Need some equipment

UrbanSage

UrbanSage

New member
Hello,

I haven't been diving in about seven years now.
My wife and I are leaving for Dominica in May and I am having my old equipment inspected prior to the trip.

So it appears I need to buy a new BCD (or rent).
My questions is, are there great sites for scuba equipment shopping?

And more of a request for opinions... What are great BCDs these days?
I had/have a Mares Vector 1000 and I really enjoyed diving with it. From drysuit to shortie diving. It wasn't over expensive but very nice quality as far as I was concerned....

Thanks
Nick
 
Thanks a ton.
Haven't bumped into that site till now. Much cheaper than other places I have seen.

Already placing my order!

Thanks again.
 
You also might want to consider a refresher course after being dry for so long.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14665025#post14665025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
You also might want to consider a refresher course after being dry for so long.
Click to expand...
Yep!

I was talking to my LDS about that on behalf of a friend who hasn't been diving in over 30 years, but is PADI OW... Dealer says he only charges $60 for a comprehensive refresher & pool session.

I would think that most would or should be in the same ball park.

-Tim
 
Before marriage I was a PADI instructor.
My wife will be finishing her open water dives for her certificate when we arrive. I will likely be doing either a refresher course or tagging along on her dives.
Sounds like the dive place will take good care of me (us) :)
 
Be sure and take plenty of pictures to show us when you get back from the trip ;)
 
BCDs

BCDs

There is a thread from about a month ago about BCDs that you can find through the search. It may be cluttered with lots of non-BC dialog. My current vest, and my all-time favorite is the Zeagle Scout. It is a back inflate, wonderfully light, easily packed, simple and very tough. I also use it locally. It is sleek and streamlined, and fits beautifully. There is lots of size adjustment built in. Don't get an extra large unless you are way over 6 feet tall and 300 lbs. I am a fairly sizeable guy, and the large is fine. I could fit into a medium if I had to. They are also US made, terrific quality and customer service. This is my second scout . The first was stolen from checked luggage, probably by some TSA hero. They pack small, weigh very little.
 
My local dive shop has not impressed me.
Long story short I gave them a BCD and a regulator set to have sent off for maintenance since they can't work on Mares in their shop.
The deal was to not fix anything till I got an estimate.
Four weeks later after calling and emailing them as well as visiting the store when the "right" person wasn't available I finally get to talk to the owner.
My stuff has been sent off. Shipping it there was $60, the regulator set is fine and they will do light maintenance work on it. The BCD is shot and if I want it back I have to pay another $60 in shipping.
In short, giving my equipment to them, having light maintenance on my regulator set is costing me about $380 of which about half is shipping.

Now I don't mind a store charging a bit for them being involved but this is ridiculous.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14704503#post14704503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeepman3sk
Watch out for leisure pro some of the stuff doesn't come with warrenty if purchased online.
Click to expand...

Can you give an example?

They state that to pass on great savings sometimes the equipment doesn't come from the manufacturer and in those cases manufactoring warranty doesn't apply. In those cases they match the warranty that would otherwise have applied if you send in a warranty card from the following:
http://www.leisurepro.com/Downloads/Warranty.pdf
which also notes:

Leisure Pro Ltd. warrants to the original purchaser that this equipment will be free from defects in
materials and workmanship for the same period offered by the manufacturer.
This warranty shall be limited to the repair adjustment and/or replacement at its option of defective
parts free of charge except the cost of transportation to Leisure Pro Ltd. 42 West 18th Street. new york,
NY 10011. Responsibility limited to actual cost of item.
When returning equipment for warranty service, all shipping and insurance charges must be prepaid
and the warranty certificate should be enclosed with the proof of purchase. Please explain the problem
encountered.
Leisure Pro Ltd. will not be responsible for expenses or inconveniences, or consequential damages
occasioned by equipment, or by breach of any expressed or implied warranty with respect thereto.
Implied warranties on this item shall be in effect only for duration of the expressed warranty set forth
above and after the expiration of such expresses warranty there shall be no warranties, expressed or
implied (including merchantability) on the product.
Limitations
This warranty covers all defects encountered in normal use of the equipment and does not apply in
the following cases.
1) If the equipment has been serviced by other than a certified center.
2) Damage to the equipment due to mishandling, abuse, accident or not following operating instructions.
3) INSTRUMENTS: Warranty does not extend to plastic gauge faces, rubber boots, HP Hoses, O-rings,
Batteries, hose fitting corrosion, or chrome loss. REGULATORS: Warranty does not extend to LP hoses,
swivel or hose end O-rings, mouthpieces, stress cracks due to spraying with aerosols, rubber deterioration
due to excessive exposure or lack of maintenance, chrome loss, or corrosion. BUOYANCY COMPENSATORS:
Warranty does not extend to abrasion, cuts or tears of rubber cover on LP inflator, hose end or
quick disconnect o-rings, hose fitting corrosion or chrome loss, natural rubber UV degradation, punctures
or cuts to the bladder material, or delamination due to exposure to chlorine, heat, or sunlight.
Click to expand...
 
Leisurepro stands behind their stuff, so I wouldn't worry about buying from them if you don't have a good LDS to buy from.
 
If you are looking for something innovative, check out Aqualung with i3 technology. I absolutely love it. you can add and release air with a simple move of a lever.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14718712#post14718712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jedininja
If you are looking for something innovative, check out Aqualung with i3 technology. I absolutely love it. you can add and release air with a simple move of a lever.
Click to expand...
I was at Vortex Spring in Florida this past weekend to do my OW check dives, and saw the rigid plate crack on an i3 where the inflator hose connects.

The guy this happened to has been diving for a few years, but he was super p|ssed because he ended up having to use a very basic DiveRite rental without trim pockets like he's used to having, and the integrated weight pockets didn't hold enough for him. I ended up digging up my ankle weights so he could clip them around the neck of his cylinder, and then he was good to go.

Our LDS is a ScubaPro dealer, so most of the students had the i3's, as well as the DM's and our Instructor... I have a Cressi S111 BC.

The instructor/LDS owner said this was the FIRST incident that he had ever seen with the i3, and that from the looks of the cracked plate, it should be a simple matter of removing 4 screws to remove and mount a new plate.

-Tim
 
I've been diving with the i3 for over a year now without any problems. Sucks when malfunctions happen on location, but I am sure the plate would be replaced under warranty.
 
I received a bunch of stuff in my order from Leisurepro. Some (most) in wrong sizes :D I called them and they took care of me like I was royalty. So far this has been a great experience with a company.
 
Leisurepro is good to deal with. But you need to know what you want (and what size). They do honor the manufacturer's warranty with their own, and have the best prices to make it worth it.

I've been buying from them for 14 years now with very few problems.

On larger and heavier (like tanks) stuff, you might not save as much, so going local for that might be the way to go.

On computers regs, and BC's, you will save a huge amount.
 
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