Dollar Store/100 yen/5 Riyal/equivalent dive gear

[namabiru]

So don't tell me you've never been to the dollar store, or the 100 yen shop, or the 5 riyal shop, or your country's equivalent to purchase dive accessories. It's time to fess up. What have you purchased for your kit?

I'll start.

-Carabiners, which are awesome for hooking lights to d-rings.

-Elastic, for creating inpromptu slate/fish ID card wrist bands.

-Small containers, for a first aid kit/save a dive kit.

-Cheaply-made dive tools such as screwdrivers, for when someone walks off with yours.

-Tarp, for sandy beaches.

-Washtub, for washing feet on sandy beach just before getting in the car

-Towel, to completely ruin on sandy beach.

-Mesh laundry bag, for a trash collector.

-Cable ties.

-Twisty ties (which work well in a pinch for various things such as light sticks)

And...?

[paintsnow]

i would only use locking carabiners as the normal cheapo ones can open up against wire line of fishing line and get you tangled up.

the locking ones dont let anything in or out unless you twist or screw something in a certain direction before opening the gate.

[BuzzGA]

Glow sticks

[RoadRacer1978]

Glow sticks, water noodles and rope (for making foam tank rack).

Thought about beaners, but haven't bought any there yet.

[dludwig]

not sure I trust my life w/ much of anything from the Dollar Store other than glow sticks

[chace_nicole]

Originally Posted by dludwig

not sure I trust my life w/ much of anything from the Dollar Store other than glow sticks

Oh come on now...they have SOME good quality things
but I get what you're saying, should be just fine for wash bins & things of the like.

[Hollywood703]

ok, bought a milk crate type storage unit for my DIY Float n Flag, bout Johnsons & Johnsons knock off soap for mask defogging, bought some smaller bottles to hold said soap. Caribeeners, 2 mesh laundy bags for waste collection, glow sticks, and zip ties. They work the same as a brand name sotre, just less cash....I dont use any of this for Life saving equipment, so im not too concerned.

[Jipps]

I tend to pick up glow sticks, and zip ties there as well. But dont forget the duct tape, always a good thing to have around! that and some liquid neoprene and u have a quick patch for ur float!

[namabiru]

Yep yep.
Cable ties are also acquired from here.

So are boxes for save-a-dive kits.

So are certain save-a-dive kit elements.

So is a first-aid container.

So are laundry bags to pick up trash in.

As are the trash bags to put the trash in.

Bleach to sterilize the laundry bag.

Wallet accordian folder thingies to put c-cards in

wallets for c-cards

Small tarps to set equipment on for really sandy environments (Qatari beaches...)

barbecue equipment for post-beach dives.

Are some people really that serious in that they trust nothing from the 100 yen shop? Good lord, either these people have never been a poor students or expats in places where dive shops and/or pieces of "vital" equipment aren't chock-a-block. However, cheap shops and markets are, where you can make do with something, overlooking the brand name.

Improvisation. Creativity. Making do. Isn't it about getting in the water, no matter what you've got for accessories?

[kyfriedchipper]

yeah - dollar store has great toothpaste, right?