Tips For Buying Scuba Diving Gear

Follow @ScubaDiverMagazine for all my new videos
/ @scubadivermagazine ✔️ Subscribe - kzbin.info?...
👕 Teespring - teespring.com/stores/safe-diving
🧔🏻 Instagram - / safe_diving
👍 Facebook - / thesafediving
🔔 Hit the bell next to Subscribe so you don't miss a video!
👨🏻‍💻 Watch my newest vids! - / safediving
■
Buying your first set of scuba diving gear can be daunting, so I've laid out a few tips and trick that I've learned from working in the dive industry.
00:00 Intro
02:25 Homework
05:29 Online?
08:58 Brands
12:12 Price Range
14:37 2nd Hand
16:58 Time of Year
■
Music: Sport In
Artist: Eleone
Download: audiojungle.net/item/sport-in...
■
The most important thing about scuba diving is that you do it safely. And that is what Safe Diving is all about.
On this channel, I will discuss all aspects of going underwater from equipment advice and techniques to the little things like what to pack in your bags for a dive trip.
My entire professional career has been spent in and around the scuba diving industry and travelling to diving destinations both warm and cold.
Instagram - / safe_diving
■
In accordance with COPPA laws, please note that videos on this channel are not specifically made for, or targeted at, children.
■
Safe Diving
#scubadiving #diving #scuba #underwater #ocean #dive #scubadive #scubadiver #sea #techdiving #diver #uwphotography #underwaterworld #marinelife #snorkeling #adventure #technical #scubalife #plongée #tauchen #Safe_Diving

[@stevesteel6066]

Ordering online comes with problems. I bought a Scubapro BCD and received a used, scuffed item. Returned it and bought from a dealer. Thanks for sharing Mark!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Good tips Mark. Thanks for doing this.

[@Peter-sw9hm]

Great practical content. Would love to see your guide on Dive Lights, primary and secondary.

[@bradallen5571]

When we first got started I had really bad experiences buying my basic gear from a LDS. Not one item made it through the first year due to bad fit mostly, which as a new diver you don't fully understand what to look for. Not all LDS's hire quality folks that care about what they do. After diving with some great people and getting some great advise I had really good experiences buying the vast majority of my gear online. I live in a huge metroplex area with several dive shops and have purchased gear (mostly for my wife) with a few of them. With the exception of a few purchases it's been....OK. I guess I never got the bad taste out of my mouth from the "buy these fins they're perfect for you because that's what we carry" bs. But, we shall continue the search for an excellent LDS because...it's the right thing to do? My regrets in starting out buying gear? Not starting my wife on a BP&W. Seems like such a no brainer now. They'll soon be a women's jacket style either gathering dust or for sale at a huge loss. Number two, being so concerned about price that I believed some Amazon reviews. None of our accessory items we bought through Amazon have made the cut. Would've been cheaper to just buy quality up front. Great channel Mark!!

[@christosz5]

Great video Mark! Looking forward for you drysuit and innersuit reccomendations. Hope it comes soon as i am on the market looking for the best value for money combination!!

[@Daniel-yk6mm]

I am getting a Twin set but. I am buying it a bit at a time as I can’t afford it. I will be honest when I first got my open Walter I had all second hand gear I still have my second hand dry suit as all it need was a new zipper 👌🏻👌🏻

[@zahirulhafiz8065]

yeah kinda agree with the dealer locations & brand availability. I really like Oceanic's items, but i cant seem to find any stores in my country that sell them. I have their mask would like to have their bcd & reg also as a matching set. Here in Malaysia, i saw we tend to focus on scubapro, mares and poseidon.

[@JonasPeltomaeki]

Long time viewer, first time commenter! been following you around since simply scuba days. top level content as always and i am a happy subscriber and bellringer, keep it up! I'm a fairly new diver, got my OW and AOW (at only a total of 15 dives) so i still have a long way to go before i reach my technical goal of deeper wreck diving. i feel stuck in the selection of a dive computer. Suunto EON core (sold here for 700 euros): it seems good but everyone complains about the algorithm (might be fanbois) and i feel it might be cheaper than the perdix due to lesser quality materials than others (like shearwater stuff). amazing screen tho. shearwater perdix AI (sold here for 900 euros): im leaning towards this. user-changeable battery, nice screen, and good solid straps. Teric: yes i know... it's more expensive thanthe perdix. can't change battery yourself, and everyone keeps saying "small wrist style computers has poor visibility in swedish waters (where i dive mostly) better to go with big screen!" long story short: in my future of getting more experience i will get a more solid computer than my current suunto zoop novo (great beginner computer!), and my goal will be technical wreck diving at 60+ meters. would i be "more annoyed than happy with a teric instead of the perdix"? i guess. it is a subjective opinion. give yours and short opinion why. thank you for your content, it has helped alot of my gear choices. regards,

