Scuba gear?

Question

I have recently passed PADI open water and was hoping to get kitted out for Scuba diving. How do I find out what equipment I need and approximately how much will this cost?
Is it a good idea to look for this second hand? Thanks.

Answer 1

You need to give us more detail: where you are in the world, where you plan to dive, how often you hope to go diving, stuff like that. (Where did you do your OWD course?)

In defence of the PADI system, the OWD course DEscribes scuba equipment, it doesn't PREscribe it, for the simple reasons that: one set of equipment is not suitable for all diving situations; and different people have different needs and preferences.

It's the Instructor's job to advise students appropriately for the local conditions, but they can't be expected to provide full and detailed advice for all other possible diving locations in the world. (e.g. What experience does an Instructor in Thailand have of ice diving in Norway?). That's what the PADI Continuing Education program is for.

The advice given so far is mostly good, although beware of people foisting their personal kit preferences on you (e.g. unlike a previous answerer, I think the Mares Volo fins are flimsy, and too expensive: Mares Avanti Quattros are cheaper, and more robust, BUT your finning technique affects what fin is best for YOU).

As a new diver, I would recommend you to get yourself the basics first, starting with the thing on which the greatest amount of underwater comfort depends: your mask. Also a pair of boots, especially if you have very big or very small feet, as clubs and resorts tend to have fewer pairs (and they tend to be replaced less often) at the upper and lower ends of the size range.

If you have a non-standard shape (i.e. very tall and thin, or short and wide), it might be good to have your own suit as well, as resort rentals rarely fit well (and can be quite battered). The question of what kind of suit you get depends on where you want to dive.

A modular 3- or 4-piece wetsuit will cover most warm-temperate to tropical conditions (20-30°C water temp.), but won't be so good for cool-temperate (15-20°C) or cold (less than 15°C) waters. For those you'd need a thick semi-dry or even a drysuit (but buoyancy control is sllightly different with a drysuit, so learn how to use one in shallow controlled conditions before you take it into open water).

Also, in my experience, most OWD students on resort courses have the greatest difficulty getting their heads round the dive tables (usually because there isn't really the time that they need to spend on learning how to use them). So a computer is a very good investment, as you can learn to use it in your own time, between dives/holidays, and it means you don't have to rely on resort-hire gauges of dubious accuracy, or learn how to read a new computer with every holiday.

(OPINION: I like the SUUNTO brand of computers, because they're fairly intuitive to use, and easy to read. The Gekko is a good entry-level comp, and is also Nitrox capable, if you choose to go that way later.)

You can start thinking about buying the more expensive bits, i.e. BCD, regulator, cylinder later on, once you've tried a few brands out and decided what you like (and don't bother buying a cylinder unless you'll be wanting to dive regularly, and locally: there's no point taking it on a plane!).

The better dive shops will quite often allow you to 'try before you buy' during their pool sessions, or exchange gear that's not quite right (assuming you haven't damaged it)--that's part of what makes them a 'better' dive shop. Obviously this does not hold for second-hand gear, and usually not for Internet dive shops either (check their refund/return policy first).

As far as second-hand gear goes in general: check your source. Do you know them? Do you trust them? Can they show that the BCD/regulator/whatever has been well looked after? It might be worth thinking about buying ex-club/diveshop rental gear, as that will be cheaper than buying new, but it still has to be 'saleable' (i.e. maintenance has to be documented, and you have legal protection against being sold shoddy gear), Again, the 'better' shops/clubs will renew their gear regularly, so it shouldn't be too battered.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and shop around. And if you feel that someone's being too pushy and not considering you as an individual, take your custom elsewhere. This is going to be YOUR gear, on which YOU will be depending underwater.

Good luck, and have fun.

Answer 2

Just buy the basic equipment to start with. Good wetsuit and booties, a decent pair of closed-heel fins and most importantly a low volume mask that fits perfectly.
The rest of the gear you can hire when you want to go for a dive. This will give you a chance to try out a number of different makes and designs of SCUBA gear before putting any money down. Do about 30 dives in different conditions before you decide. When you do decide to buy gear try to buy new gear if you can. If you buy second hand always have it checked at a dive shop or club. Ask the seller for a service history on all gear. It takes a while to decide what equipment suits you so don't rush into buying no matter how pretty it looks.
Above all though, please be careful. New divers don't know enough yet. Experience counts the most. How did PADI qualify you without telling you about basic equipment requirements? Read as much as you can to teach yourself what PADI might have missed out. Safe diving, mate.

Answer 3

Start of by getting own fins, boots and mask, gloves, and dive computer (if you plan to dive a lot) if you only dive on holiday there's no point buying anything to bulky as you can hire it, bcd wet suits, mares are the best, mares volo fin are brill so light weight compared to others, and never let anybody else were your mask as the adapt to shape of your face. Now book a holiday to the Maldives and experience the best diving.

Don't buy second hand, the last a long time so invest the proper money in them

Mask mares opera €50/ £35
Boots €40
Fins can be anything up to €150 for a good pair
Computers are expensive only buy if you plan to dive a lot
From €150 -€1000 plus
Gloves for holding on in strong current €30 approx

Hope this helps and shop around for better deals www.simplyscuba.co.uk are meant to be good prices

Answer 4

you are looking around 800 to 1500 quid for a full set up depending on what exposure suit you want.

i find getting second hand stuff can be a gamble and have see many people get ripped off and sold dodgy kit. on the other hand i have seen a few people strike lucky and get a bargin

the best tring to do is have a look around on the internet at a few different makes so you have a little idea then go to your dive shop and see what they have.

if you want a little more help send me an e-mail

support your local dive shop.

Answer 5

Jess O has a point!

But it does depend on where you want to dive... In the UK you will need (unless you are as hard as nails!) a dry suit, for example. Phone a dive shop, or contact a local club, and I'm sure they will be happy to advise. I bought all my gear new and it cost well over £1000 (11 years ago), and that was for warm water diving (so no dry suit). But I hear that Decathalon (a major sports shop) sells diving gear quite cheaply.

Answer 6

How did you manage to pass the PADI open water diver certification without finding out what equipment you need?

Answer 7

You're just asking this because "Darwin Day" is coming up on Feb 12. ... so let's go with Darwin. Adam saw fish and called them fish ... Eve then went to the kitchen and made gefilte fish. Chuck Darwin came along a few millennia later and decided that every living thing on earth traced it's roots back to some protoplasm in a small swamp in southern west Dakota that mated with a monkey in northern east Ireland. Darwin was officially COE, but grew up Unitarian ... later becoming agnostic (not atheist). Do note the title of his work: "On the Origin of Species" (not "Origin of Life") ... and, hey Chuck, how does the survival of the fittest work when you marry your own cousin?

Answer 8

/Buy a specialist dive mag,talk to exp.divers/school,ect used kit can be okay,depends on quality/age

Answer 9

depends where your diving..if its here then you will need a dry suit.......its cheaper to buy gear from aus and get it shipped..