Rookie Diver from Switzerland

[SvR]

Hello!

I'm David, 34 years old from Zürich and new to the diving community. Currently, I'm finishing up my PADI open water certification with one session remaining. I will probably follow up with the nitrox certfication next.

I plan to go diving frequently here in the lakes of switzerland and in tropical seawaters (holidays in egypt are booked for october).

Therefore, a little help is appreciated in choosing the right diving equipment. I already have fins, a good mask and snorkel and (wet) shoes.

For my course, I have following equipment on loan:

- Mares Abyss 22 (main + octopus), I really like it
- Cressi 7mm wetsuit (too tight in the upper body part, I'd like something different, also I'm a bit overweight)
- Mares Dragonfly jacket, I have slight balancing issues as a beginner and I have trouble handling the weights in water
- Suunto Zoop Novo, going to get something different that is easily readable in murky waters as primary

I looked a bit around and I am thinking about getting the following stuff to start with:

- mares abyss 22 set (already used to it, like it and it has good reviews)
- Scubapro Hydros Pro wingjacket, I hope to have better balance while diving
- maybe an Atomic Aquatics Cobalt 2, I like the concept, but I read many bad reviews
- maybe a Shearwater Perdix AI
- Suunto Zoop CB-2 (console with finimeter and zoop) as backup - or is there something similar that's better/cheaper?
- another wetsuit for lake diving, what brands are more suited to non-athletic people?
- 12 or 15l gas tank - are there any noteable differences between the brands?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Freewillow]

Take your time, rent for awhile and get more experienced . Talk to fellow divers and then you will know better. Do not buy everything at the same time. My priorities would be mask fins protection suit dive computor bcd and then regulator. Hope it helps.

I purchase all of this during a span of several years. For example my BCD and regulators were bought between recue diver and divemaster.

 

[Clark Fletcher]

I think the Zoop CB-2 would serve you well without breaking the bank. As you are going to need a compass at some point, if you do choose the CB-2, you might want to look into adding a compass to the CB-2 console (honestly not completely sure that's an option).

The Cobalt 2 is very nice. However, to me it seems like an awful lot of money to pay for DC that isn't air integrated. Just my opinion. I've also heard that like most LCD displays, the Cobalt 2 is difficult to read in bright sunlight. But, that's second-hand information.

Everyone I've talked to that owes the Perdix AI raves about it. And, I'm told that the display is actually readable in bright sunlight. Again, second-hand information.

Given a choice between the Perdix AI and the Cobalt 2, for me it would be the Perdix.

If you're having balance problems with the Dragonfly, I'm not sure why you think the Scubapro Hydros Pro is going to fix that. If you can't get your balance right with the Dragonfly, you're likely going to have problems with any BCD you try. And, it would be a shame to spent a lot of money on a BCD that gives you even more problems. Try a bunch of different BCDs (if you can) before you buy.

I had trouble with weights in the water at first. And, I'm a bit overweight also. For me, I think it was a matter of being too round and having too much air in the BCD, making the weights difficult to get back in. It just takes more practice and letting a little air out of the BCD when trying to get the weights back in. And, if you have a tendency to run too much air in your BCD, it may be the source of your balance problems.

As far as wetsuits for us "non-athletic" folks, I don't think it's a matter of brands as it is materials. Look for wetsuits that say it's made of "ultra stretch" or "quantum stretch" or "flex" material. A full neoprene suit simply doesn't provide the amount of stretch that WE need.

If you already have a 7mm wetsuit, I'm not sure if you're going to need something more for lake diving. Unless you're really cold-natured. If you do need something more for lake diving, you might eventually need to invest in a drysuit. Until you get some dives under your belt, you aren't really going to know for sure what you need as far as exposure protection. As many articles as there are out there telling you what you should be diving in specific water temperatures, what YOU need is a very individual thing that you have to figure out. It is something that I'm still trying to figure out myself. But, I dove 59°F water in the quarry last weekend in a 3mm wetsuit with a beanie and gloves and was not uncomfortable. No point in spending a lot of money up front on stuff you may not need.

