What do you think of my gear??

Ok so i am asking for all of these things for Christmas! I wont be getting them all but the rest I will purchase sometime before the summer. I have done a lot of research on what to get and I think I have picked out my perfect set up. Let me know what you think!

I have been certified 2 years and been on about 15 dives. I am planning 2 more trips in the spring and summer and want to have my own stuff.

I have a wetsuit mask and boots already but everything else I need.

BCD: Aqualung Soul i3

Regs: Aqualung Titan LX

Computer: Suunto Viper Air with transmitter. (right now the transmitter is free with the comp!)

Fins: Atomic Aquatics Splitfins

So do you like my choices? Will these last me a while? I didnt want to go cheap and I want things that I wont "outgrow" as I get more into diving.

I could see you outgrowing 80% of that gear in the next 15 dives depending on how serious you are about diving. Here's a link to an slightly dated book that still has a lot of traction in today's diving. If anything, learn why some gear is important, some is marketing hype, and others invaluable. Along with that is a mentality that some divers share when doing team diving.

http://aquaborn.net/viktor/forum/DIR_JJ_Eng.pdf

---------- Post added December 19th, 2013 at 01:05 AM ----------

Btw, a lot of the gear mentioned in the book can be purchased new (depending on manufacturer) for far less than the items you have listed.

It's fine.

Just go diving, have fun doing it, and keep learning.

Likewise - the gear you have listed is sound.

By all means read the DIR book, but if you are mainly going to be a vacation diver with a couple of dive trips a year remaining in a configuration similar to the one you have trained in will work fine for you.

I did similar when I first started diving, bought a BC, regulator, Dive computer and (atomic splits) fins. Since then I have invested in enough gear to open my own shop, but still go back to the original BC on a fairly regular basis when I just want to dive single cylinder back mount.

Buy sensibly and maintain your dive gear and it will last you a long time and give you many safe dives. Then in time when you know where you want your diving to develop you can adapt or replace your kit as needed and your requirements change. Regulators can always be switched to different hoses and so on later if you want a longer hose, and fins are fins! they won't change. You will get many who will tell you splits are better, or they are the worse thing ever invented, but that is up to your personal choice and what works for you.

Whatever you do, see if you can have a try dive in the BC, or at the very least try it for size and fit before you buy. The biggest thing that will make you want to change it is if it is not a good fit and you can't reach pockets, and so on. So take your time over making the decisions and don't be too influenced by 'brand' or 'style' there is no catwalk under the water and a comfortable, safe dive is what counts.

Have fun and dive safe - Phil.

What color is the wetsuit, the flippers, the BCD?

The snorkel?

Doc:

What color is the wetsuit, the flippers, the BCD?

The snorkel?

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Seriously?? What on earth has this got to do with anything?
She asks a perfectly good question, has done research on her own and personally I think this warrants a relevant answer.

Now... Back to Ops topic.

I have no experience with the BC or the regs, so cannot speak for them. As one of the others over here said, if you have to opportunity to try it on before you purchase, than by all means do that. A jacket (Wether back inflate or traditional style) will have a different feel under water than over water. (BPW also... ) The advantage of a BPW is that you can adjust the fit more closely. However, the back draw, is that it might require a little more time to get it to sit just right (Unless you go with Halcyons Cinch.. which is ridiculusly overpriced...)

What I would recommend for you would depend on where you want to go "when you get more into diving".
If you are going to do _more_ diving in general. At home.. maybe take more classes, possibly sniffing the option of doing tech?
Then I would say that you most definitely will outgrow your current gear choice, and that you might want to reconsider.
If you are going to continue as you do now, maybe dive a bit more, but definitively not do any tech diving... Then you have (Based on what I have read. I have not tried the gear) chosen good quality brands, and with some care can have this gear for as long as you want to yourself. (Ie. Get bored, wants something new and shiny )

The computer is a good choice. It is basic, yet has air/nitrox and the option of a gaugemode, so it would not get obsolete even in tech classes. (I used my Vyper in a GUE Tech 1). As long as you keep a backup SPG on your regs, get the air integration, and have fun!

The fins are where I would really tell you to try them on first. I had these for about 90 dives. The are ridiculusly long. For me (And I am 5'11) they were absolutely impossible to dive in trim with. Now, I am very partial, and love my Scubapro Jets. I still dont nessesarily think they are the right choice for you, but look into some non-splits. They will give you just as much pleasure diving, and can be quite a lot cheaper!

never ask for opinions on gear on this site. You'll get a million different answers, depending on the perspective of the poster. (1) Never skimp on quality to save a $, (2) If it works properly for your style of diving (3) Never hurts to be 'distinctively fashionable' in your color choices

So long as it works and you're happy with it, it's all good

Congratulations on your first set of gear. The gear you picked looks good if that's what you like and want. The only thing I'd be hesitant on is the BC with that power inflator that AL came up with. Since they are the only ones who have it, rebuild kits might be a little more expensive than a normal one. It merely comes down to personal preference. You will be the one diving it and if your happy that's all that matters. Congrats again on the equipment, now get out and enjoy it!

BeccaBug:

So do you like my choices? Will these last me a while? I didnt want to go cheap and I want things that I wont "outgrow" as I get more into diving.

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They wouldn't be my choice, but my diving is quite specialist.

It's hard to predict whether you'd "outgrow" that equipment, without some clear idea of how you wanted your diving to "grow". For general recreational diving, they are quite sufficient.

You've done research, so I assume the budget is to your liking and the functionality pleases you.

IMO, the Titan LX regulator is all most divers will ever need and is a great choice. The AL I3 system is not a new one, in fact this type of system was all the rage in Europe about 5 years ago. I personally do not like the I3, but any AquaLung BC is a good choice. No worry about getting anything AquaLung serviced, parts are always available and warranty is best of all major brands. Suunto is a AquaLung brand so same applies. I do not think much of Atomic split fins for several reasons first is lack of power, second is price. Any conventional fin like AquaLung, Tusa, Cressi, would be fine and a better choice. Good Luck with your new gear!