Prioritizing gear

[koozemani]

So, that's my take on things. Of course, I own all my own gear and haul it everywhere. Who needs clothes on a dive trip, anyway?

I've been trying to convince the gf of that. Granted her clothes take up a lot less room than mine do, but she compensates by packing twice as many.

[Scuba_Noob]

I based my buying priority on cost saved per dive in rental gear (not necessarily the best method). And then I prioritized based on comfort and safety. Also, factor in the variable of finding deals (a lot of my stuff was based on jumping on deals I saw on sites like Craigslist).

Thus, I got my my reg/octo set and BCD first - save $40/trip. Also, it allowed me to get used to my own regs/BCD and know them thoroughly. I got my drysuit next (a wetsuit for you, probably) - save $40/trip. Then mask/fins/snorkel and weights. Then the compass/knife and other safety tools. Then tanks when I saw deals. Camera last after I was comfortable with my buoyancy. Now after buying an air card (one year), every shore dive is free.

Like I said, not necessarily the best method, as I did not research some buys thoroughly. I am happy with almost all of my gear, though. I did replace my fins, and I will eventually replace my BCD. However, the thought of spending $90 per dive trip on rentals was enough motivation to quickly get my own gear.

[DivemasterDennis]

Based on OP's numbers, the purchases, in my humble (yet correct) opinion should be in this order:
4-6-5-3-8-7-12-11-9-10-1. Cosmographer can line up all the responses and find where there is consensus up through the first few items at least. Buy those first, then assume everything else is more personal preference than professional guidance.
DivemasterDennis

[Cosmographer]

Thanks to everyone so far for the good advice. It seems like the general consensus is to start with mask/snorkel/fins etc. so I'll do that. Regarding everything else, there seems to be some disagreement, so I may use the cost/savings approach mentioned and choose follow-up purchases based on finances (things that can be had for a great deal or things that will save me the most money in terms of rentals). DivemasterDennis, I am a bit surprised that you place safety/signal devices so low on the list relative to others. Would you mind sharing your reasons for that? After reading the first few posts, I was going to re-prioritize those devices, so I'd be interested to hear contrary arguments.

[dv]

I would agree for the most part with TSandM. I am taking a similar approach as she describes, and I still do not have all my gear, but I am close.

The first piece of equipment was the mask. Critical for me because I wear prescription lenses though. Being able to see is important. I ended up getting the snorkel and fins too in a package.

Then I bought a dive computer when my OW class had finished. It's a great safety tool.

I rented equipment all last year, and only bought 2 more things: a compass, and gloves. I really encourage you to rent gear from different locations and try different configurations. I did that, and discovered a few things that I know made my next purchases easy to decide. For instance, I realized that I wanted a back-inflate BCD vs a jacket style BCD. I also realized I wanted to skip the wetsuit and go right into a drysuit. I tried a few different brands of regulators and found out I really like the HOG ones.

Next for me was exposure protection. This year I bought a drysuit/undergarments, and the hood. I also think a knife and a light are important at this point, so I got those too.

I wanted to get a regulator next, but I ended up skipping it, because I found a great deal on a BCD.

Now it's just the regulator and the tank. That will probably be next year's purchase, because my budget for this year is gone!

I also still want a GoPro video camera, but I put this really low on my list. My crappy buoyancy would make for a really bad video anyway.

[eternaljonah]

mask and computer. mask because its fun to see well and computer because every one always has their own dive profile and i don't like bubbles in the blood.

[buddhasummer]

Camera equipment last. I would buy mask and wetsuit first for reasons others have already mentioned. I am a odd small size so for me boots, gloves and fins next. Safety gear would be next on my list. A computer 3rd as its nice to have all info in one place, ascent rate, N2 loading etc, especially if doing multiple dives. Regulator next as I have no idea how well maintained hire gear is. All the rest of the gear in no particular order. A bag is nice because carrying all items in your hands to dive site is difficult. I too own all my own gear and take it everywhere I go. I love owning all my own gear, it's what I like, well maintained by me, and enables me to dive more often. I have bought most gear several times but bar wanting an OLED computer I think my set up is as perfect for me as it can get. I'd buy a light before the camera too.

[AaronRiot]

I'm pretty new too, I was lucky enough to be able to take care of all my initial OW gear in one shot aside from the mask fins and snorkel that were required for my OW course. I was going to get a camera because I too would like to take pics/video of my explorations. After reading a number of threads here on SB I've decided against it even though I feel quite comfortable in the water and can afford one. I would rather take the time to become a master with my buoyancy control etc. and know my gear like the back of my hand before adding an additional task. For both my safety and the preservation of the environment I'm so interested in photographing. Worst thing I can think of is getting over confident, getting close, and breaking something 10x my age. That would be a split second tragedy. Or looking in the viewfinder a few extra seconds and losing the group and my buddy (not to mention all my redundant air!).

