Safety or Oversale

[RTC'83]

Probably this has been discussed in the past, but after researching the subject I need your help.

I am going to open water training. I am 50+ and want to go scuba with my kids at different resorts, primarily in Mexico.

I had to buy my basic gear at the place where I am training. No problem there. Started looking for my own gear at some other local scuba stores, and I explain what I want to do, and that I want some gear that would be suitable for resort diving within my qualifications and maybe in the future some deep water training, and drift diving.

What I am being offer by two of the stores are $ 1,000.00 + computers, $ 600.00 + BC's and $ 600.00 + regulators. They say my safety is being consider.

Now is it over kill or really base on safety? So all gear under that price is not safe, is my conclusion that I come to based on their presentation.

I have been down that road before and that $ 2,000.00 fly rod does not make me a better fly-fisherman. I do not want to jeopardize safety over a few bucks, but.............

 

[Marie13]

They're trying to sell you ocean front property in Arizona (sorry, George Strait song that's on my mind). That's absolutely ridiculous. I have a $300 dive computer and it's not killed me yet (Oceanic Geo 2.0). Now my reg was over $600, but I got one rated for cold water, because that's what I'll be diving.

It's over kill, what the shops are trying to pull with you. You can buy online very easily at a price that won't be ridiculous. Here's one place to start (it's my local dive shop in suburban Chicago that happens to have a big online presence).

http://www.diverightinscuba.com/?___store=us

 

[tbone1004]

best equipment I can think of in terms of price:value

Computer
http://www.caveadventurers.com/store/perdix-ai.html-If you want the AI transmitters, go for it, nothing wrong with them, and people are saying they work well. I can't justify the price because of how many regs I have, but if I only did single tank diving, I probably would. The Perdix is the first computer that I feel really is on point for quality to get me to even consider switching to AI. Yes it's $1200, but the non-ai is $850, or AI without transmitter is $940 and it's the best computer on the market imho.

BCD-my favorite is the Deep Sea Supply backplate and wing which at around $500 is the best buy in bcd's. Top quality, very versatile, great CS, made in USA if it means anything to you, and you can grow with it.

Regs
Deep 6 Gear Double Tank Regulator Package - Regulator Packages - Regulators
more expensive, but I firmly believe in buying doubles regulator kits if you are travelling because in less than 5 minutes you can swap a first stage out and not lose a dive. People tout getting access to service globally, but you run the risk of them not having parts kits, paying premiums for overnight service, still missing out on the dive or having to rent regulators etc. Not a great bargain. Extra $150 or so for the extra first stage pays for itself if you need it, and is a good insurance policy if you don't. That and an adjustable wrench and you can be back diving in under 5 minutes.
The reg set above comes with it's first service for free on a 2 year service interval, you can learn to service it yourself, or ship back to Deep6 for service when it needs it. No warranty based on service intervals, etc etc. It's also a brilliant regulator and breathes absolutely amazing.

Total there you're going to be in for $2200-$2500, but you have true top end gear that you'll never have to replace. You can certainly go less expensive on the computer if you want
Freedom Advanced Nitrox - Detail - DIVESOFT.CZ
That guy is $600 and is still a really nice computer
Dive Rite NiTek Q Advanced Nitrox/Trimix Dive Computer (V2)
not quite so nice, but for $400 it isn't bad.
If you can wait another couple of months, Deep6 will have theirs released which is going to be under $200 and is going to be a brilliant little recreational computer

Not much you can do on the BCD front for going cheaper without sacrificing and not much if anything you can do going more expensive and gaining anything so that's my recommendation.

Regs are similar. Nothing I know of that you can do to save money without sacrificing, and nothing really worth spending more money on to gain you anything

 

[dlofting]

Here's 2 other regulator packages you might want to consider. They are similar in design to the one that tbone1004 posted, so gives you something to compare.

DGX Custom - Dive Rite XT Streamlined OW Reg Package

Hog D1 Singles Regulator Package w/ SPG | Scuba Regulator Packages | Dive Right In Scuba | www.diverightinscuba.com - Dive Right in Scuba

 

[Altamira]

I would recommend you not buy anything, except for a mask, snorkel, and maybe fins/boots, until you are finished with your OW training and then dive enough to be sure you will have a continuing interest in diving, what kind of diving you will likely be doing, and the time to dive fairly regularly. The world is full of divers that bought a bunch of gear immediately after certification, only to find that diving was a passing interest or life events got in the way of continuing to dive. The result is a never ending supply of seldom used scuba gear on EBay, Craigslist, etc. Try as many different gear configurations as possible so you will have a more educated idea of what you need and like verses what some LDS wants to sell you.

