Florida Springs - Ginnie Springs

Renting vs Buying Scuba Gear

Renting vs Buying

Choosing your scuba gear is similar to selecting a pair of shoes. The gear should fit you well, be easy to use,  designed for its intended use, robust and fit in your price point. While you can’t rent shoes you CAN rent scuba equipment to try out different types, styles, sizes and manufacturers. 

One note on renting; Triangle Dive Shop takes pride in ensuring that our rental gear is properly serviced and maintained, at least as often as the manufacturers recommend. Many, but not all shops go this far in maintaining their rental gear. WHen you rent equipment, make sure to budget the time needed to go inspect and test all systems to insure their proper operation operation and condition.

Triangle Dive shop has one of the areas larget inventories of dive gear available for rent or for purchase.

 

Why rent?

When you first start diving, most people are unfamiliar with the intricacies of how scuba equipment is designed, how it functions, fits and feels. It’s important your dive shop professional takes the time to understand where you plan on going with your dive adventures (wreck diving, ice diving, Caribbean diving, etc) so they can explain the differences in the equipment. If you are a brand new diver you may not know this yet; and this is where renting gear is very helpful. At Triangle Dive Shop, we have numerous sets of rental gear. From the entry level beginner equipment to the more refined and purpose built gear which can let you experience something before you buy. As always, when renting gear, speak with your dive shop professional on the reasons you are renting so they can guide you into the proper setup.

Why buy?

Buying scuba gear is definitely a commitment. Not only to diving but the ways in which you plan to dive. The first few dives after certification, for most folks, is spent getting comfortable in the water and adjusting to how amazing the underwater world is. Once you’ve gotten comfortable, that is a great time to look at investing in your own gear, especially if you plan on diving a lot.

Whether you plan on outfitting yourself fully or buying one piece at a time, buying your own gear will save money and give you a better experience in the long term. Buying your scuba gear is an investment in your comfort, enjoyment and safety when exploring the underwater universe. 

Each diver has a different financial capability, commitment to the sport and comfort in purchasing gear.  Most instructors have a pretty rigid recommendation of what items to purchase and in what order. Below is the typical order which most people purchase their own equipment in:

  • Personal Scuba Gear (masks, fins, snorkel, boots) (generally required before you being training)
  • Dive Computer
  • Dive Lights
  • Regulator
  • BCD
  • Wetsuit(s)
  • Weights
  • Tanks

Additional gear such as reels, SMB’s, knives and cutting tools, travel bags, and other accessory items are often purchased along the way. 

dive computers

Dive Computers

Dive computers have made perhaps the single largest impact on SCUBA diving.  Allowing extended bottom time and potentially increased safety, these devices have become available to the masses, now starting at under $300.  Dive tables assume that you drop directly to your maximum depth and stay there until you return directly to the surface.  Dive computers allow you to gain ‘credit’ for time spent above your maximum depth and can easily double your allowed bottom time depending on the dive site.

Regulators

Regulators are often second on a recommended list to purchase because they are perhaps the single most important piece of equipment.  Many shops, charter operators are resorts are diligent about maintaining their gear in accordance with or above manufacturer’s recommendations, but since regulators are life support equipment many divers wish to purchase their own.  Not only does this provide an additional level of assurance and peace of mind that the gear has been properly serviced and taken care of, rental regulators are usually the cheapest, most durable regulators a shop can buy; many divers find the additional features and ease of breathing well worth the cost.  

XTX50 Regulator
BCD

BCD's (Buoyancy Compenstation)

Last on many instructor’s list is the BC.  While a BC brings everything together and can provide a more consistent and predictable experience, most divers find that this is one of the less critical (though often one of the most appealing) purchases.  There are several types of BC’s on the market and each has their own benefits and drawbacks.  Often renting different types of BC’s can help a diver decide what they do and don’t like before making their purchase.

Accesories

Items like your wetsuit, dive lights, cutting devices, weights, tanks generally are purchased along the way on an “as needed” basis. Scuba diving accessories are definitely purpose driven and while there is no shortage of things you can buy, you want to insure they all fulfill the need you have AND can be streamlined into your gear.