I am new to diving. Just about certified. I've been going to my local shop here on Long Island. He's been very helpful and his prices are good, he's even beaten leisure Pro without any bargaining. He is a Scuba Pro dealer. When you mention that brand in other shops, the most common reaction is "you lke to spend money". I know Scubapo is expensive but is it really good stuff? Naturally, my dive shop swears by it and I own some of it and it seems good. Other competitors who are not Scubapro dealers have other things to say. Any opinions?
leadweight
February 14th, 2003, 10:29 AM
we have two of them around here. BC's are well constructed, but some feel that other brands give a bit more in features.
WreckWriter
February 14th, 2003, 10:31 AM
Scubapro is excellent equipment. Far superior to most other lines.
WW
HNITSUJ
February 14th, 2003, 10:37 AM
That maes me feel a bit better. I have spent alot of money on Scubapro equipment. I trust my dive shope, I've known him for a while. They seem to completely back thei eqpment if bough from a dealer, and so far, wat I have used works very well.
TCDiver1
February 14th, 2003, 10:39 AM
Agree with WW. IMO ScubaPro has the best overall line of gear, top to bottom, of any single manufacturer.
You also getting excellent pricing if the LDS is matching LPs price since ScubaPro stuff can get pricey.
One other thing, if an LDS is knocking something they don't sell, don't be surprised, many of them will diss the competitors lines, in an attempt to sell you the line they do sell.
Crispy
February 14th, 2003, 11:16 AM
Welcome to the sport, I too am new to diving, my local dealer is a SP dealer . I looked all around prior to buying equipment and even his competitors said the only reson they don't carry SP is because there was already a SP dealer for the area. During my searching I really didn't find anyone with a serious gripe about SP other than it's $$. Top of the Line equipment usually costs more.
I may not have always been happy with my choices but I've always been happy with my SP equipment. (if that makes sense?).
hope this helps,
and again welcome to the board, there are a lot of really nice people around with excellent advice for us beginers.
-Crispy
MikeFerrara
February 14th, 2003, 11:17 AM
gedunk once bubbled...
Agree with WW. IMO ScubaPro has the best overall line of gear, top to bottom, of any single manufacturer.
You also getting excellent pricing if the LDS is matching LPs price since ScubaPro stuff can get pricey.
One other thing, if an LDS is knocking something they don't sell, don't be surprised, many of them will diss the competitors lines, in an attempt to sell you the line they do sell.
And then again some diss the lines they don't sell because they don't like them which may be why they don't sell them. Who said the chicken came first?
I hate SP because I have tried to do business with them but that doesn't change the fact that I have seen a bunch of divers cussing their regs for free flowing in cold water.
Had a guy in the other night with his SP regs in a bucket wanting to buy my old Sherwood rentals because the SP regs won't hold air long enough to let him finish mapping the cave he's working on. I will add that I don't know why the SP's are leaking and SP won't let me service them so it isn't likely I'll find out.
There you go another LDS dissing a brand he doesn't sell. I'm glad I didn't sell these regs though cause this guy is pissed!
WreckWriter
February 14th, 2003, 11:29 AM
buy Sherwood instead. I think K-Mart sells it too.
WW
metridium
February 14th, 2003, 11:38 AM
One equipment service problem aside, I can't say I have any complaints about the quality of my SP gear.
OTOH, the pricing is ridiculous, as others have noted. SP recently announced price reductions, though, and SP gear is available online at even better prices. As usual, be aware of potential warranty problems for items like regs and BCs. I can't imagine anyone being concerned about warranty issues on items like masks, though.
There seems to be consensus that Apeks regs are equivalent to SP's, based on user experience, but for a better price.
Of course, I don't recommend SP BCs, but that's a discussion for a different thread.
;)
TCDiver1
February 14th, 2003, 11:47 AM
MikeFerrara once bubbled...
And then again some diss the lines they don't sell because they don't like them which may be why they don't sell them. Who said the chicken came first?
