What do you recommend?

[ShakaZulu]

That is a loaded question. You are going to get so many responses.

I meant to ask a loaded question. I want all the advice I can get. I like to hear different opinions... Thanks everyone for your $0.02! Keep the ideas coming...

I get Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine, and I've got some back issues laying around, what do you guys think of their equipment reviews?

Another loaded question...........Rodale's is a forbidden word around here. The equipment reviews is in fact sale pitches, total BS..................

 

[travelmadness]

Another loaded question...........Rodale's is a forbidden word around here. The equipment reviews is in fact sale pitches, total BS..................

I guess the hardest decision i'll make buying all this gear is choosing BP/wing or traditional BCD.... The reg, computer, guages, etc.. choices won't be as hard for me.

Tank size recommendations?

 

[JDostal]

Tanks - the bigger the better

Seriously though...stay away from aluminum. They are cheap, but small and don't have the best buoyancy of tanks...

I like the Low Pressure Steel 104's (as Pressed Steel calls them...) or the 108's (as Faber calls them...). I have a set of doubles from Pressed Steel (104's) and I have two of Pressed Steels E8-130's - they are pretty much a regular ol' LP104 with a new DOT rating that lets them get cranked up to 3500PSI for 130 cubic feet. I like them A LOT. They let me do some really long dives.

 

[Curt Bowen]

One word

BUY!!!!

If you dive more than 10 times, you will save money

 

[JDostal]

I should also add...even though I completely blew off aluminum tanks, I want to tone that down a little bad. Aluminum 80 tanks aren't all that bad - it's just that I don't really like them that much. I've used them, and like my steels better for weight and capacity. But if you can get a good price on some 80's, I wouldn't rule them out.

I just re-read my post and thought I sounded a little too negative If you can get the steels, go for them is kinda what I meant to say.

 

[RICHinNC]

I think there is one is one thing a bp and wing set up can do that a vest cant...and that is get rid of the wrap around bladder and give you more unobstructed movement and freedom to the front. While my SQ Pro QD is a great bcd and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a vest bcd (but with velcro...not the surelocks) the feel of bp and wing is just radically different to me.
Whatever makes one happy!!