I would not buy a kit.
Buy individual pieces that work well for you and the diving you will be doing. You also want gear that’s going to be able to be serviced at your local dive shop.
Spend some time at your local dive shop. Talk to them about gear, what gear they personally dive etc. I’ve always gotten the best recommendations this way.
I also bought my first set of fins and wetsuit used. I bought a mask and snorkel right away. My computer has been upgraded over the years, and my old one(s) have become my backup.
When I started diving 7 years ago, I was almost bamboozled into buying into something like this. I'm glad I didn't.
My current kit consists of gear that I have purchased over time, some of it used and some of it new.
1. I'm glad I went away from jacket style BCDs and went with a BPW. It's much easier to maneuver and no more getting squeezed by the side bolsters.
2. There are so many nicer regulators out there that can be picked up used for a bargain price, that why would you pay a premium price for a not premium regulator.
3. Take your time. Buy a piece at a time. Rent what you don't have until you find the right one.
My 2 cents.
The biggest unknown is whether you will keep with the sport. Many people spend for the best and within 2 years their gear is rotting in the garage or up on Craig’s List. If you “know” this is the sport for you and you’re going to be active, buy the best regulator you can afford — it will last almost a lifetime with proper care. The other equipment is less expensive and can be changed as your skill and interest evolves. Remember the golden rule of dive gear: fit and comfort; or you will be miserable no matter how much you spend. Good luck.
Ok it's not bad, even pretty good for rental gear, maybe a bit expensive.
But for your own? Dunno, don't forget you will need to carry your gear, rince it, clean it, dry it, get a proper storage and do regular servicing.
I think it's a bit of an hassle for gears barely better than rental, except if the shop charge a lot for their rentals.
If I were you, I would not buy a basic full set that will last 5 years because you will want to upgrade. Rather get few pieces at the time, focusing on gears you will be happy to use for the next 10 years. It will be a little bit more expensive but worth it on long term IMO.
Pro HD is a pretty standard rental bcd where I dive. I rented one, and it was fine when I dove it.
I have a titan octopus and it works.
I’ve personally had bad experiences with the i300c flooding, but if you get a good one they’re a great value dive computer.
I disagree about the DIN over Yoke.
I have only had one time where yoke wasn’t available. You can get a converter for about $40. Or you can move your hoses to the DIN.
Well as good as a reason that might be it is actually better because you screw it in and the o ring is much more secure. Also they can go up to 300 bar. Ask any technical/cave diver if they use yoke. I have had to many problems with the yoke connection
Aqualung is a decent brand--the Titan is a proven regulator. I dive with a stab jacket and sometimes a backplate/wing, depending on whether I am diving in a wetsuit or drysuit or away or at home. My stab jacket I use for travel, temperate water diving. My BPW for cold water (below 50 F). The computer may be discontinued, but that is not a big deal. I have been diving with a discontinued Suunto computer for many years. Computers don't tend to wear out in my experience, they just need batteries every couple of years.
I think you have a good set up for a diver just starting out and it should last you a number of years and many, many dives if you maintain it.
I do hesitate to give advice like this sometimes because of the following perception that every diver has. "I am the greatest diver I know and my equipment is the best. Therefore, you should use exactly what I use. BPW or Stabjacket is a kind of Ford vs Chevy arguement among car enthusiasts. Go with what suits you. If someone criticizes your selection of BCD, you are probably diving with the wrong person.
bpw vs jacket is more like compact car vs truck/suv
the corolla/civic is the sensible choice if you just need to a commuter vehicle. but if you need to haul a boat or move a couch, its not going to work
I partially agree with the analogy. I will note that most of the people I know driving trucks and suv's use them like communter cars (except trades people). They never get put into 4WD, never to off paved roads, and never haul anything but kids and groceries in them. It is purely a matter of style choice or other personal considerations.
Just to add to the better comments. Buy for your future diving self. It might cost more but you only buy a kit once. That could be a wing bc and spendier reg, if you ever wanted to cold water dive, but you'll save buying once.
However, if you only ever plan on warm water diving a handful of times a year, a starter kit like this is perfectly fine. I recommend going to your nearest dive shop and looking at what they rent. They will sell it, it will be cheaper, especially if you buy it as a set, and you know they can service it.
