coldwatercanada
Contributor
[h=2]The debate about buying your own gear for the newbie[/h]
This is a recent post from my blog about the positives and negatives to owning your own gear.
Ever thought about buying your own dive gear?
Should I consider purchasing my own dive gear?
If I only make it diving 2-3 times a year, whats the point?
These are two of the most common questions we hear from new divers. To respond to such questions, the experienced staff at Northwest Scuba will ask a few questions of their own, and weigh the pros and cons for each specific diver.
One of the first considerations is how much diving the customer does per year. Whether you are an avid diver who makes it out every weekend or a new diver hoping to get out more, you will likely want to consider purchasing your own kit. To put it in perspective, consider that 20-30 trips worth of rental fees is approximately the same cost of a basic mask, fins, regulator and BCD package. In addition to the current practical considerations, keep in mind that most gear has a lifetime of approximately 6-10 years.
Furthermore, the more you use your gear, the more accustomed you get to it. Different BCDs are buoyant in different ways, thus if you are stuck using a different style/type each time you will never be able to get fully comfortable hovering and performing other necessary skills. You must also remember that differing styles of BCDs have different weight releases and buckle releases being familiar with your gear will allow you to perform quickly and competently in any emergency or non-emergency situation.
What type of diving you typically engage in will also aid in determining the appropriate gear to purchase. Cold water diving requires specialized equipment, including a drysuit or thicker wetsuit, hoods, gloves and dive boots as well as cold water regulators and BCDs.
In terms of warm water diving, there are also a number of relevant considerations. Firstly, it is useful to note that while most dive shops in Alberta do not supply warm water regulators, cold water regulators can be used effectively in warm water diving.
As the opportunities for warm water diving in Canada are slim, the biggest issue in using your own gear is often baggage weight. An average set of gear weighs close to 36lbs and most airlines have a maximum baggage weight of 45lbs. Obviously, this does not leave much room other vacation necessities; however, there are a few ways to get around this. Some airlines have policies allowing travelers to bring sports equipment for free, or at a relatively low flat fee. Otherwise, splitting it up with some of the heavier/more valuable objects in your carry-on such as cameras or regulators is another simple but effective option.
Recently, many resorts and store charters have started to require divers to use a dive computer for a variety of reasons. A dive computer monitors safety intervals, and reminds you of your safety stops, ascent and descent rates. This allows divers in the water to be more self-reliant. To rent a dive computer at a resort typically costs up to $20/day, not to mention that the quality of the equipment itself is unknown. Affordable, quality dive computers are available for approximately $250-300 and some of the higher priced variations can be as small as a simple watch. Thus, this is a practical piece of equipment to own and can be very portable. In addition, most are downloadable, allowing the user to wait until they return home to connect it to the computer, negating the need to rush to log dives on your vacation!
The last thing which must be pointed out when considering whether to purchase your own gear is the quality of rental gear. It is vital that all regulators should be serviced once a year or every 40-70 dives. BCD low pressure inflators should be cleaned and checked every few dives. Most dive shops in Edmonton provide records of when their gear has been serviced and stand by the quality of the equipment they offer; however, often those who engage in tropical dives while on vacation do not know the kind, or more importantly, quality of the gear they will be using. Eliminate the uncertainty invest in your own set of gear and a safe and secure diving experience. Even consider merely purchasing your own regulator, as opposed to a whole set of gear this is the most important piece of life support for a diver and they should be able to trust in its quality and reliability.
Of course, owning your own dive gear does not come without responsibility. BCDs and regulators must be serviced annually by your local dive shop, replacing all the o-rings and other major moving parts (annual service kit and procedures). Dive computer batteries must be monitored and replaced every 100 dives or 12 months and dives must be logged promptly to ensure they are not cycled out of the computers memory. All wetsuits and drysuits must be washed off and stored properly zippers must be waxed and gloves/boots/hoods must be turned inside out and dried.
We all know that diving can be an expensive hobby but, then again, what hobby isnt? Ask any seasoned diver and they will recommend buying your own gear. As suggested above, the benefits will pay for itself. Trade in rental fees for familiarity and security. If you take care of your gear, it will take care of you and will be a great investment for years to come.
I hope you found this article helpful if you have any questions or are seeking further clarification, please do not hesitate to email Jesse Dixon at coldwatercanada@yahoo.com
Note: All divers should own a personal mask, snorkel, and fins as they are the most important fitting pieces of equipment. That is why these items were not touched on in the article.
