5. Regulator set
This for me was a big step, and a bit of a turning point. Although I bought my first BCD/Wing at the same time, it was a guarded, calculated purchase under a lot of good advice. Going back to rental gear at dive shops and dive centres, the gear is usually well cleaned (especially now), well serviced and of high quality being the workhorse of dive gear. Having said that, it has been in somebody else’s mouth and you have to pay to rent it. When I bought my reg set, I relied on good expert advice and I haven’t looked back since. Besides the investment you have the peace of mind of getting to know your gear, it’s yours. You know it’s going to work at 30m, you know it’s going to work in a cold lake near Heathrow Airport in mid-January. You also have the peace of mind that having it serviced annually as per the manufacturer’s instructions, its safe and you can trust your gear. Like your mask, investing in good quality gear serves you well long term. I invested in an Apexs XL4 reg set. It’s a thing of beauty, easy to set up and so comfortable to use on fun dives and courses. I have just sent it in for service with a trusted dive shop in Selsey, UK called Mulberry Marine Experience Ltd. Straight forward, strict protocol with Covid, but I know they are in good hands. If you ask a dive shop or online store for advice, they will help you. I used
www.scubadivestore.co.uk for my reg set and my first BCD Wing (Aqua lung Outlaw).