May I ask what you are paying for that gear? Here's my guess. $617 for the BCD, $729 for the mk25/r600, $159 for the r295 and you are probably getting a SPG/Depth gauge console that's probably around $150. That's around $1655 plus tax. Your LDS might be giving you a 10% discount which makes it $1489 plus tax.
Is that about right?
Somewhere around there, yes. I have had this money earmarked for scuba gear for quite some time now. I'm aware this isn't the cheapest sport and have done some considerable research around this.
What if I told you that if I was your mentor I could put you in gear that's every bit as good, very well situated for cold water off shore wreck diving and is used by tech divers at 300' with no problems for $800? ( Hint, I'm wearing it in my profile pic and the vendors are in my signature line. )
If you told me this, I would listen. However, the gear I bought was recommended by several experienced divers, some who were and some who were not affiliated with my LDS or any SP dealer. This is the gear they dive with, doing the same diving I intend to do. I don't plan on going into tech diving anytime soon, but if my mind does change, I would have no issues tweaking my setup. Good thing SP is a great brand and moves pretty well on the used market from what I've seen.
I'd also work with you in your local quarry doing fun dives while perfecting your bouyancy and skills so that one day we could hit those awesome wrecks you guys have. Oh and I wouldn't charge a penny because I love diving.
My LDS does this and several of the instructors have made the same offer. They love diving and they want me to love it too. Another reason why I have no problem spending my money on slightly more expensive gear from them.
Maybe that's why my opinions are considered subversive by some LDS's.
No worries here
You know, I see the utility in offering gear to someone who hasn't bought it yet, but telling someone who has just posted with joy about his newly acquired dive equipment that he massively overspent seems kind of gratuitously unkind, to me.
Massively overspent or not, the joy I get from diving makes it worth it. I don't expect to pinch pennies while undertaking expensive hobbies.
I dove with my zeagle bcd for 5 years and that was on a regular basis. Unless he goes for technical, I can't see him changing gear in the near future. I have switched gear here and there. I did it cause I got a good price as an instructor and I wanted to know the differences between gear. I didn't have to though.
I've dived three different BCD's thus far. Two jacket style BCD's and a Knighthawk. I LOVED the Knighthawk. Even as a new diver, I had zero issues with my buoyancy and was able to move around with ease. The only thing I felt was lacking was storage, which is fixed with the Seahawk.
When/if I get into tech diving, I'll be replacing gear. I never expected this to be a cheap hobby.
---------- Post Merged at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:56 PM ----------
I would say the best thing to do before would have been to rent or borrow gear and see what they like. Either way, once you get your gear, go out and dive. Take all opinions with a grain of salt. listen to everything and just enjoy getting in the water.
I've taken every bit of advice with several grains of salt. I've rented gear and found the BCD and regs that I particularly enjoy and purchased them. The jury is still out on wetsuits, which is why I haven't purchased yet.
I can say that going back 12 years ago that my primary focus was to get gear so that I didn't waste money on renting. I think that's the case for the OP also based on what he's written. In reality I still wasted money because I ended up with a bunch of gear that was overpriced and suboptimal for the diving that I was doing.
I have that primary focus as well. $1500 off the bat is the same as renting a full kit 10 times. This way, I'll be using the same gear time after time and will be able to get to know it inside and out.
The problem is without a good mentor it's hard to know what you don't know. You dive some gear in OW and the LDS says buy this gear... well, you end up buying that gear. You buy the $80 mask when you can get a better mask for $40 online.
I'd rather have the opportunity to get my hands on the gear before buying, talk about the gear ad nauseum with people who use it, and pay a little extra for the customer service. I have several friends that dive that are 100% loyal to this shop, and I understand why. Price isn't everything in this world.
As a mentor, I'd loan gear wherever possible and discourage purchasing gear until they know they are hooked on the sport and the know what is best for their long term interests. No, I don't suggest buying the lowest price possible (unless it makes sense... the best value proposition may or may not be the lowest price), I do advocate buying the second set first and that usually that second set was actually at lower price points then the first so there's really not much reason to not do it IMO.
The LDS has already turned me away from buying certain gear and I am 100% confident that they don't just want my money. They want me to fall in love with the sport as they do, and return to the shop for gear, classes, and to hang out amongst comrades.
Please know that the sale has been finalized and the gear has been ordered from the manufacturer. Let's check back in a few months, after a couple dozen dives have been logged with my gear, and if I'm not 100% elated with my gear, I'll tip my hat to you. Until then, I'm happy with my selections, excited that I have my own, and am anxiously awaiting next weekend when I can start to put it to good use.
