SCUBA equip. question.

[Superman32 0]

I'm looking to buy some scuba stuff, but don't really know much about it.
Found this on a ebay store.
What do you think? Too expensive? low quality?
Great buy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mares-Regulator-Weight-Integrated-BC-Scuba-Package-Deal_W0QQitemZ330105278288QQcategoryZ16053QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

It will be only used for warm weather, and maybe Jersey (NJ) weather
Any suggestions...
Thanks

Price is a consideration, since I have no income, only a huge and quickly growing debt, however, I don't want poor quality, which just won't last.

Thanks

What I really need is an old aad, but that's for another thread.

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[Squeak 17]

Mares makes very good kit the price is pretty much standard though, it not a "bargain"


Why not check out you local dive school, some of the better quality ones sell off their gear yearly and give a warranty. the school gear make be a little used but generally they are well looked after (provided the school is a GOOD one)

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[jaitken 0]

  Quote

I'm looking to buy some scuba stuff, but don't really know much about it.

Just like with skydiving, you're buying life support equipment. Why would you buy something off of eBay if you "don't really know much about it"? My suggestion is to find a good local dive shop and get them to help you find appropriate gear. If price is your biggest concern just be up front with them and see how willing they are to work with you. Worst thing they can do is help educate you and then refuse to match the price. :-)

To answer your question, Mares and Aeris are very good brands. You can read all sorts of reviews on www.scubadiving.com -- just select "Gear" and go from there (in fact, if you click on the BCD section, and read the article entitled "The Best New BCs" you'll find a review of the Aeris Sport, which is the one in the eBay ad).

However, if it doesn't fit or "feel right" what are your options? Another reason to hit up the local dive shop is that you'll have an option to try on all kinds of gear before buying something.

Good luck,

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
--Mario Andretti

[SLIDER 0]

I've been a dive instructor and sport diver for quite a few years now, and I can tell you that as in skydiving, if it doesn't fit well it doesn't work well. Go visit your local shops, hug and touch things, rent a couple different kinds of BC's and see what you like best. Just hang around the shops and talk to divers, they love to talk diving like we like to talk skydiving. They will be more than happy to share their knowledge of the sport.

As far as brands go, My wife and I have always been very happy with Scuba Pro regulators and Oceanic Gages, Scuba pro BC's.

Just my 2cent's

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions

Scott

"there's a fine line between hobby and mental illness"

[riddler 0]

Second that on the local DiveShops. You'll be happier with the gear you get - it will fit you you will have a guarantee on it (usually) where they will swap it out if it doesn't fit you. Also with more retail brands, you get a warranty if and only if you buy from an authorized dealer. I dive a LOT of ScubaPro - they give a *lifetime* warranty, but only if you buy from the local dive shop. Think about that - a regulator may cost you $500, but you have it for your entire life, and it gets serviced every year (ScubaPro replaces parts and does upgrades for FREE). You don't get the lifetime warranty if you buy off the Internet, and you don't get your gear regularly maintained. It's life support equipment - you want to make sure you keep it in good order.

Now, fins, I would buy from the Internet - scubapro twinjets are pretty much indestructable. Mask, I would NOT - most masks do not fit most people (contrary to manufacturer's claim) - you get a mask that fits you only when you try it out at the LDS (local dive shop). Snorkel, wetsuit, I would buy on Internet only if it's cheaper. Other basic gear (BC, reg, computer), I would buy at the shop and get the lifetime warranty. But if you're buying most of your gear at the LDS, you might get a good package deal on all of it that makes it cheaper.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[ladydyver 0]

I would go to a local dive shop and see if they have that particular BC available to try on. Fit of your BC is an important factor. Are you use to using an integrated weight system or have you always used a weight belt? Are you going to go on and get further certifications - cave/wreck?- or is it strictly for warm or cold water diving? How often are diving? There are a lot of things to thing about when buying your scuba equipment. It all coming together like that is nice, but you can probably get better deals.

