What was your first piece of gear?

[unlikelyfish]

I'm probably going to end up acquiring gear gradually so I'm wondering what others chose as their first piece of diving equipment (besides snorkel, mask and fins). I'm leaning towards a computer or maybe a drysuit.

 

[shark_tamer]

Spent a wackfull of money, all at about the same time ....

Bought wetsuit, gloves and computer on one visit.

About a month later: BC.

Next visit: UW camera.

Six months later: reg, octo, console, light, safety signal, reel.

Am I missing something ?

 

[TSandM]

If you've got the money, a dry suit is a good place to start. It can be hard to rent one that fits, and good exposure protection is critical to enjoying diving in the PNW. A good dive light is pretty important, too, in our limited visibility.

 

[fweber]

After mask, snorkel, fins, came a wetsuit, followed by regulator and bc, then, a slew of stuff, 13 years later I've bought a computer.........but run it in gauge mode now.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Aky another one

her she blows


aprt from your usual gear as mentioned.


I went for a wetsuit, then reg then BC. The computer then the drysuit, new fins for the drysuit. A back up mask, then a backplate and wing. Inbetween I got cutting tools three good lights...sold that then got two photon topedos, then a can light. Sold the old wetsuit then got a newer one. CHaneg gloves due to wear and tear. Got drygloves also along the way. Why dive dry with wet gloves...right!

Got a fullface...sold that. Got a new car to haul all my**** back and forth...sold that got a better car. OH forgot...got them things that go on your back...TANKS..got me a mess of them...6 tanks to reasonable. 8 on a good week.

Then went around again. Got more regs, new undies ( fourth element ), sold the other car got a newer model. I was thinkng of trading in the wife...but think I will keep her...she lets me dive anytime...

A whole whack of tarps, tools, cases ropes, reels.

Then I sold my condo to buy a house with a garage...had to find room for the dive gear. and the wife and dog.

Got a beer tap for the apres dive return and unload of gear...got to hydrate while doing clean up.


Safe dives

 

[Aelvin]

Mask, Snorkel, boot and fins on the first day.

Reg, octo after a week.

BC after another week.

Dive comp the week after.

yesterday my credit card statement came....

 

[David P]

because Im 6'4 with a 52" chest, I couldn't rent a wetsuit so I ordered a custom suit, may have done that before I found a mask....

 

[Charles R]

Bought a package that had everything in it then 2 months and 25 dives later I started over with a BP/W then new regs and everything else now a drysuit is in the air next couple of weeks I will decide

 

[fweber]

because Im 6'4 with a 52" chest, I couldn't rent a wetsuit so I ordered a custom suit, may have done that before I found a mask....

Pinnacle is your friend. 3xl does me fine with similar dimensions.

 

[unlikelyfish]

So far, drysuit sounds like the best option. I'm very small and know from previous experience that getting rental stuff to fit is a lost cause.

Does anyone know of any reason why you couldn't use a diving drysuit kayaking? I normally wear just a drytop but for winter paddling a drysuit would be handy and it seems silly to buy two.