SCUBA experts knowledge needed

[NasotheHutt]

I want to get certified this summer, and would like a comprehensive list of the equipment needed. I have found a place for classes, but they want to sell me their stuff. I think I could get it all cheaper on-line. The store told me everything would cost me $2000, is this correct? I have snorkeled before, but know nothing about scuba. I do know that you can rent the equipment, but I would like to own everything, except maybee the tank. So what's needed, and where are the best places on-line to get it?

Thanks!
Naso

 

[Anonymous]

Try Diver Direct. They have excellent prices. You'll definately want to buy your own mask, fins, weigth belt, and snorkel. You may also want your own BC, regulator, octopus, and dive computer. I don't use a computer. But many people do.

I'm thinking of getting the Mares Synro Axis Package for $717.00. I already have the rest. Probably spent $600 on prescrition mask, atomic splitfin fins (the best), snorkle, weight belt and weights, dive knife (to defend myself from tangs). So I'll be in it for around $1,300.00 total for top-of-the line stuff.

Definatly shop on-line.

You may want to rent for a while just to get to try various different brands and style before you plop down your money. Once you buy it, you'll be stuck with it!

Louey

[ March 15, 2002: Message edited by: Louey ]</p>

 

[Mouse]

OWSI 603912, what do ya wana know.

I use Mares everything, ill list my stuff below.

Mares Quatro Avanti Fins (much better than those wussy V fins, but you need big legs to kick em)
Mares Northern Exposure BC
Mares Opera Mask
Mares Abyss Reg (the only one to have IMO)
Sunto Solution Dive computer (its an old computer but IMO the only one with decent tables in it, stay away from Aladins, they beeb like hell and everytime i take people out with me they all say SOS by the time i get them to the surface, where as my computer is well within limits, so conservative its not even funny)

Actually if its made by any of these guys you wont go wrong, a comfortable fit is worth so much more than expensive gadgets.

Mares
Technisub
Scuba Pro
Tusa (the TUSA hyperdry is the best snorkel around)

Mares do a new all in one BC/Reg/octopus combo thingy, worth checking out. Bear in mind my dives are usually in the North Sea and down to about 60-70 meters. Warm water diving at shallower depths you need only basic gear. My regulator doesnt even perform above 30m. So maybe a nice light Micro Reg would be your cup of tea.

Comfort first, if its awkward or badly fitting youll be bothered by it all the time. If it fits well then you wont even think about it under water, and thats even goes for some of the cheaper stuff.

[ March 15, 2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]

[ March 15, 2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

Hey,

I would suggest buying yourself basic gear - mask, fins, snorkel, gloves, booties, and a computer and renting the rest for a while. If you could rent the basic gear, I would say do that too, but most places want you to have your own basic gear. There are many different kinds of wet suits, dry suits, regulators, consoles, BC's (intergrated and non intergrated, power inflator/octopus combos, vest vs. rear inflating) and they are the spendy items that really come down to personal preference, so reading and trying makes sense before buying.

Online sales are great and divers discount linked above is great. Sometimes you can get a great deal at a store, so watch for sales.

RR

So the people reading this post might care. I just got my underwater video rig! Top Dawg housing with LCD monitor back and a set of lights! Sony TRV 17 mini DV camera! I am just dying to try it out, maybe next week in Monterey.

RR

 

[Anonymous]

Corrections to my original reply. I don't want the above referenced package. That package includes a rear inflation BC. I dont want that. Tried one once and nearly died trying to remain afloat at the surface. Boat captain said I had to much air in the BC which with rear inflation BC's kinda pushes your head down. I thought that more air is better at the surface! With side infaltion you just blow it up like a ballon and float with ease. I understand that the rear inflation BC are what most experience divers prefer due to less restriction of your arms in front and side of your body. Better for spearfishing, lobstering, etc. I guess they take getting used to.

I'm going to get the Mares Vector Orgin BC. Divers direct used to offer that in a package in the $500-$600 range.

Louey

 

[NasotheHutt]

Thanks guys.

What exactally does the octopus do?

Mouse - If your regulator dosent work above 30m, what do you use to get down that far?

How deep does the average person in the southeast US usually dive?

How long can you dive on a single 3000psi tank?

Any good books, or magazines?

Thanks again! Sorry for al the Q's, but I know NOTHING about this!

 

[Mouse]

Defenately get a Mask first, its your first comfort Zone.

When you go into the shop place the mask on your face without the strap on and just hold your breath, you dont really need to suck in. But the mask should stay stuck. Water pressure alone is more than enough to keep a mask on your face and the strap is only there if it gets knocked off.

Also buy one with a silicone or Lycra skirt. I had a Mares Lycra Mask before, best one i ever had, but the big blue wobbly things got it now.

Also get rid of the horrible strechy starp youll get with it, and buy a velcro one with a pad at the back. Youll only need to adjust it once and thats it, nice and loose remember. If anything cranking the mask strap up will only reduce the seal on the skirt and cause it to leak, this is when most newbies crank the strap up tighter compunding the problem further. Plus you also look like you fell face first onto a toilet from a great height if your mask is too tight.

And finally, when you get your mask home for the first time use toothpaste all over the lenses. In production they use a sillicone spray on the whole mask as protection against fine scratches. This unfortunately doesn't help fogging underwater so this layer needs to come off, lots of toothpase lots of elbow grease.

Then finally, take the mask and put it into a basin of hot water, as hot as you can stand. Then puck up the mask and slap it on your face and walk around for like half an hour or so with the strap a little firm but not so you ruin the skirt. This will mould it like a gum sheald and voila you have a scubie mask like the pro's. Just dont lend it to anyone, cuz it will bend to their fat heads and leak when you try and use it again. They only seem to shape well once. And be carefull with it, all ways keep it in the box.

