scuba diving gear

[fishking]

ok so im going to get my scuba certification course and the scuba package i wanted to get is $1049 buck:scared: not including the tank which is another 300 buck, plus i have to get 2 knifes, 2 scissors, light and a whole lot of other stuff. Ok so i tell my teacher who also scuba dives and he told me his and his wifes gear each cost 3000+, he told me his regulator was 600 bucks, his $1000 hoseless computer that tells him how much air is left, if he is rising to fast and a whole lots of other thing, his tank cost him 400 buck, fins cost over 100 bucks, i forgot how much his bcd and all the other things he had cost.
well the whole point of this is that scuba diving is an expensive and dangerous hobby

 

[nicky1.8t]

yes i hear it is in like 2 years i plan to take this hobby up

 

[fishking]

i think it will be fun, i will be able to practice in my pool and get paid for it cause ill clean the pool

 

[jkvjl]

Trust me Nicky1.8t scuba here in RI at times can be like swimming in your septic tank.

 

[fishking]

ill probably have a computer and a regular one to as backup

 

[simm]

Check out www.scubatoys.com. They have some good prices. I spent around 2500 just for my gear and thats not including my dry suit. I also agree with scoobaQ. Dont waste your time on an expensive dive computer. They can go out. They are not a must!

 

[fishking]

do any of u know if the Platina Evolution BCD is good or not

 

[harlequinnut]

Stupid question, who do you have to buy the tank? Doesn't most scuba operators provide tanks for you? Unless you are planning to dive off shore on your own.

 

[michelle13]

We get the majority of our stuff at www.leisurepro.com They have great service and good prices.

 

[stacyt]

diversdiscount is also a good source. Also check out scubaboard lots of good info there. The thing to be carefull about when buying gear online is that not all manufactures will honor warranty on goods purchased online.
I agree with most of whats said here, except about the dive computers.
If properly maintained, descent quality, you should have no problems. I change the batteries before any big dive trip, and I have a dive watch as a backup computer.
Make sure that your comfortable with all the gear that you buy, and that it fits properly. Many times shops will try to sale you what they make the most profit off of, and not neccessarly whats best for you.
Tanks are a waste of money, unless you dive locally to where you live, and you dive often. I have 4 tanks in my garage, that have only been to the ocean twice in 2 yrs, but they are handy when I need to clean my pool. Plus you have to pay for certification ounce a year. Most of my diving is done in the tropics with dive operators, and they will provide tanks for you.
All in all I've spent around $10K on gear for both the wife and I. Just like tank equipment, I have a lot of stuff that wasn't the best, but affordable, and it always ends up getting upgraded/replaced.

 

[fishking]

ill probably be getting the regular gauges, since i dont have that kind of money and im just beginning

 

[stacyt]

If you shop around you can find some good deals. I actually paid less than $300 for my air integrated hoseless computer, new in the box. It was a year old model, and they where trying to get rid of them.

 

[fishking]

i was going to get this gauge :
http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webap...4&sort=prsdesc
if i dont get this package:
http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webap...78&prmenbr=946

 

[fishking]

yippy i might start my certification this weekend
is there anything else besides open water certification i need

 

[rangermonroe]

I am a former commercial diver and have been diving recreationally for almost twenty years.
Unless you are going to do an incredible ammount of diving, or have access to a compressor, I would recommend against buying your own tanks. Every year you have to have the "visually inspected", for around $15-$20, and every 5 years a "hydro" for at least $20.
Not to mention that you have to still have it filled.
If the dive shop charges $5 bucks for a fill, and $7 to rent for the day...You saved $2
400 / 2= 200 dives per tank fill to break even.
I had my own tanks, but if was going out to dive seriously, I rented 8 or nine for the weekend.
Look at buying used tanks, just make sure it is "in hydro" and you'll save a bundle by letting someone else cry over scratching that $400 paintjob.

 

[rangermonroe]

Oh yeah, fishking, I grew up near Lake George, NY. Only about 6 months of diving a year up in your neck of the woods.

 

[fishking]

k thanx i will probably buy my own tank cause i have a pool and i will be practising and cleanin the pool for money, i also have a resivor about 20 min away from me that i can go diving

 

[rangermonroe]

How deep is the resivoir? Not much to see in FW, But a ball of fun to check ot the bottom structure and "artifacts".
I found a boat motor once, a Jhonson 10hp, tried to fix it
I had the most fun "wall" diving in Lake Champlain. 80' at the top, 165' @the bottom and 37 degrees.
Nobody here in Georgia can fathom a lske over 20'deep, or FW visibility @ 30+ feet.
If you really want a tank...don't spend $400...email me...rangermonroe@poetworld.net
I can't say anything else about the gear that you are proposing to but, other than look at last years "colors, styles, and ammenities" and note the difference in price. Gear designed 5 years ago will keeep you alive as well (if not better{time for recall}) than the "cutting edge" stuff released last month.
I quit diving the BC I bought in 1985 in deep water a few years back for obvious reasons, but for under 30' it still does the job quite nicely.
For deep work, I rent mine...in case of malfunction, my survivors have someone to sue

 

[fishking]

the resivor has a city in it, back then the flooded theat city to make the resivor, the visibility is about 35 feet, i was also thinking of taking my fishing pole and swimming aroung lookin for fish and when i spot a school of fish im goin fishing

 

[rangermonroe]

That sounds pretty cool, Good luck.