Hi Deno, great to have you in the water with us all.
Before you get your gear think about what you want to do in the water and talk to the divers around you. Your instructor, dive masters, shops and dive buddies. Don't let them push you where you don't want to go but their advice can be very useful.
Unfortunatly if you ask 5 people about gear you will get 5 different answers, we all have our favourite stuff. Do you want to end up going deep, dark & dangerous or photography, nitrox or be happy (like me) in the 10 - 20m (30 - 60 ft) area. All of this will aim you toward different equipment. If your can try to do a try before you buy with your LDS. Some do and some don't but its worth a try.
Good luck and I hope the underwater addiction grabs you and wont let go