New kit: Taking the plunge *snigger*

[Woz]

Originally Posted by al kennedy

i have one of those, a gift from the seabed. haven't got the guts to try firing a blob with it yet...

free to a good home!!!

Me too- same deal. Utter bag of crap. Best cheap reel IMHO is the Narked at 60 one. Cheap, simple and tough. There are better reels out there, but not for the money.

Torch. You'll need one of them too. Have a shuftie at the LED ones. My personal favourite starter torch is the Tektite Expedition Star. £50, massive burntime, bright enough for 35m dark Scapa wrecks and makes a great "backup" torch when you eventually spend a stupid amount of money on a massive underwater willy-waving searchlight.

As for the rest of your kit- it looks fine. You might consider getting a 2nd hand Buddy BCD as they go for about £80-£100 for one in really good (almost new) condition. Knife- get a cheap shitty Beaver one as you'll lose it in the first 10 dives anyway. Snorkel- ditto. Gloves- try a load on. My personal favourites are ones from Decathlon- cheap and so far have lasted 3 seasons, something unheard of if you buy Hydrotech or similar. Ummmmmmm oh yes- neoprene undersocks. Essential to stop floaty feet. And spring straps for your Mares fins- the Northern Diver ones are good and make donning and doffing fins a doddle plus you don't have the utter annoyance of snapping a rubber strap just as you are about to jump in.

And a weightbelt. If you can, get a shot belt with trim pockets as they are much more comfortable. The Hydrotech ones are ok as are the Lumb Bros ones. Avoid Beaver and Northern Diver as they drop to bits when exposed to salty air.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Garf

not being particularly serious here, but does anyone else find the concept of a BCD entitled "the elevator" disturbing

Obviously you think of shopping centres or tube stations first ............... I prefer to think of elevating the human spirit out of the gloop of our single cell past ................ or my body out of the water?

[hyweldavies]

With the caveat that I'm only (presumably) a couple of years ahead of you and 100 odd dives total, here's some thoughts.

Best double check that the XTX20 is a "cold water model". If I recall correctly, the older "20" models were deemed warm water only. The octo needs to be "cold water", not just the main one. You probably need a 40 or 50 for both regs - but double check with Apeks' website.

Have a read of "long hose" thing - ie a 2m long hose on one (or other reg). There are alternative approaches, but worth a think.

Apeks are well respected and popular regs. I've got them and am happy, but to be fair haven't experience of anything else.

Thicker undersuit seems prudent if you feel the cold, though you could just wear winter drawers underneath I suppose.

Quatro fins are popular and recommended by lots of people. I had a pair, and whilst they were lots better than a cheap pair I borrowed, and I kept up with rest of my gang OK, I now prefer Turtle fins frorm niknaks.co.uk. Replaced having lost a quatro - I can do you a deal on one quatro, but not a pair sadly. The other is free to collector in the vicinity of the wreck of the Lucy, off Pembrokeshire.

Don't know about the BCD - don't spend a lot on a first one, as next steps can vary a lot.

Computer - I've got the Vytec (older model), but the Vyper 2 looks v good on paper and seems a sound choice for now and indeed for a lot later in your career.

Various pros and cons of 300bar, but apparently not everyone can fill 300 to 300, else there's no point - check if your local can.

Mask - it simply has to fit. Brand etc is irrelevant. Once you've got one you like, I'd consider buying a spare and practice swap underwater whilst floating.

Knife - nice small one as it's for cutting string, not fending off sharks. Carry it somewhere you can reach with either hand eg on BCD hose, or harness, not down on your leg like James Bond. I drill a hole in handle for a wrist loop, as your hold on it can be a bit precarious. Buy cheap, as the titanium ones are far more expensive to replace when inevitably lost. Scissors are an alternative / as well as.

Drysuit - don't know the model, but if there's a choice I would get pockets on the sides of the thighs, not on the front, preferably velcro not zipped. On the front (like mine) cause drag whilst swimming, are a pain when clambering into a RIB, and are an easy target for breaking your spare mask when lifting cylinders (which I've done, twice). Internal braces are a good thing when lolling around on the boat in between dives.

Torch - tricky business torches. UKD4 at £70 is a good value, reliable, bright light, but it's a great big lump of a thing. I had one, but since upgraded to an umbilical at great expense (an indulgence). Perhahaps something like an LED RAT light - though sold as a backup, but still around £70 is worth considering as a main light. I've got a RAT 2 as a spare and it is bloody bright, but not yet used in the water. , but you'd have to use duracells, or buy seperate rechargables. I've personally not had much luck with cheaper lights.

Hood and gloves - yes you need these, doubt if there's much to choose between makes.

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by tom

not quite true mate... just wanted to put the brakes on the usual YD trend of telling people to get rebreathers before they can even snorkel if you know what I mean! no offence meant.

OMG!! Well said! green incoming

[PapaBear]

Feel I can add to this as I bought a Typhoon Pro S for my first suit and I am still using it. Personally I think it is a cracking suit but I have had some alterations made to it, namely a neoprene neck seal and a comfort zip. these were purely for personal comfort though as there is nothing wrong with the suit.
I dont know about anyone elses experience with off the peg suits but mine could have been made to measure for me! But then it was my first and would have made myself fit it if it hadnt.
As they go nothing I can say bad about it, but then I only had rentals that were worn so thin I could practically see through them before!

[stabjacket]

Hi there,

Your planned kit looks good, although not sure about the BCD as ive never seen one in use.

My buddy uses the Pro Sport and ive got to say its a nice drysuit. Looks the business and is a good price if you get it from the right place.

Try here-

Diving Direct

Don't think you will find it anywhere cheaper.

Hope everything goes well,

Shaun

[EDIT] the B***** posted whilst I did, I retract my statement as I hate him

[al kennedy]

Originally Posted by hyweldavies

Apeks are well respected and popular regs.

for a reason! indestructable, reliable, nice breathe. what more do you want?

Originally Posted by hyweldavies

Don't know about the BCD - don't spend a lot on a first one, as next steps can vary a lot.

yep. cheap and cheerful until you decide where you are going. fleabay is your friend.

Originally Posted by hyweldavies

Hood and gloves - yes you need these, doubt if there's much to choose between makes.

hood - 5mm - mmmmm (with some holes in the top so you can blow bubbles around your ears and not make your head buoyant )

gloves - i've a lovely pair of Oceanic 5mm ones, nice and warm and surprisingly good dextrousity; but they're rapidly becoming fingerless. expect to have to replace these every so often.

[Mark Chase]

Get second hand everything off Ebay and one of Knackers (Divingnicnacks) Atomic Masks and go diving for a while and you will then be able to decide on whats best.

Apex regs are a fine choice and dont be too keen to get the all singing and dancing new ones as everything from the TX range and up is good.

Personaly Id go 15 and pony rather than a 300bar 12

Turtle fins are fine but expensive (IMHO) Quatroes are planks and dificult to walk in but they are good fins at a good price.

ATB

Mark

[JAG]

If you need a wrist slate like the one below, just PM me your address and I'll stick it in the post to you.