What Gear?

[pgrimes43]

I am new to scuba diving (although an avid swimmer and snorkler) and am signed up for SSI program. I KNOW I will be doing a fair amount of recreational diving in the future. My question is:

The store where I signed up with has sold me wetsuit, BC, regulator, etc. All seems to be at fair price. Included in the package was SPG and depth guage. Should I return and upgrade to computer set-up right away? If so what would be a good prchase for beginner? I do not want to spend the money for the gauge setup if after 2-3 dives I am "underequipped". Most of the literature and sales stuff I see seems to imply that guages are not the way to go...but of course they want me to spend $$$.
Thanx in advance

 

[Kriterian]

You probably should have waited until you finished the course before buying the equipment, but that's not a big deal. The gauges are fine now and in the future because even if you do upgrade to a computer you'll still use the gauges. Not to mention they can be used as a back up or alternative if the complicated machine fails or is lost/broken.

Good luck getting certified and have fun!

 

[Aquanaut4ata]

I'm going to go with what chris said....I would definitely recommend a Computer, but would keep the guages as well for a back up. To give you an idea, I dive with an air integrated computer, but also still have an SPG, and dive with a backup computer. For most diving, that may be a bit more redundant than you need, but redundancy is safety, and diving redundant systems may keep you from sitting out the dive of a lifetime someday. If your computer goes out and you're on a liveaboard somewhere in the carribean, with gauges as a backup, you can just sit out 12 hours to get clean & start over on tables, with a backup computer (wearing both on every dive) you just put the failed one in your bag & dive with one.

 

[Diversion]

When you get a computer, get a wrist-mount (or clip-on). That way your gauges are intact for backup use - or if you sell them. The computer is then usable anywhere / any other set of gear you might use.

 

[PerroneFord]

LOL,

Upgrade to a computer.... There are some who don't consider the computer an upgrade at all. I'd say learn to dive without a computer. You'll thank yourself later. Kinda like math. If you only do math with a calculator.. what do you do when you don't have it?

 

[spectrum]

I am new to scuba diving (although an avid swimmer and snorkler) and am signed up for SSI program. I KNOW I will be doing a fair amount of recreational diving in the future. My question is:

The store where I signed up with has sold me wetsuit, BC, regulator, etc. All seems to be at fair price. Included in the package was SPG and depth guage. Should I return and upgrade to computer set-up right away? If so what would be a good prchase for beginner? I do not want to spend the money for the gauge setup if after 2-3 dives I am "underequipped". Most of the literature and sales stuff I see seems to imply that guages are not the way to go...but of course they want me to spend $$$.
Thanx in advance

My Green Thoughts....
1. I don't want to entrust my depth guage to an electronic device so even when you add a computer to your gear the depth guage is a valuable back-up. Either to complete a dive or to dive while it's in the shop.

2. Quite likely most if not all of your novice dives won't even get close to the NDL. The computer will be handy as an asscent monitor. Average depth could be handy for gas usage tracking. The temperature is nice to know too. And of course you will need some sort of time piece.

3. You did the work to learn tables and you should pre-plan before going in just in case the lights go out. May as well use them for a spell.

4. If you are planning that once in a lifetime Carribean Nitrox trip then I'd consider accelerating the addition of the computer so you can milk that trip for all it's worth.

5. If there's any chance of going Nitrox, buy with that capability.

6. The more you're with divers the better idea you'll get of which model you want/need.

7. Odd are costs will drop with time, just a point here. Taken to an extreeme you'd never buy with this logic.

Pete

 

[Scubagolf]

I am new to scuba diving (although an avid swimmer and snorkler) and am signed up for SSI program. I KNOW I will be doing a fair amount of recreational diving in the future. My question is:

The store where I signed up with has sold me wetsuit, BC, regulator, etc. All seems to be at fair price. Included in the package was SPG and depth guage. Should I return and upgrade to computer set-up right away? If so what would be a good prchase for beginner? I do not want to spend the money for the gauge setup if after 2-3 dives I am "underequipped". Most of the literature and sales stuff I see seems to imply that guages are not the way to go...but of course they want me to spend $$$.
Thanx in advance

Fair price or not, I think that any LDS that pushes you to buy the BC/reg/SPG before you get certified and have a few dives under your "weight belt" is trying to make a few bucks at your expense.

Good luck and let's go diving!

 

[pgrimes43]

Thanx for the helpful suggestion, the advice has been great and has helped me considerably!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Learn to dive without a computer. Use tables during your class, and learn to use them well afterwards.

You'll buy a computer later on down the road, however, you certainly don't need one right off the bat, and its arguable whether you need one ever.

I've been diving since 1975. I have never owned a computer. I've done quite a large number of dives and have managed to survive them all despite not wearing a computer.

Best of luck, and hope you enjoy your course.

Doc

 

[Damselfish]

Agree it would have been much better to wait to buy any of your major gear until at least after your class. I think a shop that had your best interests in mind would agree. (But shops make their money off the gear, not the classes.) It's hard to know before you start what you want, and if you were look at a variety of brands at different shops once you have a few dives in there's a good chance you would select something else. And, as much as you feel you'll dive a lot the occasional person does decide it's not for them or they have some sort of problem. Could you still return the gear and use rental gear for your class?

Computers are very useful for certain types of diving and perhaps less useful for others. The people that will tell you they're not needed are often simply doing the latter. If you go to tropical destinations to dive 3-5 times a day, you will want a computer. If you are doing a dive or 2 on the occasional day locally, you may not see as much benefit though I still think they're nice to have. But having backup is good so you could always get the gauges now and add a computer later. (Nothing beats a plain old pressure gauge on a hose for reliability - if all else fails you can look at someone elses gauge to get your depth and hopefully your buddies timing device for time - you can't do that for your pressure!)

If you get a computer I suggest getting one that does Nitrox, there's a good chance you will want that capability at some point and it doesn't cost that much more.