[@Ben-ie1ht]

From the computer you listed i would recommend the PERDIX over the other tbh you don't really need to have an air integrated computer its the same as if you would buy a car you don't need to have pre heated seats, is it nice and comfortable in the winter totally is it worth it i think so but if you are on a tight budget and especially leaning towards tec wreck dives don't get an ai you will damage and destroy so many transmitters over the Years for sidemount its possible to get less damage. These are all great computers but i feel like giving a bit of advertisement for my own computer i use the Ratio IX3M i really love this computer same display size as the sherwater a bit cheaper and here comes the main selling point the software 2 Algorithms Bul and Vgh and the best part is if you are diving recreationaly get the easy with nitrox if you want to dive tec pay 120 Euro and get an software upgrade so you can use trimix. You have a good computer that evolves with your dive career and its even possible to get it upgraded for ccr. I think this is a great computer that is far too often overlooked by many the only disadvantage is the battery is build in.

[@vickyroman4237]

@safe diving Hey! love your content, any specific reason why you use a 90 degree angle on reg hose instead of a swivel?

[@SafeDiving]

A lot of swivel joints like Omniswivel are two-part designs and I've seen them unscrew and separate underwater (you have to tighten a grub screw often to keep it tight). Fixed elbows only add one extra failure point and I don't need to continually tighten them over time.

[@diverdave4056]

I have met a lot of divers that got certified and bought all the needed gear $$$ then only went on one dive vacation .... they tossed the ole gear in the garage or basement and let it rot for 10 to 20 years and then tried to sell it at a garage sale in hopes to recover top dollar ! HA HA HA ...

[@ericgoh7230]

Hi Mark, really appreciate your reviews and honest comments on some equipment. They really helped me pick and select my own personal equipment. Right now I am slowly processing through my certificates and am wanting to buy a new drysuits but I cannot decide between waterproof, santi and forth element. Would really appreciate if you can do a detailed comparison or advice videos between these brands. Because I am living in a place where I have limited access to dive centres who carries these specialised drysuits in store, I really have to make a really concrete decision before plashing the 💸

[@SafeDiving]

They're all top brands, I've dealt with all of them for a while now and I can't fault any of them. Which ever you end up with you won't be disappointed. Santi offer a greater range of personalisation offers from coloured panels etc. and I prefer the bag that comes with Santi Drysuits, but otherwise it's up to you...

[@ericgoh7230]

@@SafeDiving I managed to get hold of some local divers who uses Santi Drysuits. They have brought in their suits to the local dive centre and hopefully I can make a good decision then. Thanks again Mark and keep up the excellent videos

[@kervynkw1]

Love the content, but the background music gets irritating after a couple of minutes...

[@rapha9125]

i like it, but its a lil bit too loud

[@kervynkw1]

@@rapha9125 It's the repetitive nature of it that gets to me.... Fine for a couple of minutes, but anything longer, and it gets really distracting/irritating...

[@dennybe]

@@kervynkw1 polite constructive criticism is always a good thing for video content creators :-)

[@kervynkw1]

@@dennybe Agree... :)

[@harrydevil]

Dive Lights!!!

[@Ginwood]

Yeah dive lights next please

[@Ben-ie1ht]

If anyone of you knows a good diving spot in Turkey besides the obvious tourist traps i would appreciate it if you share your knowledge.

[@dapatuel]

Hi Mark, love your video's. As a new diver I understand what you are telling and explaining. I have a question, could you do a video on what the difference is between a safe second vs an octo. I see a lot of people using the long hose configuration and all of a sudden you don't use an octo anymore, whats the difference ans whats better? Thnxs so mutch, Greets Dominique Patuel (Zoetermeer Netherlands)

[@Ben-ie1ht]

A long hose has many advantages as seen in the video. If you would say a longhose is better for evry aspect of diving if you have the time to train for this configuration. An normal octo is a big problem if you do wreck dives even in recreational limits for example you have an out of air situation and your buddy needs air so one of you must swim backwards and with the right fin its fairly easy to do but with most entry level fins its impossible so you need to push him out and you use a lot more air

[@dapatuel]

@@Ben-ie1ht i understand but that has to do with the lenght of the hose not so mutch the second stagr/octo but in most long hose configurations they don't talk about octo's annymore but only safe second stages. Is there a difference in that? That was more what i was wondering. But i understand what you are saying.

