Great comments and info, and thanks to all for the warm welcome. My desire is to get a decent underwater camera rig and my love is tropical diving. The bug bit me over the last few years snorkeling off of Maui, Lanaii, Hawaii, and Kauaii. I managed to get a few decent shots while holding my breath (how about that avatar?
) with my low budget Sony digital camera, red filter, and waterproof case, but having to surface to breathe doesn't give you much time for the sealife to participate.
Having said that, I now live in the Houston area, so the local diving won't compare I'm sure, but I know there are fresh water dive spots as well as the platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. I guess airplanes were invented to get you to the tropics anyway. I imagine starting with good basics - mask, fins/booties , snorkle - and then my questions start. I would plan to begin with rentals, but it wise to own my own regulator? BC?
Again, many thanks for the warm reception and help.