 

[tkaelin]

Gruezi and welcome to SB

 

[SvR]

Thanks guys!

Regarding renting: I'd like to avoid that too much, as it is more expensive to rent longer when I will get the full gear anyway. Also, a trip to egypt is booked for October, and I'd like to go there with stuff I have tested and I know I can rely on. Especially regulators and DC.

I'll try out some BCDs for sure. Just the Hydros Pro made it already to the shortlist. I know I have to train more to get the proper balance, but from my little experience and how I know myself, it would probably be easier with a wing jacket rather than a "regular" one. Which others might be suited?

I will look for "stretch" wetsuits.

 

[Freewillow]

Pretty expensive also to buy the wrong gear . But to see a guy with less than 25 dives, considering the purchase of a Perdrix, you must be a very wealthy swiss .

 

[diversteve]

I'm not commenting on it good or bad but the Hydros is a very new system - I doubt there's even a year of actual use data with it. And it's pretty pricey but the modular aspect does have some appeal. Technically Scubapro doesn't sell junk but we thought that about Mares once till they introduced the short lived Hub some years ago.

A Perdix can be adjusted to be as conservative as a Zoop (Probably..) but I'd guess normally it's less so. So then on a long dive, at depth - which do you trust? (the Zoop for safety) but Suunto's are also known to be among the most conservative computers out of the box and can only be adjusted more constervatively.

If you're serious about a Perdix, I'd look for a more aggressive back-up. You probably could get a pretty close match by adjusting the algorithm on an Oceanic Bud to match - they're designed to clip-off/ride in a pocket. Not air-integrated though. Perdix should be one of the best low-viz models available now - Liquivision seems kaput. I've read here of battery and other issues with the VTX also - IDK if that's still a problem.

If there was a wrist Cobalt, I'd already own one. Gorgeous display and does everything I need. Sadly they've been hinting about it for about 4-5 years now but I have yet to see a working model. IMO possibly the recent Huish Outdoors merger focused them back on regulators instead.

I don't know the Dragonfly but I'm not a fan of jackets - the air moves in most of them making them harder to trim. I've seem a couple with goofy systems to channel the air but that seems like...They're good to float you vertical at the surface but I don't dive there.

Personally I like the Zeagle line, I've owned a Stiletto and now a Ranger for cold use. Lots of weight pocket options, add on pockets, accessories available. I figured out the trim once about a decade ago - I'm best at 70/30 but 60/40 front/rear works also - surprisingly with just about any amount of weight needed.

 

[OMANDIVER]

Hello!

I'm David, 34 years old from Zürich and new to the diving community. Currently, I'm finishing up my PADI open water certification with one session remaining. I will probably follow up with the nitrox certfication next.

I plan to go diving frequently here in the lakes of switzerland and in tropical seawaters (holidays in egypt are booked for october).

Therefore, a little help is appreciated in choosing the right diving equipment. I already have fins, a good mask and snorkel and (wet) shoes.

For my course, I have following equipment on loan:

- Mares Abyss 22 (main + octopus), I really like it
- Cressi 7mm wetsuit (too tight in the upper body part, I'd like something different, also I'm a bit overweight)
- Mares Dragonfly jacket, I have slight balancing issues as a beginner and I have trouble handling the weights in water
- Suunto Zoop Novo, going to get something different that is easily readable in murky waters as primary

I looked a bit around and I am thinking about getting the following stuff to start with:

- mares abyss 22 set (already used to it, like it and it has good reviews)
- Scubapro Hydros Pro wingjacket, I hope to have better balance while diving
- maybe an Atomic Aquatics Cobalt 2, I like the concept, but I read many bad reviews
- maybe a Shearwater Perdix AI
- Suunto Zoop CB-2 (console with finimeter and zoop) as backup - or is there something similar that's better/cheaper?
- another wetsuit for lake diving, what brands are more suited to non-athletic people?
- 12 or 15l gas tank - are there any noteable differences between the brands?

