My first buy

[rob.heeley]

Hi Guys,

I am a newly qualified Open Water Diver (PADI) and looking to invest in my own kit. I'm wanting to dive all year round in the UK, I'm just wondering when the best time to buy kit is, the sales etc?

I'm thinking of buying from Robin Hood Watersports there "Nemisis Package" which will give me a dry suit, BCD, Regs etc at 0% for 12 Months. What do you guy's think? Is Otter Watersports in Bradford any good? Their website is not to good I find but I see alot of Otter Wetsuits?!

Any advice much appreciated!

Rob

[rustferret]

I have had my cordura dry suit from Robin hood for 4 years now and in all that time its had a hard life. I have only had to change the neck seal once (coat hanger went through it, and had a puncture in the nea last week but fixed my self no prob.

My advice would be if you can get the cash your self i.e get a 0% card use it but make sure you pay it off it might be the better way to go as you might be able to do a good deal.

When I got my first kit a mate of mine and I worked out what we needed and then went round found out what was the best deal we could get and went with that.

What exactly is in the nemises pack and what does it cost?

Rustferret

[rob.heeley]

Hi thanks for your reply, the Nemis pack (Diving at Robin Hood Watersports) OR:

Nemesis Pack
Seaquest Pro QD SL BC
Aqualung Legend LX Supreme reg
Aqualung Legend octopus rig
Aqualung triple console
Faber 15l with MDE pv, boot, handle
Duratek membrane drysuit (MADE TO MEASURE) with Thermocline (Temperature regulating), valves, hose, hood and bag.
Scubapro Twin Speed fins (Split fin)
Mares Technomad 135 bag (Ruc sac)
5mm gloves
Regulator bag
RRP £2103.60
Offer Price £1699.00
12 month 0% option
(subject to status, written details on request)

I am debating if I should just get BCD and Regs and buy a drysuit of somebody else, the cyclinder is proably going to be best to hire then to buy after maintenance costs? I dunno? *-)

[yazzyfooty]

Hi Rob
The advise I would give you is to look long term and see what you think you might be diving in a years time. I made the mistake of going for bcd and cordura membrane dry suit and changed it within a few months of regular diving. This worked out a very expensive trial and error mistake for me. The one thing I havent changed since I started diving is my regulators as I got myself a set of Apeks and they are good enough to stay with me as I develop as a diver.

Buy your own cylinder!

[rob.heeley]

Well, i'm wanting to go up to Scotland and do some diving there, I have a Ocenic 10mm wet suit at moment 5mm long and a 5mm shortie it won't be warm enough for Scotland will it?

[Crieagle]

I have the BCD its pretty good. It has integrated weights but i don't bother i use an oceanic weight pouch.

I bought oceanic regs, wish i had bought apex xtx50 ds4's one for my main one for pony, i have xtx40 ds4 on my pony its ace, pony package from the derby boys very good. Not sure how good the regs are cost of servicing etc

Cant comment on drysuit.

Bag ok how heavy for travelling abroad?

Fins ok

Have you a computer, i would go for a smaller spg if you have.

Tank ok

I am still a newbie but love having a say.

Won't comment on the 0% credit , unless a package has what i want and not what a shop wants to sell me, i am never that keen....

Good luck HTH

[Crieagle]

Drysuit needed for scotland anytime of year.

Hi yaz, why dd you change from membrane too cold? Did you upgrade to a wing or just not happy with bcd?

Ian

[gwilson]

Originally Posted by Crieagle

Drysuit needed for scotland anytime of year.

Hi yaz, why dd you change from membrane too cold? Did you upgrade to a wing or just not happy with bcd?

Ian

Semidries are also used up here, however i wouldnt go in the water in one, they look bloody freezing

[Woz]

Originally Posted by gwilson

Semidries are also used up here, however i wouldnt go in the water in one, they look bloody freezing

You can dive in a semidry all year round no problem.

It's sitting on the surface with the wind blowing that is the killer.

[paramedic paul]

Originally Posted by rob.heeley

Hi thanks for your reply, the Nemis pack (Diving at Robin Hood Watersports) OR:

Nemesis Pack
Seaquest Pro QD SL BC
Aqualung Legend LX Supreme reg
Aqualung Legend octopus rig
Aqualung triple console
Faber 15l with MDE pv, boot, handle
Duratek membrane drysuit (MADE TO MEASURE) with Thermocline (Temperature regulating), valves, hose, hood and bag.
Scubapro Twin Speed fins (Split fin)
Mares Technomad 135 bag (Ruc sac)
5mm gloves
Regulator bag
RRP £2103.60
Offer Price £1699.00
12 month 0% option
(subject to status, written details on request)

I am debating if I should just get BCD and Regs and buy a drysuit of somebody else, the cyclinder is proably going to be best to hire then to buy after maintenance costs? I dunno? *-)

OK, can't offer advice about 0%, I was fortunate to be able to afford it all in one go, cash (I'm not rich, i'd just got a back pay settlement from work) but this list is pretty much the same as the gear I started with! I still use most of it and am very happy with it too! I've moved onto wing and twins now so the BCD is sitting around my spare room and i rarely use the 15ltr but it's still good kit!

I'm not sure about the price though, I got my suit from ROHO along with a computer and the rest of the kit from SDS in Sheffield, I may be wrong (it's late and I don't feel like ferreting around my spare room for the receipts) but i'm sure that I didn't pay that much.

If you don't need 0% it maybe better to shop around for the component parts of your list, after all there's no such thing as a free lunch (for lunch read 0%finance package!)

Just my 2p