What did you buy that you regret?

[Hoosier]

Actually the same thing can happen if they freak out and drop their weight belt. It's designed to be dropped easily in case of emergency. I've seen weight belts dropped on boats by accident as well if it is not done up properly.

Yes, I agree that it isn't a matter of weight integrated design. Even, Halcyon makes the integrated weight system, ACB. I am wondering if Zeagle one only use the velcro instead of 2inch buckle? I had two SP BCDs and Halcyon ACB, but I didn't have any problem.

 

[peterbkk]

This whole discussion started when someone accidentally pulled his integrated weight release on a dive boat. Thankfully, it was on the boat, so there was not an accident. However, this got us all into a discussion about what would happen if an inexperienced diver freaked out underwater due to lack of air -- and pulled his weight release. This kicked off a long discussion of pros & cons of integrated weights.

My husband now wears a weight belt, as do I. It just seems like less can go wrong.

Many years ago, one of my OW students panicked at 15 meters and for some unknown reason grabbed at my weight-belt buckle and accidently opened it. I was using my hands to try to calm him so the weight-belt fell away. Now I was 25lbs buoyant. Took some fancy maneuvering and some upside down finning to stop both of us from Polarising to the surface. After that experience, I bought a belt with a more secure buckle.

But then integrated weights came along and I have not worn a weight-belt since. I would argue that the integrated weights are safer, at least the ScubaPro ones, because they require a positive action to release them and once released will drop away clearly. Many times I saw dive students doing practice diver rescues, release the weight-belt only to have it tangle around the "victims" leg or hook on his ankle knife.

Regards
Peter

 

[naui 15694]

Over the years I bought a scooter for moving sand while fossil hunting. Draging it around is more trouble than it is worth. I also bought a pulse 8x metal detector. It works great but just sits there. I dive 3 times a week, but the detector and scooter just sit in my garage collecting dust.

 

[rmannix]

Clear (later brown) silicone masks, but black silicone wasn't as available when I got these.
Tekna gauges
Oceanic DataMax console with digital dive timer (80's)
Scubapro Double BLUE BC. They stopped making these pretty quick, but were the first ones in anything other than orange. Faded rapidly and seams fell apart.
Ikelite Digital Dive watch/dive log
Sony Marine Pack Video Housing and lights
Suunto SME dive computer for my first wife. Never again a computer that I can't replace batteries myself.
Scubapro Classic Plus BC for myself. Great jacket but still a jacket.
Aqua Lung Wave BC for my wife, used in class but replaced with my old Black Diamond back BC. Perfect for her.

Overall there's a lot more gear I parted with that I should have kept. Sold almost all of my first set of gear when my 1st car was stolen. Gave some nice stuff to friends that needed it.

 

[midwestdvr]

I guess I've been lucky that I haven't bought anything that I've ended up regretting later on. Even though I've replaced my BC and fins, my old ones were perfect to my type of diving at that time and really served me well. The only thing I can come close to categorizing as regretful was the Genesis kit with the retractors, light, and knife. But even that wasn't a complete waste as I've found the knife quite useful.

 

[gratefuljames]

I never really buy anything, thus, no regrets. Wait! I bought this little light once, and carried it around for 3 years until it finally broke, never having used it once. All the rest of my gear whether I bought it or whatever, is minimal, and I use every piece of it. I bartered for this motorized golf-bag cart thing once - that was hilarious - and the thing hardly worked, and I gave it to a friend, because I sucked at golf anyway, and that's what I regret buying, golf clubs and all that happy crap that goes with that. On the weight-integrated thing, I go 1/2 and 1/2 - in belt and in BCD - this serves several purposes, not the least of which is safety, and the fact that if I ever had to drop me weights (which is doubtful, since I only use 8-10 lbs. with a full 3/2 wetsuit anyway), I could do so 1/2 at a time...

 

[Bbarnes]

The big black pelican bag. The thing is huge and heavy. I think you would have to pay overage at the airport for it EMPTY, let alone with a set or two of gear. Besides, I bloodied my knuckles every time I opened the stupid latches! It basically serves as a trunk in the bottom of our 'dive closet' now.
We bought $99 wheeled Tusa backpacks from Diver's Direct and couldn't be happier.

 

[Thumper517]

This TUSA snorkle is very uncomfortable when it is in my mouth.

Don't know what the problem is, but I suspect it is defective.

Check the picture. eyebrow

 

[Bobbin-along]

Snorkle- I have always hated them, don't know why, but last weekend hubby took it off my mask and threw it on the dock. He made the comment, why drag it around if you never use it? and shook his head. I didn't even miss it....

7mm 2 piece wetsuit- What the heck? wetsuit diving in the PNW isn't for me, but it wasn't for the obvious reason. The suit was plenty warm. It turned out the bulkiness of all that foam, the tight feeling on land, the annoyance of having to get into it, the cold/wet/salty post dive feeling were the problems. Dry suits rock. Anyone want to buy a wetsuit worn 8 times and never peed in?

A brand of gloves on recommendation of the LDS. The neoprene was way too stiff, the gauntlets were way too long, and the plastic coating on the inside was an absolute @#$%&* to try and get wet hands into. I finally went out and bought a pair of soft, flexible, 5mm neoprene gloves and now I can put my gloves on by myself! Of course the gauntlets still got cut down.

The hood that the dive shop picked out for me. I felt like I was choking, he claimed it was just the newness of how close the hood had to fit. No amount of stretching helped. I conceeded to the feeling for life, until we got the dry suit hoods. Wow, you don't have to feel asphyxiated to dive!

Everything else we bought a year ago has been a keeper. We dive pretty much every Wednesday and of course every weekend in some form or fashion and if all that has been changed is clothing affiliated then life is good. Sure we are new divers and as our diving changes so may our gear. That's something we are ok with. But nothing lumps my grits like buying gear that just doesn't work the way you wanted it to.

 

[Brandon]

Ooooh... speaking of snorkels.

I bought one of those huge Oceanmaster dry snorkels.

Hate it.. .thing is HUGE. Don't wear it anymore.

-Brandon.