I'm looking to buy some dive gear and frankly, prices in Thailand seem quite expensive to other countries.

* Are there any discount retailers around?

* Has anyone had good/bad experiences with Dumnam.com?

I'm tempted to import gear via Leisurepro.com but I cringe at what Customs would charge me. Anyone know what the chances are of getting stuff through are? Or how much tax they are likely to charge?

Thanks.

Plenty of stores in Samui and Koh Tao with cheap gear especially if you are a DM or Instructor as they all give you a good discount. The same goes for Phuket and Pattaya. Also look at the second hand market especially on Tao where people have done their instructor course, worked a while and are now moving on. Always some bargains to be had. What exactly are you looking for ?

The only way I know to get cheap gear here is second hand. Check the classifieds at phuketgazette.com, thaivisa.com, and bahtsold.com. Good luck.

Looking for a good reg and BCD. Have been thinking about Apeks XTX 100 and a Mares Dragon. I'm based in Bangkok, unfortunately!

There a few dive hops n Bangkok thats ell equpment, same prices as in te rest of Thailand. lanet Scuba has a shop on Sukhumvit, afaik Dive Supply has a shop in BKK, look around.

Being based in BKK, I assume you dive a lot in PTY, why not have a look a round there, plenty of dive shops there.

Looking for a good reg and BCD. Have been thinking about Apeks XTX 100 and a Mares Dragon. I'm based in Bangkok, unfortunately!

I have some cheap second hand gear, from Australia,, email me ,, [email protected]

Anyone know what the chances are of getting stuff through are? Or how much tax they are likely to charge?

Small chance you'll get things to without charge. If a charge, count on 100% of the estimated value by them.

Looking for a good reg and BCD. Have been thinking about Apeks XTX 100 and a Mares Dragon. I'm based in Bangkok, unfortunately!

To get things out of customs is burdensome and time effective if you want to do it cheap. Not impossible but since you're stying in BKK worth a try possibly.

Ouch. I have bad experience with customs here so I guess I won't be doing that.

BTW: I'm only looking at new gear, but thanks for the offers.

Planet Scuba on Suk carries Mares, they're part of the exclusive importers for Mares equipment in Thailand. They're near the Emporium.

After looking around, Planet Scuba has got the best selection of gear in Bangkok. Dive Supply is a not very close second. Neither is cheap. The only discounter I've found is dumnam.com but I haven't actually bought anything off them yet so not sure how 'reliable' they are. Oh well.

Anyway, this is the kit I'm looking at:

* Apeks XTX100 reg with XTX40 octopus.

* Mares Mission 3 gauge set.

* Mares Vector 1000 MRS BCD (integrated weights + rear trim weights).

Anyone got good/bad comments about this stuff?

Never dived with Apeks but have heard good thingsbout their regs.

The mares Mission 3 gauge set is nice, small and easy to read and the Mares Vector is a good medium ranged BCD, imho.

Another site with prices similar to dumnam:

http[colon]//www[dot]diveinfo[dot]net/contact-e[dot]html

Personally I think Mares is overpriced.

I use the Mares Proton 42 Metal, 5 years and 500+ dives of trouble free diving, highly recommended!

I ended up with the Apeks XTX 100 reg and XTX 40 octopus, Mares Mission 3 console. Very happy with all of it. Didn't get around to buying the BC yet.

* Has anyone had good/bad experiences with Dumnam.com?

I had a great experience with the folks at Dumnam. Excellent customer service. Fast shipping. Everything exceeded my expectations.

(Ordered a Suunto dive computer and compass from them, very pleased with the service and the gear.)

I randomly stumbled across Dive Now! in Khlong Toey today. Not much stuff in the shop (its tiny) but they have a pretty good online shop and and their prices are way cheaper than say Planet Scuba. Worth checking out.

I put together a list of Bangkok dive shops. There's actually a lot more than I thought, but the Thai ones don't google very easily, at least not in English search.