New Scuba Equipment

06-17-2005

I'm Stoked! I just purchased my own Scuba equipment and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the equipment that I bought.

I have:
Mares Vecter 1000 MRS bcd with back protection system. Very soft material and very comfortable but a little heavy.
Mares M1 Wrist Dive computer.
Dacor Vipor regulators. Very compact and easy breathing with a 260 degree swivle on the high pressure regulator.
Dacor SPG with built in compass. Very small, fits nice in the hand.

I got a smokin deal through my wife's cousin's brother. 25% off!
Now I am really going to have to find an airfare deal to Cancun so I can go diving in Playa/Cozumel.

ltex · 06-17-2005

Congrats, I purchased my own equip in January and have been diving twice with it. It is so great! My air consumption has decreased, plus I feel comfortable knowing where all the gadgets, hoses, gauges, etc are located. Having a dive computer is something I think every diver should invest in. I didn't realize how close some dive leaders come to safety margins, until I dove with my computer. Now I can elevate a bit to get my max botttom time number up to where I like to see it.

Again, congrats. Will be in COZ Aug 17-19, PDC Aug 19-23. If you are there and want to dive with us let me know.

jeffandbecky · 06-17-2005

Can't talk to you about Mares or Dacor, but we just got our Zeagle BC's and regs with Suunto instruments/computers. Becky said that now your first vacation destination question will be "How's the diving?". Down in Puerto Morelos from the 22nd through the 29th to dive in the good water instead of 8' vis lake water. We plan on diving at both Akumal and PM.

Having your own gear makes you think; Now that I've got it why not use it more?

ltex · 06-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffandbecky

Can't talk to you about Mares or Dacor, but we just got our Zeagle BC's and regs with Suunto instruments/computers. Becky said that now your first vacation destination question will be "How's the diving?". Down in Puerto Morelos from the 22nd through the 29th to dive in the good water instead of 8' vis lake water. We plan on diving at both Akumal and PM.

Having your own gear makes you think; Now that I've got it why not use it more?

You should really consider making a trip over to Cozumel. Outstanding over there.

06-19-2005

ITex and jeffandbecky,

Your right, now that I have my own equipment I should dive more. In fact I plan on getting in a shorty trip to Playa soon and a week long one this winter. If you got it you should use it.

jeffandbecky · 06-19-2005

We will be going to Coz later, but this time we are goiing with a nondiving couple and there is just so much more to do on the mainland. This will be their first trip into Mexico outside of Texas border towns so we want them to do the traditional first timer things like decent snorkling, cenotes, beach and PDC. You are right about better diving in Coz, but I think that this trip we can "limp" along at PM and Akumal.

STOGEY · 06-19-2005

You know the old saying, there's nothing better then good cheap scuba equipment, than good free scuba equipment.

ltex · 06-19-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffandbecky

We will be going to Coz later, but this time we are goiing with a nondiving couple and there is just so much more to do on the mainland. This will be their first trip into Mexico outside of Texas border towns so we want them to do the traditional first timer things like decent snorkling, cenotes, beach and PDC. You are right about better diving in Coz, but I think that this trip we can "limp" along at PM and Akumal.

Understood, did the same thing last year. It is a little bit hard to look at that water and know you are not going under it...

That is why I got rid of all my non-diving friends!!

Pipermurphy · 06-19-2005

I agree buying your own equiptment is sooo much better. I have bought most of my stuff from a local store. I did buy a computer thru ebay and it was not nitrox compat, I do regret that purchase, but maybe reason for another purchase. When we went down to Mayan we had a bag just for scuba and snorkeling.
I just got back from a local dive with my new Drysuit and the water was 61*, boy did I miss Mexico. The ice cream headache when my head went under was a bitch for 5 mins. But gotta get in bubble time.

jeffandbecky · 06-19-2005

Since Becky just got her cert card last Sunday, at this point baby steps are best and the deeper drift dives in Coz are probably beyond her skill level (and pushing mine). In the words of Dirty Harry: "A man's got to know his limitations." So both PM and Akumal both give decent 40' dives and we should be able to get in about 4 on this trip. With any luck we will do a deep dive course on the C-52 (or 56) minesweeper in PM towards the end of our trip.

