I've just completed my 54th dive so am still a newbie all things considered.
With that disclaimer, I agree with what others have said that likely you don't NEED to buy anything else.
To the extent that you
want to, then I think the priority would be
- wet suit
- dive watch
-
safety sausage
- rash guard
.... then ...
- regulator
- computer
.... then ...
- other stuff
Re:
dive watch, you can get cheap ones - see, e.g., this well-rated
one for $17 bucks or search for "dive watch" in Amazon -- they have all ranges of cost. I personally went with the
Citizens Eco-Watch - pricier, but I needed a sports watch for diving, hiking, and other nonwork activities, so invested in one I thought was pretty (for a sport watch) and never requires batteries. (When I'm not wearing it, it's hanging on the light in my bathroom, so it's always ready.)
Re:
wet suit - local shops usually have at least some on clearance ... and online retailers do as well.
Waterproof has some great ones on clearance/closeout right now.... and share revenue with local retailers (or, according to website, they do). (I also recommend getting 3MM is probably best.)
Re:
safety sausage - never dove without one and don't plan to ever do so. So far, have never had to use it -- but have been on several trips where others did.
Re:
rash guard - I'm Irish/English and burn like crazy - especially, for whatever reason, my chest area. So - I always wear rash guard, even when out of the wetsuit. And, again, can get a basic one for under $30, so it's not a big cost.
Re:
bags - I use a "regular" /non scuba bag (Delsey Helium Hyperlite 35" Rolling Duffel) and it has worked great. And, again, it has multiple uses so IF I no longer dove (g-d forbid), I could still use it easily .. in fact, did so this year for a ski trip. On the "bag" issue, if you're doing day boat dives, you might want to get a "
dry bag" to keep your stuff together on the boat. I love it b/c I can just keep my shore clothes.. and my kindle (which goes everywhere with me
except underwater), iphone, etc. all together -- and dry. And - again - it has multiple uses not just dive-specific.
Point is that ALL of this stuff (other than the safety sausage) is "multi-purpose" ... so you'll be able to make good use of it even if you decide you don't love diving -- or only want to dive once a year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IF you decide you love diving ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re:
regulator - I am like
samer0214
in that I only trust my own regulator, because I know it - and I know that I take care of it and get it regularly serviced. And, though it's silly I'm sure, I hated using a mouthpiece ... that wasn't mine too -- besides, the one I got was .. messed up and I bit through it on second dive so had to hold it by hand rest of the dive. I came back from that trip and the first (next) thing I got was my own regulator.
Re:
computer - I agree with
Imla that it's of great benefit to know how your computer works and not have to learn a new one every trip. You can get relatively inexpensive ones -- or get a used one. Once I knew I loved diving, I got the one I wanted (which wasn't cheap) ... with hopes that it'll last me many years. And I love it and now can't imagine diving without it. That being said -- I had so quickly fallen in love with diving, I knew I wanted to do it.
I have picked up a few other "toys" since then (just got a camera THIS week - can't wait to use it!!), but .... nothing that I couldn't live without.