What gear do I need?

[RossT]

Hello All,
I am a super-newbie to scuba diving. I am not yet certified. I am taking my PADI cert. on Dec. 14th-19th and would like to know if I need to buy any equipment or gear or anything? Do you think I should invest in a whole setup or just buy mask and fins or what? I really do not know anything about diving gear, so please dumb it down if you can. I have already bought the mask and fins and snorkel from the store, but I can always return them if they are not right. I bought a Mares Pure Vision mask, Tusa Hyperdry Imprex snorkel, and Tusa Imprez Tri-ex fins. I have not yet bought the shoes or any gloves, etc, but I think they are going to make me do that before I take the classes. Do you think I should get a full set off ebay or something or do I need it ?

Anyways, as much info as you can give a novice would be great. I will be mainly diving in the virgin islands and in and around Texas.

Thanks!
Ross Tomson

 

[DiveMaven]

Sounds like you have everything you need to get started. Have a great time!

 

[cinder4320]

Try out their rental gear for the class and try as much as possible (maybe on vacation, or a friends) if possible in order to find out what fits and what you like. Its horrible to drop a grand only to find out once you start diving that none of it is really what you need or want. Snorkel, mask, and fins, are mostly preference. Once you go through the class you'll know a little more about gear and hopefully with each dive you'll become more of an "expert". I'm still learning but have my first set of gear and am happy with it. Beware of buying life support items off Ebay. There are reputable internet dealers and your LDS who offer warranties.

Miranda

 

[ghostdiver1957]

If you're dealing with a helpful and knowledgeable shop they will let you try different things before you buy. Fins and Snorkels are fairly generic... meaning that most all dive fins and snorkels you buy from a SCUBA retailer will work about the same and will do just fine. The mask is a little trickier... it is important that the mask fit your face properly so that it does not flood all the time (get water in it.) If you try the mask you bought and no water gets in - thats a big thumbs up. If it leaks, take it back and try others until you find one that doesn't leak. My best recommendation for a mask that fits all faces is a Sea Vision 2000.

Lets be right up front about a few things. If you plan to do alot of local diving (near your house on weekends vs. only a few trips out of the country during the year) then you'll want to buy your own tanks, weights and weightbelt. If you're not doing local diving... forget all of the above. You can rent them wherever you travel to... and in most all cases they're included in the price you pay for your trip.

The essentials for ownership are debated among divers all the time. What is the most important thing out of the following to buy first? A good fitting wetsuit, a computer, a good set of regulators or a BCD (bouyancy compensator / vest?)

They are all very important. Without the right wetsuit, you will either be too hot or too cold in the water. Without a regulator you can't breathe underwater and without a BCD you can not dive very well. Without a computer you have to know, be competent in and actually do your dive tables. So here is the deal... They are all rentable... however in many cases, if you rent them all 5 or 7 times, you could have bought them... and that's a much better return on investment.

A good Regulator can be had for about $250
A Good BCD for about $250 - $300
a Good air computer for $300 and Nitrox for $400
A Good wetsuit for $150

So for about $1100.00 for these 4 items, you can own all the essentials. Your mask fins and snorkel, boots, hood and gloves should have all cost you about $250... if you paid more... someone has ripped you off.

If you need suggestions on where to get stuff... let me know... Happy Diving

Ken
SSI Instructor

 

[*Floater*]

Ross, if I were you I wouldn't buy yet because you don't know what's good and what's a good deal. Read up on what people say here, take your time and as others have said try on as much different rental gear as possible.

Mask is all about fit (price doesn't matter that much), so if it fits well, doesn't leak, etc. then keep it. Snorkel is not that important - most people stop wearing them soon after the OW course. Fins can be important, but the main thing is that they feel comfortable in your feet.

 

[OE2X]

Don't buy any more than you absolutely need to to take the class.

It's a common symptom for a new diver's wallet to get really itchy and splash itself all over the dive shop. Leave all plastic and cash at home. Resist, resist, resist. Dive shops are the equivelant of a candy store for a child. It's hard to resist, but have faith it will pass.

Decide what type of diving and how much you are going to do. If it looks like it's going to be a lot, then very carefully choose what you need to get started. Spend the extra money to get top shelf gear. With each purchase try to only buy the item once. You likely won't sell the cheap stuff, you will only add to it. I have three BCD's - two of which are brand new and I don't use them. If you are planning on diving a lot locally, then consider getting a computer with nitrox capabilities. You may well find yourself diving this way and you won't have to buy a second computer later on.

Don't discount what the tech divers use. If you are at all like me, you'll say "I'll never dive that way." Then a year later you have to buy all new gear because now you do want to dive that way.

Spend a lot of hours here on SB. The information you get from other members will very likely save you thousands of dollars. If it seems that a lot of people are recommending a certain type of BCD - pay attention. In your haste don't make rash purchases that you wish later that you still had the money from.

Ask lots of questions. That is what this forum is about and most of us are more than happy to offer our opinions.

 

[TSandM]

Don't discount what the tech divers use. If you are at all like me, you'll say "I'll never dive that way." Then a year later you have to buy all new gear because now you do want to dive that way.

Six months.

Don't buy until you've had a chance to try, think, and look around.

 

[joe rock]

Lot's of good advice so far. Throwing in my 2 cents - know what kind of diving you're going to do before you spend major dollars. The type of diving will influence your choices in equipment set-ups.

 

[Eagle-scuba]

It is usually a good to rent and try several types of equipment before you buy....a little research on the internet is helpfull also......don`t make the mistake of buying equipment you know nothing about...especiall used equipment on auctions (internet)....that may have been abused or have not been serviced for a long period of time....as lots of individual get the bug to buy ...and then after a few times under...give up the sport ...and have alot of $$$ invested in equipment they never use...stay away from OCEAN MASTERS as they don`t honor thier warranties....if you are in the Texas area.....and want a good dive trip...try the FLOWER GARDENS...w Frank and the crew of the MV FLING and MV SPREE.... most of the shops can give you information....I think it is www.gulf-dive.com

 

[markfm]

Along with mask, fins, snorkel, boots are generally a safe bet. My boots are equally fine in the Caribbean or up where I live (until it's dry suit season).

To tell the truth, the "standard" snorkel I got is the one thing that I do not use at all. It's a thing of beauty -- rigid plastic, purge, stopper in the top... A pain in the butt, however, in actual use. It can get in the way of hoses, add a bit of extra fumbling when going to the inflator, etc.

I ended up buying a polyethelene roll-up snorkel, flexible, works much better for me. Sure it breathes a bit wet, doesn't have a purge. Guess what though -- it's easy to pop on and off in the water, and if I do choose to keep it on the flexibility gets rid of the obstruction problems the normal snorkel gave me.