Your scuba set-up

[Dive ireland]

Please post your diver set up here, but be sure to state WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!

Also post the advantages and disadvantages of your equipment, this is a thread to help people decide what gear to buy and what gear NOT to buy!! I'm sure alot of people would be grateful for your opinions on this (including myself!) as im sure theres plenty of people who have spent alot on the wrong type of set up.

Please be sure to post what type of climate you dive in too. (i.e. temperate, medditeranean(sp?) etc..)

TIA

Dive Ireland

 

[b1gcountry]

Fred T Long pattern Plate, with an Oxycheq 30# wing. SP Mk17 regs

Fred T Long pattern Plate, with Dive Rite ??# Doubles wing, Sherwood Magnum regs

The Fred T plate is nice, never had complaints. It does seem to have a larger bend than normal. The Oxy wing traps a decent amount of water between the nylon bladder and the urethane wing, but works great in the water, I just need a few seconds to 'drain' on the ladder. The Dive Rite is undersized, but vents nicely. I got it used for $75, just wish it floated my full tanks on the surface with my steel plate.

Regs work fine, no complaints. Neither of them route particularly well.

Tom

 

[Blackwood]

Let's see... primarily, I dive:

Salvo aluminum backplate + PST double HP100s w/Halcyon manifolds, Deep Sea Supply doubles wing (I think it's the LCD50).

I love all of the above equipment. The Halcyon valves could be easier to manipulate (such as the Thermos on my Worthinton X7-100 and aluminum doubles), but that's my only complaint.

I also have a DSS steel plate I use with aluminum doubles or singles (I went to aluminum with the twin steel tanks to alleviate a head-down trim issue). Great craftsmanship. Nice to use two fewer retainers.

All ScubaPro Mk25 first stages, S600 seconds for back gas and R390 for stage/deco (though I'm looking to upgrade to either S600s or G250s). All regs breathe great, but the difference between the 390s and the 600s is very evident.

Currently rockin' a Salvo reg for my Argon bottle. Nice and compact. Breathes great (... just kidding).



I guess I'm primarily semi-cold salt water (high 40s to mid 50s at depth, in °F, pretty much year round)

 

[Air On]

Arizona Diver, warm water so far in Arizona and Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California)

Mask Tulsa Visulator (because it fits)
15 year old Dolfino snorkle (hey it works!)
Pinnacle Elastoprene - 3mm wet suit (When other divers are in 5-7mm) That special wool works!
Deep Sea 5mm dive boots (I'll get Pinnacale next)
IST Jet Fins, old school black fins. (Added some heel springs) Love them!
Seaquest Balance (back float) BC with integrated Air 2 (I like it)
Atomic Aquatics B2 regulator
Suunto Cobra 2 computer on quick disconnect (I use a PC to downlaod it and do my dive logs)

I picked up the 5mm Pinnacle hood in May but only used it once and didn't really need it.
Also have some Pinnacle gloves now but haven't used them yet.

I have the Princton LED shockwave 3 light combo... The ECO flare tank strobe is worthless. Getting a Glo-toob right now.

I did buy an ALUM 80... its what you'll end up with on most dive trips so I wanted to use as consistent as possible equipment. So I can do last minute dives if I want to. Most of the time tanks have been provided on my dive trips.

I keep an orange safety sauasge on my BC, see my Divebuddy.com blog for how i attached it with and ALICE clip. It came with a 2 tone emergency whistle, that on the BC.

I also have a little dive knife that came on the BC as well as some shears.

I purchased the BC large enough that I could used it with a dry suit and it seems to have some possible spots on the back for mounting a pair of tank yokes?

Also I've added a Seaquest DC800 camera to my normal dive kit.

Thats normaly what i take into the water.

 

[avoidthebends]

Zeagle Ranger BC
ScubaPro MK25/X650 regs w/R295 octo
Galileo Sol Computer(awesome)
USIA Drysuit when diving in California's temperate waters

I love all my gear, but certainly see if you can try before you buy to avoid buying something you don't like.

