I'm not committing to buying anything just yet, but I wanted to get some pointers from you divers on what equipment is good (ramping up to finish my open water certification soonish). I'm by no means rich so gear thats adverage to above adverage I'ld consider....any suggestions on specific types of gear or anything I should look out for? Thanks in advance.

I hope this doesn't sound like a commercial post-- its not intended to be. But my advice is to shop at different dive shops and get an idea for prices, but DONT BUY. Once you've been around town at 3 or so shops, pick out the gear in each price bracket that interested you most and see if you can try it out. For instance, the shop I work for (wont post name, PM me if you dont know) will let you get into our pool and play with gear to make sure you like it before you buy. Also look at prices and see if the shop will price match (my shop has an e-store plus we meet or beat any dealer's price-- good luck beating them!)

Lastly, dont buy from the internet. Theres nothing wrong with a responsible shop online, but there are a few discount stores online that actually DO NOT offer warrenty for their equipment. Aka Leisure pro. There are alot of shops who will match their prices and still maintain the warrenty, so don't take a chance with the e-gear places. I couldn't begin to tell you how many people have come in after buying "a deal" online only to learn that the service on that stuff without warrenty was going to run them almost as much as they paid for it. Same with eBay--- the average service with parts can run $100+, so factor that in if you buy online.

In terms of what to buy in what order is up to you. I went with a computer first to extend my NDL limits. Then with BCD and Regs because I didnt ever fit into rental gear and I dont trust whoever used the regs before me to not do something stupid with them.

Talk to the different shops about the kind of diving you plan on doing and see what prices they throw to you-- you'd be amazed how much you can pay for certain brand names that are no better than "average" brands. I'd put many budget regulators on par with the most expensive regs you can find out there.

PM me if you want specifics on where I work, etc.

Kristen

Kristen,
That is very sound advice. I was going to give the same advice.

Lee...look around. If you need someone to go with you to give opinions, there are plenty of divers here with our own gear that would be willing to assist you.

cool, thanks guys I appreciate it. I know I need to go around to shops, was hoping that you guys could point out some good shops for me to visit, that way i cut the times of going to the "eh" places, lol. Say something like fins tho, I've used the regular flat toe ones, although my instructor had the split fin style, whats the advantage to those? Does anyone on here use those? and what do you think about them?

Lee... I love Divers Supply. I go to the one in Marietta.

Todd goes to Adventures in Diving in Duluth... He has split fins, but says they aren't the greatest when diving in current.

Good stores...
- Divers Supply (Marietta and Doraville)
- Adventures in Diving (Duluth)
- Sea Ventures (Holcomb Bridge Road)
- Atlanta SCUBA (East Cobb).

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1600&highlight=scuba+shops

Ive been to Divers Supply in Doraville and Adventures in Diving. Both of those stores gave me great advice, helped me try things on, and neither of them tried to sell me anything but got advice. I don't have personal experience with split fins vs regular fins but from my readings and speaking with different divers the splits apparantly cut water better with less effort allowing you to conserve energy and air.

Kmitch can you tell us a little bit about that bcd/reg/octo combo that your store sells I believe its $599 or $499 and you can get the reg replaced every 2 years for like $100 or something. Lee may way to hear about that and id like a refresher.

yeah i've hear nothing but good things from Divers Supply and Adventures in Diving.....maybe this weekend I'll venture out to those places and see what all the hype is about :) So as far as the octo and regs....what should I look for? I know I could get these answers at a dive shop, but I figure more advice never hurts.

I dive with split fins. I wouldn't dive anything else unless I was in SERIOUS current. The split fins allow for a more natural kick with less leg strain. That is why I ended up with them. My hips would get worn out from traditional fins. The materials for split fins are generally pretty soft and as such lose some in moving water. I personally dive Tusa Xpert Zoom fins in black. The black ones are made with a stiffer compound than the others. They are rated a Scuba Lab tester's choice. I would also look at the Apollo split fins. My understanding is they are great. Definitely try different fins out first, split and not split. See what you like and what works for you and get that.

And also, get a nitrox computer as soon as possible. It will increase your dive time and believe me you will want to dive nitrox.

PM me if you need a dive partner.:D

nitrox eh, lets go one step at a time I still need to get open water certified, lol. Which btw I've contacted a few places around here and I'm waiting to hear back from them. Hey Todd, where are you???? I know youre a serious diver here, you have any info or do's and dont's for me? Thanks again everyone for your suggestions and help.

Lee ive done alot of price shopping and most shops are relative to each other in prices. Ill give the same advice given to me go to a shop that makes you comfortable and that you feel really comfortable with instructor thats the key to sucess. I am finally schedualled for this friday, sat, sunday....I am almost done with my reading and quizes!

nice man, good luck with all that! You'll have to let us know how everything went.