[@Ben-ie1ht]

@@dapatuel a safe second is an Octo on an 55cm hose with an bungee on the neck an Octo is always with an 90cm hose and a safe second is most likely the same Reg as your primary with the same specs most Octos are not as powerful as the main regs in a safe second the Octo is most likely nit an Octo

[@dapatuel]

@@Ben-ie1ht clear thnxs

[@Ben-ie1ht]

@@dapatuel no problem we all have been there if you have more questions hit me up on instagramm @ben.aydemir_

[@dennybe]

Hi, Mark... on a tight budget here BUT have everything besides my dive computer(I know, I was supposed to buy it first). But have an opportunity to buy 1 of 2 different DCs from my local dive instructor and wanted to get your opinion about these 2 DCs. 1st is the Aqualung i200. 2nd is the Gekko w/spg. Im not 100% on what year they are and to be honest neither is my instructor turned dive buddy(30+ dives together, all warm water here in the Philippines). Thanks for your time, I truly appreciate it.... oh, simply scuba closed for the plandemic? Or you just doing your own thing now? Either way, I love your videos...please keep them coming.

[@SafeDiving]

Wow, Suunto haven't made a Gekko in 10 years, I'd probably avoid that one... I prefer independent computers too, so you're more flexible how and where you use them. The i200 is a good dive computer and easier to use than the Gekko and Zoop. The newer i200C has Bluetooth added so it's worth checking which they're offering. Simply went into administration, covid hit at a really bad time, so I don't think you'll see any new videos for some time, if at all...

[@dennybe]

@@SafeDiving thanks for the insight and knowledge. Maybe I'll go with that i200 or take your advice from previous vids and save for a bit(last bit of kit, so Im anxious)....decisions decisions decisions. Tuff being on the islands, theres a 15% tarriff then a 15% vat on top of that. Sorry about the other channel's vids, those were fun too. Well, subscribed and hopefully we can get your sub count up to where it belongs...always great content and very educational and helpful. Cheers mate.

[@bostonmckibben1840]

I am looking to to buy a shearwa Perdix and my local dive store doesn’t sell any Shearwater products. The closest place that does sell the perdix is over an hour away. Is it worth driving there to try it out and make sure I like it as it is quite expensive.

[@Ben-ie1ht]

In today's day and age you could buy it and send it back if you don't like it. Where i live there is a so called test center where you can try evry February all the new gear for a small fee it is totally worth it but for me 900km away 😭

[@NotTheRealMorty]

Hi Mark thanks for the video it was very informative! Unfortunately I haven't been able to go diving since I've gotten my certification yet. I'm hopefully going to be able to start up again soon, but before that I still need to buy a dsmb as I do not want to go diving without one. When it comes to diving accessories, what are the ones that you consider essential, where you avoid diving without one?

[@dennybe]

Im not Mark, but thats a great question. Some things should be considered part of your basic kit. A dsmb(w/finger spool -- dont need a fishing reel under water...theyre cumbersome)is one of those things that should be considered basic kit. Dont get the oral inflate type. What you NEED to dive IS the basics of your kit. The rest is just accessories, aside from a good torch and dsmb.... my humble novice opinion(just a rescue diver, not a DM or instructor).

[@NotTheRealMorty]

denny be is there a reason why you recommend not getting the oral inflator type?

[@dennybe]

@@NotTheRealMorty I dont like to take my regulator out of my mouth to blow into a tube. If you get the open cell type it is just so much easier to use your alternate air to inflate...while keeping your primary reg in your mouth... my opinion though, there are many that disagree.

[@leopoldbloom4835]

denny be One who disagrees. 😉 First of all, an DSMB should be closed or fluted, otherwise the air can escape when the buoy reaches the surface and collapse. No good shooting a buoy that is hardly visible. As for filling it up under water, you should be capable to take your reg out of your mouth for a couple of seconds or ask your money back from your dive school (no offence, maybe you just prefer not to). Inflating the DSMB orally is good because you stay neutrally buoyant after the first breath. Or you fill it by using your inflator hose which is done by the same valve. So, an oral inflator valve is a good thing. You can fill a DSMB with your octo by the opening on the downside but it will start to carry you up for a couple of seconds which is not what you want for a safety stop. Of course, any DSMB will do but if I had to choose, I‘d take one with oral valve anytime.

