I’m starting scuba diving and i would like to know what brand of gear to get that won’t cost to much.?
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at
5:31 pm
DO NOT pinch pennies and buy the cheapest SCUBA gear you find . . . the gear you use may one day have to save your life!
My advice is to rent the gear you need from your local dive shop until you find the brands/styles that work best for you. Your dive shop can steer you in the right direction. And if you get to know your dive shop owner, you might get discounts on gear as well (I do)
Buy one piece at a time if you need to, you don’t have to buy all at once.
Most important big $$$ gear IMO: BCD, Regulator, computer
You really want to stick with quality brands when buying these. I use Cressi, but Scuba Pro, Sherwood, Mares, and Oceanic are as good.
Enjoy diving!
My husband likes to SCUBA, and from what I hear from him, all scuba gear is expensive and it doesn’t really matter what brand you use, just as long as you use the same set up as you learned on. Good Luck!!
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Bottom line: do not skimp on paying for your SCUBA equipment. Especially on your air-breathing equipment. Tanks, regulators, masks, dive computers, weight belts. These are safety equipment and not negotiable.
Now for a BCD, get what you need for the type of diving you want to do. A basic vest will serve you well.
However, here are things you might look for a bargain or on sale:
Dive knives,
Weights
Wet suits
Hoods
Talk with your local dive shop, and tell them what type of budget you have and they may be able to accommodate you.
References :
I’m a diver…
US Divers is the brand of gear I learned on. Its reliable and sturdy. Like all specialty gear, there is a range of costs for its different items. In the beginning, keep your gear simple and basic: a mask that fits, fins, snorkel. Your dive class should provide your tanks/harness, weights and belt, regulator. With experience, you’ll soon learn what your preferences are and where to buy them at the best prices. Good luck.
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I seriously doubt that you are going to find "cheap" SCUBA gear. After you purchase the gear you have to be certified before you can get the tanks filled. On top of that a tank of air will only last for about an hour of dive time.
An alternative might be Hookah diving equipment. You can get compressors that will supply air to more than one diver and there is no limit to your dive time as long as you have gas for the compressor motor. You can search "hookah diving" and read more about it if you think you might be interested and some sites will come up with equipment with prices. The following site has a good description of hookah diving. http://www.keeneeng.com/pamphlets/introHooka.html
…Good Luck…
References :
DO NOT pinch pennies and buy the cheapest SCUBA gear you find . . . the gear you use may one day have to save your life!
My advice is to rent the gear you need from your local dive shop until you find the brands/styles that work best for you. Your dive shop can steer you in the right direction. And if you get to know your dive shop owner, you might get discounts on gear as well (I do)
Buy one piece at a time if you need to, you don’t have to buy all at once.
Most important big $$$ gear IMO: BCD, Regulator, computer
You really want to stick with quality brands when buying these. I use Cressi, but Scuba Pro, Sherwood, Mares, and Oceanic are as good.
Enjoy diving!
References :
Master Diver with 125+ dives
I agree with what everybody had previously said.
Having said that. Check Craig’s list. Buy with a written agreement they will refund your money if the equipment turns out to be faulty (take to a dive shop to be inspected).
I had worked in a dive shop and people were constantly selling equipment that was in great shape. Also I still use a Dacor regulator from the Early 80’s. It is indestructible.
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