So you have $3500 to spend on BC, Reg and Dive Comp

[teknitroxdiver]

Nah, I don't put much stock in sticking with the same manufacturer. I suggest you do a search on a Backplate and wing, you might like what you see.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Ditto on the manufacturer match,

Are you going to be diving the Great Lakes or Northern oceans or are you going to pack it all up once a year and take it to Bermuda or Cuba for some vacation diving or both or neither?

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

You'll have no problem putting together a nice rig with that budget. Being in Canada, you'll probably want to factor a drysuit, and environmentally sealed reg into the equation

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

For example - I was looking at Oceanic or Aqualung for both the BCD and Regs as I like the idea of commonality in OEM's for this kind of gear (or am I talking rubbish?).

Rubbish, IMHO. The best reg manufacturers don't make the best BCs. Besides, the best BCs are Backplate/Wings, like the DSS single tank rig.

Dry suits I have no idea on at all - not sure even what I should be looking at there, and perhaps that is another question entirely.

It definitely truly is.

My advice now, seeing how new you are to this, is to dive some more with rental gear of as many types as you can, read a lot of information on gear here, and make a good decision once you know how and how much you'll be diving. You could throw a lot of money at this only to want new stuff after you dive for a while.

The BP/W would be a good purchase, because you probably can't get those for rentals. A DSS rig is only $500 and it'll last you forever...much longer than any jacket BC. If you're looking at regular BCs, then get a Zeagle.

Drysuit would be one of my first purchases if I were diving in Canada. You need to do a lot of homework on that. Take a class first and try out some suits.

Regs...well basically all regs are really good, and the top of the line ones will be overkill for anything you ever do most likely.

Computer...I'd wait a while to see what you want. You can rent different types.

Depends how eager you are, but I would really recommend patience. You'll make better decisions that way. Cheers

Gregg

 

[Seraphimx]

Single Tank Setup;

*Apeks XTX-200 around 700$ or Poseidon Jetstream

* Apeks, Dive-Rite or OMS Vest with backplate and around 800$

*Wireless Aeris Dive Computer 800$

2300$ for all that and shop will give you discount if you buy it all together

(rices exagerated from leisurepro.com)


then for twin tank setup

its 2X the reg setup 1400$

plus the 2 tanks 500$


buy at dive sports
they are great and ive bought a XTX-200 setup
service is #1 and they are nice to deal with
they give you nice deals

bought a reg trew a reg bag and ship free
they are very nice and they answer to you answers without making you buy anything

 

[ron63]

I am not a technical diver and have just recently started diving again after a several year hiatus. I have all of my gear, but if I was to buy new gear with the aforementioned $3500, I would buy an Oceanic Chute 3 or the new Excursion BC, an Oceanic CDX 10 with Delta 3 reg, an Oceanic VT Pro or Atom computer (truth is I just bought a VT Pro to replace an OCeanic Versa Pro computer. I like the VT better than the Atom but everyone has preferences). Add either an Oceanic Swivel 180 octopus or their power inflator/alternate 2nd combo and you are set. Then diving in Canada, I would look at getting a dry suit.

Ron Shephard

 

[cardinal]

Thanks for the advice - rest assured I am most certainly going to take my time before I decide what to get - but this is so cool - I am actually getting to hear what others are using and enjoying.

To answer a couple of questions - most diving in Quebec and Ontario - fresh water lakes etc. If I can get to Cuba once every couple of years, I will do so, but this would not be the normal place the gear would be used.

A top of the line reg? Just make me feel better. Can't explain it - just want that.

Computers. The only one I have used has been fully integral compass, dive computer, gauges etc (if I knew what it was I would write it down)...the wrist mounts need further investigation.

I know I need to do my homework outside of this forum on the dry suits - but certainly this BP/W idea seems interesting. Not used this yet. Again I shall investigate further.

 

[Mo2vation]

Go to eBay:

$500 - $600 for the Suunto Vytec. Its the first, last and only computer you'll ever need.

$400 for an Atomic B1 or B2. Probably less.

$400 for a Halcyon BP/W. Probably less. Sometimes a LOT less ( )

$450 for a 10w HID Can light (Halcyon, Dive Rite, etc.)

$50 - $75 for your shop to run through the Reg to be sure its functioning perfectly.

