Probably $$$. The initial capital investment for training and diving alone was a little overwhelming on the pocket book. However, for me it palled in comparison to the cost of diving for my first year(s). At the time, I lived in West Palm. Which was both a blessing and a curse. There was certainly more than enough diving opportunities to satisfy my insatiable thirst for the new sport. However, the local diving is almost exclusively boat diving. Knowing people who owned private boats and dove frequently helped offset some of this cost, but even the comparably lower cost of gas money and air fills starts to add up when your going out multiple times per week. Now add the occasion trips to the Keys, the Bahamas, and other various local charter, etc ... It's a miracle it didn't bankrupt me. Thank God the internet bubble came along. Hey, isn't it about time to bring it back ? 
