Best place to buy

[sava6e]

So I'm looking for a setup like a point and shoot, but able to add extras maybe down the road. Is there a website that has different housings to browse through?

Thank you

[YellowEye]

Hi!
You may want to check out https://www.opticaloceansales.com/
They also have a store in Seattle you can visit!

Many discussions have also been had on this board -- do a search.

Or just show up at the beach and take a look at what people are diving. There are a lot of camera folks at our ThThTh Thursday dives for one that would be happy to discuss and show (check out the dive planning section).

Used is often a good way to go too -- that's what I did.

Enjoy!

[dtodd]

There are lot's of places online to buy and they seem to all have the same prices on housings. If you want to support a local PNW shop, you can go to http://www.opticaloceansales.com. You can also go into their physical store near lake union in Seattle
and get your hands on the gear before you buy.
David

[GearHead]

Ditto for Optical Ocean Sales, and I would add Backscatter.com. Their brick and mortar store is in Monterey at the north end of Cannery Row.

[ljjames]

yeah, you can't beat Optical Ocean Sales... They support their products, will help get you cruising down the right track, and what everyone said "support your local"!

Even though I purchased my housing used (I bought it from a friend who I KNEW to be obsessive about maintaining his gear and keeping its service record up to date - yup, housings need to be maintained too) I go to OOS for the extra parts I needed to get it fully functional and keep it up to snuff.

There is a lot to be said for being able to go back to your place of purchase (who is a dealer for your item) and getting their assistance dealing with things, or even just getting tips on how to use it better. It is what they do, a generalized dive shop may have a person on staff who takes pictures, but being able to go sit down with someone who really knows that incredibly specialized part of the industry is an amazing opportunity. Usually you have to go to a dive expo to talk to the specialists, hope the manufacturer you want to talk to is even there, and stand in line/mill around until you can talk to the person you want to talk to. We are very very lucky to have a place like Optical Ocean Sales!