Those of you with two or more..

[911Diver]

Those of you with two or more sets of BC's/Regs/.. equipment in general. I have a question.

What is your reason/motive for keeping extra?

I will be getting a second BC this summer and I am trying to decide whether or not I should keep the old one. I also now have two regs now (though I let a new diver use until he can pick his own up) and I am trying to decide if it is beneficial to keep both. I assume it is a good idea to always have a back up, but I do not bring both with me on dive trips so that kind of doesnt work...

Does my question make sense?

Any and all thoughts are welcome..

Thanks in advance for your comments..

 

[tc_rain]

I am in the same boat (so to speak) as you but decided to keep the extras as back-up. I have a vest type BC that I paid close to 500 for but later got a BP/W. If I tried selling the BC I would not be able to get half of what I paid and it is in like new condition. I figured I would keep it as a back-up for me and my friends rather then just give it away to a stranger.

 

[do it easy]

I have 8 regs, 2 BPs and 1 BC.

Most of the regs are set up for tech diving- left post/right post, deco/stage regs, argon reg. One of the regs is set up for straight up OW dives- I use it on maybe one recreational trip a year or in the pool.

Likewise for the BPs and BC. I mostly use the aluminum BP with doubles, but I have a steel BP for single tanks. Oddly enough, I don't have a single tank wing??? I use the BC for the pool or when I go on warm water vacations.

None of this stuff is "extra" in the sense that it's a spare or backup. It all has a specific use and purpose.

 

[911Diver]

So based on your post, it is smart to hold on to the gear you accumulate over the years to modify as your certification level increases. That makes sense and it is not a bad idea. Assuming that the gear can be modified of course.

Thanks!

I have 8 regs, 2 BPs and 1 BC.

Most of the regs are set up for tech diving- left post/right post, deco/stage regs, argon reg. One of the regs is set up for straight up OW dives- I use it on maybe one recreational trip a year or in the pool.

Likewise for the BPs and BC. I mostly use the aluminum BP with doubles, but I have a steel BP for single tanks. Oddly enough, I don't have a single tank wing??? I use the BC for the pool or when I go on warm water vacations.

None of this stuff is "extra" in the sense that it's a spare or backup. It all has a specific use and purpose.

 

[do it easy]

So based on your post, it is smart to hold on to the gear you accumulate over the years to modify as your certification level increases. That makes sense and it is not a bad idea. Assuming that the gear can be modified of course.

Thanks!

I think it makes the most sense to determine where you want your diving to go, and then buy that gear. Of course, no one can predict the future. I never thought that underwater photography would thrill me until my brother gave me his old camera.

When I bought my first set of tanks, I got a pair of aluminum tanks, knowing that I would eventually use them as deco bottles. They just came back from their first hydro and I'm going to O2 clean them tonight!

I also have some gear that I rarely use now- 7mm wetsuit, dive computer, etc. It was cost effective at the time and it got me in the water, but I rarely use them- even less often than the once a year regulator! The 7mm wetsuit was good for recreational diving around here, but as soon as I started diving into deeper, more refreshing water, I needed a drysuit. The drysuit would have been too expensive when I was just starting out, so the 7mm wetsuit was the compromise.

 

[metaldector]

There is only more stuff!. I've BP/ & wings for doubles, different wing for Single tanks, and a Zeagle for recreational diving. Regs for Doubles, w/long hose for cave diving, O2 cleaned reg for my Oxygen bottle, another 2 regs for stage bottles, and a yoke reg for recreational boat diving and travel. Could I sell some of this stuff? Yes, but then I'd have to break down regulators and reconfigure them for different uses. Now I just pick up the reg I need and go. The Zeagle I rarely use and I'm thinking of adding a butt plate and converting it to a sidemount BC. Now lets not start talking about tanks or HID lights!

 

[jimdiverman]

I have 5 regs, 5 tanks, 4 BCs, 4 sets of fins, 3 sets of booties, 3 wetsuits, etc. This is stuff that I have collected for one reason or another over the years. I no longer use some of the BCs, booties and fins, and probably need to sell them off while they still have some value.

 

[Charlie99]

I have two complete sets of gear, except for reg set and prescription mask, and am putting together a third set of gear.

I leave one set in a winter home. As far as is possible, I have duplicated items so both sets of gear are identical.

I'm working on putting together a third set to leave at a summer home, and have recently bought a pair of old USD Blades fins off another SB'er since I'm trying to make the third set a clone of the others.

 

[911Diver]

I think it makes the most sense to determine where you want your diving to go, and then buy that gear. Of course, no one can predict the future.

Yeah I guess that makes the most sense. But as of now I really am not sure where my diving will take me. I know once I am done with graduate school I am planning on exploding my diving life.. so we will see then and until then I will keep what I get my hands on!

Thanks for your input!

That goes to everyone who has commented! I appreciate it!

 

[dpbishop]

I do a dive trip on my own boat most years. It's good to have back up in case something breaks when there's no shop around. I usually take an extra reg, bc, fins, boots, mask, gloves, weight belt & anything else I can fit in the bag.