Hey Steel95s:
I'm sure that was a typo about "LSD" helping me out, right? But, on the other hand, I've been places my local dive-store never ever thought of taking me (sounds of 'Steppenwolf' playing in the background).
You called it a Nitek model-3, what's model 1 and 2? Is there such a thing? I didn't know what I was looking for, and the pawn-guy didn't know what it was, so we agreed on $250 for it. Come battery-replacemnt time, I think it becomes a nice paperweight.
My local LDS has been very helpful for a lot of the other gear, but I can't take the computer to them. What is the big deal about buying scuba-gear other than at a store? Has the www started selling airfills yet? I looked at buying a compressor, and I can spend a long time in a store before they can top $3-4 big ones! Whos going to do my servicing? And answer my stupid questions? And book my trips? And help me with choosing more classes (or are they on www too?). I may buy a few things from a mail-order outlet somewhere, but you can bet your dive bootys that this chicken-diver buys from someone i (or my estate attourney) can see face-to-face when it brakes. Except for the nitek, and we've been over that one.
I had also asked about other gear, and started reading about the bundgee wing bcd. Please enlighten me on the controversy about them. I get the impression they are a love-hate thing, but are either version dangerous?