Lee, Dive, Dive Dive in Lawrenceville is not a bad spot. The re-sell consignment used equipment that is a GOOD deal, that would be my avenue on a budget...


BTW: we need to get a CHEAP ARC dive trip started! All these new people that need to hit the open water and some old timers that have an itch still, it should be a good turn out!

Dive Trip: I am doing the Oriscany in September

BTW: we need to get a CHEAP ARC dive trip started! All these new people that need to hit the open water and some old timers that have an itch still, it should be a good turn out!

I'm could be interested. Dive, Dive, Dive does some cool trips generally in the 6 person range.

Hey-- yes i work for divers supply in Marietta. I'm only working here another week or so before I go back to school.... :(

Anyway, used gear can be found at most shops-- they will often sell out of their rental stock. You can save some money like that, but I usually tell people to go for something new over used. Heres why: until 3 years ago, if you owned a Dacor regulator you owned a fine breathing machine. Until Dacor was bought out and all the molds for their parts kits destroyed. If you own a dacor reg pre-2000, you are SOL because parts kits just dont exist. This applies with all regulators. The older they are (even a few years) the harder they are to find parts kits for. So before you buy used, take a look at what you've found and see how easy it is to get serviced. It kills me the number of times people get an eBay "steal" that they can't get serviced!

Check out DS's website and look at the prices on there-- and do the same for other shops that list prices online. You'll often find that prices in store are even less because shops must honor MAP pricing online, but can sell for whatever price in store. EX: I have a regulator and octo with regulator bag (pneumatically balanced) for $399 (cant list mfg). We also sell packages online that we honor in store. So shop around.

Split fins-- depends on what you are diving.

The big thing about all of this is: WHAT KIND OF DIVING ARE YOU GOING TO DO??? Decide this before you shop around. It should be one of the first questions out of the mouth of the shop employee you talk to. Someone cave diving needs something different from our pool diver which is different from the 2-3x a year recreational diver.

Last piece of advice: Pick and choose where to save money. I always tell people to go with the best reg they can afford, ITS YOUR LIFE SUPPORT! People who look for $199 regulator on super special strike me as semi-careless. What is your life worth? Just $199?? That regulator might be great but can you depend on it to bring you back from the dive? So maybe a regulator you shell a little more money into and save some money by sticking with traditional paddlewheel fins rather than splits.

And remember your instructor is as much of a salesperson as the staff in the shop (most instructors make commission if their students buy). I dont make commission on sales, so you can buy whatever and I'll still make my hourly rate at the end of the day. Not to say instructor isnt giving you good advice, but it might be skewed.

-KM

Also-- If you want to talk to me rather than read all this babble I am typing out, you can give me a call, I am working all day until 8. 770-419-1976

Well if you guys want to get a small class of ARC people together I would be in. I took the course and passed everything but wasnt able to go on my check out dive because I got a bad cold and too much time has passed since I took the class so I have to take it all over again. Ive taken probably 10-15 dives and I have all my own equipment so I shouldnt have any problems passing it again ;)

thanks for the info kmitch...I'll proly be the 2-3x's per year diver who doesnt do anything too crazy, esp with the purchase of a house coming up, I doubt I'll be able to do that, lol. Once I get certified I'm all for ARC dive trips, sounds like a lot of fun :)

For divers who fall into the 2-3x per year category this is my standard advice:

- Reg: Balanced diaphram for performance at all depths. Range from $300+ for a good new one. Avoid piston's unless they are balanced, but the price tag is usually the big give away because theres a huge jump in price.

- BCD: If possible try a jacket, hybrid, or back inflation first and see what you like about the different styles. Decide if you want one made more for travel or for comfort. These can range (for a good one) $250-400. Almost all are weight integrated at this point. Style and type alone will narrow your selection down

- Computer: Usually you can get a computer for $150 or so more than if you just went with gauges (that is the price difference between buying just gauges or just computer) Buy a nitrox computer. That feature is only about $25 difference between prices, but will save you a big chunk o change if you ever dive nitrox down the road. It kills me how many people buy an air only computer and wish it could do nitrox a year later..... Also decide if you want it on your wrist, in a console, and if you want it to be air integrated. integrated computers run more but have features other computers wont have (such as a turn-around tank pressure, air time remaining, breathing rate calculations, etc).