I hate SP because I have tried to do business with them but that doesn't change the fact that I have seen a bunch of divers cussing their regs for free flowing in cold water.
Had a guy in the other night with his SP regs in a bucket wanting to buy my old Sherwood rentals because the SP regs won't hold air long enough to let him finish mapping the cave he's working on. I will add that I don't know why the SP's are leaking and SP won't let me service them so it isn't likely I'll find out.
There you go another LDS dissing a brand he doesn't sell. I'm glad I didn't sell these regs though cause this guy is pissed! Morning Mike!
Being in business myself, i've always thought more good came from emphasizing the positives of what i do sell, not the negatives (true or not) of what i don't sell. I have seen LDS owners, time and time again, diss products just because they don't sell them. No logic behind the dissing at all. Never said you did that Mike but don't defend people who do. They are out there.
I'm not suggesting you recommend something that doesn't work in a specific situation. I agree that SP regs, in general, do not perform as well as some other choices in cold water. I particularly don't like the Air-2 as i have seen countless free-flows from those things in cold water.
What i said was, i thought SP was an excellent choice from top to bottom, eg, masks, suites, regs, BCs, fins, etc. That was not intended to mean everything they sell, fits every application. IMO few single manufacturers can match the combined quality and selection of the entire SP line. None of that has anything to do with how they chose to do business with their reps.
Oh and by the way, i don't own or dive any SP gear. Opinion is based on diving with a lot of other people who do own SP gear and one LDS's that i teach for who has all SP for their rental gear. IMO, it is good quality stuff.
TCDiver1
February 14th, 2003, 11:51 AM
WreckWriter once bubbled...
buy Sherwood instead. I think K-Mart sells it too.
WW LOL!
Speaking of that and dissing, one dive store owner i know loves to call Sherwood the "K-mart of the dive industry." I always tease him back with, hey K-mart sells some good stuff you know!:tease:
MikeFerrara
February 14th, 2003, 12:34 PM
WreckWriter once bubbled...
buy Sherwood instead. I think K-Mart sells it too.
WW
Mr. WW sir, I'll have you know that the K-Mart/Sherwood brand by far outperformed the SP brand in actual field trials conducted by the previously mentioned sump/cave diver in the harsh and unforgiving conditions of Kentucky sumps. LOL
JeffAustin
February 14th, 2003, 12:42 PM
I would say that Scubapros line up of equipment is of excellent quality, but if you look around, you will see that there are some other companies making great gear,also. Apeks regulators, Halcyon BP& Wings,etc... It boils down to what you feel comfortable with, and the type of diving you plan to do. Oh, but do buy some Scubapro Jetfins, they're old school, but they rock! If you can, check out a couple shops before you blindly accept what your LDS says. Knowledge is power. Hey, what's K marts price on Sherwood stuff when the blue light is on??
WreckWriter
February 14th, 2003, 12:56 PM
MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Mr. WW sir, I'll have you know that the K-Mart/Sherwood brand by far outperformed the SP brand in actual field trials conducted by the previously mentioned sump/cave diver in the harsh and unforgiving conditions of Kentucky sumps. LOL
Then by all means, that's what he should use! I don't suppose I'd perform very well in a Kentucky sump either!
Sherwood regs are damn near bulletproof, I'll admit that.
WW
Big-t-2538
February 14th, 2003, 01:09 PM
All of our 22 regs are sherwood magnums...exact same set-up for every student. They are also the ones that they use on check-out dives in OH. The only time we've had a free-flow with these regs is in NOV when two students were diving at Gilboa in order to get the advanced certs so they could take the master class in the spring......the kid who had a free-flow had purchased his own Scuba-pro reg and had an attitude problem. He freaked and (from what I understand) bolted to the surface from 60 feet. The other student and (now non-associated with us) Instructor who were using the school's regs were fine, and they calmly surfaced to find out what the probelm was.....this kid was a putz...and is one of theose people that was "paying" for his "certifications".
