Working in a dive shop I get a lot of people coming in (especially new divers) asking what and when should I inveset in this equipment, and the first thing I ask them (living in Iowa) is how much do you dive. If it's one or two trips MAX a year to the carribean and no local diving, I suggest getting just mask, fins, snorkel and a wetsuit. The personal items, 'cause you don't who blew their nose in that mask before you, you certainly don't want a fin that dosn't fit, who knows about that last guys mouth on your snorkel, and as far as wetsuits, we all know what happens. But if they say I do a ton of diving with your shop in the pool, I go to your events in the quarry, and also with other classes in the quarry, and am frequently in the carribean, then I start getting out catalogs with the regs and bcds as well.
So the best advice I can give is, ask yourself, how much will you use it, where, when, and if you are like me and your body changed shape every two weeks will this stuff fit me in a year or so.
Ryan
