Newbie Questions

[The Duck]

Some good advice given above and the only thing I'd like to add is that if you do think about buying your own cylinder, buy two.

The reason is that there are some places where getting a fill after your first dive is either difficult or impossible, Kimmeridge springs to mind.
Or ... sometimes when going out on a boat, the boat will not return to port between dives.
Or ... if air is available there might not be enough time to get a fill, e.g. you might find that your boat is leaving in an hour and the air station is full of cylinders to be filled and it's going to take an hour and a half to get yours filled.

Welcome to YD

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by The Duck

Some good advice given above and the only thing I'd like to add is that if you do think about buying your own cylinder, buy two.

The reason is that there are some places where getting a fill after your first dive is either difficult or impossible, Kimmeridge springs to mind.
Or ... sometimes when going out on a boat, the boat will not return to port between dives.
Or ... if air is available there might not be enough time to get a fill, e.g. you might find that your boat is leaving in an hour and the air station is full of cylinders to be filled and it's going to take an hour and a half to get yours filled.

Welcome to YD

And if you buy 2 make them the same so that you can twin them later on...

[The Duck]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

And if you buy 2 make them the same so that you can twin them later on...

Nah, if you want to twin up you buy more cylinders because ... they're shiny, ... and more regs, and stage cylinders, and stage regs, and more stages , and, and ...

[Juz]

For me it's simple.

Apeks regs - they will be good for recreation stuff and useful right up through tec diving if you end up going that way. They are excellent regs, easily serviced and I think you'll find no-one would 'not' recommend them.

I'd go for a Buddy wing if I were you, because it's cheap, one size fits all, it's much smaller and lighter for travelling than a traditional BCD and it will be fine from where you are now right upto twin 10s with a stage.

You will not be disapponited with any of the above and if you ever did decide to change, it's all very easy to sell on.

Juz

[David]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

All the above advice is spot on but

Finally I'd join a club with a good buddy system to make sure I got some support as I got to use all this shiny new stuff.

Good luck and welcome to YD

I would find a club first before buying almost anything. Then you can see loads of kit and ask questions like if you had to replace that what would replace it with. Most people get their kit choice wrong the first time, So make friends with some divers that are not connected to a shop.... like here :-)

and Welcome to yd

David

[annatrnr]

Welcome Yorkie I quailfied 2yrs ago but only did a few holiday dives until a few months ago (a delay I really regret now) however I have just this week brought my first dry suit which I got 2nd hand off another YD. I have only brought new my BCD. My other half went out and brought the latest and most shiny kit and got everything brand new it cost us lots and new he doesn't dive anymore! Don't be too proud is my advice to you, Good luck x

[siltmonkey]

Here is an excellent website about equipment choice which may save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.

Bitz Scuba Diving Equipment Guide

:-)

r

[PapaBear]

As an aside on the drysuit issue, if you plan on diving in the uk for any length of time you really should invest in a drysuit. Myself I looked into them and bought a simple and relatively cheap membrane suit as membrane was the only type I had dived before.
I would recommend going for a neoprene neck seal if you can, where as before I thought these were a luxury, having destroyed half my neck with my former latex one the other week!
Also comfort zip, extravegance maybe, but so so comfortable to have, just make sure you remember to zip it all the way back up

[tonyxxx]

Get it right first time and save some money in the long term.
New or 2nd hand, the correct answer is:
Regs: Apeks tx40 or atx40. pefereably on a DS4 1st stage.
BCD: Buddy (any)
Cylinder : Faber 12 or 15L


Cheap, well made, last forever
Regards

[Wet & Broke]

Welcome to YD, some great advice here, but the best is don't rush into buying something you may later regret. I would also add give UK diving a go it's great fun and your skills have a chance to constantly improve, that is unless you can afford to fly off to warm water regular. If you want a buddy anytime for the UK, I'm just down the road from you in Burnham-on-Sea (Mud).
Doug