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[upndownshop 0]

  Quote

I'm looking to buy some scuba stuff, but don't really know much about it.
Found this on a ebay store.
What do you think? Too expensive? low quality?
Great buy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mares-Regulator-Weight-Integrated-BC-Scuba-Package-Deal_W0QQitemZ330105278288QQcategoryZ16053QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

It will be only used for warm weather, and maybe Jersey (NJ) weather
Any suggestions...
Thanks

Price is a consideration, since I have no income, only a huge and quickly growing debt, however, I don't want poor quality, which just won't last.

Thanks

What I really need is an old aad, but that's for another thread.

If you are into Pink I have some gear. Some of it never used!!Will trade for BC with intergrated weitghts>

[aliveboy2004 0]

one little question...
HAVE YOU TAKEN A SCUBA COURSE????
do you plan on diving without being properly trained and certified????

if so, you are an idiot!! buy the cheapest crap you can find so your relatives can have the left over money as an inheritance.

my $.02 cents worth.

[novacaine 0]

I would personally stay away from Mares/Decor products. I have had nothing but problems with some of there equipment. Mares are NOT designed properly. I have tried every Mares reg on the market and have found that they have all free flowed.
If your interested I am selling off all my scuba gear to afford skydiving. After working in the Scuba industry for the last 5 years and scuba diving for the last 15 years I have decided to give it up and try something new like skydiving.

If you are looking for quality equipment look at Apeks for the regs. I have 4 sets of Apeks regs. They have taken me to hell (225feet) and back and still perform like they are new.
the Mares BC looks like a death trap. Too many tanglies on the front. If your a wreck diving doing penatration dives I can for see major lines twist happening with this kit.
the console looks like a bad design. I really don't know why manufactors do this. To have a compass mounted on the back side is an other death trap. If you have done any navigation dives, I may have noticed that when following a compass bearing, divers tend to start swimming an a angel. With evey kick the diver is either going deeper or shallower without even knowing it. Therefore, you can find yourself in troble either way.
the best option is to looss both the compass and the depth guage. Keep only the SPG to the 1st stage. Invest in a dive computer wrist mount. And wear a wrist mount compass. much safer this way.
do you really need two octopuss'? from examining the picture some more I noticed that the BC is equiped with an Air2 on the inflator hose. once again your spending more money for a piece of gear that is pointless having.
What certs do you have and are they PADI? what type of diving do you want to do- Wreck/Nitrox (which is a must!!)/Deep air/ Cave? as your equipment needs will differ then that of this ebay auction.
If your interested in doing wreck,cave or Deep Air one day go with a backplate and wings. As this is the only "BC" option for these types of diving. As these can handle several tanks at once. (My last dive I did I used 6 tanks) and yet you can use the same backplate with a smaller wing for single tank dives.

Just my 2 cents.

Nova

[dorbie 0]

  Quote

one little question...
HAVE YOU TAKEN A SCUBA COURSE????
do you plan on diving without being properly trained and certified????

if so, you are an idiot!! buy the cheapest crap you can find so your relatives can have the left over money as an inheritance.

You might want to cut back on the caffeine intake there buddy.

[stitch 0]

  Quote

If you are into Pink I have some gear. Some of it never used!! And it is for sell. All of it.
Will trade for BC with intergrated weitghts>

ROFLMAO

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[PLFXpert 0]

"don't know much about it"...Don't buy it on Ebay.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[upndownshop 0]

  Quote

  Quote

If you are into Pink I have some gear. Some of it never used!! And it is for sell. All of it.
Will trade for BC with intergrated weitghts>

ROFLMAO

[Superman32 0]

  Quote

  Quote

one little question...
HAVE YOU TAKEN A SCUBA COURSE????
do you plan on diving without being properly trained and certified????

if so, you are an idiot!! buy the cheapest crap you can find so your relatives can have the left over money as an inheritance.

You might want to cut back on the caffeine intake there buddy.

Haha

Thanks for the concern Aliveboy.
Yes I am certified with PADI but with only about 5 actual dives. I'm actually signed up for the Advanced open water class.
The advice has been really good, keep it coming. Thank you.
As with skydiving, I'm going to go to my local dive shop and ask for their opnion as well, the problem, is their selection is limited and they tend to be in the more expensive side of things.

