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Leisure Pro, I’ve never had any issues with them, and honestly, they’ve gone way out of their way to hook me up with crazy deals on their already low prices. Just to give you an example, I was interested in buying new BCDs for my wife and I for an upcoming international dive trip...not only did they give a more expensive model (I was between two types of BCDs) and since I was buying two, the sales person saw I was a repeat customer, I got two BCDs for the price of the cheaper BCDs, and at the used rate (despite the fact that I bought NEW items). Let’s just say that day I saved over $350 bucks on that one order). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, I’ve had the same thing happen with wetsuits, and that was at their store located in Manhattan. They heavily discounted the suits my wife and I purchased. My advice though is call their toll free number rather than just clicking and ordering it; yes it will take a few minutes longer, but if you’re buying more than one item, used be surprised how willing they’ll be to haggle the prices with you over the phone.
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Hello pntballer,
If you stay with the largest of the online retailers they either offer manufacturers warrantees (they are authorized by that brand) or they offer their own warrantee that is equal to the manufacturers warrantee. I’ve dealt with Leisurepro, Scuba.com, Scubatoys and a few others without any problems and most will give you some sort of sizing warrantee program so you can try on and exchange. Just don’t actually use the item if you may need to return it.
The local dive shops like to play hardball with us threatening the diver with not being able to get fills if they go out of business. The facts are however a bit different. A good local shop can and should compete for your business and earn it. In many cases they can and do but you don’t owe them any special preference you wouldn’t show any other business. If you walked into a shoe store and tried on some shoes you’d find the correct size you need and your brand and model preference. if you then looked at the price and it seemed high you would take your business elsewhere without a second thought. You may that evening look into pricing on the internet and find you where correct and you can purchase for less. Given that knowledge you have choices. You can go back to the local dealer and bargain with them, you can try another local dealer or knowing your size you can look for the best price and purchase online.
First let me say although it has happened that the closest shop to a local has closed, it is far more likely that they would change their business model to one that makes more use of service, training and travel to support itself and relies less on the retail equipment sales. Having a local to try gear on for size and purchase when the deal is good and convienient but not required today. Simple business economics will tell you the local shop with the best policies will survive the longest but without enough business it too may close but in that event you could find or organize divers to set up a fill station. The fire dept or a paintball shop may be able to help you. They use air at the same pressures as scuba divers but not as well filtered. You may be able to purchase a filter stack and have them fill your tanks for you. Finally you or a group of divers in your area could opt to purchase a compressor for your own use and then not need a local shop for fills.
I am the owner of a club in Arizona that is based on a altered business model. Our club embraces the online retailer in fact our members have a purchase program that in many most cases saves them beyond the posted website price from 2 of the above mentioned online retailers. So our club isn’t in the retail sales model but we do offer the other services of a local dive shop such as gear service, travel, training and air fills. I’ve installed a compressor that is actually larger than that of most of our local competing shops and it sees the same air quality testing. Our program is designed so our active members see a savings after paying for their annual membership compared to dealing with one of the many local shops in our area. This is accomplished through discounts on everything a diver needs like tank visual inspections, Hydrostatic testing, equipment overhaul and inspection, travel needs, and training classes.
So the bottom line is you shouldn’t feel the need to support your local dive shop unless they support your needs as a diver. Make use of the alternate means to train, maintain and equip yourself if it makes sense for your needs. It’s business, you are the customer and the customer is always right regardless of how much the business objects. It’s their job to find a business model that works for you not your responsibility to make their business model work for them.
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I HAD a LDS that would only sell from their limited stock and they were not interested in ordering anything. When they wouldn’t order a 2nd reg for my son that they were a dealer for I went online and discovered a new world. BTW, that LDS which had had three stores is now gone.
If you know what you want, buying it on-line makes $en$e, I’ve outfitted me, two kids and a wife with purchases online, mostly from LP.
