What do I need to dive?

[avpoh8]

Hello all. I have never been diving before and plan to do so on my honeymoon. I plan to take course at a local dive shop here in town before the honeymoon. I was just wondering what equipment should I purchase and what should I rent when I get to the resort?

 

[FatCat]

Buy a mask and a snorkel. Then take the course, see if you like diving, then start looking for gear. Read everything you can get your hands on about gear and talk it over with your instructor. Don't worry about what you need for your honeymoon yet.

And talk it over with your fiancee. I think it would be more fun for the both of you if you took the course together.

Have fun with the class.

 

[simbrooks]

Welcome to the board.

Are you intending to dive often once you get training? Are you on a budget of any sort? That will determine what equipment it might be worthwhile buying.

A list of questions you could ask courtesy of Walter that might be helpful for determining if this shop has a good course going. Are they the only shop in town? Compare the options, not just on price, but time spent, quality of the staff there - not just on what they point you towards gear wise in the store. If you value your life underwater then adequate training is something to aim for, not just dealing with $$$ there is more value in quality instruction than trying to cut corners on it. This doesnt mean go for the most expensive, but cheapest isnt always best value for money

For most courses you are required to have wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins and a weight belt. Bouyancy compensators, regulators and tanks are usually provided within the course costs. This should be the minimum gear you should have, like i said your time spent diving and money limitations determine what else you should buy - i would go in the order regs, BC, computer then tanks for further purchases (tanks you wont take on vacation with you, but everything else you can). Can you get in any local diving in your area (where do you live?), there might be some members here who might be able to get out with you in the local forum for your area.

Just some starter questions/thoughts.

 

[ozarkjim]

Do you plan on diving when you return i.e. is there local diving you are interested in? You would approach what you purchase compared to renting based on how much value you expect to receive for what you spend. If you don't know, rent all you can until you are sure you like it. Although I can't imagine why some people don't fall in love with the sport, closets are full of barely used gear all over the world.

 

[simbrooks]

Although I can't imagine why some people don't fall in love with the sport, closets are full of barely used gear all over the world.

Some people just dont see sense it seems, poor wasted gear :shakehead

 

[FatCat]

For most courses you are required to have wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins and a weight belt. Bouyancy compensators, regulators and tanks are usually provided within the course costs. This should be the minimum gear you should have, like i said your time spent diving and money limitations determine what else you should buy - i would go in the order regs, BC, computer then tanks for further purchases (tanks you wont take on vacation with you, but everything else you can). Can you get in any local diving in your area (where do you live?), there might be some members here who might be able to get out with you in the local forum for your area.

Just some starter questions/thoughts.

I'm starting to understand why course prices quoted on this board are so ridiculously low. Over here (Europe) gear rental is included an OWD course.

 

[avpoh8]

Little lady has already gotten her cert. She is going to retake the course with me as a refresher. I am thinking I will like diving, but I will not be able to do it much due to other activities. I may dive once a year after the honeymoon.

Good point on the shop. They are not the only one in town and are middle of the road in price. They seem to have the better looking shop and the instructor seemed very easy to comunicate with. As far as money to spend on equipment, we don't want to spend the bank on equipment, but I do want good equipment that will work when we need it again.

 

[simbrooks]

I'm starting to understand why course prices quoted on this board are so ridiculously low. Over here (Europe) gear rental is included an OWD course.

You buy the skin/free diving/snorkeling gear, the actual real equipment of diving is provided within the course structure most places, but only during OW. You can still rent beyond OW, but you have to pay for that rental after OW, but not during basic training. The other reason the prices seem so low is that many people hide costs of their courses by saying is $99 to learn to dive, but opps its another $80 in books, $100 in boat dives, another $20 in pool fees and the list goes on. You really have to compare apples with apples, its a cut throat market out there it seems, but of course money shouldnt be the only concern in chosing a good instructor!

 

[moneysavr]

Hello all. I have never been diving before and plan to do so on my honeymoon. I plan to take course at a local dive shop here in town before the honeymoon. I was just wondering what equipment should I purchase and what should I rent when I get to the resort?

First WELCOME NEW DIVER TO BE!!!
Second,Get mask,& snorkel-that fits,your LDS will set you up,The rest rent! Then you try items and find out stuff that works for you and that dose not.
wet suits for one area may not be right other places,then after some dives hope you get some local ones then see other diver rigs and build from that point,
Have a fun trip and good luck!
Brad

 

[simbrooks]

Little lady has already gotten her cert. She is going to retake the course with me as a refresher. I am thinking I will like diving, but I will not be able to do it much due to other activities. I may dive once a year after the honeymoon.

Good point on the shop. They are not the only one in town and are middle of the road in price. They seem to have the better looking shop and the instructor seemed very easy to comunicate with. As far as money to spend on equipment, we don't want to spend the bank on equipment, but I do want good equipment that will work when we need it again.

Do you intend to dive together beyond the honeymoon? Does she have her own gear? IF you dont intend diving much i wouldnt buy the big stuff, just rent, it may not be fun to have to keep changing up each dive, but if you arent going to see the value back for it there is no point in laying down $1k+ on decent gear. You might be surprised at how diving can take a hold of you and other activities get tossed aside in favour of diving Just get the mask, snorkel, fins and whatever wetsuit is applicable for your area and where you intend going. Dont rent wetsuits unless you really have to, think that someone else might have peed in them - not pleasant! Open heeled fins and wetsuit booties are probably in order as well and arent much more than full foot and colder feet