I plan on just doing nice, mellow and relaxing dives, nothing hard core. At least yet. I was also going for just ONE tandem

Instead of studying, I've been looking at gear, so when I do go to the LDS, I'll have something to say, instead of just looking silly. Like buying a car, its better if you're not completely clueless.

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[stitch 0]

I would finish MED school 1st if I was you. SCUBA is dangerous.

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[Superman32 0]

This Oceanic kit is in the same price range and seems of better quality ($599, next to last kit).
http://www.scuba.com/shop/DiveSystems.asp?Category=126

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[Superman32 0]

  Quote

I would finish MED school 1st if I was you. SCUBA is dangerous.

I
I know, people are jumping out of "perfectly good boats."
What if you get eaten by shark?

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[porpoishead 8]

this thread is too funny!!

hey bud why waste money on the advanced fagi cert??? or is it padi??

what, the dive police is gonna stop you at -60Fsw and tell you that you cant go deeper without the advanced card????

even with the adv. card what if you want to go past -130fsw??? what do you tell the water police at that level of the water column??


all funny business aside, send me an e-mail adress
I got some nice bc's couple of dacor rigII's and some halcyon rigs.

dacors are weight int. like new in the $100-$150 range.

the halcyon stuff is in the 200-300$$$ range

can put together a good regulator setup for about $150-$250 depending if you like pink, unlike skydiving pink stuff is usually 50% off in the diving world

stay away from all that complete intergrated stuff to much useless crap on them, less shit you dive with the better, less drag= less air consumption

also nitrox is worthless dont let anybody talk you into that worthless certification.

if you want a friend feed any animal
Perry Farrell

[Ian84 0]

Hey Superman,

Having worked in a diveshop I, like one of the previous poseters, would recommend you stear clear of Mares equipment. As for companies that offer warranties of various types, beware, they are often not worth the paper they're written on if you plan to dive abroad.

For regulators I would consider Apeks/Aqualung to be the most reliable and best value for money brands. Atomic have some pretty good stuff too but it is pricy. If your looking for something inexpensive then the Aqualung Calypso and Titan are both very robust and well suited to most recreational diving.

The most important thing with a BCD is that you're comfortable with it but again, avoid Mared/Dacor and even Cressi as my experience has been that a lot of their equipment is poorly designed and shoddily constructed.

The console instruments are mostly generic with various manufacturers names printed on them so dont worry too much about that.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

[Gawain 0]

  Quote

Price is a consideration, since I have no income, only a huge and quickly growing debt, however, I don't want poor quality, which just won't last.

This is the part I don't get. I mean, even when I was making decent money (pre-Army) I was pouring all-and-then-some into skydiving.

How do the rest of you do it? I totally can't figure it out.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Jib 0]

  Quote

also nitrox is worthless dont let anybody talk you into that worthless certification.

Why is Nitrox worthless?

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[porpoishead 8]

Q:is it going to give you a longer bottom time?
A: no.

Q: is it going to allow you to make your next dive
with less of a RNT?
A: no.

Q: can you dive a nitrox mix deep?
A: no.

bottle jammed with std. compressed air $5-$6
same bottle jammed with a nitrox bottom mix at least twice as much if not more.

first and second stage reg. that they will tell you has been scrubbed clean of hydrocarbon contamination for nitrox diving, will cost you more to purchase and maintain. and it is the SAME exact crappolla as the stuff you use to dive air.

for recreational diving strictly abiding by the no deco. limits , it is simply throwing your money away, plain and simple.

now if your doing technical stuff deep, like a heliox bottom mix, then a real nitrox mix say 50/50 to aid in decompression would be beneficial during ascent, of course at a much shallower depth after x-ing back over to air at -150. followed by a lenghty decompression from -60 to surface slide on pure 100% O2, preferably done in a chamber on deck, as oppossed to hangin in water.

what is a scuba doo standard nitrox mix, or better stated ENRICHED AIR mix these days anyway???

and what does it cost to jam a bottle with it??

you want a longer shallow dive, change out the burst disk on the Kvalve on your bottle to a 5000psi disk then jam the bottle hot to 4500psi, there problem solved for $1 buck, you have almost twice as much air in one bottle

if you want a friend feed any animal
Perry Farrell