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Joined on
10/16/2008
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Most people including me have no idea about what is a good purchase or bad purchase regarding scuba gear. What I have done is purchase the same gear that my instructor uses. The instructor is a professional and can probably buy whatever gear they want. I figure if my instructor is diving certain gear it might be a good idea for me to be diving with the same gear too! I made a gear purchase from a recommendation I found online. I wish I had never done that! It cost me more to correct the problem purchase than if I would have taken my instructors recommendation in the first place!
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Joined on
11/19/2008
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Good advice! I am a technical diver with over 200 dives and I am still learning about gear and gear configurations.
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Joined on
4/14/2009
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Unfortunately, this may not be the best way.
As you begin your scuba education, read the various website forums. You'll find that dive instructors can be required to change their equiptment to something the shop they work out of will have available for sale!
That bering said, it is they guaranty/ waranty that will matter most. as well as the ability of you lds to service the gear you eventually purchase.
It won't do you any good to buy equiptment that is the best in the world if you have to mail it out every year and wait for weeks if not months to get your equipt. back.
Learn as much as you can about what is available to you.
Go with the equipt. that you can afford, and have serviced!
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Joined on
1/10/2006
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On one point I agree, sometimes dive instructors who are employees of a dive shop are strongly advised to purchase gear that is promoted by the shop (many shops market only aqualung and scubapro and therefore the proliferation of this gear). On the maintenance aspect I strongly disagree. Alot of shops don't do in house maintenance and repairs. Many send their repairs and warrantee work (in Chicagoland) to Tony at Reg Tech. He services most everything. That being said dive gear is extremely durable and reliable. It doesn,t usually break under recreational use! I have the ability to service my gear whenever I want, but I actually believe that dive gear doesn't really need to be serviced annually. Many dive shops would disagree because they want you in the shop every year so that you will make another purchase.Servicing your gear evey year after only 10 or 20 uses doesn't really make sense to me. It is alot like the advise to have a seperate regulator for nitrox! Not necessary and just generates sales by fear that something will go wrong if you use your primary air regulator with nitrox.
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Joined on
4/14/2009
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I have used Tony at Reg tech, after some dissapointing service at my LDS. I brought my gear in after one use aftger servicing, since it breathed water even in shallow water. they returned my gear 3 weeks later with a bag they said were the worn out parts they just removed! I pointed out they had serviced the gear just the week prior to my bringing it back! I didn't pay they second time even though they insisted i had to pay.
And I agree on how frequent service is needed.I had my gear serviced, but was unable to dive last year. It should still be good, since there is no wear-and-tear on it!!
Having a good relationship with your LDS is important, but they should not abuse this relationship!
I brought my UWATEC in this year for battery replacement, (free), and paid only $98. for shipping and handling. I wrote UWATEC for info, and found the shop put a rush order on it. I had not!! the rush was $60 from UWATEC. The remaining $38 was for the shop.
I don't think they want customers. I haven't been back since!
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Joined on
1/10/2006
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If you never need some help you can call me 773-732-8972.
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