cheap internet equipment?

haitwun · 11/03/2006, 10:56 AM

Do anybody here buy their SCUBA equipment online? If so, what are some good sites for good, cheap equipment?
I'd like to get certified soon but I don't want to spend too much money and the prices at my local shop look really expensive.

Oh, and what are some things that you recommend I get? Any specific brands?

Cshradr7 · 11/03/2006, 04:33 PM

Just a little note, when your 110ft below the surface, the last thing you want is your "cheap" dive equiptment to fail. I use Scuba Pro regs, Sunnto computer, and a seaquest bc. when you buy stuff online at the "discount" stores, generally you dont get a warrenty and that is definatly something that you want. Renting is always an option depending on how often you dive, but for me the dive shop combined all of my rentals and subtracted those from my final equipment bill. scuba diving along with reefing is really expensive. generally i think its around 300 just for the class and then you have to do 5 open water dives with a guide after that.

good luck and it is worth spending the money on, you wont regret it

Colin

H22ATypeS · 11/03/2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cshradr7
Just a little note, when your 110ft below the surface, the last thing you want is your "cheap" dive equiptment to fail. I use Scuba Pro regs, Sunnto computer, and a seaquest bc. when you buy stuff online at the "discount" stores, generally you dont get a warrenty and that is definatly something that you want. Renting is always an option depending on how often you dive, but for me the dive shop combined all of my rentals and subtracted those from my final equipment bill. scuba diving along with reefing is really expensive. generally i think its around 300 just for the class and then you have to do 5 open water dives with a guide after that.

good luck and it is worth spending the money on, you wont regret it

Colin

I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!......Do research and spend the extra dollars for warranty and superior equipment......Happy Reefing and Safe Diving!

Boat · 11/04/2006, 06:28 PM

haitwun,

Some on-line discount stores are not manufacturer authorized sellers, others are. An excellent scuba related website is scubaboard.com. That is a much better web site to research equipment and sellers. Scubatoys.com and crazyscuba.com are authorized sellers so you get the manufacturers' warranty if you purchase equipment from them.

Other stores offer "gray market" equipment for which they are not authorized retailers. Unauthorized sellers may offer a store warranty which might be the same as the manufacturer's warranty, but after it expires you may have trouble getting the gear repaired.

Regulators require yearly tune-ups so I'd suggested buying them locally from someone you trust.

Right now scubatoys has a deal on an older model Aeris Sport bc that looks like a good deal and I recently bought an inexpensive Neosport 7mm wetsuit that I'm very happy with.

Cshradr7 · 11/04/2006, 08:25 PM

No matter what you do, if you dont have a mask yet, do not buy it over the internet unless you have gone to a local dive shop and tried on the mask your looking at. masks are one of the most important pieces of gear because if they leak, then you'll end up aborting the dive. always try it in a pool if possible.

Harbour · 11/11/2006, 06:40 AM

I have bought equipment over the internet - not cheap equipment but cheaper than I could buy locally. Did ask my Local Dive Shop to match or get close because I prefer to buy local, but I can't allow my LDS to become my favorite charity.

But since then I found an LDS (Divesports.com) that will match internet prices, so I get the best of both worlds. This equipment is not gray market, has full warranty.

Harbour

rmougey · 11/15/2006, 09:14 PM

I'm a fan of Leisurepro.com....... never had a problem and always have gear serviced by my local dive shop.

Sometimes your LDS can match Internet pricing. In any case, if you choose to buy used gear from eBay or other sources, have the equipment checked out by a qualified service tech.

The goal here shouldn't be looking for cheap gear, but buying inexpensive, quality gear in order to allow you to spend more time under water.

-Rob

squiddly · 11/15/2006, 09:17 PM

I'd just like to echo the post that said you have to get your regulator tuned up once per year. Make sure you have a name brand if you don't want to have to send your Internet reg back to the website you bought it from for service. Very difficult to find parts for certain discontinued models, and for certain no name brands. And ditto on the mask. I had a lens pop out at 40 feet once. Doesn't make for a great day.

