Nflor001
Contributor
If I bought my own regulator 1st and 2nd and my own bcd. Do shops rent out guages and octo? My shop does not. Just wondering when I am down in Curacao.
Renting gauges and octo?
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Damselfish
Contributor
It's not typical to do that and I've never seen anyplace list gauges and octos separately on their rental lists. They typically have complete sets ready to rent with 1st, second, octo, and gauges and may not be enthusiastic about taking them apart. If they're willing or ok with you doing that, I'm not sure they would charge less than renting a whole set anyway.
If you say who you're diving with, maybe someone will come on who knows for sure about that place. Or contact them directly and ask.
You can get basic gauges and a decent octopus for not all that much money. Personally I'd get these and complete your set. Having half a reg will be a constant nuisance. If necessary get a complete reg set and rent a BCD, or get a BC and rent a reg set.
If you say who you're diving with, maybe someone will come on who knows for sure about that place. Or contact them directly and ask.
You can get basic gauges and a decent octopus for not all that much money. Personally I'd get these and complete your set. Having half a reg will be a constant nuisance. If necessary get a complete reg set and rent a BCD, or get a BC and rent a reg set.
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
I personally would not be comfortable dis-assembling my first stage before and after every dive. Most shops will sell you a package including a console and octo so I think the thought of having to remove plugs, "install" and properly tighten 2 components and then remove them and replug the holes should be enough to change your thought process. Buy the complete regulator set and leave the BC for later. Much safer in my opinion.
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I'd be very surprised if you could find a shop willing to rent out single components of a set like that. I've never seen it. Even if you could find someone to do it, I'd guess they would charge more than just renting the octo as there is more risk to their gear due to the constant assembly and disassembly and it is much more labor intensive.
Damselfish
Contributor
If you're diving your whole trip and renting you'd typically keep the rental gear for the whole time. Unlikely to be doing this every dive, or even every day. Probably you will set it up once and take it apart at the end of the trip. But still better to avoid the whole issue.
Generally all second stages are tuned to behave properly on your first stage. While there's a good chance of sticking a random octo on your first stage and having it be ok (not either tending to free flowing or being hard to breath) it is potentially a problem.
Generally all second stages are tuned to behave properly on your first stage. While there's a good chance of sticking a random octo on your first stage and having it be ok (not either tending to free flowing or being hard to breath) it is potentially a problem.
Ummm, this might sound crazy, but why don't you just go ahead and get a gauge and octo? ijs
I'm with ZenDiver on this one. Your setup is incomplete without an alternate air source & some way of showing air & depth.
Figure in the cost of an octo & gauges in your setup; it doesn't make sense any other way.
Bonne chance,
svnipp
Guest
This raises another question for me... When you buy a reg/oct/gauges, does the shop assemble all of this for you? Being a complete and utter novice, I know that I would definitely prefer to have someone setup this gear for me.
I'm really hoping to pickup all of this sometime in the next week or two, so I've been reading/researching everything I can. Unfortunately, I have no actual experience with which to base these purchase decisions and of course none of this gear is actually cheap. I'm really hoping to get into a BCD, reg, inflator/octo combo, and comp for around $1k. I'm also going to need to buy a wetsuit too, so that will be another expense. Anyway, I was just curious about assembling this stuff together.
I'm really hoping to pickup all of this sometime in the next week or two, so I've been reading/researching everything I can. Unfortunately, I have no actual experience with which to base these purchase decisions and of course none of this gear is actually cheap. I'm really hoping to get into a BCD, reg, inflator/octo combo, and comp for around $1k. I'm also going to need to buy a wetsuit too, so that will be another expense. Anyway, I was just curious about assembling this stuff together.
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
If you buy the first stage, second and alternate second with a console from the same place, I cannot imagine them not having it assembled for you when you arrive. If it is not, ask them to assemble it. It really is very simple and fast for them to do. If you buy them from all over, I am sure a shop will do it, but you may have to pay a bit......but then maybe not.
Damselfish
Contributor
If you buy all the pieces at one shop, yes they should definitely put it together for you. Ask if they don't. (If you buy part at a shop and part on the internet, or all on the internet, then go in a shop and ask them to put it together, many are apt to get cranky.)
Is your profile correct saying you're not certified yet? Reading/researching is great but there's no substitute for actually having tried some of this stuff to be able to figure out what you really want and need. You'll find the majority of people recommend putting off major purchases such as BC or reg until after you are certified, for a variety of reasons. If the issue is that you are leaving on vacation days after getting certified, I would instead rent this stuff on vacation. I could see getting a wrist computer to take on your trip, and a wetsuit if you've figured out what you need. (As far as wetsuits, are you buying one for local certification or the trip?)
Hopefully you have read the threads on the pros and cons of inflator/octo combos. Maybe you will decide that's what you really want but I definitely would not want to decide this before learning to dive. (I learned to dive with one, and decided I did not want one when I purchased my own gear.)
Is your profile correct saying you're not certified yet? Reading/researching is great but there's no substitute for actually having tried some of this stuff to be able to figure out what you really want and need. You'll find the majority of people recommend putting off major purchases such as BC or reg until after you are certified, for a variety of reasons. If the issue is that you are leaving on vacation days after getting certified, I would instead rent this stuff on vacation. I could see getting a wrist computer to take on your trip, and a wetsuit if you've figured out what you need. (As far as wetsuits, are you buying one for local certification or the trip?)
Hopefully you have read the threads on the pros and cons of inflator/octo combos. Maybe you will decide that's what you really want but I definitely would not want to decide this before learning to dive. (I learned to dive with one, and decided I did not want one when I purchased my own gear.)
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