Choices, Choices, Choices

[bex80]

Hi all

Not realising that diving was such an expensive hobby, I'm pretty skint already & I've just started! But missing diving opportunities with hired gear not being available some weekends So blowing the credit card limit & buying my own. I need . . .

BCD - Are the female specific ones worth it? If so, the LDS has a Scubapro Glidestar, any thoughts on this one?

Computer - The Suunto Geeko looks like a strong contender as I'm just starting out and I have an ability to lose things instantly (so a pricey one that I can grow into isn't a smart choice) But should I consider any others?

Dive Bag - Do I really need one? The guys at the club have insisted that another bag won't cope and it's essential as we're off to Egypt soon. There is one in the shop but it's ugly, quite pricey & heavy! Instead of spending over £100 on a bag, will I survive with a hard suitcase or a MacPac rucksack that I already own?

Regs - Think I'm going for the Scubapro - MK25AF/S600

Any advice would be gratefully received. . .
Thanks
Bex

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by bex80

Hi all


Dive Bag - Do I really need one? The guys at the club have insisted that another bag won't cope and it's essential as we're off to Egypt soon. There is one in the shop but it's ugly, quite pricey & heavy! Instead of spending over £100 on a bag, will I survive with a hard suitcase or a MacPac rucksack that I already own?

I've never owned a dive bag. I've got a net bag for the incredibly rare occasions that someone manages to drag me onto a RIB. Otherwise, I've got a couple of plastic, square crates which I dump my gear in so that I don't get saltwater all over the boot of my car.

When abroad, it just goes in my normal luggage.

So I'd save yourself £100. I'm sure you'll find something else to spend it on. Diving's like that.

Jason

[jorawley]

hey bex,
whereabouts are you planning on doing most of your diving? also what are u comfortable diving with - that will assist deciding the type of buoyancy compensator.
i have found scubapro regs to be v good and often take a collapseable suitcase for holidays that is lightweight and protects the torches and regs.
HTH

[littleH]

Female specific stabs?!!! WHAT

OMG the marketing department are working overtime. Believe me i've got whoppers and i'm fine in a small buddy. get a second hand BCD and see how it fits if you don't like it try the 'girly' one, but beware of the marketing departments exagerated truths..............hmmmmmm

[sean0801]

Best advice i could give you is to buy your first set of gear second hand, ebay, friends etc. It wont be for a while till you actually know what suits you best and initial mistakes are costly.

[KeyLimePie]

Wot Sean said, Bex. It takes a while to know what kind of diving you want to do and what gear is best for it, particularly a stab jacket. However, there's nothing wrong with the Scubspro regs, they are excellent (and no I don't dive them, I dive apeks ), and the Gekko is a good comp that is popular with many divers I know. Not sure that ebay is the best option for getting second hand gear - it's probably better to ask on here.

Dave

[Chardy]

BCD - cant comment personally, wrong sex, some of the girls I dived with have them and swear by them

Computer - Suunto stuff is good stuff, Gecko is good

Dive bag - I bought one, waste of money - use a hard case but they weigh 3/4 Kgs which is part of your allowance or a big holdall, something like they use for Ice hockey kit, bonus is it weighs next to nothing so does'nt come off your flight allowance

Regs - Buy DIN and spend as much as you can, Scubapro is very well respected make.

Remember as your diving evolves you will be spending more money, sorry!

Enjoy egypt

Paul

[bex80]

Wow! Thanks for the replies. I'll definitely go for the computer and possibly the regs too.

I'll have a look around for a second hand bcd which hopefully should get me into the water this season at least. How do you know what is a good second hand bcd? I have seen a few on ebay but don't want a duff one so thought I might be better off buying from new?

As for the bag, I'll get the argos catalogue out this evening!

Thanks again

[Lou]

Originally Posted by bex80

Wow! Thanks for the replies. I'll definitely go for the computer and possibly the regs too.

I'll have a look around for a second hand bcd which hopefully should get me into the water this season at least. How do you know what is a good second hand bcd? I have seen a few on ebay but don't want a duff one so thought I might be better off buying from new?

As for the bag, I'll get the argos catalogue out this evening!

Thanks again

Hi Bex

For the bag, def go with the Argos catalogue. We have a couple similar to this and they have lasted for 2 liveaboard and various other short trips so far! They don't advertise your expensive gear either so they didn't get slashed at Sharm - unlike 3 bags that had Suunto written on them!

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...oductId=219298

[bex80]

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...oductId=219298

Bargain! will pop down the local store tomorrow, thanks Lou