dieswaytoofast:
Well, took the plunge (heh), and actually went out and splurged on my own equipment - mainly regs and bcd. I'm not going diving for another month, but the stuff shows up tomorrow. What should I do with it?
a) Take it down to the LDS and have 'em look it over? (kind of like when one buys a used car, and takes it down to the local garage)
b) Just wait till I get down to Playa del Carmen, and do the same with the dive operator there?
c) Some third option involving me?
I know, kind of a dumb question, but I truly have no idea....
Cheers
Not a dumb question at all... based on my personal experience, here are my recommendations: When I bought my first set of regs, I was surprised to find the various parts needed to be put assembled (octopus and spg needed to be attached to the first stage, for example). And when I bought my latest BCD, I spent a fair amount of time making use of the different options for a good fit.
First things to do:
1) Open the boxes and see what you've got; arrange to get the regulator set assembled if necessary.
2) Put on your BCD and make it fit right. Lots of them (especially women's models) have different ways of adjusting the cumberbund, shoulder straps, and so on, and the little owner's manual doesn't always spell out how exactly these adjustments can be made. Sometimes you'll have to peek into the various folds and overlapping parts to figure out how to shorten or lengthen the cumberbund, for instance.
3) Play with the release clips to make sure you know how they open, and practice threading the tank band into the buckle so you can do it yourself in case it comes unthreaded (this somehow used to happen to me when I was a new diver).
Next go try it out in a pool:
4) Decide if you like your weights integrated (if that's an option) or if you prefer to use a weight belt instead.
5) See if you've adjusted the cumberbund to a comfortable length, and make sure the whole rig is snug so that it doesn't slip around you, making you tip to one side while you swim (turn a bit sideways to test this). Remember that your body will compress a bit as you get deeper, and the BCD will feel a little looser as you descend.
6) Get used to how the air travels around through the bladder, especially if your new BCD is the hybrid kind with a semi-wing and you've been diving with a traditional jacket-style.
For what it's worth :05: