Getting back to diving after 20 years - what to do with old gear?

[Walter]

I'm sure technology has changed, I know masks fit much easier, but what else has changed and what's best to spend my money on?

Most of the changes have been cosmetic. Masks are no better or easier to fit than they were 30 years ago. If it's not beyond repair, don't replace it. I have some new gear that's about as old as your old gear.

Tank: 1970 VOIT steel tank.

Have it hydroed, tell them when you drop it off you'll want to see the report on the results. That should make them actually do the test. If it's been treated well, it should pass.

BC: 1990ish US Divers Aqualung Pro Line BC
- appears to work, but is losing air just sitting here, so has some type of slow leak. Seals I'd guess, but this is probably my #1 item to replace.

Find the leak. If it's in the inflator or over pressure valve, you should be able to fix it. If it has a hole, you may have to replace the bladder.

Regulator: 1990ish Conshelf 21 1st and 2nd stage
Octo: 1970s Calypso
Pressure Gauge: 1990s US divers

Get it serviced, it'll be fine.

Depth Gauge: none

Get one. There was no excuse to be diving without either a depth gauge or a computer 20 years ago. I was (still am) using both.

Fins: 1990ish TUSA Mini Liberator - Plastic fins, only 20 inches long, but a good size for a skinny me.

They were never good fins. You can use them, but Scubapro Jets (a much older design than your Liberators) will serve you much better and you can pick them up for very little off e-bay.

Mask: new! But doesn't fit really well, I'll probably replace it.

A well fitting mask is important, replace it.

wetsuit: none

You'll need one, especially in NY.

I'm looking to re-do my open water cert with PADI along with her.

Having a YMCA certification, you will probably be disappointed with this choice unless the instructor is really outstanding.

 

[captain]

Pretty much except for a mask and a computer most of my gear is at least 30+ years old. My main regulator is over 50 years old. My only switch to modern gear is to use a wing if I use a BC at all.

 

[Garrobo]

When I first started diving I didn't want to spend the loads of money for new gears so I immediately started looking for used stuff. About a year before a cousin of mine, who was a diver, had died. When his widow found out that I needed some gear she called and told me to come over and take what I wanted. There were three sets of old Dacor regulators with SPG's etc, two tanks, half a dozen wetsuits and fins, couple BCD's, snorkels, masks , belts, lead, and a gang of other stuff. I took the regs to a shop to be looked at and the reg man told me that he had been servicing my cousin's stuff for years. He picked out what he considered the best set of Dacor XLE's and cleaned them up. I used them for a year or so while I made my first 50 dives. I still use them on occassion though I have bought a few economically-priced sets from Leisurepro over the years. $130 for service on a set of regs and spg is a lot cheaper than buying new ones fer shure. As far as a BCD goes, I'd look for a good used one on Ebay. The same goes for fins and wetsuits if you can find one in good shape and it fits comparatively well. I've found that wetsuit fit isn't that important if you dive warm water like I do. I'd buy new masks and forget the snorkels or buy el cheapo's. There is a ton of dive gear on Ebay being sold by divers who were at first hooked on diving and were sold a bunch of expensive stuff by the shop where they certified. Many of them later, after a couple dive trips, either lost interest , couldn't afford to keep up with the activities or had health problems which didn't permit them to keep on diving. It's there for the taking at bargain basement prices.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Get rid of everything. Not just because of technology updates, though that is reason enough, but the degradation of the material in various pieces of equipment, coupled with the accumulation of dust or other particulates through time has rendered everything too dangerous and unreliable to use. You need quality equipment in good shape, properly maintained, to be comfortable and safe under water. If you don't want to buy everything at once, start with mask snorkel and fins, then other equipment as you choose. You don't need top of the line. Lots of retailers have excellent values on every kind of gear.
DO NOT keep the tank. It is old, unmaintained, could have non-detectable corrosive flaw, and is very dangerous. You don't need to buy a tank.
DivemasterDennis

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I have patched a bladder with a waterbed patch and it still holds air ten years later. I would have the regs sreviced. They will replace the o-rings, high pressure seat and any rubber, including hoses that are dried out. I would replace the mask if it doesn't fit and either replace the fin straps or buy some Jets on Ebay. The tank will be fine after a hydro.
Due to the fact that you haven't dived for fifteen years, I would not replace much gear now. You may find that diving is not for you nor your GF later. No sense spending extra money now.
If you both find that you enjoy diving together you should only then think about upgrading gear. Your tank and regs will probably be working fine in another 20-40 years.

