First dive show!

[bex80]

Going to LIDS on Sunday

Any tricks or tips to help me make the most of the day (& hopefully find some bargains!) without spending a fortune on unnecessary & expensive shiny things?

[ratcliffe]

Yes, the best bit of advice that I can offer you is to NOT GO

I'm also there on Sunday, must remember to wear my YD hoodie

[Juz]

Decide certain things before you go:

If you can, decide what exact items you want. With this shopping list in hand go round and find out how much each item is different places. MAKE NOTES.

Then go back and buy.

Good places to start are DiverWarehouse and Kent Diving in my experience.

Defo meet up with some YD'ers.

If you don't know what you are looking for, you at least need to have thought about what type of diving you might be looking to do.

Some of the seminars are excellent - the RNLI/Coastguard one is always good (is it on this year?)

Juz

[Kirstie]

Turbanator and I are there on Sunday as well. If I pass my Rescue Diver course on Saturday at Wrasbury, I might treat myself to something nice. Not sure what, though, as I haven't got any money Perhaps a nice clip.

[turbanator]

as I haven't got any money

That'll be because you have a new drysuit, new torch, have just been to Cyprus to dive the Zenobia and have just done PADI RD, Wreck, Nitrox and Deep specialities??

[Kirstie]

That'll be because you have a new drysuit, new torch, have just been to Cyprus to dive the Zenobia and have just done PADI RD, Wreck, Nitrox and Deep specialities??

oh yeah

[Finless]

Get there early before it gets too busy and all the bargains are gone and buy as late as possible to get the best price.

Don't buy anything that is "almost what you want but ......." just because it is cheap.

Know the RRP of anything you specifically want.

[yellowduke]

Would definitely recommend going to some lectures. Have a look at the programme and see what takes your fancy. If digital photography is on that is always busy so get to the room a bit early. Know what you want to buy and what it costs usually, then use that info to shop around wisely inside. There are deals to be made! Taking your own grub is a good idea too. Prices can be a bit steep and the queues long! Driving there and parking is a royal pain in the arse, hard to find and expensive, so use public transport.

Jim

[turbanator]

If your buying heavy stuff - cylinders for instance, leave it till late in the day on Sunda as people will not want to load them back into their vans.
However lots of people know this so they sell out quickly too.
If you see a cylinder at a price that you like, most stand wil let you leave it there so that you don't have to hump it around the show.

Unfortunately, I have a cynical eye and when I see people wandering around shows with cylinders and regs, I wonder if this is the way that we will have to get fills and servicing when the LDS's go out of business due to lack of support.

If you get on well with your LDS, maybe ask if they will compete with show prices, some will. For the smaller ones, the cost of a stand is prohibitive.

r
Paul

[ratcliffe]

I'm definitely going to go to the Kohler/Chatterton lecture at 12.30

Sounds interesting, and having just finished Shadow Divers, its a good time to hear some insight into the way they work generally.