Short version:
I'm considering buying the following rig (all new, from an authorized dealer): Tusa R-700 1st, 2 x Oceanic Delta 4.1 2nds, Oceanic Pro Plus 2.1 Deluxe (includes QD, data cable, and compass). It would run about $900 plus tax and possibly the cost of a LPI hose.
Thoughts?
Long version:
I have completed OW, Computer Nitrox, and Advanced Buoyancy Control certifications in the last month or so. I plan to dive mostly warm saltwater (FL, Caribbean, etc.). But, I live in Northern VA. My training dives have been/will be in a cold, cloudy quarry.
I thought I would not be able to afford a reg set any time soon but then I got a nice Christmas bonus. Prior to that, I was shopping for just a wrist computer to take with me on an upcoming Caribbean vacation and then rent regs and BC. I know the conventional wisdom on SB is for newbs to rent for a while and try different things. However, I have 2 factors motivating me to go ahead and purchase. One is that I think this rig is a really good price. So good that if I decided to sell it and buy something else later, I probably won't lose a HUGE amount of money. And, really, I figure the PDC will be good to have as a backup, even if I get a Petrel or similar later. And a complete good quality reg set for $450 seems like something I'd probably keep long term anyway, even if it's just as a backup to something else that I buy later.
And the other factor is that my g/f got certified along with me and she is very much on the fence about whether she really wants to Scuba dive or not. She is trying it because she knows I want to do it. And she does love the water and enjoys snorkeling. But, our upcoming trip to the Caribbean is going to be (I think) a make-or-break deal for her. One of the things that happened during our pool and OW checkout dives was that she had some trouble with her reg. The second day in the pool, she switched to her octo because her primary seemed hard to breathe. That may have just been because it was set to Pre-dive and she didn't know enough to switch it to Dive. Or not. I don't know. The point is, I want to do EVERYTHING I can to ensure that her dives on vacation are 100% glitch-free. So, if I go ahead and buy a rig now, I will actually have her use it on our trip and I will use rental gear. The guys at my LDS said that if I really want to sell her on buying a reg set, I should let them tell her about the gear that goes through their service department. They mentioned 2nd stages that people have vomited through that still have little bits of "crust", even though they have been washed out. I think if I even mentioned that to her in the context of a rental reg she would be using she might refuse to dive. My LDS also has some Tusa Selene Wing BCs they are blowing out for $220 and she really liked the one she used in training, so I'm planning to get her one of those as an early Christmas present, to take with us. With that and the reg set and DC I'm looking at, she would have a complete setup to use. If she decides she doesn't like diving, I'll still have the reg set/DC to use and can sell her BC for maybe not too bad of a loss. At $220, the loss CAN'T be TOO bad.
So, I stopped by my LDS on the way home last night. I like the guys there and that is where I have been going for my training. And I guess Im pretty lucky because, while they are not LeisurePro, I guess they do a pretty brisk online business and have tons of stock in their warehouse right there at the shop. And they do a lot of buying end-of-season gear in bulk and blowing it out for cheap. They are currently offering the SP MK25/S600 Anniv. Ed. set (i.e. the gold one) for $500.
I stopped in thinking to find out from them what a full setup with a second S600, SPG, etc.. would cost. But, after discussing what kind of diving I want to do (which includes possibly more training in the 50-ish degree or maybe even colder, crappy-water quarry), they suggested that I should consider a SP MK17 for my 1st stage. They said that I wont notice the difference between it and the MK25 and it is actually certified for cold water use plus being fully sealed means its a bit easier maintenance. They said they all use the MK25 and it works fine in the quarry - it's just not actually certified for cold water use. But mainly they emphasized the easier day-to-day maintenance of the MK17. AND, if I want to entertain the MK17, then I should really consider the Tusa R-700 because its exactly the same reg and a bit less expensive, at $250.
They also are blowing out Oceanic Delta 4.1 second stages for $92 each. So, that would yield me a 1st and 2 x 2nd stages for about $430.
Or, I could spend an extra $162 and get the MK25/S600 with a Delta 4.1 octo, but Im not convinced that would be money well spent.
I also talked to them about PDCs. They are happy to sell me anything from a $200 Aeris Manta to a Petrel 2. I was originally thinking of getting a wrist computer partly because I wasnt going to buy a reg set yet just rent. But, after talking to them, they said that every person who works or teaches for the shop dives with an Oceanic console like the Pro Plus 2.1 though many of them use that as their backup and also have a wrist computer. They are offering the Pro Plus Deluxe (i.e. with QD, data cable, and attached compass) for $450.
So, theyve got me seriously considering just going ahead and taking the plunge on a Tusa R-700, 2 x Oceanic Delta 4.1, and Oceanic Pro Plus 2.1 Deluxe. All for around $900 plus a LPI hose. I think that would give me everything I need to go diving except for a BC and a tank.
I had previously thought I would go with a HOG D3/Zenith setup, but when I really got into the details of the pricing and checked with a couple of vendors that are members here on SB, I found that the price for that setup would be even more than this Tusa/Oceanic rig I'm considering. And, while I really do appreciate the vendors that are on here, I really like to support my local dive shops when I can. Not to mention the support I will get from them having bought my gear from them and them being authorized dealers (who buy a lot of stock from some of these manufacturers).
Any thoughts on any of this?