I did however come up with a compromise! I am positive that on most dives I will find myself in a group. Many of whom will be toting along cameras. So I'm bringing my email address, and, a big jumpdrive (if we're at the same resort chances are they might share the pics with me there, and maybe a drink too). I also see it as a good way to make some new friends

That's just me though. I like to take things slow, one step at a time. It's like guitar, the song won't sound good unless you've mastered all the chords right?

If I were to do it again,

1.Mask fins snorkel
2.Your main system - reg/bc/comp
3.The suit(s)
4.Lights, reel, smb, cutting tool

Good luck!

[diverrex]

I'd take into consideration where you will be diving, the typical water temp, typical type of dives and how you get there. If you need to fly everywhere to dive I'd consider leaving bulky and heavy items like BC's and fins to later. If you dive in current good fins are important but for typical leisure diving I could dive in about in any rental fin and be fine. I love my BP/W but as long as a BC inflates and deflates I am fine to dive in it. I'm only willing to dive with high quality ops anyhow so they also usually have good rental gear. Look into where you think you may be diving, they may not let you wear gloves, despite your protests some places won't let you wear them unless you have a doctors note of why medically you need to. I never wear gloves in warm water. My priority list would be something like:

1. Mask - cheap and small to carry. You don't want a leaky uncomfortable mask.
2. Computer - when do very multilevel dives without a computer you end up doing trust me dives with whoever has a computer.
3. Safety equipment - knive/shears, whistle/mirror and SMB. All small and relatively low cost. Having said that during typical easy vacation dives I often don't take those items on the dive.
4. Either a reg or wetsuit. Having a reg that breathes well and you trust is important. If you dive in 80F+ any rental wetsuit should do. If below 80F then you may want a good one that fits well.

I always haul all my gear around but when I consider going far and then maybe only doing a day of diving at that location I'd take mask, computer, reg and wetsuit only and leave the rest behind, renting a bc and fins.

You don't want to pee in your wetsuit but would rather in a rental? Would you rather be wearing a wetsuit someone else peed in? Seriously how well do you think they wash out those rental wetsuits? They slosh them around in a tank with other wetsuits peed in by other people. Peed in or not I always take my wetsuit back to my lodging and give it a good washing in the shower, plus I like to dry it out good for the next day's dive, something that doesn't always happen with rentals.

[buddhasummer]

I'd take into consideration where you will be diving, the typical water temp, typical type of dives and how you get there. If you need to fly everywhere to dive I'd consider leaving bulky and heavy items like BC's and fins to later. If you dive in current good fins are important but for typical leisure diving I could dive in about in any rental fin and be fine. I love my BP/W but as long as a BC inflates and deflates I am fine to dive in it. I'm only willing to dive with high quality ops anyhow so they also usually have good rental gear. Look into where you think you may be diving, they may not let you wear gloves, despite your protests some places won't let you wear them unless you have a doctors note of why medically you need to. I never wear gloves in warm water. My priority list would be something like:

1. Mask - cheap and small to carry. You don't want a leaky uncomfortable mask.
2. Computer - when do very multilevel dives without a computer you end up doing trust me dives with whoever has a computer.
3. Safety equipment - knive/shears, whistle/mirror and SMB. All small and relatively low cost. Having said that during typical easy vacation dives I often don't take those items on the dive.
4. Either a reg or wetsuit. Having a reg that breathes well and you trust is important. If you dive in 80F+ any rental wetsuit should do. If below 80F then you may want a good one that fits well.

I always haul all my gear around but when I consider going far and then maybe only doing a day of diving at that location I'd take mask, computer, reg and wetsuit only and leave the rest behind, renting a bc and fins.

You don't want to pee in your wetsuit but would rather in a rental? Would you rather be wearing a wetsuit someone else peed in? Seriously how well do you think they wash out those rental wetsuits? They slosh them around in a tank with other wetsuits peed in by other people Peed in or not I always take my wetsuit back to my lodging and give it a good washing in the shower, plus I like to dry it out good for the next day's dive, something that doesn't always happen with rentals.

+1, I don't rent suits, a peed in wetsuit smells rank. I never pee in my wetsuit, and agree putting on yesterdays wet wetsuit is not fun especially if the weather is chilly.