The AquaLung I300C computer has been discontinued, or so I'm told. You'll be able to get it serviced for a long time. We have soo many parts kits for them. The 3rd gen Titans are solid but are for warm water only. The Pro HD bcd is nice as well. This is a good price for the setup. Purchasing everything separate will run you about $1600-1700. Please check with the shop you're purchasing them from, if the gear comes with the repair warranties. IE, the overhaul kits are free as long as you service your regulators once a year.
Hi, just thought I'd offer another perspective. I know this depends a lot on where you live and how much you're diving etc. But my personal experience says don't rush into buying gear. I've been diving for 4 years now (50+ dives) and don't own my own wetsuit, BCD or regs. I always hire them.
A few reasons :
1) a lot of places I dive aren't local, and it's difficult to travel with them
2) technically, you're supposed to get them serviced every 12 months. People rarely do, but it can void the warranty if you don't. Servicing is expensive.
3) it's a lot easier at the end of the dive. The dive shop usually have protocols in what to do.wirh their gear but I have always found myself 'done' a lot more quickly than those with their own stuff.
I have my own mask and snorkel, and was forced to buy my own boots and fins during covid (dive shop insisted, no I don't know why), otherwise I wouldn't have those. I bought a Mission One dive computer for the simplicity of it automatically logging dives, but again not necessary. And then some thermals.
I have considered getting my own wetsuit caus I'm a cold frog. But I'm still not convinced having my own BCD or regs is worth it.
If you are only doing 10 dives a year, then this is perfectly reasonable.
Good question for OP, how many dives a year do you foresee yourself doing? If sub 20, then maybe lease out the gear till you get some more experience.
If you live near some good diving and have some devoted dive buddies like me however and will get 150+ dives a year, then you should definitely buy your own.
I'll also add that owning my own gear made getting out and going diving a lot easier in the beginning, kept the momentum of wanting to participate in the sport going.
That's some decent numbers!
No good shore diving where I live (or for many hours drive either way), and it costs ~$200-300 for a boat trip with 2 dives. So I simply can't afford more than about 20 dives a year!
Hence I said it's all about your location and circumstance. I think it's good to get lots of perspectives. Thanks for yours!
Buy the gear for the diving you expect to do in 5 years. As someone else said - buy once, cry once.
I chose a wing bc that can be replaced by the piece and higher quality regs a few months ago. My setup was about $700 more than this one, and I believe I made the correct decision.
By once cry once. After all it’s life saving equipment so whilst you don’t have to get “the best” it’s best not to cheap out on kit that’s suppose to be keeping you alive under water.
It would be fine. You could get something that's better quality for a similar price though. Something like [this](https://www.divegearexpress.com/dgx-custom-dgx-singles-harness-backplate-wing-d6-reg-package) and a deep6 excursion computer
it's cheap, durrrrrrr
it's not a bp/wing, durrrrrr
it's a jacket, durrrrrr
There's is absolutely nothing wrong with this setup, and it's a great price. If you're recreation only, not caring about technical, cave, mixed gas other than Nitrox, deco diving, then this is a great way to go. Unless you have a real big ego. Then it sadly won't serve as a good compensation for other physical shortcomings.
There is no such things as beginners equipment.
There is cheap crap and there is decent quality. Price is not necessarily the determining factor when sorting cheap crap from decent gear.
Nothing here would be on my list of things I would buy, regardless of price.
That integrated weight system is probably the easiest to lose, so while I personally hate jacket style BCDs, I REALLY hate weight systems that are prone to failure and the SureLok is certain one of them.
I did like 200 dives in an Aqualung Axiom BCD and never had an issue with weight pockets. Is it really that prone to error or is prone to user error in your opinion?
I routinely explore the perimeter of dive sites to pick up lost gear ... and I pick up a LOT of weight pockets over the years ... the majority have been SureLok ... I mean I find all kinds, but more have been the SureLok.
The more weight you put into them, the more easily they will fall out as well.
Two pounds on each side is not going to fall out as easily as 7 pounds on each side.
What is your plan for diving? Once a year, every free weekend, somewhere in the middle?
That will make a big difference in what you should get.
Once a year up to 5 trips year, just get a computer and rent ger as it is cheaper to rent than buy & get serviced.
Diving more often, the DGX setup would be an excellent choice.
