Congrats and welcome! I got certified before my honeymoon in Belize back in the 90's and have enjoyed diving ever since. I believe it is more of a sport than a hobby, and it costs a lot less than my cycling friends spend on their road bikes! The fact that you can rent gear as long as you need to or want to, makes a huge difference in affordability. This forum is a great place to learn how to secure quality equipment at the best prices, and I have used it to research every purchase i have made since joining. Researching gear here has also kept me from purchasing unnecessary or inferior gear which has saved me quite a bit of money over the long run. At which Sandals resort did you honeymoon? We are headed back to Sandals Grande St. Lucian in October and I can't wait!
Paul