cstreu1026
February 14th, 2003, 01:40 PM
I bought a scubapro Mk25/S600 and so far I am happy. The local scubapro dealer was very upfront about his feeling on his regs and what others carry. His opinion was that if you are going to spend big money then scubapro is where it is at, though he also seems to have a good opinion of hte Aqua Lung legend. However, he also stated that if don't want to spend big money then there are far better regs than what SP offers at lower price points, such as the Aqua Lung Titan LX he carries for the mid price range. Another point of interest was that he though if you were going to buy a titanium reg then you should go find someone who carries Atomic regs because the Mk25T/S600T isn't as nice as say a T1x despite being similarly priced. He also mentioned that he had thought about carrying the Atomic regs but he doesn't care for the local sales rep.
As far as the SP bc's go I am not all that impressed. I looked at several and so did my fiance and neither of us cared for any. For the price there are nicer BC's for the same money.
MikeFerrara
February 14th, 2003, 01:48 PM
gedunk once bubbled...
Morning Mike!
Being in business myself, i've always thought more good came from emphasizing the positives of what i do sell, not the negatives (true or not) of what i don't sell. I have seen LDS owners, time and time again, diss products just because they don't sell them. No logic behind the dissing at all. Never said you did that Mike but don't defend people who do. They are out there.
Morning back at ya,
I knew what you meant. I just couldn't help it cause it's it's friday I guess. I tell people I diss SP because the rep is a jerk...still LOL
Any idiot can build a good reg. The real test is having to deal with the parasite...oops I mean sales rep. We need to start a LDS poll to see who holds the record for tossing the most reps out of their shop.
Manufacturers with usefull reps...There is....and then there is....Oh and...got to get me one of those jobs.
cstreu1026 and others, I'm sure your SP stuff will work just fine even if I don't like the rep.
TCDiver1
February 14th, 2003, 02:03 PM
MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Morning back at ya,
I knew what you meant. I just couldn't help it cause it's it's friday I guess. I tell people I diss SP because the rep is a jerk...still LOL
Any idiot can build a good reg. The real test is having to deal with the parasite...oops I mean sales rep. We need to start a LDS poll to see who holds the record for tossing the most reps out of their shop.
Manufacturers with usefull reps...There is....and then there is....Oh and...got to get me one of those jobs.
cstreu1026 and others, I'm sure your SP stuff will work just fine even if I don't like the rep. Funny, i've heard the same thing about the SP rep in these parts. Could it be the same dude?
HNITSUJ
February 14th, 2003, 02:06 PM
DID'NT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO A SMALL WAR. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME PR'S AND CONS TO IT.
JUSTIN
madmole
February 14th, 2003, 02:07 PM
Diver, Rodales, Dive all have done Reg tests recently. The ScubaPro's have all done VERY well on these tests
Over here in rainland its 2C - 5C at present in the querries. last weekend I took 10 divers on an advanced nitrox class with mainly Scubapro, Posiedon, Apeks regs. Only one free flowed
I was not suprised as to which one, It was the Apeks TX50 (old style). Over the years I've been teaching in cold water I would say that Spirotechnique and Apeks were the worst offenders on the bubble front.
But its not really the particular makes that are to blame, individual regs get treated differently have different service histories and delivery air differently. You can set up any reg so it WONT free flow, but can you breathe easily off it afterwards
WreckWriter
February 14th, 2003, 02:10 PM
HNITSUJ once bubbled...
DID'NT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO A SMALL WAR. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME PR'S AND CONS TO IT.
JUSTIN
This is just how we discuss things. If you want to see a war check the "France" thread :)
WW
MikeFerrara
February 14th, 2003, 02:21 PM
put em uuuup......put em uuuuuuuuuup
Big-t-2538
February 14th, 2003, 03:07 PM
WreckWriter once bubbled...
This is just how we discuss things. If you want to see a war check the "France" thread :)
WW
HA HA HA...that's funny...I never got to finish what I wanted to write yesterday in the thread we hi-jacked......
