"Don't buy new equipment because there's plenty of almost-new gear out there."
That's the advice I've been given over and over by more experienced scuba divers. Most of them seem to dive with equipment they've sourced through eBay or picked up elsewhere, having already been used by someone else.
Whatever you call it: second-hand, pre-owned or used - there's apparently no shortage of it and it represents great value for money, if you know what you're looking for.
The main source of this strong supply is over-enthusiastic novices, apparently. There's a fair crop who pour a large amount of cash into a complete set of new dive gear during their training, only to find that the sport isn't for them.
Some realise the error of their ways fairly quickly and try to recover a reasonable proportion of their investment through a quick sale. Others are slower to acknowledge their mistake, or simply need time to pass before they conclude that they'll not putting the shiny kit to good use. They pay a higher price when they sell up, simply because their equipment has spent years under the stairs.
As predicted by my instructors, I've benefited from the enthusiastic purchases of a trainee diver. I've never met the chap, but a contact heard he was selling off all his gear and immediately thought of me. Geography was a slight problem, as we lived at opposite ends of the country, but last week I got to see what was on offer.
I'm no expert and at first I was sceptical. When you're being asked to part with hundreds of pounds it's easy to be reluctant, particularly when what's on offer isn't new and shiny. But when you look at the list prices of new equivalents it becomes easier to take a bit of a risk and agree to take the lot.
So I'm now the proud owner of a dry suit, BC, regs, at least one cylinder and sundry other stuff. It hasn't seen service for a few years and while a visual inspection revealed no issues, that's no replacement for a professional assessment. I won't be diving with it until it's been signed off as being in working order.
But it proved the point. If you keep your ear to the ground you can pick up scuba gear for a good price.