And finally, red lenses are cool as. The first colour spectrum to be removed from the water is red, so red lenses on cameras are allways used for good photos, so a red lens on a mask is allso great.

And finally, the mask of all masks.

TUSA i think ,make onw with green flashing LED's on the top of it. It is AMAZING for night dives, you can see them a mile away and they dont inhibit your own vision at all. Plus you look like an underwater night rider. There is a Mask out now with intergrated ear covers, i could never get allong with it, but it could save you a few infections.

Enjoy.

 

[reefatic]

Average dive in the carribean is less than 80 feet, so you don't need any special equipment. A light wet suit is nice to have, like a 3 mil famrer john. I also use the Mares Opera and Mares Avanti Quattro fins, which I love, but you do need big legs to kick em.

The length of the dive depends on the current, depth, time at depth, and how fast you breath. I am a efficient breather, but always have to come up early because my partner is a freakin heavy breather. Don't buy your own tank!! It is a pain to carry around and the outfitter always has them, just make sure to test your gear on them before you jump in!

 

[NasotheHutt]

reefatic - What shop(s) do you visit in the area?

Mouse - Are ear infections common? When snorkeling I sometimes dive to the bottom (10 to 15 feet) The pressure on my head gets worse the deeper I get. Does this happed with SCUBA? Or is it because I'm holding my breath?

 

[Mouse]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> What exactally does the octopus do?
<hr></blockquote>

It gives you something to puke through when youve had too many beers the night before. Or if your buddy wants to pinch your air cuz he's hoovered all of theirs.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> Mouse - If your regulator dosent work above 30m, what do you use to get down that far?
<hr></blockquote>

It does work its just a bit hard work, a cheaper one at a shallower depth would probably out perform it. But get down to 60-70 i dont even feel the pull on the reg and the cheaper reg is getting to be hard work. Different levels of optimiseation. Id go for a light micro reg, small easy to pack, light in your mouth and they look cool. Just dont get the Posiden micros, free flow city. Ask guys to do regulator removal and recovery with those and as soon as their out of their mouths the reg free flows and comes flying round and smaks them in the back of the head.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

How deep does the average person in the southeast US usually dive?

Junior Open Water = 18 meters
Open water Diver = 30 meters
Deep Diver speciality or advanced open water = 40 reccomended limit.

Limits for all other qualifications are set and you are not covered by any insurance should you exceed the limit of the first two qualifications.

In egypt they wont even let you go below 30m, but what do they know.

Ive been to 85 or so meters on air, it was a mistake, but i lived.

Trimix you can go as far as your balls will take you, im doing my IANTD Adanced Nitrox, then my Trimix then im going to top 100m, yay!!!

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

How long can you dive on a single 3000psi tank?

Ive seen a 10 year old girl empty a 12 litre tank in a swimming pool. Physyology and depth have allotto do with it. Partial pressures and boils Law are something your going to hear allot about.


<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

Any good books, or magazines?

PADI Diving encyclopedia, everything you will EVER need to know about recreational diving. If its not in the book its not on the course, all the exams questions derive directly from this book. GET IT!!

 

[Mouse]

When you feel the pressure on your ears its because of the compressable air space in your sinuss being crushed, You have to equalise the air space by popping you ears, just like on an aeroplane, but only on the way down though.

You may get an ear infection after a week of solid diving, like three times a day. But maybe not, depends on you and the condition of the water. But saying that take care of them when you do dive, rinse them out with fresh water after the dive.

 

[Anonymous]

An octopus is your alternate air source. You'll learn about that in your course. It is required.

You initial certification will be good for diving to depths of 60 feet or less. You'll need to take an advance class to go deeper. 60' feet is plenty deep enough for diving in the Florida Keys. I just got certified at the end of last year so I only got to dive a few times before winter. The water is warming up now so it is time to start diving again. As a newbie you likely will use up 3000 # of air in a half hour. I did. With experience you likely will get an hour out of it. No need to make it last any longer as most dive boats want you to come up when your tank is down to 500# or one hour. I plan to take advance courses once I completely confortable and once I can make the 3000# tank last an hour. I'm thinking of taking the following classes: Rescue, deep, night, wreck, underwater hunter, and underwater photographer. I think in diving you should take as many classes as possible so that you are prepared for any condition you are likely to encounter.

Your gonna love it!

[ March 15, 2002: Message edited by: Louey ]</p>

 

[Mouse]

Pikkie of my last dive.

Great White Seal Pigs, Cape Town 2002. thats me in the cadge, he he he.

I wanted to get in with them but Skipper said he'd kill me if the sharks didn't. He was like an 8ft tall Africans, you dont mess with them. Never mind im sure ill see the Knobby Clarks (rhyming slang) again

 

[NasotheHutt]

Is this a pretty good set up for carribean diving, cost and equipment wise?


Link

Under complete packages the "Mares Syncro Axis Package" for $720.00

[ March 15, 2002: Message edited by: NasotheHutt ]</p>

 

[NasotheHutt]

What is the the thing pictured with regulators, that looks like a fire sprinkler?

 

[Anonymous]

I agree. Get certified first from a place that will supply all of your equipment, then buy the equipment later. You'll be able to make a more educated decision then.

 

[Chucker]

Sumped.

 

[ReefMon]

Naso,

I would look around for another dive shop, IMO it's outrageous for them to be telling you need to buy all the equipment to get certified. (Sounds like a bad LFS type shop) Normally all that's required to purchase is fins, mask and a weight belt. Most good centers will even provide those.

If you want to purchase everything, that's a different story. But I highly suggest you get some experience first, so you can make an educated decision on what equipment is right for you.

HTH
Glenn R