Ever thought about buying your own dive gear? « coldwatercanada
Opinions?
Ever thought about buying your own dive gear?
Should I consider purchasing my own dive gear?
If I only make it diving 2-3 times a year, whats the point?
These are two of the most common questions we hear from new divers. To respond to such questions, the experienced staff at Northwest Scuba will ask a few questions of their own, and weigh the pros and cons for each specific diver.
One of the first considerations is how much diving the customer does per year. Whether you are an avid diver who makes it out every weekend or a new diver hoping to get out more, you will likely want to consider purchasing your own kit. To put it in perspective, consider that 20-30 trips worth of rental fees is approximately the same cost of a basic mask, fins, regulator and BCD package. In addition to the current practical considerations, keep in mind that most gear has a lifetime of approximately 6-10 years.
Furthermore, the more you use your gear, the more accustomed you get to it. Different BCDs are buoyant in different ways, thus if you are stuck using a different style/type each time you will never be able to get fully comfortable hovering and performing other necessary skills. You must also remember that differing styles of BCDs have different weight releases and buckle releases being familiar with your gear will allow you to perform quickly and competently in any emergency or non-emergency situation.
What type of diving you typically engage in will also aid in determining the appropriate gear to purchase. Cold water diving requires specialized equipment, including a drysuit or thicker wetsuit, hoods, gloves and dive boots as well as cold water regulators and BCDs.
In terms of warm water diving, there are also a number of relevant considerations. Firstly, it is useful to note that while most dive shops in Alberta do not supply warm water regulators, cold water regulators can be used effectively in warm water diving.
As the opportunities for warm water diving in Canada are slim, the biggest issue in using your own gear is often baggage weight. An average set of gear weighs close to 36lbs and most airlines have a maximum baggage weight of 45lbs. Obviously, this does not leave much room other vacation necessities; however, there are a few ways to get around this. Some airlines have policies allowing travelers to bring sports equipment for free, or at a relatively low flat fee. Otherwise, splitting it up with some of the heavier/more valuable objects in your carry-on such as cameras or regulators is another simple but effective option.
Recently, many resorts and store charters have started to require divers to use a dive computer for a variety of reasons. A dive computer monitors safety intervals, and reminds you of your safety stops, ascent and descent rates. This allows divers in the water to be more self-reliant. To rent a dive computer at a resort typically costs up to $20/day, not to mention that the quality of the equipment itself is unknown. Affordable, quality dive computers are available for approximately $250-300 and some of the higher priced variations can be as small as a simple watch. Thus, this is a practical piece of equipment to own and can be very portable. In addition, most are downloadable, allowing the user to wait until they return home to connect it to the computer, negating the need to rush to log dives on your vacation!
The last thing which must be pointed out when considering whether to purchase your own gear is the quality of rental gear. It is vital that all regulators should be serviced once a year or every 40-70 dives. BCD low pressure inflators should be cleaned and checked every few dives. Most dive shops in Edmonton provide records of when their gear has been serviced and stand by the quality of the equipment they offer; however, often those who engage in tropical dives while on vacation do not know the kind, or more importantly, quality of the gear they will be using. Eliminate the uncertainty invest in your own set of gear and a safe and secure diving experience. Even consider merely purchasing your own regulator, as opposed to a whole set of gear this is the most important piece of life support for a diver and they should be able to trust in its quality and reliability.
Of course, owning your own dive gear does not come without responsibility. BCDs and regulators must be serviced annually by your local dive shop, replacing all the o-rings and other major moving parts (annual service kit and procedures). Dive computer batteries must be monitored and replaced every 100 dives or 12 months and dives must be logged promptly to ensure they are not cycled out of the computers memory. All wetsuits and drysuits must be washed off and stored properly zippers must be waxed and gloves/boots/hoods must be turned inside out and dried.
We all know that diving can be an expensive hobby but, then again, what hobby isnt? Ask any seasoned diver and they will recommend buying your own gear. As suggested above, the benefits will pay for itself. Trade in rental fees for familiarity and security. If you take care of your gear, it will take care of you and will be a great investment for years to come.
I hope you found this article helpful if you have any questions or are seeking further clarification, please do not hesitate to email Jesse Dixon at coldwatercanada@yahoo.com
Note: All divers should own a personal mask, snorkel, and fins as they are the most important fitting pieces of equipment. That is why these items were not touched on in the article.
Ever thought about buying your own dive gear? « coldwatercanada
Opinions?
