hello all

[2low4nh]

hi my name is kris,
i a going to be taking the padi open water course this month and i am looking to buy some used gear. th eonly problem with that is i have no clue what to buy. any help would be great. i already have my fins boots and mask snorkel combo. i am hoping to make a few lake dives as well as a couple lobster dives of the NH coast before i head down to aruba in november.

[MSilvia]

In all honesty, I recommend holding off on buying your BC until you've had a chance to try out a few different pieces of rental equipment and see for yourself what you like.

If possible, I recommend trying at least one "jacket/vest" style BC, and one "back inflate" BC before making a purchase. Also, if you can try out a "backplate and wing" or "BP/W" BC, that's definately worth a look. A lot of shops will tell you they're for advanced divers, but I know a lot of divers in the Northeast (myself included) who strongly prefer them even for single tank shore dives.

In any case, if you plan on doing local diving in NH, I HIGHLY recommend finding a 7mm wetsuit that fits properly and buying it ASAP. I'll fitting rental wetsuits that other divers have had a chance to pee in are definitely not my first choice.

[2low4nh]

yeah i am actually looking at a used wet suit now that only has a few dives on it. i have my eye on a set of gear now that looks decent and the price is right. the bcd is a seaquest spectra 2 the regs are dacor pacer. he also has three tanks but all will need to be inspected. he wants 50 for the wetsuit 30 per tank 25 per regulator and 75 for the bcd. im looking for the best deal i can find on decent equipment

[chilly willy]

Originally Posted by 2low4nh

yeah i am actually looking at a used wet suit now that only has a few dives on it. i have my eye on a set of gear now that looks decent and the price is right. the bcd is a seaquest spectra 2 the regs are dacor pacer. he also has three tanks but all will need to be inspected. he wants 50 for the wetsuit 30 per tank 25 per regulator and 75 for the bcd. im looking for the best deal i can find on decent equipment

Welcome to the board. I agree with Matt on holding off on purchase, get a few dives in before jumping on dive gear deals, you'll end up saving yourself $$$ in the long run. Personal preference on various equipiment will change as you use different things, The prices you mentioned are good if they are in good condition and current on service and inspections. It's up to you, but you should try to wait a little bit until you get a little more education on what's good and what isn't.

[2low4nh]

i guess i wold hold off till after class then. i just figured this gear is only a little more expensive then the rental gear for my open water dive. rental for the two days is $70 all the gear is $200 figure rentals for the summer will add up quick.

[Coastie6]

Matt's correct, you need to try some gear before you decide what to buy. That being said, the LDS where you are getting certified should allow you to try some different BCs in their pool either during class or during some private time with a DM or instructor. If you are lucky, they will have all three types Matt mentioned, though most small shops tend to only carry jacket style BCs. I know back in the day, some shops would credit all or part of your rental fee toward a purchase of gear from them, so that might be an option too, in this economy, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Matt's also on the money with buying a good 7mm suit rather than renting. Being cold and miserable in a wetsuit that doesn't fit in New England will dampen your enthusiasm for your new sport. Of course, the wetsuit recommendation is if you're not considering a drysuit, in which case you'd want to get instruction in their use before a purchase and before any OW use.

And yes, everyone pees in their wetsuit eventually, especially in the cold waters off New England!

[2low4nh]

no dry suit for me. i will be playing in the lakes alot around here. maybe a few ocean dives. along the way.