Wanting to buy my first reg and BCD

[AfterDark]

So here's my take on DIY regulator servicing; if you are mechanically inclined and have a little experience fixing things, the sooner you get into the DIY the better. I started very late, it just never was a concern for me, that is until the costs got too prohibitive. So I did some research and asked some questions, right here on SB, did a lot of reading and decided I could DIY it. I did 4 regulators last year all worked great and all except one are still working great. I retired one for parts this year, I don't need it but I'll probably need parts, all 4 are the same regs.

This week I completely rebuilt my old US divers JetAir double hose. Haven't tried it in the water yet, but it breathes a lot better now than it did before. I regret not having started regulator servicing 40 years ago. Good luck and safe diving.

 

[teonchagi]

Thank you so much everyone! Searching for regs can be overwhelming between all the brands alone, but then throw in all the different models and I just go "noooope" lol.

This thread has definitely given me a lot to think about, and I'm glad I didn't just jump in and buy anything yet.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

Good to see a fellow North Texan here @ SB! I'l throw my two cents in. I dive a Hog D3 first stage reg and they're very moderately priced at about $250. And they're environmentally sealed for cold water diving, which is a plus. And I think you'd also come to appreciate the swivel feature so turning your head isn't restricted by your hoses. As you can see in my avatar I don't dive a traditional 2nd stage because I have a full face mask. But I have made dives with the Atomic Z3 and it breathes quite nicely. As for a BCD, try out a couple at your LDS and see what you like best. At least try diving a back inflate once and see what you think. They're a little odd on teh surface because they push you face forward a bit so you'll have to make yourself lay back on top of it, but underwater they trim out very nicely and keep you in a nice horizontal diving position. Personally I dive the Zeagle Brigade, which is just Zeagle Ranger with a smaller 32 lb bladder. Being female, though, I'd recommend the Zeagle Zena because rather than having a standard cumberbund system, it's a corset that's built for the female form and zips to keep it in place. Then there are 6 adjustable straps (4 on the lats and 2 on the shoulders) to help with fitting. My wife dives it and loves it. Very customizable. Plus it's a modular system so almost every part of it can be replaced separately. And most of my diving happens either at Clear Springs (now Scuba Ranch) or Blue Lagoon down in Huntsville. So I know exactly how it is diving lakes. Visibility just sucks!

 

[teonchagi]

Thanks!! I’m actually heading to scuba ranch on Sunday the 5th. Hoping it doesn’t creep me out too much. I want to dive as much as possible between vacations and that’s my best bet.

I was thinking about a back inflate at first. That’s what my instructor used. I read about them pushing you down on the surface and decided against it, because I prefer swimming on my back, but i think I should try to try one. I’ve got to make some friends haha

 

[eelnoraa]

I was thinking about a back inflate at first. That’s what my instructor used. I read about them pushing you down on the surface and decided against i

Only if you don’t set it up properly. I have being using some form of back inflate since OW class. I don’t remember once I felt I was push face down.

 

[AfterDark]

I started diving before BCDs were invented. I've used horsecollars, jackets, back inflate and BP/W which is what I use these days. BP/w has it over everything I've used and no it doesn't put me on my face. If anything I've noticed it's more difficult to swim face down on the surface and much easier to swim on my back. The backplate can eliminate some lead also, a SS back plate usually weighs around 6 lbs and a STA (single tank adapter) can weigh as much as 3lbs. If one is diving in a 7mm or drysuit the elimination of 5-6 lbs of lead is a big deal. Keep trying different styles of BCD until you find what you like.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

Thanks!! I’m actually heading to scuba ranch on Sunday the 5th. Hoping it doesn’t creep me out too much. I want to dive as much as possible between vacations and that’s my best bet.

I was thinking about a back inflate at first. That’s what my instructor used. I read about them pushing you down on the surface and decided against it, because I prefer swimming on my back, but i think I should try to try one. I’ve got to make some friends haha

They have a tendency to sort of put you in a forward position on the surface but it's really easy to lay back on them and "swim" backwards like you're talking about. It's what I do, too. I've kicked all over Scuba Ranch on the surface that way. But setting them up properly and distributing the weight just right, you can get them to keep you more upright on the surface like a jacket style. The problem I have with jacket style BCs is that underwater they tend to roll me to one side or the other, even with weight distributed evenly on both sides. Just the way they inflate all around you as opposed to on your back "above you" like a back inflate does. The back inflate, at least to me, is much easier and much more comfortable to dive because it keeps you more stable and horizontal underwater and it's a lot less cumbersome.

I really do recommend the Zeagle Zena for women. Because of the way it fits, because of the modularity (is that a word?), because of how customizable it is. See how it fits and has a corset that zips rather than a standard cumberbund?

Just out of curiosity, who did you get certified with? What shop? What instructor?

 

[eelnoraa]

They have a tendency to sort of put you in a forward position

Again, because you are doing something wrong, or some particular back inflate are poorly designed. It sure doesn’t apply to BI in general.

 

[teonchagi]

I got certified at Coki Dive Center on st Thomas. All my dives were shore dives just steps from the shop. Even my confined water skills were in the ocean, but except for the big rock that I always stepped on, it really was like a pool.

Out of curiosity, how do people usually try different styles of gear? If I’m renting from scuba ranch for example, do they have different things or would I need to borrow other peoples gear to try? Or do shops like scuba toys that have their own pool have gear you can try?

I can’t thank you all enough for the advice. I’m still shopping and hoping to go to a local store this weekend to at least look at different options.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

I got certified at Coki Dive Center on st Thomas. All my dives were shore dives just steps from the shop. Even my confined water skills were in the ocean, but except for the big rock that I always stepped on, it really was like a pool.

Out of curiosity, how do people usually try different styles of gear? If I’m renting from scuba ranch for example, do they have different things or would I need to borrow other peoples gear to try? Or do shops like scuba toys that have their own pool have gear you can try?

I can’t thank you all enough for the advice. I’m still shopping and hoping to go to a local store this weekend to at least look at different options.

Yes, ScubaToys has gear you can rent. Entry level, higher end, etc. That's actually where I do all my coursework, buy all my gear, etc. I'm in the process of working toward being a Dive Master for them; just a matter of completing the Master Scuba Diver certification and then the Dive Master certification. They're a great group to do business with, as they really know the products they sell quite well, and a lot of fun to take dive trips with. I went to Cozumel with them last year and had a blast! If you're not certain you want to rent a back inflate from them, call and talk to them and see if they'll let you try it in the pool to see what you think. Once you take an actual course there, you have free use of the pool as long as there aren't any classes going on in it. In my opinion, there isn't really a better dive shop in the Metroplex.