Things you need to try on for fit, like mask and wetsuits I’ve bought from the LDS.
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Greg - 9/10/2012 7:32 AM 
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Agojo - 9/10/2012 7:33 AM
I buy from Leisure Pro and Divers Direct with no problems for 10 years now. Every December Divers Direct will have a special where you can buy $100 gift cards for $80. The catch is you can not use them until after Jan. 1. So I buy gift cards for myself and wait for sale items after Jan. 1 and I start with a 20% discount off of the already low prices. Divers Direct also has stores in central and south Florida where you can try BCs/wetsuits etc for fit if you are in the area.
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I prefer to buy anything valuable from my LDS simply because they support their products and the manufacturers work hard to support their vendors. I have a few real-life examples to share where I do not think I would have received the same result using an on-line company.
Intova - after 2 years my batter stopped charging on my Intova Super Nova dive light. My LDS arranged to have me mail it Intova’s factory and pay $60 to replace the battery. They sent me back a brand new Super Nova light with a note of thanks for being a loyal Intova customer.
Aeris - after 2.5 years (warranty is for only 1 year) I sent my Epic dive computer (stopped working) in to Aeris through my LDS where I purchased it. Instead of charging me to fix it, out of warranty, I received a factory refurbished (like new) unit with a note saying thanks for being a loyal Aeris customer. Still works great today, 4 years after purchase. So I bought another one for my wife.
Scubapro - last week my 2 year old Seawing Nova Fins snapped at the flex joint on a dive. I sent a note to Scubapro asking if there was any way of getting a discount on a replacement pair because I loved them. They sent a not back asking my to have any Scubapro distributor mail them back for a free replacement.
I don’t think any of those scenario’s would have worked with Leisurepro. Maybe I paid 2-5% more. But look how it worked out in the end. Online I will buy a wetsuit, or a knife, or anything I’m not worried about replacing or needing service. Hope this helps.
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The LDS I use is a shinning example of going the extra mile. I’ve certainly looked at the online prices prior to speaking with the LDS. Everytime (sofar) they have matched or bettered the online price. I have used Leisure Pro (not for my regulator though - certainly believe in getting that from my LDS) for a lot of items mainly because of them offering Bill Me Later. My next big purchase is tanks and that will definitely be bought through the LDS.
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All good advise.
First educate yourself. If you have a reasonable level of technical understanding you can make informed decisions regarding your purchases. The internet has a wealth of reviews and opinions on Scuba Equipment, Scuba Lab has what appears to be objective reviews.
I would say FIRST put your money in your regulators, figure what you can afford to spend ad 10% to that and make the best deal on the regulators you settle on. You will own your regulators for a long time, they will outlast the car you are driving , your first home, and possibly one or two marriages (depending on how much you dive). They probably will make the biggest difference in your diving pleasure and comfort of any piece of equipment. I would also by Nitrox Compatible regulators. The price difference in mid-range Nitrox compatible will not be much, and will save you the cost of repurchasing a whole new regulator set when you move to Nitrox. The same example holds true for a dive computer, there are nitrox compatible computers in the $200-$300 price range. Shop around.
EVERYONE has an opinion. Buy whats right for you. I did painstaking research before buying Mares Abyss regulators, which I found to be easy breathing, well built and reliable at a good price for performance ratio. I am sure you can find someone to pan anything with the MARES name on it.
Ask the question of online retailers directly if they are an authorized dealer. There are cases where people have been denied warranty service because of gray market purchases.
I have had problems even with MARES authorized dealers having my regulators service to my satisfaction.
Even if you cannot get your gear locally serviced manufacturers offer mail in depot repair. You are not a commercial diver,
you can survive an extra week with out your regulator. In most cases they have the durability of a hammer.
try here for good close-out and used deals http://www.northeastscubasupply.com/store/index.php
They are local to me,a bout 30 miles and it like a candy store for scuba.
APEX HOLIS DIVE RITE and MARES authorized among others.
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