Sell Your Used Dive Gear
I wonder about odd things sometimes. One of those that’s got me thinking recently is dive gear. I always think about dive gear, but in this context, I am imagining the amount of dive gear that gets produced and wondering what happens to all the used dive gear.
Of course, a lot of dive gear simply wears out or is made obsolete by newer, better technology. But, items like backplates last forever. Shouldn’t there come a time when everyone that wants or needs a backplate has one? I have at least 9 or 10, so maybe not. In any case, since I started selling my used dive gear here on JoeScuba, it has occurred to me that I’m going to run out at some point.
I did a fair bit of work getting JoeScuba.com to be able to sell stuff, and I’ve discovered that I rather like doing it. Given that, if I want to keep selling, I realize I am going to have to do some buying. So, here goes…
I Buy Used Dive Gear
But, here’s the thing. I don’t want corroded, outdated crap. Not to insult your outdated crap, but I only want to buy and sell dive gear that I’d feel comfortable using myself. I have a general preference for technical dive gear or used dive gear that’s appropriate for serious dives.
However, I teach a lot of open water students, and offer advice to new and beginning divers that can benefit from affordable, used dive gear. The important thing is that anything I sell must be well-maintained and new enough that parts are available and I have people available that can work on it.
Used Dive Gear I Am Interested in Buying
- Used Regulators in Good Condition
- Backplates and Wings
- Recent Dive Computers
- Reels, Spools & SMBs
- Good BCDs
- Like New, Masks & Fins
- Underwater Scooters
- Scuba Gas Analyzers
- Rebreathers, Especially KISS Rebreathers (I am personally looking for a clean, used KISS Classic)
- Like New Drysuits in Average Sizes
- Exceptional & Recent Underwater Camera Equipment
- Underwater Video Lighting
- Vintage Double Hose Regulators
Used Scuba Gear I’m NOT Interested in Buying
- Wetsuits – Maybe if it is a popular size and like new
- Corroded, Outdated Dive Gear of Any Type
- Gloves or Boots
- Department Store or Costco Dive Gear
- Older Jacket Style BCDs
- Older BCDs in General
- Plastic Diving Harnesses
- Incandescent Underwater Lights
- HID Lights – It’s all LEDs these days
- Very Outdated Dive Computers
- Dive Knifes, Especially Big Ones (titanium, may be ok)
- Dive Gear Bags, Mesh Bags (unless they look brand new)
- Off-Brand Dive Gear
These are partial lists, so if you have dive equipment you want to sell, email me with a few pictures and some idea how much you hope to get paid for it. If I think I can sell it on JoeScuba, I’ll try to make it work.
I’m doing this for a few reasons. One is to simply reach more people with my blog. Also, I want divers who can’t spend a lot on dive gear to be able to own good stuff. Finally, I’d like to make a few dollars to offset some of the cost of maintaining the site.
How Much I Will Pay for Used Dive Equipment
Here’s the thing. I don’t want to sink a huge amount of money into dive gear that I will refurbish to sell. For the most part, it’ll take a while to get things sold, and I really don’t have a good feel for what most people want.
Generally speaking, if I can sell something for $100, I want my all-in cost to be under $50 at most. That includes whatever part of shipping I have to eat, as well as the cost of parts and repairs needed to make a piece of equipment safe to dive. There are other handling costs as well, plus I will no doubt buy some dive gear that I get stuck with.
So, please don’t be offended if my offer seems low. It has to be in oder to make sure I won’t end up losing my shirt. Also, don’t be offended if I just don’t think your used dive gear fits in with what I like to sell.
That said, if you have used dive gear to sell, I want to hear from you. It’s a win, win, win. You’ll get some space back in your garage. Someone will have access to good dive equipment they might not be able to afford otherwise, and JoeScuba gets to live on.