one cutting device with me - At home, I use a set of trauma shears, as well as a Trilobite on my computer wrist bungee and one on my webbing. Never heard of knife rental, but a set of trauma shears costs about $5-10, and would be fine for that purpose.

I always have some sort of signaling equipment with me, and you should too. Safety sausage (I actually carry an SMB) is a good idea, and I have a whistle as well. I also carry a Nautilus GPS radio, FWIW.

Have a great trip!

 

[Skittl1321]

Actually, nobody rents bottom timers. You will need your own watch if you are not diving with a computer.

Thanks! I think a standard timex watch goes further than I'd want to dive.

---------- Post added May 28th, 2013 at 01:40 PM ----------

Some dive shops rent computers. While you can certainly dive tables without them, they do let you extend your dive in some circumstances.

Thanks for the info! I think at least for this first trip, we'll have to make due with shorter dives. Computers just add too much to the cost right now. Maybe next year!

 

[freewillie]

Generally when you rent regulators it will have the primary reg and an octo. Most ops will have at least analog pressure guage and an analog depth guage but you might get lucky and have a shop that rents the reg with a AI computer. If the computer is not part of the package you should be able to rent one separately. You can rent packages with BCC, regs, weights, mask, fins, etc. The more gear you already own the less you have to rent, but as you've already discovered your own gear fits better than rental.

Some dives may require you to have your own SMB for drift diving, but that may be the only required piece of safety gear. The back wall Molokini for example most dive ops require an SMB and a dive computer. If you didn't have either you could rent or purchase.

Knives are handy but the problem is you could dive 100 dives without a problem and the one dive you need one is the one dive you left it on the boat. Most divers always dive with some sort of cutting device.

I have a line cutter and whistle on a carabiner and clip this to my BC. A separate carabiner holds my SMB and I clip that to the back of my BC where I reach behind me if needed. I usually take my own gear on vacation but in the event I left the gear at home the minimum is my mask, fins, and safety gear with me on vacation.

 

[Steve_C]

It depends some on the types of dives you are doing. If you are doing shallow reef dives the reality is that you will get nowhere close to NDL in a couple of dives. If the dives are guided, then the guide will have some sort of plan.

Having said that I always take my computer/mask with me if there is to be any diving. If it is within North America, Hawaii, or Caribbean then I bring mask, regs, computer, and basic safety equipment with me as a min. If there are to be drift dives or low viz that includes a reel.