Newbie Question, Need Advice.

I'm 23, female and I am not a certified diver, but I've been considering
taking the required classes/instruction for about a year now. I live in
PA but spend lots of time at the Delaware shore and in Ocean City, MD
and hope to dive there if I can talk one of my friends into going with
me.

Anyway, there was a classified ad in today's paper for some dive
equipment that reads "Divers mask, tanks, fins and dive suit $150.00." I
noticed the phone number was local and called thinking it was a typo and
they really meant $1,500.

The lady couldn't answer any questions about the gear but told me where
she was located and said I could come by to look at it. It was only 15
minutes from here so I went this morning. It was an older woman, and she
said the equipment belonged to her son, but he moved away last year,
stored his stuff there and keeps refusing to come get it. She's moving
soon into an apartment and doesn't want to take it with her so she's
selling it. She said he knows but apparently doesn't care enough to come
get it.

I have no idea what this stuff is worth but I have to assume it's worth
way more than $150 dollars. Here's what's there:

Three tanks. Two look brand new and a third that looks like it's old and
has seen better days.

There's two harnesses that look like they're for strapping the tanks on.

There's a weight belt (?) and a black and neon yellow wet suit that
looks way too big for me.

There's one regulator. I know what that is-- and I also know they're
expensive.

There's three pair of fins in good condition but probably too big?

There's five or six masks in a box.

And there's something plastic like a football with propellors and
handles on it that looks like maybe a remote controlled toy.

Ok, so here's what I did. I gave the lady $30 dollars and asked her to
hold them for me until tomorrow afternoon. I figured that would buy me
some time.

I'd appreciate any advice you could give me. Believe me, I understand
completely that it makes it difficult for you to give me solid
information with the very little details I have provided, but I'm just
hoping on a little guidance. The way I see it, it sounds like a lot of
gear for very little money. Even if I find out some of it doesn't work,
I'm not really out that much money.

Am I looking at this the right way, or should I just wait until I'm
trained and certified before I start buying my own proper equipment?

Thanks,

Shannon

Shannon H. wrote:

(snip)

Assuming this is not a troll....

You prolly can't go too wrong for $150.

Worst case:

Three tanks needing hydro and vis, $50

Harnesses without wings, $20

Too-big suit in good condition, $30

Cheap regulator needing overhaul, $60

Three pair fins, $30

Five or six masks, none of which fit, $0

Football with propellers - if it's a toy, $0

Football with propellers - if it's a good scooter, $350


Bottom line, buy the lot and have an experienced diver look it over. If
it's mostly old junk (prolly, since the owner has no use for it) you can
prolly get yer money back on resale. If ya get lucky, ya come out way
ahead. I'd give $150 sight unseen.

Go for it! 99% is that it's a steal and even if it doesn't work for
you can ebay it for *much* more than $150. Just the tanks alone would
get your money back.

If/when you buy the equipment post the make, model, stamped numbers,
etc and we can help you figure it all out.

-lance smith

lance smith wrote:

> Go for it! 99% is that it's a steal and even if it doesn't work for
> you can ebay it for *much* more than $150. Just the tanks alone would
> get your money back.

If ya can get $150 (net of shipping?) for three old al 80s needing viz
and hydro on E-Bay, I'm going into the biz!

I figure I can round up about 1500 locally over the next week or so,
make $20 a pop, quickest 30 grand I ever made!