gear advice

tomaschonnie

hi all

im looking to get some diving gear. i have a wetsuit but need everything else... mask, snorkel, regulator, bcd, fins etc. i met a fella who advised me to go to a diving conference in england to get rock bottom prices. has anyone done this? otherwise, where is the best place in the republic to get good deals on scuba gear.

Thanks in advance

galloway.jimmy@

Go to a good dive shop it also depends how much you want to spend you will need booties / fins and what are you expecting from diving ie how far do you want to proceed

tomaschonnie

im planning to go to thailand to do my divemaster, hopefully after the summer. i did the advanced open water there a few months ago. id like to be able to travel the world and be able to work, australia, west coast usa, carribean etc.

rahtkennades

Hey Tomas,

personally I travelled (including a Thailand DM) with a mask, a computer and a regulator.

A properly fitting mask that you are happy with is a must. There's nothing more annoying than a hire mask that leaks or gives you headaches.

A computer is less so, I prefer to have my own as I'm sure of it, know how it behaves (how the deco modelling works). Also if you're doing a DM you'll be doing a shed-load of diving, so your own computer will be very beneficial in ensuring you don't over-do it.

A reg. Well I wouldn't breathe out of anybody else's reg unless I had to. Who knows what maltreatment it's been given. The amount of eejit's I've seen blowing water into a first stage is ridiculous!

RE working after a DM, you'll find it very difficult in the bigger resort areas to get paid work as a DM, there's just too many people willing to work for dives. But you might strike it lucky. Keep an eye on PADI's job site.

RE buying equipment, you can buy online, but for a mask or even a reg, I'd recommend supporting your local dive shop.

Hope that's some help.

lochdara

If you want good value and good quality equipment have a look at www.first4scuba.com . Their prices are service is great. There are based in Arklow Co. Wicklow but can ship to you easily for a good price. They are also a padi training centre.

ScottStorm

If your doing your DM in thailand you could buy the gear over there, it's been a while since I was over but the prices were reasonable and if you get to know an instructor (which is inevitable) you will be able to avail of their instructor discount.

That way you will avoid the grief of flying over with full kit.

Peace

I've gone to three of four dive conferences and the prices are only marginally cheaper than the webshop prices. So if its to save yourself money then you won't succeed by the time you factor in your expenses!

However the shows are good to get your hands on a lot of gear at the same time.