What did you buy that you regret?

[ba_hiker]

A jacket BC, about 20 years ago. I know. I learned to dive with an at-pac (still have it, but wont dive with it...) and should have known better...

A sherwood bc inflator/alternate regulator. Well I got it with a first stage (scubapro mk 10) that I wanted for a stage bottle reg. The whole setup was cheap enough to ignore the sherwood stuff. But now I can't even give it away.

 

[Ardy]

I bought a US Divers BC in 1989 and it nearly killed me. The wire in the dump valve was not stainless and rusted through within 2 years. On a dive to 35 metres the wire broke and the fill valve jammed open at the same time filling the BC with air at 25 metres and shooting me to the surface. I managed to get to the safety dump valve (not easy) and pulled the fill valve phsically apart from the tube.

Stupidly I decided to continue the dive and swam down to 35 metres where my (unknown) buddies were looking at me with that 'what the hell happened to you' look. I pointed to my BC and gave it the sign of 'stuffed' and one of them in a fit of inspiration jammed it all together and pushed the fill valve again and I was on my way to the surface again.

 

[greatlakeswreckdiver]

My wasted money was on a 7mm wetsuit. Idea of diving is to have a good time and see what is under water. Took two buddies to get the darn thing on me and then I was so warn out I just wanted to get back out of it... Yes, it was the right size, but that is a lot of neoprene to get into. I found a Bare CD3 drysuit for sale on SB and am MUCH happier (although still in the learning curve for a drysuit...)

 

[CatBlue]

My wasted money was on a Zeagle Zena BCD and a Suunto Cobra 2 Dive computer (I paid $504 and $850, resp.). The LDS (Beware of them: Empire Divers, NY, NY) insisted the Zena in medium would fit, but it did not (a regular men's ScubPro BC in small fit much better). Also the dive computer was not as convenient as a watch style and ended up being much more equipment than I needed. The LDS oversold me on both and charged me very high prices as well.

 

[IceIce]

So far I only have one set of equipment and there is nothing that I regret buying.
Even my Air2, like it and it's practical. The only tedious thing when sharing air that is the one I would use and give up my primary to my buddy.
For everything, I will continue to use the same set until it gives up on me.

Ah..I have one major thing.
Wetsuit without zipper.
I always had premonition that I was going to get caught dead trying to wear it or gasping for air with hand stretched trying to loosen the neck line, or at least, passed out.

Never will I wear it again.

 

[ScubaSteve]

My wasted money was on a Zeagle Zena BCD and a Suunto Cobra 2 Dive computer (I paid $504 and $850, resp.). The LDS (Beware of them: Empire Divers, NY, NY) insisted the Zena in medium would fit, but it did not (a regular men's ScubPro BC in small fit much better). Also the dive computer was not as convenient as a watch style and ended up being much more equipment than I needed. The LDS oversold me on both and charged me very high prices as well.

You should take a look at this. Maybe there is a way of getting rid of the Zeagle Zena....or maybe not. Just a thought.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/gear-equipment-classifieds/271257-wtb-zeagle-zena-medium-black.html

 

[MMM]

LIving on dial-up, I'm not going to read through all 71 pages dating back to 2005 so this may be repetitive.

I don't have too many regrets but one that stands out would be buying a computer that was nitrox capable. It wasn't too far into its use that I figured I needed to get nitrox certified. Plan for the future.

And I don't think I've ever used the dive skin I bought in Florida. I get too cold too quickly. Which leads to another "bad" purchase. I bought a BARE hooded-vest. Too hard to get in and out of. Replaced it with a Henderson Hyperstretch. MUCH better!

 

[mikemill]

Mine is not so much what but where. I bought a set of fins from Scuba.com and paid for 3 day shipping. Ordered it on 1/24 with a delivery date of 1/28. Later that day (1/24) I get an email saying the item was back ordered and they expected to get it in 2/3 with a delivery date of 2/6 (Ok not what I really wanted but fine [I really wanted to try them out last weekend]). Well yesterday (2/3) I get an email saying that the item is back ordered and they should get it 2/9 for a 2/11 delivery date.

I wouldn't be annoyed if they had said the item was on back order on the website when I placed the order.

Well as long as they get here before my 2/15 boat dive. :grumble:

 

[hudson]

scuba.com is pretty bad. They have a nice looking website but the service really sucks. Stick with scubatoys (for whatever you can find there), then check with other merchants that frequent here and leisurepro.

I didn't buy a high $ item that I regret, but all kinds of plastic lanyards, clips, retractors, QDs what-have-you are completely worthless compared to the simple SS or even brass snapbolt.

I guess I somewhat regret the purchase of my split fins.. they were decent, but too long for tight maneuvers and it was impossible to get off-the-shelf spring straps on them. My HP80 was also pretty worthless when you factored in the less than spectacular HP fills you get in most places.

 

[frozen newbie]

THANKS so much for this thread! I have been saving money to buy a regulator/computer set up and the LDS has been really pushing the integrated console even thought I feel more comfortable with the wrist mounted computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!