What should I buy next?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

+1 for the computer. There is a learning curve on every computer and they tend to work slightly different. It is nice to have a stable, consistent instrument since they are your depth gauge, timer and NDL calculator. You can save money on rental cost since computers are often charged as a separate item in the rental rather than part of a kit (it does depend on the shop).. If you choose to travel and rent, you have less to carry.

Buying a BCD does not save rental money in many locations since they rent the whole kit for a discount. Most work about the same. I would only by a BCD first if you have a non-standard body shape and find renting one sized properly is hard.

 

[Nemrod]

Go on line to scubatoys and you might find, if you don't go deluxe on every item, that you can get all of your equipment. Scubatoys has closeouts frequently on items that normally sell for hundreds more.

You know, there is this thing, especially on regulators to buy the most expensive, there are very few bad regs made today, get the cheap model and dive the c---p out of it and then keep it for a back up down the road.

N

 

[GeorgeC]

Plenty of good advice above. I always think about safety and comfort when diving. I would purchase a new regulator and computer first. If you can’t afford both at the same time then go for the new regulator. The one thing to consider is can you dive comfortably with a great working dry regulator and a bottom timer/tables. You won’t dive comfortably with a leaking/hard to breath rental regulator and your new computer. For the most part you won’t know about the difficulties of the rental regulator until you are underwater. The breathing quality of a regulator cannot be determined on the surface. You need to breathe the regulator underwater. (You can check it on the surface and you should as you were taught in your pre-dive check)

Several posts advocate buying the BC as your next piece of gear touting the fit as a comfort. I agree it should be comfortable. However, given the choice I would rather have a poorly fitting rental BC over a poor rental regulator. If the BC were to catastrophically fail you should be able to swim to the surface with properly balanced weight. (Not saying failure is the norm. just thinking what if's)

Spend as much as you can afford on good equipment that can be used now and several years from now growing with you along the way.

 

[greylion]

I agree with buying a computer first and a reg at the same time if you can afford it? If not, then buy a wrist mount computer so you can use it easily with rental equipment. It's always fun shopping for new equipment, enjoy it.

 

[langperf]

I'd say the reg set up first, about the 3rd rental reg I got breathed real heavy. I told the equipment guy about it when I got back and he said ..yeah some breathe like that ( I thought to my self yeah my ass, not one I'm breathing out of is) I got a nice reasonably priced adjustable one. What a pleasure that is to breathe out of. DC second

 

[JamesDixon]

Sounds to me it is not an equiptment question but a budjet question. Good equipment in my life is a must have. Lugging around my own equiptment is not a hassel. I just take very few cloths. If my buget could only stand one thing now I would go with the regs with an inexpensive console type computor. I personally use a wrist mounted computor for comfort. Also A rescue course will help you to understand the importance of good well fitting Gear. Scuba is not a inexpensive sport so treat yourself good and buy your own gear and have alot more fun.

 

[keithdiver]

What is your Budget, is the first thing you want to come up with. Then youwant to facytor in your trips, are they going to be expensicve, or all inclusive. Aree you going to be doing a lot of diving in NewJersey , which has awesome wrecks or in the caribbean. LOL

 

[Firewalker]

I would buy a regulator setup, a good one, from a brick and mortar LDS. I would buy a Scubapro(MK25-600 or MK25-G250 are good) or an Apeks both are made buy a regulator company, and are state of the art.
Why buy a regulator?
1. Ease of breathing (as a retired store owner and reg. tech, I know there is a big difference in how they breath, how they are made, and what it takes to service them). Most rental departments have the bottom of line in there rentals, some have great service and some are full of sand. Most will not breath even close to a top end Scubapro or Apeks. If they don’t breath good you are working harder and your air consumption go’s up and your bottom time is decreased.
2. Where has it been? You don’t want to rental a regulator for the same reason you don’t want to rent a wet suit. How well was it cleaned after the last usage, when was the mouth piece last changed (are there tears in it, if you peal back most mouthpieces, I bet you will see black mold under it). As a repair tech I have opened up thousands of regulators, and found vomit, black widow spiders, sand (lots of sand), rusted springs, broken purge values the list go’s on and on. You want your own regulator.
3. Easy to carry on. I carry my regulator on the plane, this is not a problem.
One more thought, the best computer is the one between your ears, you should be planning your dive, a dive computer is to help you plan, it is not the plan.
PS Atomic makes a great regulator to.
Firewalker

 

[ding dang]

let's be real... the only reason you would need a computer is if you're planning your own dives, going and doing your own thing... you have few dives, and the divemasters on the boats will be watching you very closely. there is absolutely no need to wear a computer on a guided trip, because there will ALWAYS be someone who chugs air faster than you do, rendering your computer's features basically useless.

thus, i would buy a reg setup, like everything you need, and then a nice reg bag to carry on the airlines. done deal.

 

[DiveNav]

Since you are quite new at diving I would say get yourself a NICE BCD and then practice with it to master what I think is one of the most important skill in scuba diving: perfect buoyancy !

Alberto (aka eDiver)