New divers frist looking at equipment are frequently on a budget. I thought it might be helpful to have a thread that addresses some of the issues a new diver faces.
There won't be unanimous agreement on any specific gear choices or advice but diversity of opinion is welcomed and it should at least give a newer diver exposure to multiple opinions of gear choices. Sometimes advice can get one sided and this can be an expensive lesson for a newer diver.
In my opinion, there are two bigger areas where savings can occur as well as other smaller areas for savings. The first is obvious but hard to accomplish and that is to buy something that you will not be replacing later either due to poor construction or to changing tastes. The is the most difficult since most of us do change our tastes with experience.
This is also different than "buying the best" or buying something you'll be able to "grow into". Both of those concepts rarely work out.
The other large area for possible savings is with how you get depth and time information. The most money will be saved by finding an inexpensive dive watch with depth info such as a new old stock Timex Helio. After that a used basic computer would be next in line in terms of money savings.
If you live near warm water getting an aluminum 80 tank may save you twice as much money as buying a HP steel tank.
If you live near cold water you might want a HP steel 100 from the start. Both can be affordable.
If you have to use a drysuit something like an entry model Bare suit will save you a lot of money over much more expensive models and will do virtually the same thing and will probably last just as long.
If you need a dive light and money is tight something like a Dorcy 220 lumen dive light is very affordable and can be used as a backup light later if necessary.
A BP/W is cheaper than some more traditional BC's and is what a lot of people end up with anyway and so can save money in that way as well. At least be aware that you don't have to start out with a console. You can just buy a pressure gauge.
If the weighting works for you Jetfins with spring straps might be the answer. Jetfins are cheaper than many other fins and spring straps pay for themselves since you won't need to be replacing rubber straps. Many people end up with Jetfins anyway so this is another potential savings. Depending on your local diving conditions it may be a safer choice as well if you need to get into your fins in a hurry.
Buying a basic regulator (basic Sherwood model for example) is affordable and does more or less the same thing as any other regulator. Properly maintained regulators don't need external adjustment knobs.
You can spend a ton of money on computers, dive lights, and drysuits but much of that is either for very specialized needs or just simply due to preferences much like the differences between a Honda vs a Mercedes. Often times it has little to do with function so if you are on a budget pick the Honda.
Educating yourself further in the areas of light technology and decompression theory (in addition be being worthwhile in and of itself) can also translate into making more informed choices when buying gear as these are two areas in which a lack of knowledge can be expensive.
There will be other opinions on most everything I've covered here but if several different opinions are presented that will at least expose a newer diver to the various options so they have something upon which to base their own decisions.
There won't be unanimous agreement on any specific gear choices or advice but diversity of opinion is welcomed and it should at least give a newer diver exposure to multiple opinions of gear choices. Sometimes advice can get one sided and this can be an expensive lesson for a newer diver.
In my opinion, there are two bigger areas where savings can occur as well as other smaller areas for savings. The first is obvious but hard to accomplish and that is to buy something that you will not be replacing later either due to poor construction or to changing tastes. The is the most difficult since most of us do change our tastes with experience.
This is also different than "buying the best" or buying something you'll be able to "grow into". Both of those concepts rarely work out.
The other large area for possible savings is with how you get depth and time information. The most money will be saved by finding an inexpensive dive watch with depth info such as a new old stock Timex Helio. After that a used basic computer would be next in line in terms of money savings.
If you live near warm water getting an aluminum 80 tank may save you twice as much money as buying a HP steel tank.
If you live near cold water you might want a HP steel 100 from the start. Both can be affordable.
If you have to use a drysuit something like an entry model Bare suit will save you a lot of money over much more expensive models and will do virtually the same thing and will probably last just as long.
If you need a dive light and money is tight something like a Dorcy 220 lumen dive light is very affordable and can be used as a backup light later if necessary.
A BP/W is cheaper than some more traditional BC's and is what a lot of people end up with anyway and so can save money in that way as well. At least be aware that you don't have to start out with a console. You can just buy a pressure gauge.
If the weighting works for you Jetfins with spring straps might be the answer. Jetfins are cheaper than many other fins and spring straps pay for themselves since you won't need to be replacing rubber straps. Many people end up with Jetfins anyway so this is another potential savings. Depending on your local diving conditions it may be a safer choice as well if you need to get into your fins in a hurry.
Buying a basic regulator (basic Sherwood model for example) is affordable and does more or less the same thing as any other regulator. Properly maintained regulators don't need external adjustment knobs.
You can spend a ton of money on computers, dive lights, and drysuits but much of that is either for very specialized needs or just simply due to preferences much like the differences between a Honda vs a Mercedes. Often times it has little to do with function so if you are on a budget pick the Honda.
Educating yourself further in the areas of light technology and decompression theory (in addition be being worthwhile in and of itself) can also translate into making more informed choices when buying gear as these are two areas in which a lack of knowledge can be expensive.
There will be other opinions on most everything I've covered here but if several different opinions are presented that will at least expose a newer diver to the various options so they have something upon which to base their own decisions.