Cshradr7 · 11/15/2006, 09:23 PM

Just another note on the regulator servicing. All you have to pay for if you get it serviced each year is the labor. If you skip a year, you have to pay for labor and any parts used. After you do this year of paying for everything, then the warrenty is back and all you have to pay for the next year is labor. the amount of money that the parts cost for these instruments is amazing. the dive companies know that lots of people dont get them serviced every year so they really get ya when you have to pay for the parts. So the moral of the story, dont skip a year, they have a good reason for having such high prices, it makes them look bad even if one fails because it wasnt treated properly so they encourage getting them checked. This is how it is with my scubapro regs and i think most companies do it this way also.

matter1331 · 11/19/2006, 06:14 PM

another vote for scubatoys.com. Pretty good prices, great customer service, and it helps that they're 45 min. away from me, lol

hunter99991 · 11/21/2006, 09:49 PM

I run a local dive shop. If there is anything I can do to help just let me know.

Brent

dawnskaybug · 11/24/2006, 12:25 AM

I bought a Mares Morphos AT combo w/ Suunto cobra computer cheaper from Leisure pro. Than a mid level combo here locally with no computer... But Im in a divers heaven with only 2 dive shops that jack up there prices for the Japanese tourist.

Jeepman3sk · 11/24/2006, 10:55 PM

Have fun trying to get the manufactor to stand behind their warrenty after buying your gear from Leisure pro.

davocean · 12/02/2006, 05:22 PM

Craigslist has been great for me.
Just check your gear and have it serviced if concerned.
Don't buy aluminum tanks stamped 90 or older.
And if you're deep diving, no matter how new your gear is, it's a good idea to have a plan b (spare air) and plan c(your buddy)

11/03/2006, 10:56 AM	#1
haitwun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 255	cheap internet equipment? Do anybody here buy their SCUBA equipment online? If so, what are some good sites for good, cheap equipment? I'd like to get certified soon but I don't want to spend too much money and the prices at my local shop look really expensive. Oh, and what are some things that you recommend I get? Any specific brands?

11/03/2006, 04:33 PM	#2
Cshradr7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota / Penn State Posts: 378	Just a little note, when your 110ft below the surface, the last thing you want is your "cheap" dive equiptment to fail. I use Scuba Pro regs, Sunnto computer, and a seaquest bc. when you buy stuff online at the "discount" stores, generally you dont get a warrenty and that is definatly something that you want. Renting is always an option depending on how often you dive, but for me the dive shop combined all of my rentals and subtracted those from my final equipment bill. scuba diving along with reefing is really expensive. generally i think its around 300 just for the class and then you have to do 5 open water dives with a guide after that. good luck and it is worth spending the money on, you wont regret it Colin __________________ Thanks -Colin Current Tank Info: Finnex 30 Gallon

11/04/2006, 08:25 PM	#5
Cshradr7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota / Penn State Posts: 378	No matter what you do, if you dont have a mask yet, do not buy it over the internet unless you have gone to a local dive shop and tried on the mask your looking at. masks are one of the most important pieces of gear because if they leak, then you'll end up aborting the dive. always try it in a pool if possible. __________________ Thanks -Colin Current Tank Info: Finnex 30 Gallon

11/11/2006, 06:40 AM	#6
Harbour Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 196	LDS Cheaper I have bought equipment over the internet - not cheap equipment but cheaper than I could buy locally. Did ask my Local Dive Shop to match or get close because I prefer to buy local, but I can't allow my LDS to become my favorite charity. But since then I found an LDS (Divesports.com) that will match internet prices, so I get the best of both worlds. This equipment is not gray market, has full warranty. Harbour

11/15/2006, 09:14 PM	#7
rmougey D.A.R.C Board Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 1,350	I'm a fan of Leisurepro.com....... never had a problem and always have gear serviced by my local dive shop. Sometimes your LDS can match Internet pricing. In any case, if you choose to buy used gear from eBay or other sources, have the equipment checked out by a qualified service tech. The goal here shouldn't be looking for cheap gear, but buying inexpensive, quality gear in order to allow you to spend more time under water. -Rob __________________ If at first you don't succeed, you didn't quarantine long enough!

