idje@aluxz.UUCP (EISENBERG) (07/05/84)
I am about to buy a set of scuba gear from scratch. I have done a little scuba diving and a lot of skin diving so I don't consider myself a rank novice. I would appreciate any advice on which manufactures to buy the equipment from, what equipment to buy as a starter and where the best places to shop are (I live in Allentown, Pa.). Thank you, Dan
mlf@druxv.UUCP (Fontenot) (07/05/84)
I think the U. S. Diver's Conshelf 14 regulator is a very good buy these days.
Based on the Navy tests, I bought both a Conshelf 14 and a Tekna, and I've had
lots of problems with the Tekna.
Mike Fontenotwall@fortune.UUCP (07/19/84)
#R:aluxz:-13500:fortune:15200001:000:746
fortune!wall Jul 19 11:55:00 1984
Well, I just outfitted my wife with a complete set of gear.
I don't think that there is a 'right' set of gear. We looked for
fit, features and price; in about that order. A stabalizer
jacket made by Tabata just happened to fit her better than one
made by US Divers.
The one error that we made (sort of) was getting the new
Tabata regulator (the small plastic space age looking one).
She feels that it free flows too much under water. Especially
when upside down or sideways. It doesn't bother me, but if you
like the looks of it, try it as a rental once or twice first.
In general, no one manufacurer has a clear advantage in
features/price over any of the others as far as we could tell.
-Jim Wall
!amd!fortune!wallwall@fortune.UUCP (07/19/84)
#R:aluxz:-13500:fortune:15200002:000:364 fortune!wall Jul 19 12:01:00 1984 Damn, and double damn! I meant of course the Tekna regulator, I got so carried away with the Tabata stab. jacket that I used the name twice. Sorry if there is any confusion. Interesting that someone else has had problems with it also. I'll stick with my 10 year old Dacor, reworked once or twice but still one of the best. -Jim !amd!fortune!wall
jah@brunix.UUCP (Jim Hendler) (07/23/84)
Gee, I spent many hours evealuating different regs, and I ended up with the Tekna. Virtually all of my "dive leadership personnel" buddies have switched to it, as have many others of my friends. My decision was made based primarily on depth/breathability performance: the Tekna at 100' breathes as easily as it does at the surface. It's also designed with a back-up system so that if the primary tilt valve fails (a common 2nd stage problem) the regulator will become a little harder to breathe, but won't free flow (note: If you have a regulator that doesn't fail by going into free flow toss it!) Meanwhile, on what gear to buy, I quote what we teach (i.e. the NAUI gospel): Comfort and dependability first, price and appearance second. Different people, different gear. Make your own choices, try things out. However, a personal word of advice, avoid fancy features that look sexy, but have no real function. The only diving "near accidents" I've been involved in were caused by these fancy, but useless, features. Dive Safely, Jim Hendler (NAUI 6622)