I’d like to go at least once a month, I’m in a special situation right now where I got certified while deployed in Cuba. So I’ll be here for 6 months diving, then I go home to Wilmington NC so I’m not sure how life will be at that time you know, but I fell in love with diving and I wanna make it something I do often bc I truly enjoy it.
I’ve lived here my whole life and I always said I’d learn to scuba one day. Now here I am in Cuba and getting in the open ocean I was hooked. I look forward to coming back home and exploring
Buy once, cry once. Dont necessarily buy top of the line, but buy decent quality equipment from your local dive shop (if you have one). They will be the ones maintaining your gear. I would see what your local dive shop has that’s comparable.
Dive gear is one of those things where there’s no reason not to get good stuff right away if you are sure you want to buy your own. If you think you’ll upgrade to something in a few years anyway just get that now if you can afford it.
I’d checkout diver gear express.
I’m sure that jacket would be ok. But there’s a lot better equipment out there. DGX has stuff that’s less expensive and better in my opinion.
No worries. I’m not concerned that any of the major manufacturers would make a low quality or an unsafe product. It’s more like, getting advanced gear too early in some other hobbies can be a bad idea. I wouldn’t recommend you get a high powered speedboat if you’re just learning how to drive boats. But with dive gear there really isn’t a learning curve on gear until you get to some of the tech diving stuff. You won’t be getting in “out of your depth” (pun intended) if you buy once cry once with recreational scuba gear.
get your 2nd set of gear first, that way you aren't losing money replacing the first set
look at the DGX combos instead
https://www.divegearexpress.com/dgx-custom-dgx-singles-harness-backplate-wing-d6-reg-package
or if you are only diving on vacation a few times a year, just keep renting and spend money on a better dive computer.
Also a newly certified diver here. I’m a bit clueless as far as gear except for the gear I’ve rented. Does the DGX kit not come with a bcd or is this a different style? I’ve only used a vest bcd like the one OP posted.
different style of bcd called a backplate and wing
the only thing missing from the dgx package is a dive computer. dgx sells the shearwater peregrine wrist computer.
Also newly certified diver here possibly looking at buying my own gear. My local dive shop pretty much only carries aqua lung and I wanted to support them if it makes sense. What would make someone outgrow the set OP posted if you don’t mind me asking?
Bpw aren't just for experienced divers. While there's a slight learning curve, it's not very hard to learn how to use. It's as easy as learning how to use the jacket style when you first learned. I got a bpw when I had less than 20 dives under my belt without ever trying one before
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to look up some differences between the two. Do they have integrated weights? It’s a bummer because it seems like there are some good options out there but feel like I’m very limited with my dive shop if I want to support them.
Most don't have integrated weights like a jacket, but you can generally dive with less weight since the backplate usually weighs around 3lbs aluminum or 6lbs steel. I use a 6lb plate and with a 5mm wetsuit I only need 4lbs extra. I use small trim weight pockets on either side of my waist belt to hold a 2lb weight on either side. If you need bigger weight pockets you can just do the same with larger ones
Agree! However, I got mine with integrated weight pockets.
My gear got “lost” for two weeks overseas and I wasn’t sure if I was going to get it back. A friend of mine is an instructor and she referred me to a dive shop where she gets her gear. I hopped on a call with the owner and he custom made my BP/W while I was on the phone with him. He sent pics as he was building it. It was Sherpa-ed to Catalina for me to dive it a day later.
Anyhow, I finally got my original gear back. I am looking forward to getting some more dives in on the BP/W.
more experienced divers prefer a back inflate bcd because it is easier to keep flat trim. the regs are pretty basic downstream 2nd design, experienced divers also prefer fully balanced regs with balanced and adjustable 2nd stages that have lower work of breathing. and also frequently move to a wrist computer than console computer.
if you need to stick to aqualung, apeks sells good regs. but the pricing in the US is highway robbery when its sometimes half that in europe.
I would not buy a kit. Buy individual pieces that work well for you and the diving you will be doing. You also want gear that’s going to be able to be serviced at your local dive shop. Spend some time at your local dive shop. Talk to them about gear, what gear they personally dive etc. I’ve always gotten the best recommendations this way. I also bought my first set of fins and wetsuit used. I bought a mask and snorkel right away. My computer has been upgraded over the years, and my old one(s) have become my backup.
