Quote:
| Originally Posted by RobbieS Just getting my first set of kit together and seem to be going along with the conventions so far;
Drysuit - Otter Skin (second hand bargain, m-t-m for a guy my exact proportions)
BC - Buddy Commando
Mask - Oceanic ion4 (best fit)
Fins - Mares
So I guess regs will be the next purchase and I was just wondering about Oceanics. I've heard everyone talking about Apeks and mixed reviews on Poseidon but haven't heard anyone mention Oceanic. Is this because they're duff or is it just a bias towards certain manufacturers |
Yeah, much of it's about bias and often regional loyalty - Otter attracts a brand of loyalty that you find in the South around O3 - both seem to be great fitting, well designed suits with excellent customer care that still don't don't quite work for all divers. Brands also have a history - like Buddy - that ally them (and therefore you) to a particular style or school of diving (*giggle* be warned - it's like the hankerchief thing in back pockets of jeans at gay nights).
Of course quality comes into it at a certain point, too, and it's helpful to get info like Chrisch's, below.
FWIW, I dive on Apex because they work straight out of the box, they're simple and they do what I want. But we used to absolutely thrash Oceanics in a dive school I worked in and the regs worked and worked and worked.
Have fun choosing your kit but try not to forget that much of what you hear about on here is really fashion talking!