Hi, this is Brandon from Vancouver BC. I'm new here and an just getting back into diving since 2000ish when I did my advanced. I recently dove in Key Largo and think I'm hooked again.
After doing my open water in 97 I was sold on a used diving gear package from a LDS that consisted of an ill fitting wet suit, 1970s Al tank with a J valve, a chlorine bleached ex-rental Oceanic BDC and a Aqualung Conshelf 14 reg set up. All this for the bargain price of $1100.
First time out both the regs free flowed like mad and the BCD leaked from the seams and the shoulder vent. After returning to the store I quickly found out that my gear was nonrefundable, even only after a week. Little surprise that I could get a store credit but that was the only used gear they had and the next thing up was more than double what I paid.
They re-serviced my regs and told me the BCD leaks were minor enough to dive with still. The next time out both regs still free flowed like mad. This is 2 dives lost to this equipment now, and the store tells me the regs are "unserviceable." I started to wonder if this set of equipment might be solely for getting unsuspecting victims to buy into the store; meaning its never meant to work, just to get someone locked into a store credit where they have to spend double to get something that works. I wonder how many other owners this equipment had
I couldnt dive with my equipment and I couldnt bring myself to rent since I just dropped all this cash on my own stuff so I ended up not diving again for 7 years.
On the bright side though, maybe I can sell off my stuff on ebay for about $37.
I also recall buying some non HID lights that I was never happy with and I just recently found out that giant Rambo knives aren't cool anymore.
I just bought a Cressi BCD for a great price and am looking at buying a Mares Proton reg/octo set up. Anyone thing these are the next things I will regret? Maybe thats a different thread, lol.
B