dbulmer
Contributor
My advice would be don't buy too much at this stage. You are not certified yet and don't have any experience with any equipment as far as I can tell.
I think you'd be better off getting yourself a mask and trying that out in a swimming pool before you go (rub in a small amount of toothpaste on the mask inside and out and then clean thoroughly with fresh water - this helps prevent the mask from going foggy/misty). Do a search on scubaboard for testing masks.
Secondly, find out how warm the temperature will be in Fiji before you go - this will determine the type of exposure suit you'll need. I suspect a 3mm wetsuit will be ok?
(anyone care to elaborate further ?).
Try your wetsuit in the pool - don't worry if you float a bit - you'll soon get used to that
I'd also buy a snorkel so you can have a bit of fun in the pool and get used to breathing it as you'll have to do an exercise with a snorkel when you certify.
Fins - if you have the baggage room, it won't do any harm to buy them too but if luggage is tight don't worry about it. Once you certify you have a logbook - in the logbook write down what equipment you used and how much weight you used. This will help you later as you'll have some experience of what you liked equipment wise and what you didn't.
If you decide after certification that you want to dive regularly (all year round and/or locally) then it might be worth buying equipment rather than renting. Having your equipment is the best thing you can do but financially you also have to bear in mind that your equipment also needs maintenance ie regulator servicing, BCD servicing, checking straps etc and this can also cost money. If you decide to only dive a few times a year on holiday then I don't personally think it makes financial sense to shell out a load of money for your kit although having your own kit will help you become a more comfortable and safer diver.
I think you'd be better off getting yourself a mask and trying that out in a swimming pool before you go (rub in a small amount of toothpaste on the mask inside and out and then clean thoroughly with fresh water - this helps prevent the mask from going foggy/misty). Do a search on scubaboard for testing masks.
Secondly, find out how warm the temperature will be in Fiji before you go - this will determine the type of exposure suit you'll need. I suspect a 3mm wetsuit will be ok?
(anyone care to elaborate further ?).
Try your wetsuit in the pool - don't worry if you float a bit - you'll soon get used to that

I'd also buy a snorkel so you can have a bit of fun in the pool and get used to breathing it as you'll have to do an exercise with a snorkel when you certify.
Fins - if you have the baggage room, it won't do any harm to buy them too but if luggage is tight don't worry about it. Once you certify you have a logbook - in the logbook write down what equipment you used and how much weight you used. This will help you later as you'll have some experience of what you liked equipment wise and what you didn't.
If you decide after certification that you want to dive regularly (all year round and/or locally) then it might be worth buying equipment rather than renting. Having your equipment is the best thing you can do but financially you also have to bear in mind that your equipment also needs maintenance ie regulator servicing, BCD servicing, checking straps etc and this can also cost money. If you decide to only dive a few times a year on holiday then I don't personally think it makes financial sense to shell out a load of money for your kit although having your own kit will help you become a more comfortable and safer diver.