Good Online shops?

[Andrew]

Many thanks for your reply's guys (and gals, dunno u lot that well yet ) i'll take a look around at the sites mentioned. I live in rotherham and work in Huddersfield so i can get to most places in Yorkshire quite easily, and I'm doing my course at Robin Hood watersports so i'll have a look at the interest free offer.

[Bantam]

Roho have a large range of gear - I'm sure if you're doing the course with them (in their pool?) then you're likely to be able to coerce them into letting you try gear out - especially if they think there's a sale in there...

Mark.

[Andrew]

Yup, it's in their pool, and i just got my fins, mask and snorkel off them they seem to be very good and i got lots of advice off them.

[andy2tanx]

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Quote: from bantam on 2:07 pm on Jan. 16, 2003
A twinset for an OW diver or even an AdvancedOW is overkill to the extreme (and possibly even for a Rescue Diver).

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care to expand on that one banty old boy? &nbsp;I was OW for years and now am only just AOW but have been on twins for some time.

[Bantam]

Andy,

An OW or AOW in your position with 100+ dives is a little different to someone who has never been in the water before.
I take it you didn't start straight away with 2 Tanks? You learnt initially on one and it wasn't until you were comfortable on that one that you migrated to 2?

Taking it into account, with what his peers will be using, and what I was taught to evaluate for the situation as a Divemaster, for the time being it's not worth thinking about Twins in his situation.

[Dr Stevil]

What ? you mean Andy 2Ts wasn't born wearing his twinset...? &nbsp; ;)

Getting back to the thread, I think there's been a minor misunderstanding; &nbsp;it was me who mentioned that twins were what would probably be the general suggestion from others here in terms of growing into kit, rather than an actual recommendation to buy a twinset. Even though I wrote that post I wouldn't necesarilly claim that all of those features would be my personal recommendation to a newbie, in reality I'd recommend that they beg and borrow kit till they know for sure they're going to stick at it.
Having instructed with a Uni club for several years I've seen folk buy all new kit at the start and then simply lose interest leaving a grand's worth of kit cluttering up the dive store, very sad indeed...

I tend to agree with you that I wouldn't generally advise a newbie to get twinned up (you need things to look forward to) but thinking about it objectively, in my experience, many trainees in their early stages opt for a 15 litre when there's one available as they get upset about their comparitively high gas consumption, I know at least one lad with twin 7s and they don't seem any heavier than a single 15 so I don't think that'd be such a bad choice (assuming money wasn't a factor).

IMO, more important is the choice of BCD, I use a wing and many folks would also recommend one for a beginner (re futureproofing), but I don't think many folk would argue when I say that they are more problematic in terms of setting up, unlike a stab jacket.

When I were a lad I started diving with 8mm neoprene, club 200 bar 10 litre, old club Spiro, plastic BP &amp; Buddy ABLJ , an pay t'mill owner fer permission t'come t'work &nbsp;;)

Say, Andrew, assuming that RoHo doesn't sort you out with kit trials theirselves, depending on your size and location if you like we can met up at a suitable hole-in-the-ground for you to try some differnt kit before you splash your cash, for instance if you're under 5'8&quot; with size 8 feet you can try my 8mm neoprene, I've got my old stab &amp; single setup which my girlfriend uses so you can try that and you could try my wing for a second dive.

Anyway, let us know how you get on with your training
Chee-az
Steve

PS Tim, I haven't forgotten that I said you could try a spin with the twins too, but I still need to get the rig configured properly

[Andrew]

Many thanks Steve, but i'm 6 feet 4 inches and have size 13 feet so i'm a large bugger!!

You could help me by telling me what the difference between a wing and a stab jacket (i presume a stab jacket is a standard bcd)

[John Gulliver]

You assume right, Andrew.
I hate to argue with Steve but I wouldn't recommend a wing BC for a new diver. I've recently changed to a wing (DiveRite Transpac II) and love it but I've been diving for 14 years and done over 1200 dives. I think most people would agree with me that an ordinary BC is easier to use for a new diver. In fact, you'll be fine with an ordinary BC for a good while, in my opinion. You needn't wait 14 years, though :wink:

[Andy Winterburn]

For my two penneth, I agree with John and Bantam, I'd keep away from twins and maybe, just maybe the wings at first, I would however suggest Diverswarehouse for a talk. Have in mind a list of prices that other stores charge, the price asked at other shops is usually matched, but only if you ask