I am a new aow diver with 25+ dives. My 16 year old son and 14 year old daughter are also new aow divers. We are all very comfortable in the water swimming, surfing, boating, fishing and now diving. I purchased my own medium level equipment new after I was certified but waited to purchase gear for my kids to see if they would stay interested ( they have their own computers, masks, fins, wetsuits and snorkels ). After a year it looks like they are all in and I want to get them equipment they can get used to. My closest dive shop is telling me that I need to purchase new dive gear because of the safety and expense. If I purchase new then I have the lifetime free parts on recommended service. It seems to me that it might make more sense to purchase relatively new at 1/2 price and have everything serviced at full price once. Hopefully the first service will be safe until the next growth spurt. Any advice on buying dive gear new or used would be appreciated.