what to buy?

[Crazyduck]

I ask people to close their eyes and to see themselves diving- and then tell me were they are... this usually gives a pretty good direction. They fall into recreational, technical, or local mud diver.

Your situation is a little different. I would say you want a proper regulator that is of better quality. First see what they guys are diving with in your group because they are already doing it (Navy class A or ANSI high score.) Set yourself a budget and buy the best you can. if you buy used make sure that you have someone with sometime or salt rings look at it first.
Depending on your budget I would be looking at one of the well known rigs. If you want specifics PM for my list. I do not want to start a brand war.

I would try and find a dive shop that would work with you. Dive shops are nice to have and make a great place to chat with like minded people. We all need dive shops and should support them in our community when we can. Now with that said I give the dive shop first rejection at price and make my decision on buying gear from there. I figure that they are providing a service and its darn difficult to walk into an online store and ask questions. What is that worth to you?

Fins need to be heavy duty for moving your mass and others. So you need a proper paddle fin, or technical fin. The problem is as a new diver you will likely crap up when using heavy or really stiff fins; so start with something like a paddle fin or a light weight technical fin.

To this list I would add- rash guard, and socks for the booties. Off brand underarmor is an idea or a Wind shirt with fleece lining- yes I wear it under my wetsuit. It slows that water from moving around in your suit.

Dive computer is relevant to your diving. Most new divers do not need a computer right away; it nice but not real until people start making alot of dives or pushing No-d tables. However, with your situation you are under different guidelines.

Someone will have to confirm this but I am pretty sure that PSD divers fall under OCEA guidelines and as such your have specific times for diving laid out for you. For the Course- OTS FFM is the way to go and you will need a drysuit. They will probably cover contaminated water diving also.
PSD divers often get discounts like instructors so ask the guys at work. When you see the price of the OTS FFM you will need that discount.

One thing to add is you need backplate and wings. Do not mess about with a wrap around jacketed BC. With the lift and position it will be alot better for you in the water. Yes, you need the crotch strap.

I might get in trouble for this but you need to have some serious traning about helping yourself underwater. My history is NAUI and I used to throw a students tank and regualtor set in the deep end and then attach everything else to the BC and throw it a good ten feet away. Do not surface until it is put together...
This makes the student put everything together underwater. First time it takes most people twenty minutes.
OR... you surrender your mask and take off all of your gear and then put it back on.
This simulates getting stuck and self rescue in limited vis.
I don't say this to be mean; but if you are search and rescue guess what that might mean rescuing yourself also.
I had to rescue myself twice in twenty years almost drowned on both ocassions and learned a heck of alot.

Have fun buying gear and this will not be your last time. Buying dive gear is an endless pursuit that is alot of fun. It just gets more expensive as time goes on.

PM me if I can help.
Andrew

 

[Crazyduck]

Right now is the time to buy a rebreather if you part with the money.
People are selling units for some insane prices to reduce their personal inventory or for economic reasons.
Andrew

Back on topic...
Buy a rebreather...and while you're there get me one too!

 

[psiborg1812]

I might get in trouble for this but you need to have some serious traning about helping yourself underwater. My history is NAUI and I used to throw a students tank and regualtor set in the deep end and then attach everything else to the BC and throw it a good ten feet away. Do not surface until it is put together...
This makes the student put everything together underwater. First time it takes most people twenty minutes.
OR... you surrender your mask and take off all of your gear and then put it back on.
This simulates getting stuck and self rescue in limited vis.
I don't say this to be mean; but if you are search and rescue guess what that might mean rescuing yourself also.
I had to rescue myself twice in twenty years almost drowned on both ocassions and learned a heck of alot.

THIS. Go diving without your mask on. Blackout your lenses with some electrical tape and disassemble/reassemble your gear. One thing that helped me was getting in a pool with a buddy of mine and having him "tangle" me with fishing line. He had a pair of shears ready and we were in the shallow end, so it was relatively safe. However, it definitely helps you understand how to reach your cutting tools and how to disentangle yourself. Also, in my opinion, you definitely need 2 cutting tools. I prefer medical shears.

 

[Bogie]

First I would not buy anything on a impulse buy. Take your time and check out various web sites, manufacture sites, and scuba boards like this. I think we have all purchased the wrong equipment at different times. You will notice everyone has an opinion. It needs to be right for you. Comfort and quality are important. I thought I had all my gear but damn, I just keep buying stuff.

I agree with getting the right mask for you is number one. Make sure it seals well, your nose fits, you can pinch your nose with gloves on (cold water), soft seal quality, tear drop lenses give me the best visibility, an add on easy neoprene strap is nice. I would get a low volume mask because they are easier to clear and no purge valve. If your mask does not work properly, it will leak and be a pain. The added visibility of teardrop shape allows you to better look down to your chest and weight belt area for all your accessories. Check the visibility parameters of each mask. It makes a difference.

Next I would get a bcd that has all the features you want. Make sure it is sized correctly. Dive shops sometimes just push you into one because they have a lot in stock. Check the manufacturers web sites for proper sizing. Take your time and don't impulse buy. I like wing/back inflation because it is better for horizontal trim. I love my Zeagle Ranger.

Then I would get the Regulator, octo, computer set up. You can buy a lot of your gear used and save hundreds. If you buy used and make sure it has been serviced properly. Buy quality and make sure the model is fairly recent. If stuff is too used and old it can be expensive or impossible to update.

My last suggestion is to get your Master Card limits raised.

 

[chucksaul]

I am just now following this thread and while everything everyone has said is very pertinent, I am wondering why you are not duplicating your "work" gear for safety and redundancy.

I am making the assumption from the thread and your avatar that you are a fireman who is on the county/city dive team.

Based on that assumption and what you wrote you will be using a specific equipment set-up for your SAR work most probably to ensure that every diver on the team knows their buddy's setup. Kinda sounds DIR doesn't it... Excuse me while I try and wash that off.

And if repetition is important to make motions, etc second nature why would you try and confuse your mind with a second gear set-up?

I understand guys like LVX and K-Valve and Zinc and all tweek their configurations for various scenarios, like the 6,000 foot cave dive, but in the end, from what I have seen them in action, their set-up is basically the same and in some cases the same person to person... DIR Again, gotta wash again.

OK that is my 2 cents worth... YMMV

 

[FIXXERVI6]

Go buy a razor and never look back