Why buy the best gear?

[MXGratefulDiver]

I tell everyone I know that is getting cert'd that they should rent from various places (to get an assortment) for a year or two before buying.

I wouldn't tell my students that ...

Rental gear won't typically fit you well ... and a good fit should be the most important consideration in gear selection. I've seen way too many divers out there with their BCD shoulder straps riding up around their ears on the surface swim, with velcro fasteners that are worn out and come loose underwater, with loose tanks straps, with regs that I wouldn't trust in a swimming pool, with wetsuits that are either too tight or too loose.

Improper fitting gear is uncomfortable, and won't allow you to perform to your ability even with the meager skills most beginners posses. As a result, you'll struggle ... and this will cause many to decide that diving's just not for them.

And even if you get good rental gear (which is the exception rather than the rule), changing gear every time you go diving will require you to make adjustments to your weight and trim that will affect how you dive ... again limiting your ability to improve your skills as you should.

Every experienced diver has gone through gear changes, and understands that it takes a few dives to "dial in" a new piece of gear. Imagine having to go through that every time you dive. It's very limiting, and very frustrating, for a beginner.

I encourage my students to start researching their gear right away. Learn what you can ... go look at what different shops have to offer ... ask lots of questions (I even refer them to ScubaBoard to ask those questions). Then make your gear selections based on what you learn and what will fit you properly.

You'll have more fun ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Wayward Son]

I'm a firm believer in buying quality gear. Quality doesn't mean "the most expensive", though the good stuff generaly is not cheap.

In a costly, gear-intesive activity like this, being an uninformed consumer will have a dramatic impact on your bank account.

 

[halocline]

If my life depends on it, I want the best that I can afford. Now where do you keep the APEKS regs??

There it is, the big lie that some LDS employees just can't resist using. "This is life support equipment, isn't your life worth a $700 reg?" What a bunch of crap. Someone please post an example of someone dieing because they didn't get expensive gear; not because it was not serviced, but because it was "cheap." The safest reg in the world is probably the lowly SPMK2 or even "lowlier" old USD conshelf. You see any LDSs pushing that on new divers?

It's primarily a narcissism thing...people buy expensive stuff because it makes them feel better about themselves. Boy, does the dive industry know that one! Not that there's anything wrong with buying high quality gear; but for a new diver to buy a zeagle ranger, atomic reg, etc... because "I always buy the best.." (true story from a thread on SB several months ago) has nothing to do with safety or diving needs.

Again, not that there's anything wrong with people freely spendng money on their new hobby, but as soon my former LDS gave me the "your life is worth a titanium reg" bit (okay, little exaggeration) I checked out.

 

[The Kraken]

Ah, the Instructor/LDS affiliation . . . !!!
I personally know of an instructor who, when working for one LDS, avidly positioned one of the makes/brands of fins they sold to be the very, very best fin on the market. Needless to say, it was the most expensive sold by that particular LDS.

Imagine my astonishment that when he changed employers he found another make/brand of fin at the new LDS that was the very, very best fin on the market, and also the most expensive sold at the LDS.

Hmmmmmmm . . . .

Pushing what is sold, perhaps ????

The Kraken's Law of Instructor:Gear Recommendation:

to wit:

The quality of a specific make/brand of gear recommended by the instructor is directly proportional to what LDS signs his paycheck.

the K

 

[DavidHickey]

Well as a newly certified diver myself with less than 15 dives under my belt I will say I bought my equipment after doing some research and ALOT of reading. AND because I CAN. I make decent money and money was not my motivating factor when buying. Sure I could have bought cheaper gear that works just as well, but I could also buy a ford escort instead of a Mustang, they'll both get ya there. I purchased an Apeks black pearl Reg with ATX50 octo, Ranger LTD BCD and a Suunto Cobra computer and a Bare SGS 7mm wetsuit. And I bought with the intention that my 2000.00 or so odd dollar investment would last me a long time. And I thought that after buying this gear I would not want for more scuba gear. WRONG!!! everytime I go in the LDS my palms sweat and I want to buy more!!!!!! ANYHOW for me it comes down to I like toys!!! My LDS by the way did not push me into anything. Actually they were a little upset I bought equipment from other sources for things I wanted that they did not carry. I think the original poster just forgot rule number one. He who dies with the most expensive toys wins!!!!! "It has nothing to do with how functional it is!! " I mean Geez how could I possibly go to my neighbor and show him my 225.00 reg when he spent 400.00. I would be ashamed!!!

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

I wouldn't tell my students that ...



... Bob (Grateful Diver)

My point is that people should burn through a few sets of rental gear to get into a comfort zone with at least what TYPE of gear they want: Back inflation or jacket? Wetsuit, semi dry, or dry? Shorty AL 80's or Steels? Console computers or wrist?

I went through several dive watches in the beginning before I figured out that I just don't like having anything attached to my wrist.

I would say new divers should rent fins too rather than being forced to by them before their cert dives...Especially when you consider that they are the most used piece of equipment you have and usually the most likely piece to give you a miserable dive if they don't match your swim/kick style.

 

[RonFrank]

My OW instructor said he could dive ANY reg he wanted (well can't we all ), but he dives the B2. Certainly a GREAT reg, but I think the LDS sells it for $700!!

A Student who is NOT certified, and has ONE pool dive on their belt should NOT be told they need a $700 regulator! He made that point that these things last a decade or more, so don't skimp. While I agree to a point, my Reg cost less than half that of the B2 at the LDS, and will also last a decade or more.

He then went into the spiel about avoiding online stores as this stuff is life support equipment and online dealers are not authorized dealers. He further discussed *fake* products sold online, which while I'm sure it has happened, it's almost Urban Legand. Ironic as this LDS has entered the online internet market.

I'm sure the LDS requires the instructors to do this in OW. After getting to know the instructors at our LDS, none of them have pushed gear on me in any other class, or when I run into them.

 

[gecko2gecko]

I tell everyone I know that is getting cert'd that they should rent from various places (to get an assortment) for a year or two before buying.

From where I sit, this isn't the best idea. I live in Florida and can dive quite often if I choose. If I were to rent for a year or two, by the time my "waiting period" is up I could've bought the super expensive gear to begin with. I can see renting until you are familiar, but a year or two is quite extreme.

 

[PhotoTJ]

...He further discussed *fake* products sold online, which while I'm sure it has happened, it's almost Urban Legand. ...

While I have yet to see this in the dive indusrty, I won't be surprised if it's coming. I was in the camera industry for a while, and you would not believe the amount of fake Sony, Nikons, and Canons we saw.

Say what you want, my life is worth the $700. I wouldn't skydive with the cheapest parachute, either.

 

[PhotoTJ]

Ah, the Instructor/LDS affiliation . . . !!!
I personally know of an instructor who, when working for one LDS, avidly positioned one of the makes/brands of fins they sold to be the very, very best fin on the market. Needless to say, it was the most expensive sold by that particular LDS.

Imagine my astonishment that when he changed employers he found another make/brand of fin at the new LDS that was the very, very best fin on the market, and also the most expensive sold at the LDS.

Hmmmmmmm . . . .

Pushing what is sold, perhaps ????

The Kraken's Law of Instructor:Gear Recommendation:

to wit:

The quality of a specific make/brand of gear recommended by the instructor is directly proportional to what LDS signs his paycheck.

the K

What a shame! A salesman that wants to make a living! He should be keelhauled! Just out of curosity, do you want to make money at your chosen profession?