what are balanced regulators? do they have advantages or they caused you a problem?
A balanced regulator is designed to maintain its ease-of-breathing regardless of depth or tank pressure. In contrast, a diver breathing from an unbalanced regulator will notice that breathing resistance (the amount of effort it takes to draw a breath from the second stage) increases with depth or as the scuba tank pressure becomes lower. In the 21st century, there is no reason for a recreational diver to buy an unbalanced regulator, simply because it is less expensive.
So, these packages are attractive actually ..
OK, fair enough. Let me ask a few questions: a) WHAT SPECIFICALLY is attractive about the particular BCD, as one example, in the package? I am not saying it is 'bad', rather asking what you specifically like about it.; b) WHY did you pick a Mares package (other than an instructor told you it is good gear)? Why not the Oceanic, or the Aeris, or the Genesis, or the TUSA package? Just curious.
also, the new trainer who came recently told me that mares are good equipment
Mares IS good equipment. My comments about the package are really unrelated to the brand. Many / most manufacturer offers 2-3 'levels' of gear, particularly in regulators, but also in BCDs, etc - low, medium, and high end. What you often find is that the low end is cheap, but is gear that is ultimately replaced soon because of issues of functionality - it doesn't wear out, rather the diver comes to realize, as s/he gains experience, that they bought something that won't allow them to grow as a diver. The high end gear is often burdened with 'bells and whistles' that offer nothing as far as helping the diver develop, but add significantly to the price.
At this point, given what you have communicated, I STRONGLY encourage you wait - stop, take a breath, think about using rental gear as available, then finish your training and try different gear configurations (e.g. a jacket BCD vs. a back-inflation BCD), BEFORE investing in gear. You are proposing to spend money on a 'package' that is a) overpriced for what you are getting, b) not necessarily gear that will serve the serious diver in the long run. Basically, I ask you to ask yourself, 'Do I have enough experience to make an intelligent and informed gear selection decision?'
Now, having said that, will the gear in the package 'work'? Yes, you can dive safely with it. Is it worth the price? Possibly, possibly not. Is there better gear (not necessarily brand, rather model and functionality) out there which would represent a better value? Probably. I fully understand that the allure of 'new gear, my gear, I own it, I can use it whenever' is very compelling. And, sometimes people make purchasing decisions simply because that allure is irresistible.
Mask, I found this one:
High Definition $29.95
This is a good example of why you should pause, or rather seek local advice. (In fairness, I do not know where you are - region / country - nor do I know what kind of very good advice, or completely useless rubbish, you may be getting from a local dive shop.) The primary / main / essentially single most important issue with a mask is FIT. Have you tried an Ocean Quest Arctic Clear High Definition mask on to see if it fits YOUR FACE? The specifications on the website say it is suited for a medium-large face. Does that describe your face? Do you really want a purge mask? If so, and you know it this one fits you, then the price is pretty low, and it may be a good buy. The same website page shows a dry snorkel right next to it, also for a low price. Do you really want a dry snorkel, irrespective of price? If so, why? Some / many people (myself included) would tell you that a dry snorkel is essentially unnecessary for diving, in fact it is an annoyance because the weight of the dry valve at the end of the snorkel makes it feel a bit awkward on your head.
The suit is also hard because I don't fit in any one. I have to get junior size 16, because I weight 115lbs.
And, the suit is where I would spend my money at the beginning. A good quality exposure suit, that FITS YOU will be worth whatever you pay for it. (The only gear that I do not buy used are exposure suits, wet or dry. ) And sizes are not the same across manufacturers. This item, like a mask, is something you need to try on, actually try several brands / models. A poorly fitting exposure suit, just l;ike a poorly fitting mask, will annoy you on each and every dive. Buying online to save money is not a good idea, for 'fit' items.every dive.
In the end, it is your money, you should spend it as you wish. What you buy has no impact on those of us on SB offering opinions. But, you would be well-served to consider waiting until you gain a bit of experience, and you would be well-served to consider working with a local outlet on at least some gear.
