The debate about buying your own gear for the newbie

[Mark Derail]

Reading that, I just had a Duh moment...

Why removing the computer? To make sure your suitcase doesn't surpass the 25 lbs for the airline surcharge. Packing for two, the weight adds up. The computers easily clip on your pants, something to play with on the plane.

What hes saying is the dive computer is removable with a quick release. So if you quick release your cpu and leave it at the hotel your left with an empty hose, no depth guage or air guage!

 

[Scuba_Noob]

My calculations were around 30-40 dives before all my gear would be paid off. I decided to just do it and get my own gear quickly (also, ~$100 per rental day was motivating).

But if you're doing less than 10 dives a year, then the only gear I think should be necessary to buy is a comfortable mask and maybe a computer.

 

[rhwestfall]

Our dive shop, where we took the course in the pool, had the course given with the same BCD's that they sold. Recommended to buy the BCD just before the four OW cert dives.

Of course they did.... couldn't you have rented them for less, and had the same equipment familiarity?

If you can do all your skills in 15 feet of water in a pool, and pass all the exams, there's a distinct chance you'll be a diver for life.

I doubt statistically that is accurate.... I seem to have met many who got certified because it was just so cool, and within years don't dive... I'd like to bring this thread back in 5 years time....

I can even be an example... got certified, did the dive/travel thing, took 4 years off, got back into it for a bunch of years, again had to take time off, and came back again....

In our case, we did referrals down South, so we finished our UW skills in the pool with our new gear first. A major stress relief knowing your gear works before heading out on your own.

Again, would it have been just as effective to rent the gear from your shop and have all the familiarity with it?


Just another thing to consider...

 

[coldwatercanada]

What we do at our dive shop is have play in the pool wednesday nights so every wednesday you can come try any piece of gear we sell from regs, to bcds, to sidemount gear, to full faced masks to all our different types of fins!!

 

[Mark Derail]

Yes Bob, true, it all depends if you can afford it or not. Never having dived in Mexico, how can one be sure their equipment is up to par?

Renting full gear down South was in the 50$ per person range per day, our first trip we did an extra 10 dives after the referral cert dives.

So let's make the debate clear - a first time scuba diver - should rent first, then buy.

That holds up for downhill skiing - in my opinion - but not for scuba diving, unless I get a solid reassurance from the dive-op that their rental stuff is just-as-good, and I can get a multiple-day discount.

Having gone down the buy-your-stuff route, and diving with ops in Mexico/Cozumel with divers that rented everything, I'd say the difference in equipment is negligible. Not stuff to worry about.
So a renter will not be at risk versus a diver with new gear. I've been with 5 different dive-ops so far, Mexico & Hawaii.
The only thing better with the new gear was cosmetic.

That said, the renters only did one or two days of diving out of seven days.

Should a new diver rent, and want to do "more" dives but out-of-money for rentals, snorkeling and free-diving is an excellent alternative.

Plus won't have buyer's remorse.

Is the case stronger for rent-first, buy later? Probably...but it is subjective.

Let's skew the argument - Do you rent your car, thinking it's better, or buy?

 

[fjpatrum]

Reading that, I just had a Duh moment...

Why removing the computer? To make sure your suitcase doesn't surpass the 25 lbs for the airline surcharge. Packing for two, the weight adds up. The computers easily clip on your pants, something to play with on the plane.

play with it on the plane and you could end up diving "at altitude" when you try to actually get wet. Better to leave it attached to the hose and not play with it at all. The weight savings of a single computer isn't going to be beneficial for airline weight limits at all. Hell, one pair of lightweight sandals weighs more than the computer does.

Is the case stronger for rent-first, buy later? Probably...but it is subjective.

Let's skew the argument - Do you rent your car, thinking it's better, or buy?

Plenty of people Lease cars, which is the same thing as renting them... slightly better rates but along the same lines.

Anyway, nothing says new divers have to buy new equipment. I believe all my gear has already paid for itself and I have less than 20 dives, with 3 sets of regs, multiple BCs, 4 sets of fins/mask/snorkel etc etc.

 

[Mark Derail]

Nope! We were at 25.8 and removing the two cobras brought it down to 25.0. They aren't light.

There's a wet sensor, impossible to obtain a "diving at altitude". They're wonderfully designed...I just wish I had gotten the wireless ones for not that much more $$$.

play with it on the plane and you could end up diving "at altitude" when you try to actually get wet. Better to leave it attached to the hose and not play with it at all. The weight savings of a single computer isn't going to be beneficial for airline weight limits at all. Hell, one pair of lightweight sandals weighs more than the computer does.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I can wear my non air integrated computer on the plane if i choose to. All that is on my hp hose is an spg. You do not need a console with other gauges. In fact you don't need a computer. A depth guage and watch or a bottom timer works fine and using tables makes sure one does not miss an ow level dive.
Don't know what you are carrrying in gear that weighs 30-40lbs but that's crazy. My reg weighs around 6, zeagle express tech or aluminum bpw set up maybe another 5, 6 for fins, mask, weight belt, and two small lights another 3, and smb,finger spool, and dive alert another two. So we have 20-22 lbs for my warm water gear. Add 6 for 3 mil suit and stilk well under 30 and all of this goes in an Oceanic roller backpack that fits in the over head. A few tshirts and shorts in another small bag that will jam under the seat. Toiletries? Use the hotel's. Extra clothes? Its a dive trip! Buy the 3 for 10 bucks defect ones at destination and throw em away or give them to somebody when you leave.

The best time to buy gear is after your checkout dives, not before. And if you plan to stay in this a long time do not get the first things the lds recommends. More than likely you'll end up selling it 6 months later for less than half of what you paid for it to get what you really need.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

 

[nimoh]

If forgetting to re-attach your computer before going to dive is a problem, then perhaps there is a better way to save 0.8 lbs

 

[rhwestfall]

Never having dived in Mexico, how can one be sure their equipment is up to par?

You didn't read my comment - rent from your HOME LDS - that way you have the same gear you trained in, and you have it the whole time you are on vacation..

I'm not saying what is right or wrong. I, myself, have never rented a piece of equipment aside from tanks.... I can say there are pluses and minuses, but they are decisions you need to make, under the circumstances that only you really 100% understand (compared to our perspectives applied to your life). I've hit some "glitches" over time - manufacturer's no longer in business, some equipment doesn't fit anymore, some stuff no longer supported, some is no longer considered the correct solution, and some things just plain ceased to operate..... also, some stuff didn't do well sitting unused....

Its just food for thought.