[@dennybe]

@@leopoldbloom4835 like I said, people will disagree with me. As far as I know, there are two types of dsmb's. Open end and close. Coming out of my octo I have my my bcd inflator hose, primary and alternate air and my pressure. Which one do i disconnect so that I can plug it into the dsmb? My open cell has not failed me yet using my alternate air...Im all for learning and doing other ways though, thats what makes this a good sport to be in...sharing of knowledge.... and I can take my reg out(I have and do for selfies and other silliness while videoing), but I prefer not to if given the choice when it comes to safety stops and holding breath creating more co2/lift. But willing to learn knew stuff as always.

[@theJaston9]

Wow, how many KZbin channels do you have?

[@jaycefitzpatrick4975]

What happens to the lifetime warranty on your gear if the dive shop you bought from closes?

[@SafeDiving]

Depends on the warranty, but most lifetime warranties are from the manufacturer, not the Dive Centre. When the Dive Centre services kit they inform the manufacturer and they update their system. The important thing is to keep note of your serial numbers and only go to authorised dealers

[@jaycefitzpatrick4975]

Safe Diving thank you!!

[@lil_cheese_xdlil_cheese_xd2287]

fIrST

[@elmo319]

Andre Frcek - seriously?

[@BurhanMuntasser]

Please, get rid of the annoying, obnoxious and loud music from your videos, it is distracting and overwhelms what you are discussing in the video. Often it is difficult to follow what you are saying because of the music.

[@BurhanMuntasser]

The advice that divers who may have their sights on "technical diving" later should consider equipment for technical diving when they are still recreational divers and haven't even bought their first set of equipment yet, isn't accurate and has nothing to do with reality at all. Divers who do technical and recreational diving almost always have at least two sets of dive equipment, one set for technical and one set for recreational. No one I know uses the same set for both, I am an instructor and CD and been teaching at all levels since the mid 80's. Somebody who hasn't bought their equipment is obviously a novice and should concentrate on his recreational diving and the appropriate equipment for this type of diving. The novice should consider what his equipment needs will be in the coming few years as a recreational diver. If and when they decide to take up technical diving after reaching the required experience and competence for tech. diving, they worry about the appropriate equipment for tech. diving then not now. Equipment for technical diving are different and a separate set from equipment for recreational diving.

[@casvanommeslaeghe]

a DIR-system is perfectly capable of being used for recreational dives as well as technical dives, that's the whole point. I know several tec and cave divers who use the same gear on a shallow rec dive as they would on more challenging dives. In fact, I was taught on technical gear and could, without great expense, make it totally GUE compliant, even though, I currently only do recreational dives.

[@BurhanMuntasser]

@@casvanommeslaeghe Are you going to be using double tanks with two regulators for recreational diving? NO Are you going to be using BP/W with wing for doubles in Recreational diving? No Are you going to be switching hoses and wings and adjusting your entire configuration and weights every time you switch between recreational and technical diving? No In short, you are going to have two sets of equipment for each type of diving, recreational and tech. even if you follow the same principles for both types. The more switching and changing you do on your gear, the more chance for screw ups and chances for missed dives and aggravation to say the least (let alone safety). In my dive lock, right is recreational set and left is technical set and the two don't mix. What you said has very little practical value indeed and I am one that has been doing both types of diving for about 30 years now.

[@casvanommeslaeghe]

@@BurhanMuntasser The whole idea is that the change is gradual, you can upgrade, not replace, your existing set. Mounting a double wing costs you a bladder, not an entire BCD. Using a second regulator can also be done on a single tank (I do). Starting with the end in mind is about the awareness of buying the right gear in the first place.

[@BurhanMuntasser]

@@casvanommeslaeghe You don't read, do you? The two kits for each type of diving are separate and not interchangeable even if they following the same philosophy, DIR. You are a recreational diver who knows nothing and have no experience in what you are talking and giving advice about.

[@casvanommeslaeghe]

@@BurhanMuntasser I do read, thank you. I just refute your statement that they are separate. When properly configured, a recreational rig can be upgraded into a technical rig without much difficulty. The point, which you seem to be missing, is to be aware of the whole, so that you can make informed buying decisions. Of course I know most people end up with a separate doubles BCD and single tank BCD for convencience's sake, but the point is that you don't have to, if budget is a constraint. You do not have to buy a separate rig, if you know what you are doing from the very beginning. You seem to be advocating ignorance, that is the problem here.