 

[Cap335]

AquaLung Travel package has a Zuma weight intergrated travel bc a Micron Regulator and a I300 computer console for just under $1000.00

 

[tbone1004]

Here's 2 other regulator packages you might want to consider. They are similar in design to the one that tbone1004 posted, so gives you something to compare.

DGX Custom - Dive Rite XT Streamlined OW Reg Package

Hog D1 Singles Regulator Package w/ SPG | Scuba Regulator Packages | Dive Right In Scuba | www.diverightinscuba.com - Dive Right in Scuba

note that those are singles packages, not doubles, so make sure to account for that when evaluating pricing differences.
DGX Custom - Dive Rite XT Doubles Reg Package
what you sacrifice there to save $100 is the cost of the parts kits and service for the first service as well as what I believe to be a better regulator design. You do gain the ability to reverse the second stages, but the practical use of that is exceptionally small, and basically non-existent in recreational diving.

Hog D1 Doubles Reg Package - Dive Right in Scuba
here to save $300 you are sacrificing the much better regulator design and the first parts/service. May or may not be worthwhile, but I've owned the D1's and have since sold them to purchase the Deep6 regulators. The difference there is imho very much worthwhile.

regarding waiting until after you do OW. The only advantage you have there is making sure you like it enough to invest. Contrary to what people recommend, renting gear is not a good way to evaluate what you like and what you don't because most rental equipment is basically the same, and is going to be anything but high end. Outside of a select few shops in the country, Dive Right in Scuba, Cave Adventurers, and maybe one or two more, you aren't going to find real demo centers for a variety of high end gear brands. Any money spent on rental gear is a waste outside of the insurance policy of making sure that you are committed to the sport before investing.

Buying used is highly recommended by me for computers, BC's especially the nice ones can be difficult to find the right setup and you don't often save much. Deep Sea Supply is notorious for being difficult to find on the used market, as are brands like Halcyon. There is a reason they don't come up for sale that often....
Regs I don't typically recommend buying used. As I recommend buying regulators in doubles kits for the reasons mentioned above, you have to make sure you are doing the math right.
Parts kits are going to be about $40/post, so $80 total.
Service is going to be $50-$70/post, so $100-$140
For easy math call it $100/post just for the service that you are going to want after you buy them, or $150 for a singles set. Make sure that the selling price, plus that $150-$200 is sufficiently cheaper than the cost of those regs new before you buy. Most of my other regulators are Poseidons, I have about 12 sets of them, but I buy them for $100-$150 per set of first and second stage, vs about $650 new, so that's a no brainer, but I also do my own service which saves a lot of money.

 

[The Chairman]

Call DRIS... see what they can do. Mike and the gang are awesome and are dialed into not over selling you!

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'm curious if there are any dive clubs in your area. It is a good way to keep your skills fresh and you can often borrow gear from others to give your gear a try. I won't recommend any specific gear, as I think that has been covered quite well.

 

[Scuba Scott]

The reality is the shops are probably selling your training at a loss in hopes of making a profit on gear.
If you decide to buy all your gear online the shop may lose money by having you as a customer. Not a good business practice in my opinion but it is the way the dive industry has gone.
If you are getting training and as a result you are required to buy gear from them this is the reason why.
Of course you can get gear cheaper, I could sell and ship it to you for less but if this is your local shop and find it convenient to have them around you should buy from them. If you don't, you may have no choice but getting your tanks filled where you bought your gear.

As far as safety goes, you can buy quality gear online. You can also buy absolute garbage that can't be serviced anywhere but where you bought it. This can be a safety concern. The experience and guidance of dive professionals at your local shop can be very valuable and worth the premium you pay. It is worthwhile to have someone fit you in your gear too. Poorly fitting gear is not only a comfort but a safety concern.

You could probably save money by going with a simple computer. I would say just start out diving tables but some operators are requiring computers these days.
If you plan on traveling a backplate and wing will be easier to pack. Ask about travel BCDs.