 

[diver 85]

Mine is simple--> Zeagle Scout BC, Al 80s, SP MK10 & G200 regulators, Veo 180 nx computer, 2 or 5 mm wetsuits(depends on water temp) over skins WITH 2 mm chicken vested hood(@ times), Aeris Velocity duo fins, clear plain ole mask(manufacturer unknown), 2 or 5 mm booties, with Q40/C8 LED UK lites, Scuba.com shears, now carrying all the time finger spool and 4' orange safety sausage, AND finally 1.5 mm gloves......use anywhere from 8 to 15 #s of weight(6 in my BC other on a belt)


EDIT: forgot to say I love(like) it all.......water temps anywhere from upper 60's to lower 80's......

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Salvo Supply - 36 lb. Single SS System
http://www.xsscuba.com/mask_merge.html

SALVO SS BP
36# Single 360 AGIR Wing
SALVO SRX Primary reg on 7' hose
SALVO SRS Backup on bungie necklace
MASK XS SCUBA FRAMELESS MA-400

I started with a weight-integrated jacket BC from TUSA. I had issues with air trappage and it was very hard to maintain trim. I had alot of bulk around the sides when you add the pouches and weights. When diving in rough water offshore (5-6'waves), I had a hard time getting all my air out of the BC in order to do a rapid descent. I ended up having to make sure the BC was fully deflated and then jump in the water to get under faster. With my wing, I can release air quickily from either valve. Also, the lower dump valve is on the same side as my inflation/deflation hose. On my BC it was opposite. For me in a crisis, having to remember dump valve on right and hose on left could get confusing. My wing has never "forced me forward" when on the surface and fully inflated is more like a raft. Now from the photographers I have had the pleasure of diving with (using heavy video and large cameras)the jacket BC works better since it supports them at the surface easier than a wing due to the amount of weight they have forward at the surface. The wing tended to force them forward on this account. The best thing is to try them both and be comfortable with what you dive. Also, your equipment choice should accomadate the type of diving you intend on doing.

Good luck and Happy diving!
Carolyn:sharks:

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My gear setup? It depends on what type of dive I'm doing, and I feel like "wearing" ... I've got more choices in my dive locker than I have in my clothes closet ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ruready7]

Oceanic Delta 4 reg...no problems at all with it
Oceanic Excursion BCD...very comfort and adjustable...plenty of D-rings for hanging gear
Oceanic Slimline Octo with mag holder....great magnetic holder...havent lost it yet...lol
Pinnacle Fusion 5/4 Merino lined wetsuit.....keep me toasty with hood and gloves in 56 degree water...

Dive in water varying from 56 degrees upwards.

 

[Nemrod]

Freedom Plate mated to optional Oxy 18/30 or SeaTec horsecollar BC
USD Phoenix Royal Aqua Master w/Conshelf second or Aqua Lung Titan LX
Scuba Pro Super Jets or Voit UDTs
Scuba Pro B&G SeaVue SPG
Tekna knife
WetWear Rubatex G231-N suit
Scuba Pro 0-500 foot helium depth guage, DOXA watch

or

Voit Snug Pack, no stink'n BC
Voit Navy twin hose
Voit Super Viking A66 fins
Voit "big" knife
SeaVue B&G SPG
Parkaways sharskin Rubatex suit
Voit 0-250 Professional depth guage

or

Sea Hunt USD blue cloth harness, no stink'n BC
USD custon built Royal Aqua Master twin hose
Nemrod Super A Professional fins
USD SPG on stainless banjo
USD Sea Hawk or Vulcan knife
bathing suit, rash guard, no stink'n wetsuit
USD 0-150 oil filled depth guage for my shallow dives

Favorite accessory, Boston Whaler Outrage 190

Your results may vary

N