Two Easy Ways to Recycle Your Dive Gear

In last month's issue, we discussed options for recycling old dive gear. While we wrote it wasn't so simple to do, two readers beg to differ, citing two easy options for selling, trading and donating used equipment.

Bill Parnes, in New York City is vice president of marketing at Leisure Pro, and he wanted us to know that the online retailer has a trade-in department. Leisure Pro sells used and discontinued gear to dive shops and instructors that need it for rental and training, and the company promises to pay top dollar for yours. Give a short description of your items by phone or e-mail, and Leisure Pro will pay for shipping it to its headquarters. Once it arrives, a Leisure Pro rep will call you back with a price offer that you can redeem in cash or new equipment. If you're not satisfied with the offer, your gear will be mailed back to you free of charge. Currently, Leisure Pro is looking for regulators, gauges, computers and octopuses in good condition. It doesn't take rubber goods -- that means no masks, fins, snorkels, bags, boots or wetsuits ( www.leisurepro.com/Content/Used.html ).

Rich Synowiec (Ann Arbor, MI) lives near Divers Incorporated, a dive shop that just started a program called Scuba Crap to recycle, donate, buy and sell used gear. Fill out the trade/sell form on its website, and include it with the gear you're shipping (it's on your dime, although Scuba Crap will ship back to you on theirs if the deal doesn't go through). Staff evaluates your items to see if they can be re-sold, then e-mails you two offers, one for "cash" and one for "trade, for you to choose from. Choose cash and you're paid by check or PayPal. Choose trade, you'll get credit to buy new gear at Divers Incorporated's online store. You can also donate your gear -- Scuba Crap will refurbish it and give the profits to a dive-related charity on its list or of your choice( www.scubacrap.com ).