Thanks for your help!

For diving in Swiss lakes you may want to consider a drysuit. You might look at plongee.ch they are by Lake Geneva near Montreux and stock a very wide range of equipment, Salvatore will help you out. They share premises with SF Tech who make high quality drysuits so you could chat to Franz at the same time. Much of the best diving in Swiss lakes is in the winter when the vis is better. Having said that lots of people dive a 7mm wetsuit in the summer and that is a useful one to have anyway. Wetsuit maker doesnt matter, it just has to fit. I think Aqualung do a good 7mm comfort fit, cant remember the name of the model. Perdix will be good in poor light. Many people go for a 15 litre tank (steel) with a Y valve, which is mandatory at many cold water diving facilities. Heavy though on a recreational bcd but lots of people do it. BTS is a good value brand and common in Europe. If you are using the same gear in Switzerland as travelling by air to Egypt you might like to think about the weight compromise you may need to make. Cold water divingvrequires heavier duty equipment. My advice is get off the internet and go and speak to other divers and dive centres doing the same kind of diving as you intend

 

[Freewillow]

For diving in Swiss lakes you may want to consider a drysuit. ......................... Cold water divingvrequires heavier duty equipment. My advice is get off the internet and go and speak to other divers and dive centres doing the same kind of diving as you intend

total agreement

 

[Patoux01]

- mares abyss 22 set (already used to it, like it and it has good reviews)
Why not. There's plenty of people using it around. Have a look at Apeks and Aqualung as well, you might get them cheaper and they're pretty good as well.

- Scubapro Hydros Pro wingjacket, I hope to have better balance while diving
Not a big fan of this kind of gear... I prefer a wing, but if you like it, why not.

- maybe an Atomic Aquatics Cobalt 2, I like the concept, but I read many bad reviews
- maybe a Shearwater Perdix AI
Haven't used any of those. But imo the Perdix is clearly a waste of money unless you can easily afford it... I suspect most people recommending perdix to all beginners do this to help themselves, when the guy stops, there'll be cheap perdix to be had.

- Suunto Zoop CB-2 (console with finimeter and zoop) as backup - or is there something similar that's better/cheaper?
I wouldn't take a console. They plain suck, and you don't need a backup yet imo. Just grab a normal spg.

- another wetsuit for lake diving, what brands are more suited to non-athletic people?
Can't help you there. Only ever dived dry here, Seaskin is on the cheap side, decent quality as long as you don't expect a perfect suit, because they're far from perfect. But do try it on. In the summer, you might be good with a wetsuit. In winter, not so much imo. My instructor used to say "Usually, they'll tell you they're fine with their teeth jumping all over the place from the cold, and then next year they suddenly aren't fine and have bought a drysuit to use year round". Do recall that water gets a bit cold as you drop, eg in the Leman at 20m, you're looking somewhere around 10-15°C at the moment (from what I see online).

- 12 or 15l gas tank - are there any noteable differences between the brands?
Faber tends to be lighter, which I prefer. ECS is heavier, which others prefer. I don't remember exactly on what names the tanks are sold in Switzerland... If it's "Aqualung", "Scubapro" etc, have a look at its characteristics instead and/or ask for the manufacturer (which is never one of those brands).


I don't agree with others saying "get off the internet", people following "what's done locally" leads to inbred (is that a word? But yeah, what I mean. I've seen groups, literally groups, of people who would swear by "pistol lamps", which are imo the worst way the hold a lamp. So I'd say: have a look at what people use, have a look online, and make your choice . Once you bought it, you'll tend to be so biased towards "oh my god my gear is amazing" that it won't matter anymore...


Hope this helps and isn't too late...