gear review

[trig009]

i have been looking online for about a month now getting as much info as i can and looking at gear to start diving. i am currently deployed so that is about all i can do at the moment. i go on mid tour leave soon and have ordered my gear based on what i have look at. if it isn't too much trouble could you look at it and let me know what you think?

so i guess i have to have 5 posts before i can have the links in here, that sucks. i would like to meet the person who made them make that rule

BC
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Comp
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Reg
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Oct
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Watch
MILITARY WATCH COMPANY

this is what i have ordered so far. as for the basic equipment, i am waiting till i get home to make sure i have the best fit. that reminds me about something. while looking at wetsuits i noticed the sizing on most and think i may have an issue since my chest will fit a large, but my waist is in the med size. what would you choose, a loose waist or a tight chest fit?

 

[diver 86]

I'm new to diving so won't offer an "expert" opinion on your gear. Just wanted to say THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

 

[Hatul]

i have been looking online for about a month now getting as much info as i can and looking at gear to start diving. i am currently deployed so that is about all i can do at the moment. i go on mid tour leave soon and have ordered my gear based on what i have look at. if it isn't too much trouble could you look at it and let me know what you think?

so i guess i have to have 5 posts before i can have the links in here, that sucks. i would like to meet the person who made them make that rule

BC
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Comp
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Reg
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Oct
Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!

Watch
MILITARY WATCH COMPANY

this is what i have ordered so far. as for the basic equipment, i am waiting till i get home to make sure i have the best fit. that reminds me about something. while looking at wetsuits i noticed the sizing on most and think i may have an issue since my chest will fit a large, but my waist is in the med size. what would you choose, a loose waist or a tight chest fit?

As far as the wet suit goes, you just have to try it in a fitting room. It should fit without gaps between you and the suit and yet not feel too restrictive. I would not buy a wet suit online unless you've tried it and know it fits.

Personally I take my watch off when I dive and just use a computer. If you're short on money, I'd skip the watch and just buy a computer.

Adam

 

[trig009]

i am not really short on money and i have already ordered everything that i have a link to on here. as far as the dive computer i didn't want to spend the money on a Suunto D9 wrist computer until i get back from this tour and can enjoy it. tho i haven't dived yet i know i will have the watch on even if i have the Suunto, because the chances of a tough simple dive watch failing under water is min and will be a secondary safety precaution.

 

[oldschool]

I currently dive with a Sherwood Avid BC that I bought 2004 and have been very happy with it. It utilizes the same integrated weight system as yours which is very secure but very easy to release if necessary. My backup reg is a Sherwood Magnum that I purchased new in 1989. It is solid and still breaths as easy as the day I got it. I'm certain you'll be quite pleased with your selections. Sherwood is top notch gear. God bless and thanks for your service to our country.

 

[trig009]

i am glad to hear that sherwood is good from someone who has it. when i was looking online it was hard to tell if it was people from the company making all the posts that praised them, since there was next to nothing bad about them. the thought of spending 500 to 600 dollars to get starter gear only to spend 2 grand to get good gear later didn't appeal to me.

can't wait to get home and try everything out. all i have left is my wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, gloves, booties, and tank

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I think that over time you will see the value in keeping your octo and power inflater as separate entities. Air sharing is easier and probably safer if you have a high quality, standalone second stage as your octo. You may also want to investigate the benefits of a long hose reg setup.

Also, in terms of simplicity, prior to your scuba purchase, I would have advised you to get a brass and glass SPG, a simple non-air integrated wrist-mount dive computer with a gauge mode setting, and a wrist-mount Suunto SK7 compass.

While the Suunto D9 is probably a very capable computer, its bells and whistles certainly aren't necessary. In the future, you may want to consider adjusting your gear-buying attitude to a "less is more" type of thinking. FWIW, scuba manufacturers use a lot of marketing BS...be wary of it.

From a scuba perspective, the dive watch that you linked to looks waaaaay overpriced in my opinion. I would have advised you to get a relatively inexpensive Casio G-Shock as a backup timing device.

I'm sure that the Sherwood gear will serve you well. Hopefully you won't have any problems getting the Sherwood regs serviced in your area.

The reality of the situation is that you will probably be upgrading to "better" or more optimal gear in the future. It's inevitable (if you continue on with the sport). Enjoy your new dive gear. Have fun out there...

 

[Hatul]

I think that over time you will see the value in keeping your octo and power inflater as separate entities. Air sharing is easier and probably safer if you have a high quality, standalone second stage as your octo. You may also want to investigate the benefits of a long hose reg setup.

Also, in terms of simplicity, prior to your scuba purchase, I would have advised you to get a brass and glass SPG, a simple non-air integrated wrist-mount dive computer with a gauge mode setting, and a wrist-mount Suunto SK7 compass.

While the Suunto D9 is probably a very capable computer, its bells and whistles certainly aren't necessary. In the future, you may want to consider adjusting your gear-buying attitude to a "less is more" type of thinking. FWIW, scuba manufacturers use a lot of marketing BS...be wary of it.

From a scuba perspective, the dive watch that you linked to looks waaaaay overpriced in my opinion. I would have advised you to get a relatively inexpensive Casio G-Shock as a backup timing device.

I'm sure that the Sherwood gear will serve you well. Hopefully you won't have any problems getting the Sherwood regs serviced in your area.

The reality of the situation is that you will probably be upgrading to "better" or more optimal gear in the future. It's inevitable (if you continue on with the sport). Enjoy your new dive gear. Have fun out there...

I second the recommendation of the G shock. It's a great watch both under and above water. I use it for swimming. But as I mentioned I've never found a need for a watch when diving. I have taken the G shock when diving, but never used it. I don't need to know what time it is, and the less gear underwater the better.

The watch you ordered costs about $472 and for this price you can get a decent dive computer (such as the Suunto Vyper from LeisurePro.com ) plus the Casio G shock. The web site allows returns and a watch is easy to return. Just my 2 cents.

Adam

 

[Hatul]

i am glad to hear that sherwood is good from someone who has it. when i was looking online it was hard to tell if it was people from the company making all the posts that praised them, since there was next to nothing bad about them. the thought of spending 500 to 600 dollars to get starter gear only to spend 2 grand to get good gear later didn't appeal to me.

can't wait to get home and try everything out. all i have left is my wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, gloves, booties, and tank

For tank I'd recommend skipping my mistake of diving for years with Aluminum 80, I'd get the high-pressure Worthington 100 steel, which is what I use now.

Adam

 

[trig009]

thank you all for the info. i will have to look into a simpler diver computer as you suggested, i was just going to get the D9 because i really want to get into more advanced dive types and it looked like it would be able to handle any dive type i could think of doing.

as far as the dive watch. i ordered that one because of the toughness of it. i won't just be using it for dives. i have destroyed 3 watches in 6 months over here (one was left on an explosive shot by mistake ) i think it would take me a while to destroy this one, so i look at it like an investment.

thank you for the suggestion on the tank. i was wondering about buoyancy, someone else suggested steel 80 because it has a - buoyancy, so less weights. does anyone have a good source for buoyancy, so i can at least have a good base to help my learning curve?