buying new equipment

[redrover]

Ok, if money was not a concern; what I’d do different:
-Titanium 1st stage and alternate
-More tanks and a donkey to schlep them
-Just buy a new slate instead of look for a replacement marking doohickey I can’t find where I left it in the ocean
-upgrade my camera, can’t say to what, I do not allow my thoughts to go there
-at least one other wetsuit just like what I have. I hate it when something I like wears out and they don’t make it any more
-Pay a finders fee for a used knife I want that appears no longer available new
-Let myself think about all the places I’d like dive and plan an itinerary
-Charter boats and hire private instructors to go places and do things
-get a 4 wheel drive so I can go to other places too
-quit working to have more time for the above

Other than that and world peace, I’m happy with what I have.

 

[RIDIVER501]

Negev,

My advice to you is to look around and decide what you like.
Go to different shops that have the gear you are interested as part of their rental stock and try it out.
I can give you my recommendations but if you take them and then don't like the gear you are not going to be happy with the gear you are diving. only you know what you like and what works for you.

 

[TorontoDive]

If "money is not a concern" go to your LDS

 

[Daryl Morse]

Hello everyone,

As a new diver I am out to buy same equipments and wish to have same help,

I am after BCD and regulator, now I am so lucky that money is not a concern here so pls ignor the cost of the equipment....
reading around the net and on this forum here is what I choose:

BCD: SeaQuest Pro Unlimited
Regulator: Scubapro Mark 25 X-650

in other words I am saying: if money wasn't a problem what BCD and regulator will u buy??

hope to get same help here....

Negev

Wow, money is not a concern. Either you're very lucky or very uninformed! Hopefully the former.

 

[negev]

Wow, money is not a concern. Either you're very lucky or very uninformed! Hopefully the former.

well the point is not if I am lucky or very uninformed, my father is paying and he said" choose what ever BCD + first and second stage u wish...so I am not sure I understand ur point...

Negev

 

[crabball]

well the point is not if I am lucky or very uninformed, my father is paying and he said" choose what ever BCD + first and second stage u wish...so I am not sure I understand ur point...

Negev

What he means is that dive gears usually cost a bomb to purchase.

Back to the topic. If you intend to travel a lot. It will be better to get the named brands like Scuba Pro (as an example and the parts are mroe readily available for it) for ease of repair or finding replacement parts.

Sometimes, dive gear sold in a region will not be popular in the rest of the world and some regs does used special fabricated part which is hard to get. (reminds me of my Friends Yokohama Regulator whose part can only be purchased directly from japan)

Gears does fail and it often happens at the most inappropriate moments.

Dive safe

 

[redrover]

Ok, I’ll be serious.
Since we know nothing about you other than your father is generous it is hard for anyone to give suggestions other than our personal choices. Your situation or use may be different. I too began my search with what is best and quickly realized it was not that simple. The short answer is there are many excellent choices, not just one. Unfortunately you will have to evaluate what diving you are getting the gear for, something like; the best car? It would be very different if primary use was off road vs escorting VIP’s in NYC. There are also warranty, service interval and availability considerations, especially if Dad is not willing to pay for the upkeep.
Here http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=98924 is a thread you may find helpful. I’m certainly not an expert but the initial post on that thread is relatively commonly accepted (as best as I can tell) ranking of manufacturer quality, price was not an issue considered. Each manufacturer has a number of models with different characteristics or intended uses. So that list will give you a narrower field to work with. Try as many as you can, I think there are sometimes subtle differences. One for me was the mouthpiece being immensely more comfortable where another person may not tell any difference.

I made my choice by asking pros what and why they made choices, what was good and bad about them. Of particular importance for me was the service technician divers opinions. You can’t just go by ‘looks’, there were Pros using gear they said they didn’t like. I was a Pro in another sport and often used gear provided, especially at work (why trash my good stuff). It was the highest compliment I could give a manufacturer to say I paid full price for this - when I had a closet full of similar freebies.

So, keep on researching. When you have more specific information about what type of diving you are interested in and 1 or 2 models you think look good for it, then come back. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of opinions about them or if they would be a good idea. And in the end you will still need to weigh the options and choose what ‘fits’ you best from the numerous best available.

And back to the original question, what would I have done if I had your option. I would have got the (Atomic) Titanium 1st stage and SS1 alternate and probably stuck with my B2 considering how I expected to be diving.

Hope this was helpful and hear back what you come up with.
Enjoy the diving!

 

[negev]

ok, to end this long thread, I got the M25/X650 and I am decided to get Zeagle.....
so I am trying to find a few places to try the BCD...but as this BCD/BI is US made its not very easy to get it here in Denmark so I am getting a frind to send it over from the US,
I am a man, 1.72 High and 65 KG wgiht,
and not planing to travel with my equipment a lot...
the best price I found so far are:
Zeagle 911 BCD with Ripcord System 540$
Zeagle Ranger LTD BCD with Ripcord System 525$
Zeagle Tech BCD with Ripcord Weight System 440$

so if anyone have tryed those models and will be nice to get opinion which one to buy.
and are those good prices or....
Negev

 

[tobad78]

I suggest Zeagle Brigade with intergrated Octo from scubatoys.com
399.99
+ if you want intergrated Octo

I just bought one and have no connection with them other then a happy first time customer.

Read about this model its great.

Money No issue
I would buy Atomic Reg.
then wrist computer with wireless transmitter Suunto D9

Brian

ok, to end this long thread, I got the M25/X650 and I am decided to get Zeagle.....
so I am trying to find a few places to try the BCD...but as this BCD/BI is US made its not very easy to get it here in Denmark so I am getting a frind to send it over from the US,
I am a man, 1.72 High and 65 KG wgiht,
and not planing to travel with my equipment a lot...
the best price I found so far are:
Zeagle 911 BCD with Ripcord System 540$
Zeagle Ranger LTD BCD with Ripcord System 525$
Zeagle Tech BCD with Ripcord Weight System 440$

so if anyone have tryed those models and will be nice to get opinion which one to buy.
and are those good prices or....
Negev

 

[Daryl Morse]

well the point is not if I am lucky or very uninformed, my father is paying and he said" choose what ever BCD + first and second stage u wish...so I am not sure I understand ur point...

I was just being a smart ***. Scuba diving is a very expensive sport. It's not very often that someone would say money is not a concern in a sport where you can drop $5000 and still be just starting to accumulate equipment. You do know what it will cost to get fins, mask, snorkel, compass, computer, slate, primary light, backup light, tank light, knife, gloves, hood, boots, wetsuit(s), drysuit, drysuit underwear, BCD, regs, weights, tanks, equipment bag, etc? Throw in yearly maintenance, training, trips as well.

Anyway, have fun making your decision. Research as much as you can. Try as much equipment as you can before purchasing it. Good luck.