I am at the beginning

[tile diver]

Alright then,

I am sure you are sick of seeing the same old questions but I have to ask.
I am a new diver and need some advice on a set of regs and a BC. I have PADI open water and want to progress my diving and buy my own kit, reddies wise I am willing to pay between £250 and £350 for a set of regs and between £200 and £250 for a BC. Will this amount of cash get me quality gear that will last and see me through the different levels of diving. Any info on these subjects are welcome and where the best deals on new kit can be found.

[siltmonkey]

Have a look at www.bitz.fsnet.co.uk

Lots of useful time-and-money saving information

:-)

r

[Simon A]

That sort of money should get you decent kit.
However as a new diver you may well be better off just renting stuff when you go diving, this will let you try out lots of kit.
You will then buy exactly what you want the first time and make an overall saving.

HTH
Simon A

[Alun]

The best advice I wish I'd have been given is to go round each and every dive shop you can get to and ask them each the same question as you have asked here. You will get a lot of different answers, but many of them will be the same. You'll be asked what diving you want to do or plan to do, and again, give them all the same answer. You will then be in a position to judge what is out there and what appeals to you, not just whatever kit happens to be on special at the nearest shop to you.

Good luck mate, its a minefield out there!
Happy hunting

[Phoenix]

tile diver,


The previously given advice is quite correct, however, you need to remember that dive shops will rent out kit that meets THEIR standards, ie, hard wearing and giving reasonable performance. You may well be looking for kit giving superior performance (hard wearing being less of an issue due to it being for personal use)

Go diving, rent kit, look at everyone elses kit & see what you like. Don't be afraid to ask questions, I don't know a single diver who doesn't like to talk kit.

Good luck

Ian

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Simon A

However as a new diver you may well be better off just renting stuff when you go diving.

Definitely. Rent until you know what you don't like, and more importantly, why you don't like it. Lots of stuff is personal. eg: I would hate a BCD without clips to separate the bits that come over my shoulders from the bits that go round my tummy. My son views them as an annoyance and just another thing to break, but then he is far more flexible than I am. You only find out things like that by trying. Since the resale value of scuba gear is low buy-to-try is a very bad deal.

nigelH

[JohnK]

Most important bits are the regs - get some that are cold water friendly. I`ll start a storm by saying you will not go wrong with APEKS.

BC wise, take your time - rent different sorts.

Other kit priority will then be a computer - particularly if you want to dive abroad where some places wont let you unless you have one.

Best of luck and keep asking for advice here - you will get loads !!!!!

[jim oldham]

Oh stuff it, here goes.

Apeks ATX, or TX40's, or 50's if there is not much difference in price. They'll last for ever, will do for cold water diving, and are pretty bomb proof. You can always flog them on if you decide to upgrade. People may advise Oceanic, but make sure they are OK for cold water.

BCD. Oh hell where to start. Try as many as you can; people are very helpful, and then try and snap up a 2nd hand bargain that you like. You sound keen to progress, so you may want to go on to a wing set up later, so avoid too much investment in this area.

Best of luck mate,
Jim

[tile diver]

Thanks for the reply man, unfortunately there is only one dive shop in Edinburgh

[JohnK]

You dont need to go to a dive shop - you can get cheaper on line or even by post.

APEKs ATX100 plus TX40 will last forever. If you know any one, ask to use theirs to try out.

Dont get caught up in the "I must go to my local dive shop" - yes you can but there are other options as well