Piper, the water in Lake Travis (central Texas) right now is still in the low 60's underneath the thermocline and its like swimming in a 6' brown box. Our choice for bubble time are the San Marcos springs where vis is in the 30' range and the temp is a constant 72 year round. You have to lie on your stomach to get to 20' but I prefer a 3mm to a dry suit any day

IN 60 HOURS FROM NOW WE ARE HALFWAY TO THE JOY OF THE CANCUN IMMMIGRATION'S CATTLE PENS, AFTER THAT IT'S ALL DOWN HILL.

06-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipermurphy

I agree buying your own equiptment is sooo much better. I have bought most of my stuff from a local store. I did buy a computer thru ebay and it was not nitrox compat, I do regret that purchase, but maybe reason for another purchase. When we went down to Mayan we had a bag just for scuba and snorkeling.
I just got back from a local dive with my new Drysuit and the water was 61*, boy did I miss Mexico. The ice cream headache when my head went under was a bitch for 5 mins. But gotta get in bubble time.

PiperMurphy, where did you go diving? Mountains/Blue Hole. I see that you live in denver and I really would like to do some local diving. I have been to Blue Hole in NM but that is a pretty far drive.

Pipermurphy · 06-21-2005

Sorry it took so long to reply. The dive store went to Aurora Res. It was closed last year due to the drought. They have a specal section set up just for scuba divers, with a little cessna plane sunk. It is okay for fresh water, depth was 65 ft. It was my first time there and was not prepared for the long surface swims. Usually all the diving is off a boat or ocean side shore. But it gave me a few extra dives. Will be back there again.
The store is doing Turquoise in Leadville in Aug, and Blue Hole and Homestead too. Will be signing up for them.
They said Blue Hole is about an 8 hr drive, might give them my stuff to take and take the sportbike, might make it in 6 hrs.

oklahomajack · 06-22-2005

I have 68 dives in the Playa area and the last 8 times there I have took my own gear because of a bad experence with rental and I use double computers as to not get back in the water too soon . Great idea I think I to will do a shorty trip as My next 10 day trip is not till Feb-Mar

jeffandbecky · 07-01-2005

We just got back from PM and the diving there is ok not great. Good vis, but the boat captain missed the reef and we had a lot of sand and coral heads due to the current. Still a good place for a first ocean dive to see the "blue", small groups and short boat rides. Personally, the snorkling was better than the diving. PM is a strange little town where everyone seems to be either very happy or very unhappy, especially the women. Dont know if we will be returning, but PM has a nice niche between the isolation of Akumal and the bustle of PDC.

Pipermurphy · 07-04-2005

Hey Cerveza Dude, I don't know where you live but the dive store is doing Aurora res again in the end of July. If you want to go PM me and maybe we can set something up. Also to any other Playans who live around this region and maybe want to do a ColoradoPlaya Dive get together.

06-17-2005	#1 (permalink)
Cerveza_dude Guest Posts: n/a	New Scuba Equipment I'm Stoked! I just purchased my own Scuba equipment and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the equipment that I bought. I have: Mares Vecter 1000 MRS bcd with back protection system. Very soft material and very comfortable but a little heavy. Mares M1 Wrist Dive computer. Dacor Vipor regulators. Very compact and easy breathing with a 260 degree swivle on the high pressure regulator. Dacor SPG with built in compass. Very small, fits nice in the hand. I got a smokin deal through my wife's cousin's brother. 25% off! Now I am really going to have to find an airfare deal to Cancun so I can go diving in Playa/Cozumel.

06-17-2005	#2 (permalink)
ltex beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Under final approach to runway 18R at DFW, TX Posts: 428	Congrats, I purchased my own equip in January and have been diving twice with it. It is so great! My air consumption has decreased, plus I feel comfortable knowing where all the gadgets, hoses, gauges, etc are located. Having a dive computer is something I think every diver should invest in. I didn't realize how close some dive leaders come to safety margins, until I dove with my computer. Now I can elevate a bit to get my max botttom time number up to where I like to see it. Again, congrats. Will be in COZ Aug 17-19, PDC Aug 19-23. If you are there and want to dive with us let me know.

06-17-2005	#3 (permalink)
jeffandbecky añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 2,101	Can't talk to you about Mares or Dacor, but we just got our Zeagle BC's and regs with Suunto instruments/computers. Becky said that now your first vacation destination question will be "How's the diving?". Down in Puerto Morelos from the 22nd through the 29th to dive in the good water instead of 8' vis lake water. We plan on diving at both Akumal and PM. Having your own gear makes you think; Now that I've got it why not use it more?