Lastly, dont buy online!!! I dont care if you buy from a shop besides mine, but I do care (as a potential dive buddy) that your gear was setup by a pro, tested, and isnt black market. Quick Story: guy brings in a reg (wont give brand) that he bought from one of those super closeouts online. Reg was free flowing and wouldnt stop. Asked us to service it. We tore it apart, put new parts in, and still she free flowed. Called the MFG and gave them the serial #s-- the 1st stage was from california, the 2nd stage from florida. the second stage was actually an octopus when built and had the face cover plate repainted to disguise that it was an octo. That second stage wasn't designed to take the parts that were being put into it because the online retailer wanted to make a buck. The MFG charged cost to the customer to get a new second stage that would work with the 1st stage. Bet he felt like crap. Moral of the story: go to a shop that is an authorized dealer so when something goes wrong, you have someone to shake a stick at!

+1 on rep....keep the good info comin!

LOL! Gear discussions are not one sided, you have to ask the questions! I can talk about this stuff 'till I'm blue in my face but that doesnt mean I am telling you what you need to know.

oh i know and the fact that you have knowlege on gear and arent out to sell to make comission will open up the truth about what to buy. So whats good brands for regs, octos and bc's?? For someone like me who will only dive a few times a year, with the possibility of diving more (if we do these local dives) I mean, I'm sure there are expensive crap brands out there. This here is the best information someone like me can get.....a person who works at a store selling this equipment and I'll mix all that knowlede with what other people say and make my final decisions on gear. Like I said earlier I'm not going to buy things till I'm fully ready, there definately is no need to rush into this.

Well, the problem is that there arent any really "bad" brands. Every company makes a cheap, good, and $$$ regulator. Some have features unique to that regulator or company (such as Mares/Dacor VAD or the Oceanic/Aeris DVT).

Before I start spewing out brands and types, give me a rough budget to work in. I can name one regulator, that will beat out a $1500 reg in performance but runs around $400, but that is out of some people's budget. My advice tends to be: go with as good as you can afford in a regulator, cut out in other places (save $20 on an octo, etc) and go with what is comfortable in a BCD. BCDs are really hard to sell to someone whoes never used one, because you dont really fully appreciate the pluses and minuses of different types. Regulators have features that are pretty obvious to new divers as to their appeal so they are alot easier to talk about, and they cover a wider price range.

note also on computers: There are actually very few different computers on the market. All these scuba brands are either owned by the same company, or hire the same company to make their products. Ex: Oceanic and Aeris. Look at their websites and you'll see there is a striking resemblance. Equipment? Its identical! Computers all use the same algorithms, so its mostly format of how the information is presented and how you wear it that dictates what you go with. The software is all the same. (dont let someone tell you that brand A uses different or better software than brand B, in recreational diving its all the same, give or take extremely slight differences)

Kristen,
I was looking at getting an air integrated computer. What ones do you recommend? Also I'm interested in knowing what reg you refer to in the last thread - "I can name one regulator, that will beat out a $1500 reg in performance but runs around $400"

Thanks,
Melissa

well things will have to be put on hold for a bit with this scuba deal....I just got pre-approved for a house and that definately wins on the scale of importance.... Tho please dont stop the info, its always welcome :)

congrats Lee

thanks man, its been kinda nerve wrecking....well not really, just wanted to make sure we could get the place we saw...its a beaut!

very cool. where is the place?

Atomic Regs and Zeagle BC's you can't go wrong.

However, since I am an GAI diver now...I may be into the DIR system....
hummm...?

The reg I mentioned is the mares abyss-- beat out only by the Atomics T2 (i believe) in the latest gear review by scuba diving magazine. In store price is less than online.

For air integrated computers i like the oceanic pro plus and the sherwood wisdom or aeris AI. Avoid the ones where there is a "pin" sticking out the bottom of the connector-- such as the dacor darwin or mares airlab II, those pins break easily.

Thanks Todd for chimin in, I know you take your diving serious so suggestions from you are always welcome. Thanks Kevin, the place is out in mableton, over near East-West Connector and Austell Road.

Yeah Atomics dont contitute well priced lol (btw we're now an atomic dealer.....woo).

and DIR is completely different can of worms..... what setup do you dive?

Welcome to COBB county!

:) why thank you

Take Washowi's advice, ZEAGLE bcd's are by far the best you can get for the price.

They actually started out making parachute rigs, then went into diving later. Take my past experience....I purchased a Mares BCD (top of the line) before I went diving to Bonaire last year. My girlfriend went with a Zeagle, and, of course, I had all the problems with my BCD. The weight pockets are built for around 20 dives before they give out, just plain poor design. Lots of other issues here. Anyway, I ended up buying a Zeagle after and have loved it every since.

On a side note, think about your new equipment in a different way:
If you dive remote locations, like I do, there isn't a warranty in the world that will allow you to recoupe your losses if you have equipment failures.

