OW Certified !!

[acelockco]

Great! If a dry suit is in your future, then the 5mm wetsuit would be a better choice, especially when you travel to dive.

As far as a regulator, any regulator you can purchase is going to be great for any recreational dives you do. Don't get too sold on the bells and whisles. Look for something that is going to be serviceable in the future (READ NAME BRAND!!). I have read great things about Sherwood regulators. I personally have the following regulators and all work great: Cressi Sub (the cheap entry level model), Mares v-12 or v-32 or something. I have a Aqualung Conshelf (which is pretty old), a sherwood magnium blizzard (pony setup), a aqualung abs (another pony setup), and an old Dacor Pacer (spare). They all work great and have never failed me! I would also say go for a yolk fitting especially if you travel as it seeems to be the most common or rent tanks because rental tanks are usually only available in yolk. If you do decide to get into technical diving you will then be ready for a new regulator with a din fitting at that time, but then you can always use your old reg. for a pony or stage bottle.

As far as computers go get something that does Nitrox. Something with a backlight is a great feature up here in the dark waters we dive. I personally use a console mount (in a pod with a compass and my pressure gauge), but would perfer to have a wrist mount, and have a compass and pressure gauge seperate. You can get air integrated, but I would reccomend that you still have a regular pressure gauge anyway. One really important feature you need to look for is user replaceable batteries and make sure you keep an extra set or two in your save a dive kit (you need to make a save-a-dive kit if you don't already have one).


OK, there are some options for the backplate/wing setup.

There are a bunch of different companies that make them, but they are all basically the same thing. What you are buying is a metal plate (backplate) with holes in it to accept web strapping (same as weight belt straps) and some connecting buckles and d-rings. You can get the backplate in plastic (don't do that), aluminum(lightweight) or stainless steel (expensive, heavy, but the best buoyancy characteristics as it is negative about 7 lbs you can take that off your belt). You can use the weight belt to make your own harness, but they are not really expensive and it is easier to buy a premade one. If it ever needs replacing you can then just copy what you have.

Another option is a pack, instead of the web harness and metal plate you have it all integrated into something that looks like a hikers backpack without any bag. It is almost the same thing as the backplate and harness, but integrated into one. I feel it is a little more comfortable for me on my back then the metal plate, but it is not negative buoyant.

To that you add a wing, which is your actual BC, it has an inflate hose and works just like the bc you are used to in class, but it is straped between the backplate/harness or pack and your cylinder(s) so it gives you rear inflation and leaves you feeling free as you don't have this vest around your body. Wings can be purchased in many different sizes depending on your diving and more importantly your number and size of tanks. The nice thing is you can buy different wings for different types of diving you do (one for travel, one for singles, one for doubles)

If you like weight integration, you can add weight pockets to them and all of the companies that sell these bp/wings sell weight pockets for them. I personally have the weight pockets and a weight integrated bc and think I am going to go back to a regular weight belt with solid weights.


A few of the companies that make these setups are :

Dive Rite
OMS
Halcyon
Aqualung
Oxycheq
Posiedon
(and I am sure there are some others)

Go to dive rite's web site as it is a good place to start, they have good photos and a bunch of info on different options.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

Hope this helped.

Ace