Back in the 70's and early 80's Scubapro parts were so inexpensive you could actually build a regulator out parts for less money than a new regulator cost.
Just recently made a discovery: Those blue drygloves (without cuffs) we all love to hate? A pair in a DirZone bag with an added pair of the saddest undergloves = 49 euros. The _exact_ same gloves (made by Showa) from a hardware store under "chemical/oil protection" = 4,99€.
My best advice to save money on scuba gear is to buy your second set of gear first. Most of the divers I know have their first set of (expensive) gear sitting in their garages. Get your backplate and wing setup right from the start. You'll likely have to go around the friendly (commissioned) salesman at your local dive shop. Talk to experienced divers.
I followed my experienced diver friends' advice to buy nice from day one. I got a sturdy and very comfortable XDeep Zen wing, and a set of Scubapro regs: MK17 and S620 TI's. Needless to say, my gear still works beautifully after almost 7 years of intensive diving. But some of my other gear was bought second-hand: a pair of Apeks RK3 fins, a pair of Apeks Tech Shorts, and an Apeks hood. I found a big (163 litre) wheeled duffle bag from Samsonite on an outlet site (for my long trips to Asia) for half of the listed price! And so on. The money I saved was spent on a trip to Indonesia. So I agree with you, be very smart with your money and take care of your gear. That will make your wallet happy :-)...
I haven’t put a jacket style on since open water class I was spoiled with a dry suit and all oms gear from the municipality as a firefighter search and recovery diver retired now still rocking my own oms gear and dry suits kinda looking into Sidemount but it’s hard to get away for me love my bp and wing and nothing less than oms it’s never let me down I’m sure there is great gear out there but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it
I was comparing what I've spent in gear vs my brother and omg. I've spent a TOTAL of around £1300 only, including bcd, drysuit, regs(apeks) and two tanks, fins mask and hood included, and wing for twinset+ another two 2x12L for the twins, another set of regs(Scubapro), jet fins + free weights. (Price doesn't include servicing, and the gear is not old or rusted). My brother has spent thousands in basically the same but buying first hand, but only has two tanks for side-mount which he uses for normal dives as well. He was pissed😂. I'm one of those who's always trying to find bargains, and trust me, there are many out there, just make sure you know what to buy and ask people who know better than you if it's worth it. My instructor and ny brother still can't believe how much money I've saved (and keep saving). Good luck everyone, it can be done!
One of your best video’s you’ve ever posted and here comes the multi million dollar question: I had a grand mal seizure 3.5 years ago, DAN recommends ,no diving on seizure meds, because nitrogen can increase the risk of getting seizures. I have to take this stuff until I go (hopefully) to heaven, but is there any knowledge in the rebreather community about this issue (and I know, you're not a neurologist 🙂 ) ?
My regulators are Scubapro and Aqualung from the 1970's and 1980's because parts are still available. And they were built to last. The Scubapro MK2 and MK5 came out in the 1960's. And parts are still available. And Scubapro still makes the MK2.
Thanks man! Yeah, it definitely becomes work. Although, dragging my rebreather, 2 bailouts, scooter, and camera into the surf feels a bit like work sometimes too, but I do that for free 😉 Byt yeah, working in the industry definitely kills it for some people, not for everyone.
@@DiveVibe yeah I saw you’re diving the Sidewinder. Was diving weekend before last with a mate who is diving the same rig. Looks tidy 👍 Yeah, we all do it for ourselves for the love. I also teach for the love as I get expenses only as a BSAC instructor. Off this weekend freezing my ass off teaching the next batch of instructors how to teach for nowt as well!! What I like about being a volunteer instructor in the club scene is the fact I can say “No” as I’m not being paid and I don’t owe anyone anything 👍😎
Rebreather computers use something called voting logic to decide which sensors to look at for po2 data. If they're too out of whack it will say voting failed. It wasnt connected to anything, so it says voting failed. Reminds me of an election though, lol.
I had all the assurances and a nice fresh receipt for a service when buying my Halcyon regs second hand. When I got them in my hands they looked barely used so I was pretty confident in them at first. However when I got them in the water they breathed like shit, which really made things difficult for the training I was trying to do. I took them to get serviced and the guy couldn't even get the covers off (yes, he took the pin out) because the threads were so corroded. The tech managed to get them open with only minor damage clean them up but they still don't quite breathe like they should. So while I would buy second hand again, just beware that even if everything seems above the board and not dodgy at all you can still get screwed. Then you're stuck with gear you don't really trust and are reluctant to give/sell to someone else. It seems common that tech instructors can get you gear at good discounts so talking to your (tech) instructor is absolutely a great move. I went straight for DIR style gear. It's nice to not be putting a jacket BCD in landfill.
Just realized I said that scubapro's "used parts" were cheap, I meant to say "replacement parts." Sorry about that!
Thanks for watching!
Back in the 70's and early 80's Scubapro parts were so inexpensive you could actually build a regulator out parts for less money than a new regulator cost.
Just recently made a discovery:
Those blue drygloves (without cuffs) we all love to hate?
A pair in a DirZone bag with an added pair of the saddest undergloves = 49 euros.
The _exact_ same gloves (made by Showa) from a hardware store under "chemical/oil protection" = 4,99€.
Buy once cry once..... that's my mantra
My best advice to save money on scuba gear is to buy your second set of gear first. Most of the divers I know have their first set of (expensive) gear sitting in their garages. Get your backplate and wing setup right from the start. You'll likely have to go around the friendly (commissioned) salesman at your local dive shop. Talk to experienced divers.
