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Lhowell
Ol'Salt
Joined: Jun 11, 2008
Posts: 359
Location: Laurinburg NC
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 Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject: Diving Gear help! |
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| What is some good diving gear? I need the whole package so I need everything... Always wanted to do it but never got around to it till now.. Looking at getting open water certified in August and want to get some good equipment... I want something that will last and looking for some opinions from some experienced divers here on the site so any help would be appreciated!!!! |
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flounderer
Mate
Joined: Dec 20, 2004
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Diving Gear help! |
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You can't go wrong with Apeks or Scubapro regulators. I work on the local boat and work hard underwater. My apeks regs always supply the gas I need, even when I'm breathing like I just ran a marathon. Scubapro and Aqualung make great BC's. Suunto makes a nice dive computer, easy to use and they haven't bent me yet. If you are going to buy your own tanks, think about steel, more gas and better weighting. When going for mask fins and snorkel, don't let any of the gimmicks get you (i.e. split fins, mask purges...) the basics work but get good quality, it will last much longer.
Be careful buying used gear, 100ft underwater is not a place to find out you made a bad purchase, especially with a regulator. Also be careful buying form online retailers like leisurepro, most factory warranties don't apply when you buy stuff online. I've seen many a diver get screwed from unauthorized online shops. Your open water instructor will be able to help you out with most of your gear. Use the shops rental gear during the class, you don't want to find out the sport is not for you after dropping $2000 on a good set of gear.
Diving out of Wilmington is awesome, you will be amazed what you have been fishing on.
I have a site geared toward our local stuff, www.wilmingtondiving.com check it out. |
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divnnc
Ol'Salt
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 398
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: |
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I am partial to the Scuba Pro line of equipment. The main thing I have found when buying gear is the ability to have it serviced. Every year you need to have the gear looked at by a certified repair tech, and serviced according to the manufactures reccomendations. Remeber we are talking about life support equipment so find someone you trust to work on your gear and look at what brands they carry.
Good luck with the purchase.
matt |
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divnnc
Ol'Salt
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 398
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:46 am Post subject: |
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I am partial to the Scuba Pro line of equipment. The main thing I have found when buying gear is the ability to have it serviced. Every year you need to have the gear looked at by a certified repair tech, and serviced according to the manufactures reccomendations. Remeber we are talking about life support equipment so find someone you trust to work on your gear and look at what brands they carry.
Good luck with the purchase.
matt |
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bcnuke33
1st Mate
Joined: Oct 20, 2005
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:16 am Post subject: |
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| oceanic stuff is great. their new pro plus 2 computer is very nice. zeagle also has good stuff. their ranger bc is what alot of people use for spearing around here. bottom line is most name brand stuff is good, its mainly what you're comfortable with. there is a guy on this board, killer&griller, that can work you a better price than most shops or internet sites, so check with him if you can. enjoy, and welcome to a whole new past time. |
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KillerandGriller
Ol'Salt
Joined: Apr 12, 2006
Posts: 312
Location: Southport, NC
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Here I is............. Lhowell, I sent you a PM yesterday. If you need any help with gear, let me know. If it is a line of product that I carry, you will give you numbers that are used prices on new stuff.... 
_________________
Craig
TACKLE.... BELOW.... WHOLESALE....
http://picasaweb.google.com/overandunderadventures |
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nbk8b6r
Ol'Salt
Joined: Jan 06, 2009
Posts: 294
Location: Charlotte/Wilmington
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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I have had several years of good experience with Zeagle Stiletto BCD and Apeks regulator. Both purchased from and serviced by my local shop.
I am second guessing two expensive Suunto purchases I have made (Mosquito and D6 dive computers). I can elaborate (via PM) if you're interested. |
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nbk8b6r
Ol'Salt
Joined: Jan 06, 2009
Posts: 294
Location: Charlotte/Wilmington
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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I have had several years of good experience with Zeagle Stiletto BCD and Apeks regulator. Both purchased from and serviced by my local shop.
I am second guessing two expensive Suunto purchases I have made (Mosquito and D6 dive computers). I can elaborate (via PM) if you're interested. |
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Deep_Drop1
Ol'Salt
Joined: May 12, 2008
Posts: 1174
Location: Wilmington/Oak Island NC
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Divnnc was right on. Not sure where you are diving out of but a lot of the guys here at work just use gear that can be service at the local shop. One of my coworkers bought some high dollar stuff and now he has to send it off every year to be checked out. I would go to which ever shop you will use the most and go with some thing they can work with.
I am also thinking about getting certified this year. Its getting mighty hard seeing their pics of strings of grouper, lobsters, hogs and meg teeth. I gotta get in on it.