Put the rest in a CD.

Don't buy gear twice. Buy the good stuff the first time.

---
Ken

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

an Oceanic VT Pro or Atom computer (truth is I just bought a VT Pro to replace an OCeanic Versa Pro computer. I like the VT better than the Atom but everyone has preferences).

All the Pelagic made computers are nice, AI is a feature IMHO more than a requirement. I have a Versa Pro that serves well in computer or guage mode.

I think the Atom is an awful lot of computer for a recreational diver, why buy all the bells and whistles if you'll never use them?

Computers. The only one I have used has been fully integral compass, dive computer, gauges etc (if I knew what it was I would write it down)...the wrist mounts need further investigation.

I know I need to do my homework outside of this forum on the dry suits - but certainly this BP/W idea seems interesting. Not used this yet. Again I shall investigate further.

Search all through Hogarthian and DIR forums, implementing a BP/Wing is a change that has ramifications on other gear purchases, but certainly has its advantages in weight distribution among other things.

 

[neophyte]

You have the wetsuit, mask, fins, snorkel etc...and now you are going for the expensive equipment - The BCD, Reg and Octo & Dive Computer/ Console.

What would you go for?
C

As you can tell from my profile (and name) I'm a very new diver, but I've totally fallen for it and get in at least a couple dives most weeks. In just the last few months I've put together exactly the items you mentioned. I don't really need regs capable of handling Canadian-style cold for where I do most of my diving, but wanted them anyway so that I could keep using my setup wherever my diving takes me.

I purchased the DSS 30# singles rig. The link has already been posted and the designer/manufacturer, Tobin, seems to always be ready with outstanding customer service. He's even a member of this board under the name cool_hardware52. He's a font of information and a call or email is always (in my admittedly limited experience) rewarded. I went with the Hog harness.

I then purchased an Uwatec Aladin Tec wrist computer. It's nitrox capable, can be programmed to varying levels of conservatism, and downloads to a PC, Mac or PDA. It can also be set to gauge mode (if your diving ever takes you in that direction) where it basically acts as a bottom timer with a stopwatch and the ability to download. I feel that's still worth the price I paid rather than getting a bottom timer, a stopwatch, and some sort of downloadable dive recorder. I really like being able to get detailed graphs of my dives on to my computer.

I just purchased my regulators and haven't even gotten them wet yet. Soon! I went with Apeks. I put together the environmentally sealed (helps prevent freezing/free-flows in very cold water) DS4 1st stage with a TX50 primary 2nd on a long hose and an ATX50 2nd as a bungeed backup. I've enjoyed my experiences with Scubapro regs a lot, but I've read and heard repeatedly that they have a tendency to free-flow in really cold (i.e. near freezing) water. I really have no experience with anything colder than 48F, so it's all hearsay to me.

I've been using a Suunto SK7 compass in the Deep Sea Supply boot and have no complaints at all.

The only thing I would've done differently is purchase a brass and glass SPG from Tech Diving Limited rather than the plastic faced Dive Rite one I picked up at my LDS. I'll probably get one soon anyway and eventually relegate the DR one to deco/stage bottles when I start using them.

Altogether that should add up to 2000 or so, leaving you enough for a high quality drysuit, which I know very little about, though I'll surely want one eventually. I'd probably get that first if I were you.

The Hogarthian and/or DIR influence is probably pretty obvious in my choices, but they've all worked very well for me so far, and should continue to know matter how far I take this diving thing. Well, that's my hope at least. We'll see.

I agree that being patient and trying out as many options as you can before buying is probably the best thing to do. I tried several different jacket style BCs and one back-inflate before buying a BP/wing setup without ever having tried one, mainly because I'd read its praises sung so highly and consistently around here. I loved it from the first dive and can't imagine ever going back. There's definitely a higher percentage of divers using them on Scubaboard than out in the "real" world.

Bear in mind that you asked what I would go for.

YMMV.

Thanks for reading as my two cents turned into a pile of change,

Adam

Edited for spelling/capitalization errors and to add that Mo2vation (who posted while I was writing the above novel) is SO RIGHT about a can light. I can't wait to pick one up for myself. I've only used one once, when he and a regular buddy of his (currently quoted in his sig line)lent me one on a night dive the three of us did. One word. WOW!