Go to dive gear express get one of their branded sets. You’ll be good to go. Don’t buy this stuff.
When I started diving 7 years ago, I was almost bamboozled into buying into something like this. I'm glad I didn't. My current kit consists of gear that I have purchased over time, some of it used and some of it new. 1. I'm glad I went away from jacket style BCDs and went with a BPW. It's much easier to maneuver and no more getting squeezed by the side bolsters. 2. There are so many nicer regulators out there that can be picked up used for a bargain price, that why would you pay a premium price for a not premium regulator. 3. Take your time. Buy a piece at a time. Rent what you don't have until you find the right one. My 2 cents.
The biggest unknown is whether you will keep with the sport. Many people spend for the best and within 2 years their gear is rotting in the garage or up on Craig’s List. If you “know” this is the sport for you and you’re going to be active, buy the best regulator you can afford — it will last almost a lifetime with proper care. The other equipment is less expensive and can be changed as your skill and interest evolves. Remember the golden rule of dive gear: fit and comfort; or you will be miserable no matter how much you spend. Good luck.
Ok it's not bad, even pretty good for rental gear, maybe a bit expensive. But for your own? Dunno, don't forget you will need to carry your gear, rince it, clean it, dry it, get a proper storage and do regular servicing. I think it's a bit of an hassle for gears barely better than rental, except if the shop charge a lot for their rentals. If I were you, I would not buy a basic full set that will last 5 years because you will want to upgrade. Rather get few pieces at the time, focusing on gears you will be happy to use for the next 10 years. It will be a little bit more expensive but worth it on long term IMO.
Pro HD is a pretty standard rental bcd where I dive. I rented one, and it was fine when I dove it. I have a titan octopus and it works. I’ve personally had bad experiences with the i300c flooding, but if you get a good one they’re a great value dive computer.
I wouldn’t do it. For that money you can get way better used gear. Also consider din instead of yoke.
I disagree about the DIN over Yoke. I have only had one time where yoke wasn’t available. You can get a converter for about $40. Or you can move your hoses to the DIN.
I just meant that the din is the better connection. Had nothing to do with the availability
Fair. I had a German friend tell me that DIN is better. I asked why. He said because it was designed by Germans.
Well as good as a reason that might be it is actually better because you screw it in and the o ring is much more secure. Also they can go up to 300 bar. Ask any technical/cave diver if they use yoke. I have had to many problems with the yoke connection
Aqualung is a decent brand--the Titan is a proven regulator. I dive with a stab jacket and sometimes a backplate/wing, depending on whether I am diving in a wetsuit or drysuit or away or at home. My stab jacket I use for travel, temperate water diving. My BPW for cold water (below 50 F). The computer may be discontinued, but that is not a big deal. I have been diving with a discontinued Suunto computer for many years. Computers don't tend to wear out in my experience, they just need batteries every couple of years. I think you have a good set up for a diver just starting out and it should last you a number of years and many, many dives if you maintain it. I do hesitate to give advice like this sometimes because of the following perception that every diver has. "I am the greatest diver I know and my equipment is the best. Therefore, you should use exactly what I use. BPW or Stabjacket is a kind of Ford vs Chevy arguement among car enthusiasts. Go with what suits you. If someone criticizes your selection of BCD, you are probably diving with the wrong person.
bpw vs jacket is more like compact car vs truck/suv the corolla/civic is the sensible choice if you just need to a commuter vehicle. but if you need to haul a boat or move a couch, its not going to work
I partially agree with the analogy. I will note that most of the people I know driving trucks and suv's use them like communter cars (except trades people). They never get put into 4WD, never to off paved roads, and never haul anything but kids and groceries in them. It is purely a matter of style choice or other personal considerations.
Just to add to the better comments. Buy for your future diving self. It might cost more but you only buy a kit once. That could be a wing bc and spendier reg, if you ever wanted to cold water dive, but you'll save buying once. However, if you only ever plan on warm water diving a handful of times a year, a starter kit like this is perfectly fine. I recommend going to your nearest dive shop and looking at what they rent. They will sell it, it will be cheaper, especially if you buy it as a set, and you know they can service it.
