About to be fitted for tank/ow dives

[MattAO]

So I had a few questions as I go Friday to the LDS to be fitted for rental gear for my check out dives.

1. Aside from Fins,Snorkel, Mask is there any piece I really should just have as apposed to rent?

2. In reading seems everyone likes BP/W over jackets. I plan to travel and dive a lot so lower weight and space are a huge winner. Can I do my check out dives with a BP/W or must I use a jacket?

Thanks!

 

[rhwestfall]

Can you? Sure. Should you be changing things up at your checkout dives? I'd recommend against it. I had my daughter use the shop's gear through class (let the chlorine eat away their stuff), and figured it best to have her do the same for open water dives as she knew the gear. The only thing I supplied her with out of our equipment was one of our tanks (steel).

Keep it as you are familiar with...

Oh, and good luck!

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'd recommend using exactly in open water what you used in confined water. You learn to dive in confined water, and you simply verify in open water. The instructor provides feedback on correcting any issues with performing skills, trim., buoyancy, weighting, etc..

 

[MattAO]

Can you? Sure. Should you be changing things up at your checkout dives? I'd recommend against it. I had my daughter use the shop's gear through class (let the chlorine eat away their stuff), and figured it best to have her do the same for open water dives as she knew the gear. The only thing I supplied her with out of our equipment was one of our tanks (steel).

Keep it as you are familiar with...

Oh, and good luck!

Thanks.

The using a BP/W was my eventual plans after cert. Main reason I was thinking to use them for those dives is just that familiarity. I did't want to use the jacket for dives for cert and then swap to BP/W after I'm done and a thousand miles from home.

 

[formernuke]

Stay with what you have been using for OW. Get your bow and ask about going diving. Often instructors just love to dive and will be a buddy (I had one tell me he teaches to find buddies) do some low key diving learning your new equipment.

 

[MattAO]

Stay with what you have been using for OW. Get your bow and ask about going diving. Often instructors just love to dive and will be a buddy (I had one tell me he teaches to find buddies) do some low key diving learning your new equipment.

Lol, that's the thing. I have not used anything as of yet. I go in Friday to be fitted up for the pool and tank dives. I do truly like the idea of diving with the instructor thank for that.

I appreciate all the advice. Very new still just did the PADI online course thus far. Doing lots of research still.

 

[flyboy08]

I bought my gear at initial check and the cost of the class was credited back to the cost of full setup...I’d ask for same. Can’t hurt?

 

[jlcnuke]

Lol, that's the thing. I have not used anything as of yet. I go in Friday to be fitted up for the pool and tank dives. I do truly like the idea of diving with the instructor thank for that.

I appreciate all the advice. Very new still just did the PADI online course thus far. Doing lots of research still.

Don and doff in a BP/W is slightly different/more complicated in a BP/W than what they'll plan to put you in. It's also different than what you'll see the other students doing. That said, if you plan on diving BP/W, and the shop can support it, I'd mention that to them and see if they'll let you use one for the class. It's good to train in one setup, and even better if it matches what you'll be using or else you may end up having to teach yourself how to do things "a bit different" than you originally learned. It's not hard, but it's different.

 

[formernuke]

I agree if you haven't gotten in water yet, get the bpw and ask the shop to do all your in water with it. If your getting from them they should be able to do that and you learn with what you're going to be using later.

 

[MattAO]

Don and doff in a BP/W is slightly different/more complicated in a BP/W than what they'll plan to put you in. It's also different than what you'll see the other students doing. That said, if you plan on diving BP/W, and the shop can support it, I'd mention that to them and see if they'll let you use one for the class. It's good to train in one setup, and even better if it matches what you'll be using or else you may end up having to teach yourself how to do things "a bit different" than you originally learned. It's not hard, but it's different.

Thanks, that is what I was trying to figure out. I will ask at the LDS. He mentioned to me when we talked if I needed anything special or different the fitting was when to talk about it so he could order it. I didn't want to be a thousand miles from home learning a new kit.

Thanks so much

I bought my gear at initial check and the cost of the class was credited back to the cost of full setup...I’d ask for same. Can’t hurt?

I will ask about that as well. Would be a great way to save some cash.