tarponchik
Contributor
After we realized we'll dive more than 25 dives/year on average.
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Wow thanks for all of these replies. It was fun to read through all of this and everyone's experiences. So I seem to not be alone in just wanting to buy my own gear immediately lol!
I'm in the DC Metro area and we don't really have too many places around here to buy dive stuff. I have found 2 shops that I've been to when shopping for my wetsuit. And it seemed that most stores carry specific brands and if you want to try out certain brands, then you have to find a shop that sells that brand.
At the point I am at now, I really don't even know the difference between much of this equipment. For BCD's I know that some have weight integrated systems, some don't. Some are lighter than others, have more pockets, etc. Other than that stuff, and fit obviously, what else is there to look for in BCD's? As for "travel" BCD's, is the primary difference just the overall bulk/weight of the BCD? I liked the one I used when I did my first 3 OW dives but I don't remember what it was or anything.
As for regulators, if I get into purchasing one of those, I have no clue what to look for lol. And how do you go about testing them out if you are in a place like I am where you can't just go into water and test them out?
As for regulators, if I get into purchasing one of those
There is no right answer, and there is no wrong answer, but for each person there is an answer that is better than the others.
Go check out Alec Peirce's "Scuba Tech Tips" on YouTube. He answers a lot of questions about gear.