Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site zinfan.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!decwrl!zinfan!dellinge
From: dellinge@zinfan.UUCP (Ken Dellinger)
Newsgroups: net.rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Request for general advice... (what I bought)
Message-ID: <75@zinfan.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 15:21:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: zinfan.75
Posted: Tue Apr 30 15:21:01 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 08:02:48 EDT
References: <1900@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: DEC Western Region Operations, Santa Clara, CA
Lines: 66

*** REALIGN THIS PLACE WITH YOUR MASSAGE ***

As far as what brands to buy, I've found the following to be
quite reliable....

Regulator:  Sherwood Magnum (It's fairly cheap from any mail order ($115.00)
	    and it's rugged as well as light).
BC:         I've been using a Tabata vest.  Again, cheap but reliable.
Guages:     I prefer the Tekna consoles for readability and size.
Tank:       Any* brand will do since there are only two places in the US
	    that actually manufacture them.  Just be carefull of used tanks
	    with custom paint jobs and/or non-current Hydro-stat test date.
S M & F:    If you don't already have snorkel mask and fins of your own,
	    check out some of the silcone stuff (like Plana fins).  They're
	    light and seem to hold up longer to everything except heat.
	    Be forwarned, the car heater on a friends VW bug melted his
	    pair!  Also the silicone masks are usually more comfortable
	    and *I* think visibility is better due to more light coming
	    in.  Don't pair a silicone mask with a regular snorkel, though.
	    It'll ruin the silicone (don't forget a silicone snorkel keeper
	    in your spares kit, too.).
Wet/Dry     I'm shopping around for a dry suit at the moment and would
Suit:       appreciate any advice on what's good.  Wet suits just don't
	    keep me warm enough up here in the Northwest -- you may find
	    the same in the Northeast.  I'm currently using a wet suit
	    (1/4 inch, high waist) that I bought used (a rental) for
	    $40.00.  I fit most clothes of the rack and finding a wet
	    suit that fit wasn't a problem.  Since I don't know how you're
	    put together, all I can say is the laminated nylon dry suits
	    are more forgiving of shapes and sizes than about any other
	    suit, wet or dry.

General:    If you try to buy all of this stuff at one time, it'll break
	    you and make it harder to afford dive trips.  I bought my stuff
	    over a period of a year and a half.  Personal things like a
	    regulator were first on my list.  Things like tanks* and weights
	    were last on my list.  The reason being, you can rent weights
	    and tanks, all of which are like ones you might own.  Since
	    dive shops pay little for maintenance on these items (in
	    comparison to regulators, BCs, wet/dry suits), they charge
	    little for you to use them.  You can usually rent a tank (full)
	    for $3 - $5 a day.  Most shops will charge at least $2 to fill
	    a tank you own.  I can walk in to a shop and rent a full tank
	    for only a dollar more and be out before they can fill an
	    empty (so even if you own a tank, you have to stop at the dive
	    shop).

	    The only mail order place I've dealt with recently is
	    Laguna Sea Sports in CA.  They're really a chain of
	    stores but they also do mail order.  They advertise in
	    Skin Diver, pricess are reasonable and delivery runs
	    about 5 - 8 working days.

-- 

 			    Ken Dellinger
			    Digital Equipment Corporation
			    9570 S.W. Barbur Blvd.
			    Portland, OR  97219

                                / decvax \
                     anywhere! <          > !decwrl!zinfan!dellinge
                                \ ucbvax /

* UNIX is a trademark of A.T.& T.
  ULTRIX belongs to us...