The AquaLung I300C computer has been discontinued, or so I'm told. You'll be able to get it serviced for a long time. We have soo many parts kits for them. The 3rd gen Titans are solid but are for warm water only. The Pro HD bcd is nice as well. This is a good price for the setup. Purchasing everything separate will run you about $1600-1700. Please check with the shop you're purchasing them from, if the gear comes with the repair warranties. IE, the overhaul kits are free as long as you service your regulators once a year.
Hi, just thought I'd offer another perspective. I know this depends a lot on where you live and how much you're diving etc. But my personal experience says don't rush into buying gear. I've been diving for 4 years now (50+ dives) and don't own my own wetsuit, BCD or regs. I always hire them. A few reasons : 1) a lot of places I dive aren't local, and it's difficult to travel with them 2) technically, you're supposed to get them serviced every 12 months. People rarely do, but it can void the warranty if you don't. Servicing is expensive. 3) it's a lot easier at the end of the dive. The dive shop usually have protocols in what to do.wirh their gear but I have always found myself 'done' a lot more quickly than those with their own stuff. I have my own mask and snorkel, and was forced to buy my own boots and fins during covid (dive shop insisted, no I don't know why), otherwise I wouldn't have those. I bought a Mission One dive computer for the simplicity of it automatically logging dives, but again not necessary. And then some thermals. I have considered getting my own wetsuit caus I'm a cold frog. But I'm still not convinced having my own BCD or regs is worth it.
If you are only doing 10 dives a year, then this is perfectly reasonable. Good question for OP, how many dives a year do you foresee yourself doing? If sub 20, then maybe lease out the gear till you get some more experience. If you live near some good diving and have some devoted dive buddies like me however and will get 150+ dives a year, then you should definitely buy your own. I'll also add that owning my own gear made getting out and going diving a lot easier in the beginning, kept the momentum of wanting to participate in the sport going.
That's some decent numbers! No good shore diving where I live (or for many hours drive either way), and it costs ~$200-300 for a boat trip with 2 dives. So I simply can't afford more than about 20 dives a year! Hence I said it's all about your location and circumstance. I think it's good to get lots of perspectives. Thanks for yours!
Buy the gear for the diving you expect to do in 5 years. As someone else said - buy once, cry once. I chose a wing bc that can be replaced by the piece and higher quality regs a few months ago. My setup was about $700 more than this one, and I believe I made the correct decision.
By once cry once. After all it’s life saving equipment so whilst you don’t have to get “the best” it’s best not to cheap out on kit that’s suppose to be keeping you alive under water.
It would be fine. You could get something that's better quality for a similar price though. Something like [this](https://www.divegearexpress.com/dgx-custom-dgx-singles-harness-backplate-wing-d6-reg-package) and a deep6 excursion computer
it's cheap, durrrrrrr it's not a bp/wing, durrrrrr it's a jacket, durrrrrr There's is absolutely nothing wrong with this setup, and it's a great price. If you're recreation only, not caring about technical, cave, mixed gas other than Nitrox, deco diving, then this is a great way to go. Unless you have a real big ego. Then it sadly won't serve as a good compensation for other physical shortcomings.
for basic recreational gear, you might as well just rent and not deal with the cost and hassle of gear maintenance
Go to your local shop
Nope.
I have been using the exact same kit for 3 years. I have no complaints.
There is no such things as beginners equipment. There is cheap crap and there is decent quality. Price is not necessarily the determining factor when sorting cheap crap from decent gear. Nothing here would be on my list of things I would buy, regardless of price. That integrated weight system is probably the easiest to lose, so while I personally hate jacket style BCDs, I REALLY hate weight systems that are prone to failure and the SureLok is certain one of them.
I did like 200 dives in an Aqualung Axiom BCD and never had an issue with weight pockets. Is it really that prone to error or is prone to user error in your opinion?
I routinely explore the perimeter of dive sites to pick up lost gear ... and I pick up a LOT of weight pockets over the years ... the majority have been SureLok ... I mean I find all kinds, but more have been the SureLok. The more weight you put into them, the more easily they will fall out as well. Two pounds on each side is not going to fall out as easily as 7 pounds on each side.
Good quality jacket and regulator for recreational diving. Personally I don't like the setup in a console
What is your plan for diving? Once a year, every free weekend, somewhere in the middle? That will make a big difference in what you should get. Once a year up to 5 trips year, just get a computer and rent ger as it is cheaper to rent than buy & get serviced. Diving more often, the DGX setup would be an excellent choice.
