Should I own a reg?

[SeaHound]

I intend to do approx 20 dives this year. It would be the same next year too. Does it make sense economically to own a reg/octo set up if you are not diving too frequently? I am debating with myself whether to own a reg at this point or to just continue to rent the set up.


Thanks!

 

[Colliam7]

If I planned to dive 20x / year, and do so in different locations, and knew I was going / wanted to dive when I travelled, I would own my own regulator. The vagaries of rental equipment under those conditions add a level of uncertainty (and stress) that I would not care to address.

 

[mislav]

Well, how much is it worth to you to know that on those 20 dives you'll make you'll breathe from a well maintained regulator no one else had in their mouth before?

I'm so used to having my own regulator that one dive I had to make using someone else's felt really uncomfortable. But, that's just me.

 

[fisherdvm]

Useful life of a reg? Assuming you dove every year? Maybe 10. $400 reg, into 10. Thats $40 a year. Yearly service? $80. That's $120 a year. Into 20 dives - That's $6 a dive.

Used reg $150. Thats $15 a year. Plus service. Thats $95 a year. Into 20 dives. That's $5 a dive.

I'd probably go with your own regulator. Unless you intend to sue the dive shop for that broken reg at 100 ft that caused your AGE induced right sided hemiparesis. Oh, that's a stroke.

 

[donkey]

I got my regs the same summer that I got certified. I refuse to do the math to see if it has payed for itself in savings over renting, but I'm glad I got it anyway. I feel more comfortable knowing the history of what I'm breathing from underwater.

 

[SeaHound]

Unless you intend to sue the dive shop for that broken reg at 100 ft that caused your AGE induced right sided hemiparesis. Oh, that's a stroke.

How common is a reg malfunction like that? I have always dived on rented regs and the worst experience I had was an octo free flow which the dive boat replaced there and then.

 

[halocline]

How common is a reg malfunction like that? I have always dived on rented regs and the worst experience I had was an octo free flow which the dive boat replaced there and then.

fisherdvm is using the tried and true "fear as sales tactic". There is absolutely no evidence that diving with your own reg is any safer than rental regs. I'm sure many people will chime in and say how ridiculous that is, but I would like to see some evidence. Definitely more comfortable and enjoyable, and maybe even demonstrably more reliable, but that still does not mean that you are more likely to suffer a stroke due to renting a reg.

I would still buy your own. You'll enjoy diving more if you know and trust your reg, and you will know exactly what to expect with reg performance on every dive. It's worth it.

The useful life of a quality reg is far longer than 10 years. I routinely buy 20 and 20 year old regs. Diving with them does nothing to shorten their lives; poor rinsing, storage, and maintenance are the destructive forces in a reg's life.

 

[Web Monkey]

Useful life of a reg? Assuming you dove every year? Maybe 10. $400 reg, into 10. Thats $40 a year. Yearly service? $80. That's $120 a year. Into 20 dives - That's $6 a dive.

Used reg $150. Thats $15 a year. Plus service. Thats $95 a year. Into 20 dives. That's $5 a dive.

I'd probably go with your own regulator. Unless you intend to sue the dive shop for that broken reg at 100 ft that caused your AGE induced right sided hemiparesis. Oh, that's a stroke.

I dive a SCUBAPro Mk1. It's 30-40 years old, and still breathes as good or better than my brand new Atomic. It cost me $50 plus another $50 or so for service.

That's like $2/year. I don't think you can rent for that, and I know it's mine, and has been maintained.

Terry

Edit: I forgot about the annual service. OK, it's $50/year. That's about 2 reg rentals at a resort, so it's still a deal.

 

[Dive Junky]

Putting a price tag on this is ridiculous. Peace of mind knowing the reg you are breathing off of has been serviced, not abused, and will supply the air you will need when you are under stress are what is important. Also dont forget your basics. Comfort and fit are the most important thing about any peice of equipment. Will you get that with a rental?
If you are going to rent do so from the shop in the area you live so that you will at least know what you will be diving with before you get on the boat.

 

[spectrum]

If you intend to continue diving I would encourage you to own your own.

There are certainly matters of reliability and hygiene to consider. I would add having a consistent set of components at your disposal rigged in a consistent manner for fast response should there be an incident. This begins to lead to a BCD suggestion as well if you do not own that yet. There is a lot to be said for not needing to re-learn gear on every dive.

What about the economics?
20 dives a year and assuming some two tankers means perhaps 15 rentals??
What is a regulator rental averaging, $15. ?
$225 a year outlay as it is?

For that money a modest warm water regulator set with money reserved for annual service probably breaks even in 3-4 years. Add consideration for the intangibles many of us have mentioned and it becomes a no brainer. IMO.

Pete