What equipment to buy?

[BIOJECT]

I want to purchase my own equipment soon and I don't want it to be too expensive. At the dive shop were I am getting my Open Water certification, they have a variety of goods to buy.

I definitely want a dive computer and it doesn't have to be wireless. I need everything else too except for bootes, fins, snorkel, and mask since I already bought those. I am going out to buy a bag today only because I was being criticized on the boat for not having something to put my stuff into.

 

[deepdiver4]

buy zeagle but you must think what kind of diving you want to do are you going to stay just with open water ot go technical see what you buy 4 open water will probly will not work in a over head so think then buy good luck

 

[dumbbomb]

next 2 things will be dive comp and wetsuit/dry suit. However i wouldn;t rush into buying the BCD and regs so quickly because i think its best to test out different bits of hire kit to find out what will suit you best in the water. Also you may change your mind as to what sort of diving you wish to continue into, as the post above states.

 

[BIOJECT]

buy zeagle but you must think what kind of diving you want to do are you going to stay just with open water ot go technical see what you buy 4 open water will probly will not work in a over head so think then buy good luck

Well I will probably get other certifications down the road so I would need a setup that is flexible. I don't think I will get into rebreather diving since that is really advanced and expensive for quite some time. Eventually I would like to do wreck diving so I will want to convert over to nitrox eventually too. So yes, I do need a system that is flexible. I don't know how much more I could learn from the rentals. They keep on reminding me of how much they suck every time I use them. Also you must understand that I need to buy my equipment soon if I want to get reimbursed by my work.

 

[mred]

I don't know how much more I could learn from the rentals. They keep on reminding me of how much they suck every time I use them.

Then you need to check out a different place to rent from ... I have seen places that rented TOP notch equipment ... ALso they had many different brands so you could see what worked for you. One thing to keep in mind ... don't rush out and sink a lot of money all at once ... your dive preferences may change, you may discover something later on you wish you had waited on ... you may see gear on a boat that seems really cool, and decide that you want to learn more about that ... why do you think so many people have three sets of fins, three masks four dive watches etc at home? Because preferences change, needs change ... if you go slow perhaps you can anticipate some of those changes.

 

[BIOJECT]

Then you need to check out a different place to rent from ... I have seen places that rented TOP notch equipment ... ALso they had many different brands so you could see what worked for you. One thing to keep in mind ... don't rush out and sink a lot of money all at once ... your dive preferences may change, you may discover something later on you wish you had waited on ... you may see gear on a boat that seems really cool, and decide that you want to learn more about that ... why do you think so many people have three sets of fins, three masks four dive watches etc at home? Because preferences change, needs change ... if you go slow perhaps you can anticipate some of those changes.

Again I have a small window of opportunity for my work to reimburse me for the equipment. The ONLY reason why I am buying soon is because of this fact. PLEASE read this so you understand my situation.

 

[beach89]

I'd get a good buoyancy compensator and wetsuit. It really sucks if you get a bad rental BCD or wetsuit, and if you use a good one it really improves your dive experience.

 

[joe rock]

I can't recommend what to buy. Don't know what you like, type of diving (although you did say flexible) budget or warm water diving or cold water etc. You will get lots of advice about waiting and checking stuff out. Bottom line IMHO is that no equipment is going to be perfect for all conditions. My experience renting equipment (the equipment was top notch, in good shape and had variety) just wasn't the say as your own set up. To me, part of the comfort and confidence in diving is to know your equipment very well. So I bought early. Yea, I bought some things that I'd do differently know, but my diving has expanded, so I use everything I've bought.

JR

 

[Biodiversity_guy]

There are a few other posts under equipment about what folks are diving with.

I would get your own BC so you know it fits you and you know how to use it. Which one is sort of directed back at you. I ended up with a BP/W setup from DSS.

Computer, I would go sufficient but not high end yet. Suunto Gecko maybe.

If you look at reviews on Regulators, and review posts on the forum, you will see quite a few very nice ones. Hard to go really wrong. One suggestion would be to get a straight forward, non adjusting reg as your first one. No knobs, dials or switches to learn or forget to alter.

Just my $0.02

 

[RJP]

What brands does your LDS sell? That'll help us make more specific recommendations.

That said, if you want flexibility, go BP/W right off the bat. There's no diving you CAN'T do in a BP/W setup.

For regs, hard to go too far wrong with anything by a major manufacturer. I'd recommend something with an environmentally sealed first stage. Just easier on the equipment in the long run.