Buy gears or just wait after OW dives are done ? ?

milosusa · 12-07-2006, 07:08 PM

Hi to everybody, I like to know you opinion.
We will do our final open water dives on end of the year
on Belize, but not sure if to purchase our own gear (regulators
and DCD's ) now or wait after certification is done and use dive shop equipment for it ? Any idea or pros cons ?
THX milos

Scuba Mama · 12-07-2006, 07:52 PM

As long as you both have the basics. Mask, fins and snorkel. A wet suit is not a bad first item either and something very personal becuase it sits on skin. A timing piece is also good. A watch will do, make sure it is rated water resistant to 300 meters it should hold up under the pressure of diving. After you have finished your course and are really looking to get into the sport, thats when you should invest in the other gear. A dive computer is one of the first things I would recommend, then BCD's and then your regulators.

Most dive resorts are relaying on divers have there own computers or renting them. I still have the first BCD I purchased but I had rented and tried 6 different ones before I found one I really liked. It is now 7 years old and holding up fine. The regulator I first bought I liked for ease of breathing but it was not very durable. No, I am not mentioning names of products everyone has there on opinions of what works for them.

**glynneco** · 12-07-2006, 10:16 PM

AW, come on name names. We're all dying to know!

I second. Try out some things first and decide on what kind of diving you'll be doing first. That will greatly influence your decisions

rick00001967 · 12-26-2006, 07:40 PM

i think it depends on your circumstances. if you will be an active diver at home then buying your own gear is the way to go. if you plan only to dive on vacations once or twice a year to the caribbean then renting is probably the cheaper option. most dive shops (down there at laest) give pretty good prices for rental gear. i do agree that the mask should be purchased for sure. and a well fitted wetsuit is a big asset. they are not that expensive either. of course if you live up here in canada like me, then buying a wet suit is waste of cash. go straight to dry. too damn cold up here. BBBRRRRRR rick

MgicTwnger · 12-26-2006, 10:11 PM

I agree with Rick, the mask is the hardest thing to get a good fit with. You can get by with rental gear for everything else.