 

[Darnold9999]

Why even consider throwing this stuff away??? Personally I would service the regs, get the tank hydro'd, service the SPG and replace any hoses that were suspect. The BCD will need to be looked at by someone who knows what they are looking at to find the leak and get any suspect parts replaced. Mask needs to fit - if it doesn't toss it or keep it as a backup. They do deteriorate however - had one of my oldest masks disintegrate under pressure. Just broke in two, but it was over 30 years old. Try out a new pair of fins (or several) and make your own decision re which are better and is it worth spending the $ on a new pair. Replace the fin straps however.

 

[dmoore19]

Why even consider throwing this stuff away??? Personally I would service the regs, get the tank hydro'd, service the SPG and replace any hoses that were suspect. The BCD will need to be looked at by someone who knows what they are looking at to find the leak and get any suspect parts replaced. Mask needs to fit - if it doesn't toss it or keep it as a backup. They do deteriorate however - had one of my oldest masks disintegrate under pressure. Just broke in two, but it was over 30 years old. Try out a new pair of fins (or several) and make your own decision re which are better and is it worth spending the $ on a new pair. Replace the fin straps however.

Replace the fin straps with spring straps, best thing I ever did.

 

[captain]

Get rid of everything. Not just because of technology updates, though that is reason enough, but the degradation of the material in various pieces of equipment, coupled with the accumulation of dust or other particulates through time has rendered everything too dangerous and unreliable to use. You need quality equipment in good shape, properly maintained, to be comfortable and safe under water. If you don't want to buy everything at once, start with mask snorkel and fins, then other equipment as you choose. You don't need top of the line. Lots of retailers have excellent values on every kind of gear.
DO NOT keep the tank. It is old, unmaintained, could have non-detectable corrosive flaw, and is very dangerous. You don't need to buy a tank.
DivemasterDennis

Surely you are kidding. Oh never mind, I read the first page of your profile, you aren't kidding.

 

[diversteve]

what else has changed and what's best to spend my money on?

Any thoughts?

One thing that has changed is where:

Buy scuba gear, scuba diving and snorkeling equipment, and everything underwater from LeisurePro.com - lots of brand name gear at great prices - some with their own instead of the manufacturer's warranty.
Scuba Equipment, Scuba Gear Scuba Diving Equipment Discount dive gear Snorkeling Equipment and Wetsuits Cheap online - also great prices with manufacturer's warranty. They'll also match other dealers prices and I believe still give a 10% discount on everything if you mention you're a ScubaBoard member.
Piranha Dive Mfg. for accessories.

There's many others (Divers Direct, Divers Supply, Scuba.com...) these are three I regularly buy from.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Except for the BC which may or may not be a pain to service (agree with others who said check the inflator itself) everything else there should be perfectly safe to use once it is serviced. I have 4 steel 72's. Two from 73 and 75 make a fine set of doubles. The others from 1953 and 1955 are still going and, if my son ever gives me any, will likely be used by my grandkids. The regs can be easily serviced by any competent tech who has the parts. The hoses might need replaced but that is also easily checked. Second going with new fins as well just because. If I were not going to buy new Jets of my backups the old aqualung blades work well. You can find them cheaper than jets. Not the blades II, but the original ones. And get spring straps.

None of your gear is unsafe or obsolete. It just needs a little TLC.

As for new gear check out the HOG/Edge line (yes I am a dealer). Good stuff, great prices, and you can buy the parts to service yourself or have any good tech do it. On line sales are allowed and I cover shipping.