scuba gear ?'s
- Thread starter glxtrix
- Start date
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)
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
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
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.
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.
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)!
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
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...
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...
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,
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">http://www.gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html</a>
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!
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!