06-19-2005	#5 (permalink)
Cerveza_dude Guest Posts: n/a	ITex and jeffandbecky, Your right, now that I have my own equipment I should dive more. In fact I plan on getting in a shorty trip to Playa soon and a week long one this winter. If you got it you should use it.

06-19-2005	#6 (permalink)
jeffandbecky añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 2,101	We will be going to Coz later, but this time we are goiing with a nondiving couple and there is just so much more to do on the mainland. This will be their first trip into Mexico outside of Texas border towns so we want them to do the traditional first timer things like decent snorkling, cenotes, beach and PDC. You are right about better diving in Coz, but I think that this trip we can "limp" along at PM and Akumal.

06-19-2005	#7 (permalink)
STOGEY Allah Akhbar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: salisbury, mass. Posts: 16,391	You know the old saying, there's nothing better then good cheap scuba equipment, than good free scuba equipment.

06-19-2005	#9 (permalink)
Pipermurphy beachaholic Join Date: May 2005 Location: SW of Denver@9000ft Posts: 408	I agree buying your own equiptment is sooo much better. I have bought most of my stuff from a local store. I did buy a computer thru ebay and it was not nitrox compat, I do regret that purchase, but maybe reason for another purchase. When we went down to Mayan we had a bag just for scuba and snorkeling. I just got back from a local dive with my new Drysuit and the water was 61*, boy did I miss Mexico. The ice cream headache when my head went under was a bitch for 5 mins. But gotta get in bubble time.

06-19-2005	#10 (permalink)
jeffandbecky añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 2,101	Since Becky just got her cert card last Sunday, at this point baby steps are best and the deeper drift dives in Coz are probably beyond her skill level (and pushing mine). In the words of Dirty Harry: "A man's got to know his limitations." So both PM and Akumal both give decent 40' dives and we should be able to get in about 4 on this trip. With any luck we will do a deep dive course on the C-52 (or 56) minesweeper in PM towards the end of our trip. Piper, the water in Lake Travis (central Texas) right now is still in the low 60's underneath the thermocline and its like swimming in a 6' brown box. Our choice for bubble time are the San Marcos springs where vis is in the 30' range and the temp is a constant 72 year round. You have to lie on your stomach to get to 20' but I prefer a 3mm to a dry suit any day IN 60 HOURS FROM NOW WE ARE HALFWAY TO THE JOY OF THE CANCUN IMMMIGRATION'S CATTLE PENS, AFTER THAT IT'S ALL DOWN HILL.

06-21-2005	#12 (permalink)
Pipermurphy beachaholic Join Date: May 2005 Location: SW of Denver@9000ft Posts: 408	Sorry it took so long to reply. The dive store went to Aurora Res. It was closed last year due to the drought. They have a specal section set up just for scuba divers, with a little cessna plane sunk. It is okay for fresh water, depth was 65 ft. It was my first time there and was not prepared for the long surface swims. Usually all the diving is off a boat or ocean side shore. But it gave me a few extra dives. Will be back there again. The store is doing Turquoise in Leadville in Aug, and Blue Hole and Homestead too. Will be signing up for them. They said Blue Hole is about an 8 hr drive, might give them my stuff to take and take the sportbike, might make it in 6 hrs.

06-22-2005	#13 (permalink)
oklahomajack life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: enid oklahoma Posts: 685	I have 68 dives in the Playa area and the last 8 times there I have took my own gear because of a bad experence with rental and I use double computers as to not get back in the water too soon . Great idea I think I to will do a shorty trip as My next 10 day trip is not till Feb-Mar

07-01-2005	#14 (permalink)
jeffandbecky añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 2,101	We just got back from PM and the diving there is ok not great. Good vis, but the boat captain missed the reef and we had a lot of sand and coral heads due to the current. Still a good place for a first ocean dive to see the "blue", small groups and short boat rides. Personally, the snorkling was better than the diving. PM is a strange little town where everyone seems to be either very happy or very unhappy, especially the women. Dont know if we will be returning, but PM has a nice niche between the isolation of Akumal and the bustle of PDC.

register to remove these adverts

07-04-2005	#15 (permalink)
Pipermurphy beachaholic Join Date: May 2005 Location: SW of Denver@9000ft Posts: 408	Hey Cerveza Dude, I don't know where you live but the dive store is doing Aurora res again in the end of July. If you want to go PM me and maybe we can set something up. Also to any other Playans who live around this region and maybe want to do a ColoradoPlaya Dive get together.