What brands of scuba tanks are best?
I want to get my boyfriend a scuba tank for Christmas. All I know is that he wants an aluminum 80. My internet research has lead me to a few brands such as Catalina, Luxfer, and Hy-Mark. Are there any brands that are really good or any that are crappy or bad quality? Are there any good websites to buy from with the best prices and/or free shipping?
How do Seiko watches compare to other watch brands?
Seiko has an excellent reputation. It is one of the few true manufactures: i.e., for their higher-end pieces, they build everything in-house. When it comes to their higher-end models, it's hard to argue that they are not as good as their Swiss counterparts. However, unlike the prestige Swiss brands, Seiko is more widely known for their affordable watches, which some think "dilute" the brand. The closest Swiss counterpart to Seiko is probably Swatch. What many people don't know is that Swatch is a massive conglomerate that owns a number of prestige brands, most notably Omega (as well as Breguet, Blancpain, Hamilton, Tissot, Longines, and many others). Unlike the Swatch brands, however, Seiko's entire lineup is called Seiko (except the ultra-exclusive Credor-line). So most people will mistake your $7,000 Grand Seiko Spring Drive for something you can pick up at the mall for $50. That's not a problem for the Japanese executive who doesn't want you to know how much he makes. But for most folks willing to spend $7K on a watch, it is a problem. But that GS Spring Drive is more innovative, rarer and will have gotten more hand time from an actual human watchmaker than any Rolex. Seiko also makes the best quartz watches in the world. (They invented the quartz watch, by the way.) If you are willing to spend in the $2,000 range, you can pick up one of their 9F high accuracy quartz watches. They guarantee the watch will be accurate to within 5-10 seconds per year. (The average quartz watch is accurate to within 15 seconds per month.) But even their most affordable line-up won't be made up of flimsy plastic things. For under $200 you can get yourself a very fine quartz watch that will be reliable for many years.
Where do you recommend a first time scuba gear buyer go for affordability and quality?
Thank you for the answer request, that’s a good question with a bit of a complicated answer.First, quality doesn't necessarily depend on where you buy your equipment, rather than the brand you buy. Though, some local dive shops might only hold certain brands which affect the quality.The affordability is the tricky part. Though it a lot depends where you live, usually it’s cheaper to buy online rather than a local dive center. BUT, though the initial price might be cheaper the overall price might be higher, i can state to obvious of shipping costs and even taxes if you buy internationally. But many people ignore the service, Many people talk about trying the equipment and the service you get when you have someone that helps you to choose the equipment and will take care of you if there are any issues, though many online stores also offer great service. The important factor for me is actually the equipment maintenance! If there’s no service center near you that can do the annual maintenance it could cost you a lot more to go or send to an authorized service center or even you can get stuck with equipment you can’t service.When i buy online i only use Leisurepro.com now (as i had bad experiences with others). Which also as an instructor i can give 4% discount on most of their inventory.
Purchasing Scuba Equipment?
I am finally learning to dive and plan on going into a career where I would be diving frequently. So my main question is are certain brands better than others? I will be starting off with mask, fins, and snorkel which I need for my class soon. I see this big selection but what are really the main differences between the basic gear? Then just buying the bigger pieces such as the wetsuit, regulator, computer and regulator one by one after that. I will most likely be diving in FL or similar waters so what type/thickness of wet suit is best? There is only one dive shop near me and naturally they want me to buy their equipment so I am just looking for some non-biased advice!
What are some good and affordable BMX Bike brands?
I'm looking to buy a BMX bike to ride with some friends during the summer, and I've read that Walmart and Target bikes are pretty bad (aka, too heavy) so I want to know some brands out their that are good and not too expensive. Please, list away!
Is it safe to buy used scuba gear off EBAY?
I would be very careful buying most diving gear from EBay. I'll talk about specific pieces and the potential problems. Exposure suits -- For the most part, you could buy an exposure suit off EBay, and be ok. If it's a wetsuit, you only have to worry about condition and fit. For a dry suit, you also need to be concerned about whether or not it leaks. For a wetsuit, if it looks to be in good condition, and the measurements and size seem to match you, I'd say it's an acceptable risk to buy off EBay. For dry suits, I would not recommend buying off EBay. Mask -- A mask is very personal piece of gear. A proper fitting mask is really important. I recommend against buying it off EBay. Fins -- It's mostly about fit and condition when it comes to fins. If it's a style you like, and a size that should fit your feet, go for it. Tanks -- A scuba tank has to be able to pass a hydrostatic test every 5 years in the US. It also needs to be re-tested anytime the tank has suffered damage, or been exposed to extreme heat. For that matter, it may be difficult to tell from a photo or a description that it will pass the test, so I recommend against buying off EBay. BCDs and Regulators -- These pieces of gear are your life under water. I recommend against buying these off EBay unless you can stipulate that they be checked out by a dive store of your choosing before you pay for them. Also, it's important that they both are serviceable locally for you. Your local dive store may not be able to touch certain brands, which means you can't have it serviced annually as recommended. Lights, weights, floats, knives -- Go for it. Keep in mind that your local dive store may be able to supply you with quality used gear, too. And with that, you'll be able to see it, touch it, and possibly even try it out before making the purchase. There's no substitute to talking with your local scuba professionals about gear you are interested in.