I wanted to say you sold the boat, but kept the anchor...but damn puter died at work...by the time I got home and got back on-line....it wasn;t near as funny
ElectricZombie
February 19th, 2003, 01:01 AM
HNITSUJ once bubbled...
I am new to diving. Just about certified. I've been going to my local shop here on Long Island. He's been very helpful and his prices are good, he's even beaten leisure Pro without any bargaining. He is a Scuba Pro dealer. When you mention that brand in other shops, the most common reaction is "you lke to spend money". I know Scubapo is expensive but is it really good stuff? Naturally, my dive shop swears by it and I own some of it and it seems good. Other competitors who are not Scubapro dealers have other things to say. Any opinions?
In my opinion, their regs are the best around. Really great regs. I am also fond of their Jet Fins and Frameless masks. Their BCs do not impress me but, I am biased towards the BP&W.
Munin
February 19th, 2003, 01:10 AM
I have seen a good number of SP regs with piston o-ring failures. I just switched to my Apeks after seeing the last one. Sealed is the way to go, IMO.
I haven't seen any jet fins fail yet, though.:D
ElectricZombie
February 19th, 2003, 01:45 AM
Munin once bubbled...
I have seen a good number of SP regs with piston o-ring failures.
I can almost guarantee that this is the work of a technician who has no clue on how to service a SP. They are easy to screw up if the technican does not know exactly what he is doing. If they do it properly, SP regs are bullet proof.
madmole
February 19th, 2003, 04:54 AM
Funny, I work occasionally in a Dive shop in London and have serviced thousands of regs. Never seen a piston O ring go on a Scubapro yet!!! A couple bought back for free flowing
In the shop the Apeks have a reputation for being the free flow kings, But I still rate them highly
Personally most problems I've seen with any make of reg is just after they are serviced and the O rings and seals bed in initially. I personally believe that you can over service them and personally just clean and inspect mine regularly. I replace stuff when it shows any sign of wear rather than cos a year is up. I've never had a free flow in nearly 3000 dives in the UK many in winter. I also prefer the breathing characteristics of most regs when the High Pressure seats have a little wear ring bedded in
And I have seen the straps break and the metal clips strighten on Jet fins!!! (I've had 2 pairs go this way myself before I replaced the straps with Bungie (Much better than springs)
Ari
February 19th, 2003, 05:15 AM
But anyway, ScubaPro make some of the best gear in diving. Their Regs are highly rated and rightfully so. The rest of their equipment is also top of the line stuff.
And yes, It does come with a price.
By the way, if your guy is able to beat LP on SP prices, go for it.
Ari :)
ZoCrowes255
February 19th, 2003, 11:48 AM
MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Morning back at ya,
I knew what you meant. I just couldn't help it cause it's it's friday I guess. I tell people I diss SP because the rep is a jerk...still LOL
We must deal with the same guy since we live in the same area. He is a jerk and at the shop I work for the feeling is that we were a Scubapro shop long before he started and we will be one long after he is gone.
scubaredneck
February 25th, 2003, 04:19 PM
I use a ScubaPro Classic BCD and really like it. However, it has an SP AirII in it that I hate and will probably replace. (Anyone wanna buy it? ;))
Bottom line, you gotta try some stuff and decide what you like and then go with that. The most important thing is feeling comfortable in the water with your gear. So long as you're comfortable and the gear is well mantained, you'll be fine.
My $.02
StilettoDriver
February 25th, 2003, 09:38 PM
Yes, ScubaPro equipment is awsome gear. Thats all you'll find in my bag! Knighthawk B/C, Mk25/G250HP, AirII, Crystal View mask, TwinJet fins, and even the dive skin. ScubaPro has the best warrenty in the business. They even pay for the parts!
You can't go wrong when you buy the best!!!
Tony
Newdawne1196
October 10th, 2005, 08:40 AM
I used to hate scubapro....untill I really tried them out...now my main life support gear is nothing but scubapro...good equipment...service...and warranty...and not all dive shops are ALLOWED...by Scubapro ...to sell their gear...Good Luck