Finished OW class in a vest, immediately bought a Transpac.
I followed my experienced diver friends' advice to buy nice from day one. I got a sturdy and very comfortable XDeep Zen wing, and a set of Scubapro regs: MK17 and S620 TI's. Needless to say, my gear still works beautifully after almost 7 years of intensive diving. But some of my other gear was bought second-hand: a pair of Apeks RK3 fins, a pair of Apeks Tech Shorts, and an Apeks hood. I found a big (163 litre) wheeled duffle bag from Samsonite on an outlet site (for my long trips to Asia) for half of the listed price! And so on. The money I saved was spent on a trip to Indonesia. So I agree with you, be very smart with your money and take care of your gear. That will make your wallet happy :-)...
I haven’t put a jacket style on since open water class I was spoiled with a dry suit and all oms gear from the municipality as a firefighter search and recovery diver retired now still rocking my own oms gear and dry suits kinda looking into Sidemount but it’s hard to get away for me love my bp and wing and nothing less than oms it’s never let me down I’m sure there is great gear out there but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it
My first set of dive gear I bought was when I was 17 years old. It was a set of rental gear my local dive shop was selling.
I was comparing what I've spent in gear vs my brother and omg.
I've spent a TOTAL of around £1300 only, including bcd, drysuit, regs(apeks) and two tanks, fins mask and hood included, and wing for twinset+ another two 2x12L for the twins, another set of regs(Scubapro), jet fins + free weights. (Price doesn't include servicing, and the gear is not old or rusted).
My brother has spent thousands in basically the same but buying first hand, but only has two tanks for side-mount which he uses for normal dives as well.
He was pissed😂.
I'm one of those who's always trying to find bargains, and trust me, there are many out there, just make sure you know what to buy and ask people who know better than you if it's worth it. My instructor and ny brother still can't believe how much money I've saved (and keep saving).
Good luck everyone, it can be done!
Great advice as always! Not sure if you’ve done this, but if not a thought. Can you do a video on your Black Tip and the accessories you have mounted?
That's a great idea!
One of your best video’s you’ve ever posted and here comes the multi million dollar question: I had a grand mal seizure 3.5 years ago, DAN recommends ,no diving on seizure meds, because nitrogen can increase the risk of getting seizures. I have to take this stuff until I go (hopefully) to heaven, but is there any knowledge in the rebreather community about this issue (and I know, you're not a neurologist 🙂 ) ?
My regulators are Scubapro and Aqualung from the 1970's and 1980's because parts are still available. And they were built to last. The Scubapro MK2 and MK5 came out in the 1960's. And parts are still available. And Scubapro still makes the MK2.
Love the “2nd stage” mic!
I didn't even thing about that! I'm just gonna bungee that thing to my neck so I dont have to worry about leaning too far away from it. loool
Thanks Zach great advice 🤙
Nice video. Agree with almost all of it. Never gone “pro” as yet, (it then becomes work, and I don’t like work!!) but never say never
Thanks man! Yeah, it definitely becomes work. Although, dragging my rebreather, 2 bailouts, scooter, and camera into the surf feels a bit like work sometimes too, but I do that for free 😉
Byt yeah, working in the industry definitely kills it for some people, not for everyone.
@@DiveVibe yeah I saw you’re diving the Sidewinder. Was diving weekend before last with a mate who is diving the same rig. Looks tidy 👍 Yeah, we all do it for ourselves for the love. I also teach for the love as I get expenses only as a BSAC instructor. Off this weekend freezing my ass off teaching the next batch of instructors how to teach for nowt as well!! What I like about being a volunteer instructor in the club scene is the fact I can say “No” as I’m not being paid and I don’t owe anyone anything 👍😎
Intro is EPIC.
Thanks Anthony! I really put some effort in on this one!
@@DiveVibe Just finished the whole video. Nice work. I liked the whole tone of the video (content, color grading, editing style, etc.) Very nice work!
What's the go with the Computer showing "Voting Failed" - subliminal messaging?
Rebreather computers use something called voting logic to decide which sensors to look at for po2 data. If they're too out of whack it will say voting failed. It wasnt connected to anything, so it says voting failed. Reminds me of an election though, lol.
I had all the assurances and a nice fresh receipt for a service when buying my Halcyon regs second hand. When I got them in my hands they looked barely used so I was pretty confident in them at first. However when I got them in the water they breathed like shit, which really made things difficult for the training I was trying to do. I took them to get serviced and the guy couldn't even get the covers off (yes, he took the pin out) because the threads were so corroded. The tech managed to get them open with only minor damage clean them up but they still don't quite breathe like they should.
So while I would buy second hand again, just beware that even if everything seems above the board and not dodgy at all you can still get screwed. Then you're stuck with gear you don't really trust and are reluctant to give/sell to someone else.
It seems common that tech instructors can get you gear at good discounts so talking to your (tech) instructor is absolutely a great move.
I went straight for DIR style gear. It's nice to not be putting a jacket BCD in landfill.
I hate that for you dude. At least you have the experience now. Makes you a little more deathproof.
your presentation kicks
Much appreciated! Thanks fam
I don't mind to pay if I get the service behind it. I don't mind paying for knowledge.
Honestly about to withdraw all of my money and hide it in a mattress. Just kidding, gonna put it all in a treasure chest and hide it in unmapped cave.