freewillie
Contributor
1+ on the BCD. Depending on type and body size, renting can be hit or miss. I dive a back inflate and would never go back to jacket style which is what you would expect for rental. It is also a personal fit item, and once you find one that fits well it's more comfortable and to me makes the diving experience more enjoyable. Finding rental BCD that fits well can be hit or miss depending on size and brand since cuts and sizes vary by design and maker.
Most people here on SB would disagree, as previous posters have indicated regs are life support and those would be your most important item. That depends on how well you take care of your own gear. If you clean and rinse your reg properly after each use, store in appropriate place until next use, and service at recommended intervals I can't argue. However, if you dive infrequently, a personal regulator that hasn't been serviced properly may be more dangerous than a well maintained rental reg from a reputable dive operation.
Hadn't really thought of a dive computer, but having your own personal computer makes a lot of sense. Wrist models especially watch type are small. Watch type could then double as topside watch during vacation as well. I bought a dive computer next after my BC when I had a computer problems with a rental computer. I didn't turn it on prior to dive and it wouldn't reset in the water. The dive shop I usually rent from normally keeps their computers on water activation. I know it was my fault, but I found an inexpensive used one online after that. I now dive with that as my primary computer and the one that comes with the rentals as a backup.
Another time I rented gear from a different shop. I actually had the guy go through how to activate the computer and set to water activation for me. Then during the dive the computer was reading meters instead of feet. I would have found this really annoying but since I was diving with my own didn't really matter and I had my own that dive. Also, buttons will vary and it is always nice to dive with something that you are already familiar with, instead of trying to figure out what button does what. You're supposed to be looking at the fish during the dive, not figure out your computer.
Welcom back to scuba.
Most people here on SB would disagree, as previous posters have indicated regs are life support and those would be your most important item. That depends on how well you take care of your own gear. If you clean and rinse your reg properly after each use, store in appropriate place until next use, and service at recommended intervals I can't argue. However, if you dive infrequently, a personal regulator that hasn't been serviced properly may be more dangerous than a well maintained rental reg from a reputable dive operation.
Hadn't really thought of a dive computer, but having your own personal computer makes a lot of sense. Wrist models especially watch type are small. Watch type could then double as topside watch during vacation as well. I bought a dive computer next after my BC when I had a computer problems with a rental computer. I didn't turn it on prior to dive and it wouldn't reset in the water. The dive shop I usually rent from normally keeps their computers on water activation. I know it was my fault, but I found an inexpensive used one online after that. I now dive with that as my primary computer and the one that comes with the rentals as a backup.
Another time I rented gear from a different shop. I actually had the guy go through how to activate the computer and set to water activation for me. Then during the dive the computer was reading meters instead of feet. I would have found this really annoying but since I was diving with my own didn't really matter and I had my own that dive. Also, buttons will vary and it is always nice to dive with something that you are already familiar with, instead of trying to figure out what button does what. You're supposed to be looking at the fish during the dive, not figure out your computer.
Welcom back to scuba.