Thanks!
I'm considering buying the following rig (all new, from an authorized dealer): Tusa R-700 1st, 2 x Oceanic Delta 4.1 2nds, Oceanic Pro Plus 2.1 Deluxe (includes QD, data cable, and compass). It would run about $900 plus tax and possibly the cost of a LPI hose.
Thoughts?
Long version:
I have completed OW, Computer Nitrox, and Advanced Buoyancy Control certifications in the last month or so. I plan to dive mostly warm saltwater (FL, Caribbean, etc.). But, I live in Northern VA. My training dives have been/will be in a cold, cloudy quarry.
I thought I would not be able to afford a reg set any time soon but then I got a nice Christmas bonus. Prior to that, I was shopping for just a wrist computer to take with me on an upcoming Caribbean vacation and then rent regs and BC. I know the conventional wisdom on SB is for newbs to rent for a while and try different things. However, I have 2 factors motivating me to go ahead and purchase. One is that I think this rig is a really good price. So good that if I decided to sell it and buy something else later, I probably won't lose a HUGE amount of money. And, really, I figure the PDC will be good to have as a backup, even if I get a Petrel or similar later. And a complete good quality reg set for $450 seems like something I'd probably keep long term anyway, even if it's just as a backup to something else that I buy later.
And the other factor is that my g/f got certified along with me and she is very much on the fence about whether she really wants to Scuba dive or not. She is trying it because she knows I want to do it. And she does love the water and enjoys snorkeling. But, our upcoming trip to the Caribbean is going to be (I think) a make-or-break deal for her. One of the things that happened during our pool and OW checkout dives was that she had some trouble with her reg. The second day in the pool, she switched to her octo because her primary seemed hard to breathe. That may have just been because it was set to Pre-dive and she didn't know enough to switch it to Dive. Or not. I don't know. The point is, I want to do EVERYTHING I can to ensure that her dives on vacation are 100% glitch-free. So, if I go ahead and buy a rig now, I will actually have her use it on our trip and I will use rental gear. The guys at my LDS said that if I really want to sell her on buying a reg set, I should let them tell her about the gear that goes through their service department. They mentioned 2nd stages that people have vomited through that still have little bits of "crust", even though they have been washed out. I think if I even mentioned that to her in the context of a rental reg she would be using she might refuse to dive. My LDS also has some Tusa Selene Wing BCs they are blowing out for $220 and she really liked the one she used in training, so I'm planning to get her one of those as an early Christmas present, to take with us. With that and the reg set and DC I'm looking at, she would have a complete setup to use. If she decides she doesn't like diving, I'll still have the reg set/DC to use and can sell her BC for maybe not too bad of a loss. At $220, the loss CAN'T be TOO bad.
So, I stopped by my LDS on the way home last night. I like the guys there and that is where I have been going for my training. And I guess Im pretty lucky because, while they are not LeisurePro, I guess they do a pretty brisk online business and have tons of stock in their warehouse right there at the shop. And they do a lot of buying end-of-season gear in bulk and blowing it out for cheap. They are currently offering the SP MK25/S600 Anniv. Ed. set (i.e. the gold one) for $500.
I stopped in thinking to find out from them what a full setup with a second S600, SPG, etc.. would cost. But, after discussing what kind of diving I want to do (which includes possibly more training in the 50-ish degree or maybe even colder, crappy-water quarry), they suggested that I should consider a SP MK17 for my 1st stage. They said that I wont notice the difference between it and the MK25 and it is actually certified for cold water use plus being fully sealed means its a bit easier maintenance. They said they all use the MK25 and it works fine in the quarry - it's just not actually certified for cold water use. But mainly they emphasized the easier day-to-day maintenance of the MK17. AND, if I want to entertain the MK17, then I should really consider the Tusa R-700 because its exactly the same reg and a bit less expensive, at $250.
They also are blowing out Oceanic Delta 4.1 second stages for $92 each. So, that would yield me a 1st and 2 x 2nd stages for about $430.
Or, I could spend an extra $162 and get the MK25/S600 with a Delta 4.1 octo, but Im not convinced that would be money well spent.
I also talked to them about PDCs. They are happy to sell me anything from a $200 Aeris Manta to a Petrel 2. I was originally thinking of getting a wrist computer partly because I wasnt going to buy a reg set yet just rent. But, after talking to them, they said that every person who works or teaches for the shop dives with an Oceanic console like the Pro Plus 2.1 though many of them use that as their backup and also have a wrist computer. They are offering the Pro Plus Deluxe (i.e. with QD, data cable, and attached compass) for $450.
So, theyve got me seriously considering just going ahead and taking the plunge on a Tusa R-700, 2 x Oceanic Delta 4.1, and Oceanic Pro Plus 2.1 Deluxe. All for around $900 plus a LPI hose. I think that would give me everything I need to go diving except for a BC and a tank.
I had previously thought I would go with a HOG D3/Zenith setup, but when I really got into the details of the pricing and checked with a couple of vendors that are members here on SB, I found that the price for that setup would be even more than this Tusa/Oceanic rig I'm considering. And, while I really do appreciate the vendors that are on here, I really like to support my local dive shops when I can. Not to mention the support I will get from them having bought my gear from them and them being authorized dealers (who buy a lot of stock from some of these manufacturers).
Any thoughts on any of this?
Thanks!