Diving Kit

[Acollins]

Heya,

I know there are many other topics about getting new dive equipment, but basically i'm half way through the SD course and thinkig on getting new kit. I'm considering on getting:

1) Mares Origin, Scubapro MK2/R295 with occ and suunto triple console
2) Suunto Zoop

Basically, I need to know whether the kit up above is suitable for UK diving.

Cheers,
Alex

[Roz]

...I'm considering on getting.....Scubapro MK2/R295 with occ and suunto triple console....Suunto Zoop
Basically, I need to know whether the kit up above is suitable for UK diving.Alex

The Scubapro MK2 is I think a 30 year old reg design. (It might be even older than that). Its very simple and its much favoured as a Diving School Workhorse because it's robust, easy to service and it works. You can't go wrong with this, and if you are travelling you'll be able to get it fixed pretty much anywhere in the World. Consider it the Ford Seirra of Regs. The one thing I would say is get a DIN reguator. This is a male/female connection and considered a strong superior connection to A Clamp. You can also change a DIN regulator into a A Clamp in nano seconds. The other way around is challenging.

The Suunto Zoop takes over from the Gekko. The difference is that you can download it. Its an Air and Nitrox recreational decompression Computer (21% - 50%), with usable changable batteries.

Both the Scubapro Reg and the Suunto Zoop are Entry Level Diver Products. They will serve you faithfully in the temperate and blue water diving, and in a few years time when you've grown and developed you should be able to sell these onto a new diver and buy something that will take your diving further.

In summary I'd be happy to take these off the shelf and dive them myself.

[ChristianG]

1) Mares Origin, Scubapro MK2/R295 with occ and suunto triple console
2) Suunto Zoop
Wot Roz said.

I'd, however, definitely ditch the triple console. Your computer goes on one wrist with the compass on the other, thus the console only takes your SPG. Consoles, even a single one, are big and clumsy and unless properly stowed, will dangle, damage stuff and jam into something or another, none of which is a good look.

[bakerstreet]

Both the Scubapro Reg and the Suunto Zoop are Entry Level Diver Products. They will serve you faithfully in the temperate and blue water diving, and in a few years time when you've grown and developed you should be able to sell these onto a new diver and buy something that will take your diving further

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I don't see the point in that. I think he might as well buy something decent and they you have something to keep for 10 years.

Maybe something like the Mk17/R380 would be good alternative.

Wouldn't recommend a Mares Origin. I had a Mares jacket. It fell apart. Not sure what else I'd go for. Maybe a Buddy Explorers or similar. Some of the Scubapro jackets are good too.

[kdtan]

Mk2 is very reliable. But if you have budget an apeks ds4 set up will serve you well and better breathing performance.

[Acollins]

Going by the replies I have had I've found the following:

[1]Buddy Explorer (no bottle/auto air)
[2]ATX40/DS4 with occ and SPG
[3]Suunto Zoop

However it totals at about £800 which is way over my limit of £600. Any cheaper alternatives??

[Richard Whitcombe]

A zoop appears to be a gecko but in yellow. With the download hack installed we couldn't see a single difference between gecko and zoop apart from the colour.

[northern_diver]

duplicate post

[northern_diver]

Alternatives-2nd hand market?

While a possible route to ruin it can also be a cheaper way of collecting up your chosen gear. The important thing to remember however is the issue of faulty or ill repair gear.

You can always get them serviced or buy from a mate, if you dont like the past history (if known at all) and can be a cost saver. As said it is handy to buy from a place known to you/your club as generally less likely to have a ringer if they guy selling it to you is going to be the one having to rescue you if its naff.

When viewing, have a good old test of the gear and if possible even a try wet, best to take a mate of some experience in the mate and ask your club (if you have one) for opinions as well, even if its just to confirm the prices are right or help carry it to your car:)

One of BSAC selling points is the club environment, it can be very handy is made use of.

Do be savvy and careful however, best of luck getting gear.

Option 3-

Shop around and look for cheaper and ask the seller near you to price match/beat, most will and gets you some freebe's and gets them some money.

Option 4-

look at other gear, might be deals around for them, the AQUALUNG TITAN and other mid range regs might be just as good for you, just depends on what you want/can find.

John

[voltiana]

Might sound strange but if you can wait until the next dive show as you might get some good deals there. Also visit Underwater world at Stoney cove they seem to always have offers and there prices are reasonable as well anyway.

Volty

[Woz]

Might sound strange but if you can wait until the next dive show as you might get some good deals there. Also visit Underwater world at Stoney cove they seem to always have offers and there prices are reasonable as well anyway.

VoltyThat's the first time I've seen Stoney Cove and Reasonable Prices in the same sentence. They're usually eye-wateringly expensive, although not as wallet-curdlingly pricey as Underwater Explorers in Portland. But UE have some proper bling, drooley kit well worth dribbling over rather than the standard LDS fayre of racks of Beaver stuff.

Cheap and Diving are mutually exclusive sets- it's an expensive sport. But a Buddy will go on for decades, Apeks are cheap and good, Zoop is a good entry level computer. Second hand kit, by the time you get it serviced, is not always the bargain you hoped for.

Dive shows don't have the bargains they used to, and this is partly why you get the big drop off in numbers attending. I was after some Mares Quattros one year and it was cheaper to drive 5 mins to Decathlon than go to the NEC. Occasionally you get bargains- I remember one guy with a stand full of Force Fins for £60. Cash only. He was beating them off with both hands. And Quantums for £140. I think I bought 6.

[ChristianG]

As Woz said, be very leery of second hand gear.

IMO you're much better off by waiting until you can afford what really suits. Now that applies to the important stuff, particularly regs - your backbone when it comes to "life support systems", which they are. If your regs die, chances are that you can do the same, never mind your buddy whom you can't see in the gloom or is way too far away from you in clear water (always remember that you won't get air as you inhale, having already exhaled).

Unimportant stuff such as masks and fins and stuff can always be offloaded, e-Bay is then your friend, especially when it comes to those strange things called "snorkels" (sorry, my bias is showing).

[Fishy49]

You can also change a DIN regulator into a A Clamp in nano seconds. The other way around is challenging.

You find it challenging to screw an insert into a cylinder valve?

[Nick Argue]

You find it challenging to screw an insert into a cylinder valve?

I think the clue was in the word "regulator"

[Fishy49]

I think the clue was in the word "regulator"

In that case, why would you want to?

[TerryH]

In that case, why would you want to?

Some cylinder valves are so large that the A-clamp wont fit, this is a common
problem with Apeks in the Red Sea. So the logical awnser of fitting a din
plug in the hole and using the A-clamp still wont work.

Instead you need to stick in a din to A-clamp adapter and put the
a-clamp on that. Yes it works, but it's not pretty and certainly messier
than using an A-clamp adapter on a din reg.

[davemanroe]

Going by the replies I have had I've found the following:

[1]Buddy Explorer (no bottle/auto air)
[2]ATX40/DS4 with occ and SPG
[3]Suunto Zoop

However it totals at about £800 which is way over my limit of £600. Any cheaper alternatives??

That lot is about £700 from divelife.co.uk (other retailers are available!) might be worth a call to see if they can do you a bit more of a deal?