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Go Heels!!!!! |
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vaughnford
Ol'Salt
Joined: Apr 28, 2008
Posts: 476
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Hard to go wrong with Scubapro. I've dived a lot both locally, in the caribbean and as the captain of a swiftwater dive rescue/recovery team. We have full facemasks and the whole nine yards, but I love my scubapro regulator. I also have the Knighthawk BC and it's the bomb. Most importantly, like others said is to find a GOOD dive shop to work with and to service your stuff. Support the local dive shops when you shop because if you need it serviced you want to go to the front of the line and have it done right. Buy you knives, lights and accessories online if you want to, but you really won't save that much money over your local shop. |
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KillerandGriller
Ol'Salt
Joined: Apr 12, 2006
Posts: 312
Location: Southport, NC
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| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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| vaughnford wrote: | | Most importantly, like others said is to find a GOOD dive shop to work with and to service your stuff. Support the local dive shops when you shop because if you need it serviced you want to go to the front of the line and have it done right. Buy you knives, lights and accessories online if you want to, but you really won't save that much money over your local shop. |
So because I am a "brick & mortar LDS and I sell online, where do I fit in your above statements?
| vaughnford wrote: | | if you need it serviced you want to go to the front of the line and have it done right. |
I'm surprised that you would insinuate that a dive shop wouldn't service someones equipment properly if it wasn't bought at that specific shop. I don't know of any shop that would EVER change their "quality control" on the basis of the purchase origin. I would like to think there is integrity in the dive industry as a whole. Preferential treatment in the turn around time, maybe, actual QC on the service itself will be the same.
As for shopping online (or in person  ) and not saving much...... you must not have gotten any prices from me.......... 
_________________
Craig
TACKLE.... BELOW.... WHOLESALE....
http://picasaweb.google.com/overandunderadventures |
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vaughnford
Ol'Salt
Joined: Apr 28, 2008
Posts: 476
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| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| As you post under a pseudonym I don't know who you are or what dive shop you represent so I can't speak to the quality of your service or your products. I find it difficult to believe anyone with any experience in diving would take issue with my response. I stand by what I said. |
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KillerandGriller
Ol'Salt
Joined: Apr 12, 2006
Posts: 312
Location: Southport, NC
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| vaughnford wrote: | | As you post under a pseudonym I don't know who you are or what dive shop you represent so I can't speak to the quality of your service or your products. I find it difficult to believe anyone with any experience in diving would take issue with my response. I stand by what I said. |
I find it difficult to believe you would imply that I have no experience in diving because I asked you to explain a comment that you made. You may stand by what you said just explain it to the rest of the class........
Furthermore, call it a Pen Name or Screen Name. Pseudonymity or anonymity have never been an attempted portrayal on my part. Then again, my sig line has my name in it and my avatar has my location in it. .. hummmmmmmmmmmmm, kinda would defeat the whole "pseudonym" theory don't you think?
I didn't ask you to "speak to the quality or service" of my products. I didn't ask you to "speak to the quality or service" of any specific shop. I asked you if you thought ANY DIVE SHOP WOULD IMPROPERLY SERVICE SOMEONES GEAR BECAUSE IT WASN'T BOUGHT THERE? Although I would find it hard to believe you do, I am asking your viewpoint on what you wrote. Are you suggesting a regulator service is going to get used parts? What is your definition for "having it done right"?
Am I not conveying the question correctly. Can you tell me what you meant? Do you understand what I am asking?
If I am misunderstood your context, ok. If it is just a wording 'FUBAR', no problem. If it isn't, go ahead and explain, please. This isn't personal, this isn't an attack, I really want to know what you are saying about someones actual gear service. I don't give a rats about knowing what dive shop you feel this way about. I would hate to think that you went thru something like this and might be talking from experience.
I get your point about moving to "the front of the line", plenty of shops do that. Its an "in house" perk that seems to be a pitch when selling gear. I don't get the part about "having it done right" comment is all.
_________________
Craig
TACKLE.... BELOW.... WHOLESALE....
http://picasaweb.google.com/overandunderadventures |
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vaughnford
Ol'Salt
Joined: Apr 28, 2008
Posts: 476
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| It soiunds like you are taking this personally. I wasn't inferring that any shop would intentionally or negligently perform flawed maintenance services. However, I'm sure you agree that some service techs are better and more qualified than others. Now enough about this. You're derailing this guys thread. |
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Oldguy
Ol'Salt
Joined: Aug 31, 2009
Posts: 161
Location: nobody knows
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| Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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I have been sport and commercial (hardhat) diving for over 30 years. I am an old fart and my opinion is worth 2 cents, BUT I have never owned a dive shop or sold scuba gear so here goes...
I have had the best performance with Scubapro regulators since 1972, the high end models of their line. I have owned several and my current two regulators are about 9 years old. They breath great. I like the Dive Rite back plate/harness with trek wing due to its simplicity, ruggedness, and ease of maintenance (no pockets full of sand at the end of the dive). I like the 100 cubic foot, 3440 psi Worthington steel tanks because of their weight, size and capacity. A good pair of Scubapro jet fins will last you a lifetime if properly maintained (new straps and pump silicone spray). Stay away from the gimmick merry-go-round in the dive shop where they sell all the catchy-danglies. Totally unnecessary crap that can get you tangled and killed. Brass swivel snaps (large enough to operate with gloves on)and some small tie wraps will work great for attaching lights, submersible pressure gauges, etc. I rig mine with small o-rings so I can break away if tangled. Forget about task loading yourself with cameras, spear guns, etc. until you get some experience and get comfortable with your gear. Sport dive training is designed by marketing folks as fast LSD (lose some dough) programs. YOU decide what your progress should be and enjoy diving. Best of luck to you. |
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NurseShark
2nd Mate
Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Inlet Watch CB
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Love your response "Old Guy". Almost 30 years of diving also salvage and Navy, agree buy only what you need. Keep it simple and trim. Enjoy the underwater experience, then buy the toys if you want them. You support local dive shops to keep them open so they are around to service what you buy. Flip side I have bought on line and haven't had an issue with that either. Whatever you decide you will be happy diving with your own gear.
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Navy, not just a job but a way to dive the world and get paid for it! |
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