11/04/2006, 06:28 PM	#4
Boat Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 345	haitwun, Some on-line discount stores are not manufacturer authorized sellers, others are. An excellent scuba related website is scubaboard.com. That is a much better web site to research equipment and sellers. Scubatoys.com and crazyscuba.com are authorized sellers so you get the manufacturers' warranty if you purchase equipment from them. Other stores offer "gray market" equipment for which they are not authorized retailers. Unauthorized sellers may offer a store warranty which might be the same as the manufacturer's warranty, but after it expires you may have trouble getting the gear repaired. Regulators require yearly tune-ups so I'd suggested buying them locally from someone you trust. Right now scubatoys has a deal on an older model Aeris Sport bc that looks like a good deal and I recently bought an inexpensive Neosport 7mm wetsuit that I'm very happy with.

11/15/2006, 09:17 PM	#8
squiddly Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Great Falls, VA Posts: 129	I'd just like to echo the post that said you have to get your regulator tuned up once per year. Make sure you have a name brand if you don't want to have to send your Internet reg back to the website you bought it from for service. Very difficult to find parts for certain discontinued models, and for certain no name brands. And ditto on the mask. I had a lens pop out at 40 feet once. Doesn't make for a great day. __________________ padawan learner Current Tank Info: aquapod 24, Oceanic 180

11/15/2006, 09:23 PM	#9
Cshradr7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota / Penn State Posts: 378	Just another note on the regulator servicing. All you have to pay for if you get it serviced each year is the labor. If you skip a year, you have to pay for labor and any parts used. After you do this year of paying for everything, then the warrenty is back and all you have to pay for the next year is labor. the amount of money that the parts cost for these instruments is amazing. the dive companies know that lots of people dont get them serviced every year so they really get ya when you have to pay for the parts. So the moral of the story, dont skip a year, they have a good reason for having such high prices, it makes them look bad even if one fails because it wasnt treated properly so they encourage getting them checked. This is how it is with my scubapro regs and i think most companies do it this way also. __________________ Thanks -Colin Current Tank Info: Finnex 30 Gallon

11/19/2006, 06:14 PM	#10
matter1331 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Galveston, TX Posts: 167	another vote for scubatoys.com. Pretty good prices, great customer service, and it helps that they're 45 min. away from me, lol

11/21/2006, 09:49 PM	#11
hunter99991 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gastonia,NC Posts: 9	I run a local dive shop. If there is anything I can do to help just let me know. Brent

11/24/2006, 12:25 AM	#12
dawnskaybug Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Andesen AFB Guam Posts: 132	I bought a Mares Morphos AT combo w/ Suunto cobra computer cheaper from Leisure pro. Than a mid level combo here locally with no computer... But Im in a divers heaven with only 2 dive shops that jack up there prices for the Japanese tourist.

11/24/2006, 10:55 PM	#13
Jeepman3sk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 572	Have fun trying to get the manufactor to stand behind their warrenty after buying your gear from Leisure pro.

12/02/2006, 05:22 PM	#14
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 8,536	Craigslist has been great for me. Just check your gear and have it serviced if concerned. Don't buy aluminum tanks stamped 90 or older. And if you're deep diving, no matter how new your gear is, it's a good idea to have a plan b (spare air) and plan c(your buddy) __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: 150G Leemar eurobraced Starfire, Eheim 1262 return, Octopus extreme 200 skimmer, 2x Vortech mp 40's, 2x Vortech mp 20's, Tunze 6025(modded), ATI Sunpower 6xT5's, 2x Current Truelumen Pro LED's, 55G sump w/ fuge.