How do I pick complete package?

[Searcaigh]

Any advice is appreciated i don't want to rush in and get the wrong thing but i also want to rush in and get mostly self sufficient.

Take your time trying out different items as mentioned previously before buying your own gear.

Buying gear online has its own set of pitfalls, ask for advice from real divers you meet when diving and check out what gear they use and ask them questions such as why they bought it and where they get their gear serviced locally etc.

 

[fiveoboy01]

your profile says Quintana Roo..... why not deal with any of the highly recomended shops in the area? I'm sure you could be setup with a Scubaboard approved BP/W and some decent regs...

This is the way.

Go to the local dive shop, they will help you pick what you need.

Also concur that packages, while a good deal usually, aren't ideal. Picking and choosing individual components will always be better.

 

[happy-diver]

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There are plenty more pages

Ingratiate yourself with a second hand diver specialist and GO DIVING SHOPPING!

CHEEP!

IT'S NOT THE GEAR IT'S THE DIVER

 

[Cheizz]

Go to the local dive shop, they will help you pick what you need.

I would do it this way: find out what kind of diving you will be doing, find out what kind of gear you need for that (with help from the members here and divers near you), and then go shopping (online or local). I have always found my local dive shops limited in what they carry (it might not be exactly what you need), and most of them have other motives than you (sales rather than serving you). That's my personal experience with local dive shops anyway (or local ski shops, for that matter).

 

[fiveoboy01]

I would do it this way: find out what kind of diving you will be doing, find out what kind of gear you need for that (with help from the members here and divers near you), and then go shopping (online or local). I have always found my local dive shops limited in what they carry (it might not be exactly what you need), and most of them have other motives than you (sales rather than serving you). That's my personal experience with local dive shops anyway (or local ski shops, for that matter).

Point taken, of course a dive shop will push the brands they sell. That's common. Doesn't mean they will sell you bad gear. Operator-dependent... There are some shady people out there for sure.

Your way is certainly another good way to do it.

I guess I am an oddity, I have two very well-stocked dive shops both within 20 minutes of my house.

There is also something to be said for buying local, because when it comes time for service, you may have an easier time getting things repaired. Some shops will not service brands that they do not sell.

 

[SlugLife]

I would steer away from "complete packages." I'm generalizing, but I'd expect many complete packages to either be:

1. Expensive, selling gear that's well beyond what a new diver needs.
2. Gear that the dive-shop can't get rid of (for good reason), so they repackage it into package-deals.

At some point I need to write up an "article" which gives a good intro into equipment for brand new divers. I'll try to write up a few brief tips:

• Masks: You need one that fits your face. Suck in through your nose, and see how well it sticks to your face.
• Fins: This is a long topic. What fins are reccomended depends on how you dive, and what finning-techniques you use. Stay away from split fins. Prefer open-heel fins, so you can use dive-boots. Early in your dive-career, you may prefer something which is good for distance; lets say longer fins or ones with great flutter-kick propulsion. Later, you might want shorter fins, stiffer fins, or ones that do frog-kick and reverse-kick well. By then, you'll be on your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th pair of fins.
• Regulators: Think of your regulator as individual components. NOT a single unit.
  • 1st stage attaches to the tank & has high-pressure and low-pressure ports.
  • Ports on the 1st stage are either plugged, or have hoses. Hoses are high-pressure (for SPG) or low-pressure (most everything else). Hoses can be swapped for longer or shorter hoses, different color hoses, or even "flex" hoses.
  • The 2nd-stage is what you breathe from.
  • The "octo" is literally just another 2nd stage. Perhaps with a different-colored face-plate.
  • The SPG monitors pressure. It's just a gauge. Other gauges, such as depth-consoles, mini-console-computers or compasses may sometimes be "bundled" into the same rubbery holder, but you don't need any of that. (or more precisely, if you'll want to buy a computer or compass separately)
  • BCD-hose, is a hose with a quick-disconnect. Some BCDs have different quick-disconnects. BCD hoses can be swapped.
• BCD: Most dive-shops start out divers with a one-piece jacket BCD. Many (most) divers prefer backplate-and-wing ("BPW") once they experience it, and there's no reason a new diver can't just start with BPW. A major advantage of BPW, is you can swap components as needed.
  • Backplate: Steel is usually preferred for a backplate, as it is more negatively-buoyant, allowing you to reduce the amount of weights needed. But there's nothing wrong with aluminum either, and that's slightly better for travel.
  • Harness: The straps which keep the entire BCD nice and snug. You can get a "once piece" which is essentially just a piece of webbing with a single grommet-hole. Installing it's not hard, and you'll usually add (or it'll include) some d-rings. There are also "fancier" harnesses, but you don't necessarily need them unless you really want them.
  • Wing: Start out with a "single tank" wing, around 30 to 40lbs lift. Anything bigger will just act like a parachute, cause air-trapping, and be a pain in the butt. "Donut" wings tend to result in less air-trapping.
• Wetsuit / Drysuit: Since you're in Mexico, you may not need a wetsuit for much of the season. In central Texas, I got by diving most if the year either with a 5mm or no wetsuit. I only recently bought a 2mm after about 4-5 years. For Mexico, I'm imagining a 2-3mm or a "shorty" (short-pants & short-sleeve style) may be enough.
• "Knife": You don't need (or want) a giant dive-knife. Prefer something small and light-weight. This line cutter is one of my favorites. "Trauma Shears" are also inexpensive, light-weight, and really good cutting-devices.
• Computer - You don't need anything super-fancy. Personally, I find the one-button consoles to be terrible. Otherwise, you can start off with something around $300-ish new. However, don't buy it new, these $300 dive-computers are often $100 or less on the used market. I like having bluetooth to backup my dive-log.