New mastercard addv:
Round trip ticket to Bikini Atoll............................................. ............................$2500
Diving the best USS Aircraft carrirer in the world(not the only one anymore)............$1000
Wishing you bought the right equipment......................................... ...................$priceless

Good luck with your dives (and purchases)!

Well--- I have nothing against Zeagle but I'll stand up for Mares.

I could take a pretty good guess what BCD you have and that it has the "new" MRS weight pockets. Some of those pockets were machined incorrectly and fell apart really quickly. Mares sent out notice to all the customers with that BCD who had registered with mares warrenty service and sent replacements to all the shops. Shops were replacing any that came back bad without charge. Since then, Mares has fixed the MRS weight system and its one of the most copied and popular systems on the market. Customers who didnt register their product for warrenty or registered without contact information either had to wait till the product broke and brought it back, or sat around bashing the name of the brand.

Zeagle makes some great products, I wont argue that for a second. But don't bash Mares for having a product defect beyond their control (happened at the manufacturing plant) and taking care of the problem. Every company faces the unfortunate day when something doesnt go as planned.

BTW Mares is also one of the largest brands-- owned by HEAD USA (maker of golf clubs, tennis rackets, amongst other things).

Kristen

Thanks Mfliin.....

I have tried them all....Zeagle is insanely easy to use, designed perfectly, and the perfect BC...in my opinion...

As for Atomic regs.....just follow up in any scuba magazine, They continue to win the battle of the regs in the testing..

For my money, that's the setup.....not bashing any other, but I have tried alot of them......

In that setup I will be first in the water or rolling off the boat before you figure where you weight belts are!! :)

Goin divin in the AM..Got a date with 4 whale sharks in the AM then I have to try and avoid the Beluga Love fest in the afternoon.

You guys been there recently to see that!! So cool...

Washowi-- go to deco stop in their DIR forum and they wouldnt call zeagle and atomic DIR diving by any means-- but they are pretty nazi-esk on there too!

I am not calling what I use now DIR...DIR is DIR, a different set up....backplate and all....That is what they use at the GAI.....

That was my introduction to that system...I like it just as well...In fact I only use 4 pounds to dive with that system vs 12 to 14 pounds in my Zeagle...

However I don't like weight belts, they are a PIA and I hate them..Thats my only negative against DIR, plus it hard to read the freaking computer....

But it stealthy,

True DIR you dont use weight belts, or you use weight pockets that still maintain the one d-ring on the left side la la la. http://www.gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html

I dive a semi DIR system. Its my version. Since I do so much work with students, a true DIR system with 7ft hose just doesnt work for me, but a modified system using the backplate and no weight is my can of worms. Since we're starting to carry Atomic I might buy myself a gift and get an Atomic reg while I can get them at a decent price.

I just finished my divemaster course today so I need to buy something to celebrate!

No, you don't use weight belts with the DIR system since you dive a properly balanced system that you can kick up to the surface even with bladder failure.

All I gotta say about gear, TRY before you buy. This is why it is so important to buy locally. I know the good people at Divers Supply will let you jump in the pool with some gear if you are a serious buyer. What works for some doesn't work for others. Personally I am an cave diver so you will never see me in split fins, rec bc, etc.. I dive a pretty standard Hog/DIR setup. All I have to say is picture where you plan on being in your dive career and buy gear that suits that. I like most of my friends have sold our complete first set of gear. Find a mentor and let them show you different gear and setups. Go out and talk to all the divers you meet and look at their rigs, they will be more than happy to discuss the pros and con's of their choices. What it boils down to, is do what works for you. Use what is comfortable for you.

As for atomics and DIR, well, DIR doesn't live swivels on the first stage. I still prefer my Atomic M1 over my DS4/TX50 apeks setup. I use the M1 on my primary post and the DS4/TX50 as my backup on my left post.

Another thing to think about when you are diving is what kind of diving you are going to do. If you aren't going to hit cold/dirty water than there is no need for an environmentally sealed first stage. Many different choices for many different items.

I just finished my divemaster course today so I need to buy something to celebrate!

Congratulations!

LOL we've drifted so far from the start of this topic......

Yeah but it's fun..

Don't tell the GAI that DIR doesn't use weight....But they truely can't anyway. So many people use those setups everyday and adjust the straps, etc.

The Hacalyon (sp) system is pretty nice though. I could probably not use weight but the goal is to stay down at the GAI anyway.... with scubbing and sucking up Beluga crap and all.

Fun fact: Mr. Jereblonski (sp) or whoever he is that invented the DIR system is also the guy who owns Halcyon.... which is why they only promote Halcyon and DUI products. Their stuff is nice, but its the same as Dive Rites. I like Dive Rites price point better though.