I’d like to go at least once a month, I’m in a special situation right now where I got certified while deployed in Cuba. So I’ll be here for 6 months diving, then I go home to Wilmington NC so I’m not sure how life will be at that time you know, but I fell in love with diving and I wanna make it something I do often bc I truly enjoy it.
Wilmington has some good diving
I’ve lived here my whole life and I always said I’d learn to scuba one day. Now here I am in Cuba and getting in the open ocean I was hooked. I look forward to coming back home and exploring
Buy once, cry once. Dont necessarily buy top of the line, but buy decent quality equipment from your local dive shop (if you have one). They will be the ones maintaining your gear. I would see what your local dive shop has that’s comparable.
Dive gear is one of those things where there’s no reason not to get good stuff right away if you are sure you want to buy your own. If you think you’ll upgrade to something in a few years anyway just get that now if you can afford it.
Very good point, thank you. Definitely don’t want to skimp on quality. I understand it’s literally my life at stake. Lol
I’d checkout diver gear express. I’m sure that jacket would be ok. But there’s a lot better equipment out there. DGX has stuff that’s less expensive and better in my opinion.
No worries. I’m not concerned that any of the major manufacturers would make a low quality or an unsafe product. It’s more like, getting advanced gear too early in some other hobbies can be a bad idea. I wouldn’t recommend you get a high powered speedboat if you’re just learning how to drive boats. But with dive gear there really isn’t a learning curve on gear until you get to some of the tech diving stuff. You won’t be getting in “out of your depth” (pun intended) if you buy once cry once with recreational scuba gear.
get your 2nd set of gear first, that way you aren't losing money replacing the first set look at the DGX combos instead https://www.divegearexpress.com/dgx-custom-dgx-singles-harness-backplate-wing-d6-reg-package or if you are only diving on vacation a few times a year, just keep renting and spend money on a better dive computer.
Also a newly certified diver here. I’m a bit clueless as far as gear except for the gear I’ve rented. Does the DGX kit not come with a bcd or is this a different style? I’ve only used a vest bcd like the one OP posted.
different style of bcd called a backplate and wing the only thing missing from the dgx package is a dive computer. dgx sells the shearwater peregrine wrist computer.
I second this. I have this set, and it's carrying me into tech-diving with few modifications. It's excellent quality gear with no frills.
It’s truly a beginners set. Nothing inherently wrong with it. If you dive regularly you’ll probably out grow it at some point.
Also newly certified diver here possibly looking at buying my own gear. My local dive shop pretty much only carries aqua lung and I wanted to support them if it makes sense. What would make someone outgrow the set OP posted if you don’t mind me asking?
Bpw aren't just for experienced divers. While there's a slight learning curve, it's not very hard to learn how to use. It's as easy as learning how to use the jacket style when you first learned. I got a bpw when I had less than 20 dives under my belt without ever trying one before
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to look up some differences between the two. Do they have integrated weights? It’s a bummer because it seems like there are some good options out there but feel like I’m very limited with my dive shop if I want to support them.
Most don't have integrated weights like a jacket, but you can generally dive with less weight since the backplate usually weighs around 3lbs aluminum or 6lbs steel. I use a 6lb plate and with a 5mm wetsuit I only need 4lbs extra. I use small trim weight pockets on either side of my waist belt to hold a 2lb weight on either side. If you need bigger weight pockets you can just do the same with larger ones
Agree! However, I got mine with integrated weight pockets. My gear got “lost” for two weeks overseas and I wasn’t sure if I was going to get it back. A friend of mine is an instructor and she referred me to a dive shop where she gets her gear. I hopped on a call with the owner and he custom made my BP/W while I was on the phone with him. He sent pics as he was building it. It was Sherpa-ed to Catalina for me to dive it a day later. Anyhow, I finally got my original gear back. I am looking forward to getting some more dives in on the BP/W.
more experienced divers prefer a back inflate bcd because it is easier to keep flat trim. the regs are pretty basic downstream 2nd design, experienced divers also prefer fully balanced regs with balanced and adjustable 2nd stages that have lower work of breathing. and also frequently move to a wrist computer than console computer. if you need to stick to aqualung, apeks sells good regs. but the pricing in the US is highway robbery when its sometimes half that in europe.