Suggestions?

[GA Under Water]

I am considering a large purchase. I am new to Diving but moving my experience up quickly. I certified OWD with PADI and have moved to Advanced OWD and 4 specialties pretty quickly. Well, Rentals have become expensive and I am looking at purchasing part of my own gear. I rent gear about twice a month and with that constant I feel it would be better to have my own gear.

Here is the question:

Which is the wiser to buy first when building a personal rig, Wetsuit, Dry Suit, or BCD and Fins?

What are comparable maintenance costs of a BCD and Drysuit? Any help would be greatly appreciated because this needs to get ordered so I can have it for Christmas

 

[1_T_Submariner]

You didn't mention it so I am guessing you have your own reg? That would be my first purchase. Then BCD and a then a Wet or Dry suit. How did you make it throught your OW class without fins???

Just my opinion..

 

[GA Under Water]

Cheapie Fins and borrowing from a buddy that just had twins

Regulator and Computer are already acquired.

 

[Splitlip]

I would go for the wetsuit next. Correct fit is most important. Also with a new suit you are pretty much assured it is NPI.

 

[Vicente]

Craigslist is your friend. I picked up a pair of "IDI power-fins" which are yet another knockoff of the long-running ScubaPro Jet fins quite cheaply there. Work great. Now I just have to fashion a set of spring-straps for them.....

 

[terrasmak]

I would go for the wetsuit next. Correct fit is most important. Also with a new suit you are pretty much assured it is NPI.

or drysuit depending on the normal conditions you dive

 

[GA Under Water]

I have 2 sets of Jet Fins that I am trying to sell on craig's list for $35 each. I borrowed Twin Jets from my buddy since I can't find another fin that has a Wide pocket to hold my EEE feet. The Twinjet is just right for me so those are the Fins I will be getting along with the BCD. The amout of movement from those with the slightest kick is well worth the price.

Personally, I am leaning towards a BCD and fin combo. I am in the middle of a diet and that can make any fitted wetsuit null after about 5 pounds. (for me and the way I loose weight)

For the Dry suit I was thinking it a better choice due to the versatility. I can wear it year round and just less undergarments and be confy. And the fit isn't "form" so I have room for my weight to fluctuate.

My last few dives have been at a new Quarry here in the Atlanta area. The water has been around 48 at 55 feet. I had no issues with a rented 7mm but the 3/5 semi-dry left me cold.

 

[*Floater*]

Which is the wiser to buy first when building a personal rig, Wetsuit, Dry Suit, or BCD and Fins?

Get whichever you like to rent the least. However, there's a big cost difference in those items. Wetsuits are around $100-300, drysuits go from $500-2000 and fins go cost about $50-200, though there are exceptions in every category.

Personally, I'd buy the wetsuit to get the fit I wanted. I'd keep on eye on ebay for the drysuit to get it cheap, and I'd also get a pair of jetfins off ebay or here for about $35 shipped give or take depending on size, or turtle fins for maybe twice as much if the jets don't fit.

What are comparable maintenance costs of a BCD and Drysuit? Any help would be greatly appreciated because this needs to get ordered so I can have it for Christmas

I use wings and backplates for BCD and the maintenance is minimal. I just rinse it between dives, and if something failed I'd repair it, but I don't send them anywhere for annual service or anything like that. Drysuits are the same, but I take it they develop problems more often so you may have to repair seals every now and then, or patch them or even repair the zipper eventually, which I assume can be expensive, but mine is still fairly new and unused so I don't know first hand.

 

[Vicente]

Holy cow what's this quarry in Atlanta area? I used to live in Atlanta had to drive all the way to Pelham Alabama to find a quarry to practice in.

Consider the Aqualung "AquaFlex" wetsuit or any similar technology with similar name. Henderson calls it HyperStretch but it's all the same, don't believe hype about who is best, I like the stretchy neoprene a lot it's very forgiving of weight fluctuations and less sensitive about body variations. I have a one-piece 7mm that fits great where in old-style neoprene I needed custom-fit.

You live in Atlanta, a dry-suit is going to be wasted unless you go into cave-diving. I used to trot down to Florida at least once every 6 weeks for diving, warm water good viz and good times.

 

[Steve_Dives]

I wanted to get regs first because the loaner/rental regs seemed like an accident waiting to happen. And the BC is nice to have since I know where everything is, like the ring I hook the computer onto. Since the LDS offers a store credit for a BC-reg-gauge (computer = gauge) combo purchase, and they had a BC and regs discounted, I took them up on the deal. Super deal because they don't care which items you put in the combo, even if they special order it.

I soon bought a semi-dry since being warm is good, and having a suit nobody has relieved themselves in is even better! I will say it is a real battle getting out of the semidry, and I'll be looking at going dry. With our air temp dropping to the 30's, sitting around in anything wet during the SI is far too cold!

C'mon up and visit our quarry! I had 53F at 64 feet last weekend!