 

[SlugLife]

This is the way.

Go to the local dive shop, they will help you pick what you need.

Also concur that packages, while a good deal usually, aren't ideal. Picking and choosing individual components will always be better.

Local dive-shops can be a mixed bag. They're just a business. Some are great, some not-so-great. It's really down to who runs them, and who they hire. As a business, ALL of them will want to sell you something.

With that in mind, whatever a scuba-shop wants to sell you may, or may-not be in your best interests. It also may-or-may-not be appropriately priced. It's worth getting a 2nd opinion, or doing some additional research. I often use a personal rule of not buying many things "same day." This is doubly true for any "amazing time-limited deal." Checking reviews can also help.

 

[fiveoboy01]

Local dive-shops can be a mixed bag. They're just a business. Some are great, some not-so-great. It's really down to who runs them, and who they hire. As a business, ALL of them will want to sell you something.

With that in mind, whatever a scuba-shop wants to sell you may, or may-not be in your best interests. It also may-or-may-not be appropriately priced. It's worth getting a 2nd opinion, or doing some additional research. I often use a personal rule of not buying many things "same day." This is doubly true for any "amazing time-limited deal." Checking reviews can also help.

Fully agree.

I am impatient and an impulse buyer. So, sometimes I buy things twice

 

[boulderjohn]

I was a student in a workshop on scuba marketing put on by then owner of a major dive agency. The philosophy of packages was a part of it all. Here are two factors that you should consider when contemplating buying a package.

• He advocated creating packages at different levels or diving with names indicating those differences. The purpose was psychological. You can shame the customers out of buying the cheap package and thus push them to the more expensive package, thereby getting them to buy all the more expensive stuff in one feel swoop rather than having to upsell them one item at a time.
• The full package is indeed cheaper than buying each item separately, but the full package includes stuff you probably wouldn't buy at all if you were buying individually. The big ticket items are often pretty competitively priced, with not a huge profit margin. The little stuff you might not otherwise buy has HUGE markups, so you the whole package ends up being more profitable than selling the individual items without the ones you wouldn't normally buy. It's like the lamps you see being sold at a furniture store. They are priced ridiculously high so that a salesman can seal the deal on the furniture set by throwing in that $400 lamp for only $50.

 

[MidOH]

Buying each piece, hand picked by yourself is the nicest way to a custom rig.

Since youre local, a SS bpw package would be hot. I'd recommend a sealed reg.


This is the most versatile complete rig out there:

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing + DGX Gears D6 Reg Package

A basic DGX Harness / Backplate / Wing and our DGX D6 regulator package for single tank diving at a value price.

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I generally hate diving regs with a yoke convertor, in yoke land though. And PDC is hardcore deep in yoke land.

BPW packages:

$425

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing Package

A basic DGX backplate/wing/harness package for single tank diving at a value price.

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$730

OMS - Complete Single Tank Stainless Steel Backplate and Wing Kit - 27

OMS - Complete Single Tank Stainless Steel Backplate and Wing Kit - 27LB WingBy popular demand we have created this OMS Single Tank Backplate and Wing Kit! This kit has everything you need to get you in the water right away with a single tank. This is a fully modular setup and if your diving...

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$1012 lighter travel rig. Hey, if your walking to the ferry, every ounce counts.

Halcyon - Adventure™ BC System

Halcyon - Adventure™ BC System The Adventure™ BC System comes with the traditional Carbon Fiber backplate, providing a secure and lightweight BC system. ABOUT The Adventure™ BC System builds upon the popularity of our dedicated single-tank BC systems by adding the classic ruggedness of our...

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IMO, the DGX wing makes both of the expensive plate packages better. Its slim and light. 30# of lift, but as slim as a 20# wing. See how hand picking components works?

Regs:

$915 (I suggest yoke for PDC)

Dive Rite - XT1/XT4 Advanced Open Water Regulator Package

Dive Rite - XT4 Advanced Open Water Regulator Package XT4 Advanced Open Water Regulator Package The streamlining of the Dive Rite Advanced Open Water Package and the unparalleled ease of breathing of the XT4 Second Stage Regulator come together for an unbeatable combination. The XT4 Advanced...

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$1350 Fancier regs. But functionally no better. (Heck, the Dive Rites are likely better) Sadly only din, so need an adapter:

Halcyon - H-75P Single Cylinder Regulator Package - BAR

Halcyon - H-75P Single Cylinder Regulator Package - PSI SPECS: Hoses and Regulator Bag included LP inflator hose does not come with this package. LP Inflator hoses are included on all Halcyon wings. Bench testing by an authorized Halcyon regulator service technician is recommended prior to use

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Line cutter

DGX Titanium M-Cut Safety Tool

The DGX M-Cut is a lightweight and corrosion resistant cutting tool.

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DSMB

DGX Gears Surface Marking Tube { 6 ft | 1.8 m }

The DGX Surface Marking Tube measures { 6 ft | 1.8 m } by { 6 in | 15 cm } and is available in your choice of all orange or all yellow.

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Youll need a dsmb and spool in that AO.

Get your tanks locally. Tanks and gas fills are one of the worst aspects of diving. Complete ignorance that Im startled that experienced divers allow. Might be smarter to support the nicest closest LDS on this one. Boats will have rentals.