Where do you live?
What kind of diving will you be doing?
Do you have a local dive store or stores?

Hi Matt,

Welcome aboard!!! I have been diving the Great Lakes for about 2 years and have been purchasing my own stuff as I have gone. Probably the best advice is to buy more than you need right now. By that I mean, don't just buy a cheap reg now and think that you will buy better later. It doesn't take very long to realize how valuable your equipment is. I won't be taking my advanced until this summer but I have been diving with a computer for about a year. A computer at 60 feet seems like overkill but I am very comfortable with it now and when I go deeper I have all the confidence in the world in my equipment. So the best is to pick up things as you go. Maybe your dive shop rents equipment and you can try different setups so you will know what you like and don't.

Use ebay alot!!!!!!!! Prices on ebay are the best and the information that you need is right there. I have purchased regs, tanks, BCs and suits on there. My local dive shop doesn't like it and I get flack from them when they service my equipment. Tough. Make sure you do your research on the company doing the selling. I have had zero problems, but I also exercise lots of caution.

As far as your own tank goes, you will need to get your own if you are doing a lot of local diving. I have three and could use three more. If you have to travel or fly to dive then you probably don't need one.

Hope this helps.
Robert

Online is fine, I'll buy somethings that way.  Personally, I have
developed a pretty good relationship with the local dive shop guy.  He
gives me a pretty good deal on stuff - especially if paying cash.  I
find it a lot easier to deal with someone in person when I have a
problem with something bought.  That being said several years ago I
bought a mask, the mailman delivered to my door - not the mail box as he
always does.  One of my dogs got to it and destroyed it.  Of course the
mail delivery would take no responsibility,  I have told them to never
deliver packages to the house.  Ocean Divers replaced the mask.  Above
and beyond the call of duty.

Good question(s).

Before we can give you detailed advice, we're going to have to know where
home is or, more precisely, what the harshest conditions you'll dive in are.
What's best for Aruba and other warm water locations is probably not best
for waters cold enough to require significant thermal protection.  Still,
there are some things that are common to all diving:

First things first.  You'll need some equipment of your own and you may as
well start off right.  Most courses expect you to have your own mask,
snorkel, fins and weight belt.  Buy your snorkel first.  Don't spend a lot
of money on it.  A large bore snorkel (which almost all are these days) with
no bells and whistles is just fine.  If you spend $20, you've probably gone
overboard on the snorkel.  Check the fit, making sure it's comfortable in
your mouth with the tube alongside your left ear.  Divers wear their
snorkels on the left side since their regulator is on the right.  Before
long, you'll leave your snorkel in your dive bag while diving, but that
comes later.  Take your snorkel with you when you buy your mask.  There are
a few important things about masks.  You want one made with quality
materials and tempered glass lens(es).  Don't let yourself be talked into a
mask with a plastic lens.  Other than quality, the fit of the mask is
everything and I do mean everything.  Get some help from a shop that has
lots of masks and try them on with your snorkel in your mouth.  A regulator,
or snorkel, in the mouth changes the shape of your face slightly.  Depending
on the mask, it might be enough to make the mask leak and that will ruin
your whole dive day.  You should be able to put the mask on your face,
inhale very slightly (note the very) and have it stay there without the
strap.  Like I said, get help.

To chose fins, you first have to know if they're going to be used in cold
water.  If you're going to dive cold water, you need fins with straps and
booties to go with them.  If you're only going to dive relatively warm
water, as I do, then you can consider full foot pocket fins as well.  If
you're told full foot pocket fins are only for snorkeling, don't say
anything, just find somebody else to get help from.  Those that believe this
are either clueless, dishonest, or both.  Full foot pocket fins are about
half the cost of those with straps and transfer energy from the foot to the
water more efficiently, at least the best of them do.  I like Mares TRE fins
for most diving.  My Quatro Power fins are good for diving when strong
acceleration is critical, but they take strong legs to drive them and aren't
worth a darn for snorkeling.  The TRE fins do everything well.  I like the
Mares fins for strap fins too.  This time, it's Quatros.  There are other
options, including Jet Fins.  Jet Fins are very popular with those who dive
in caves.  They're good for preventing silt outs specifically because they
don't move a lot of water when used.  They're stiff enough to make finning
backwards easier too, but they're not the only fins that work for this.
More non cave divers prefer other fins than Jet Fins, but the Jets have
their following even in the non cave, non wreck set.  Try various styles and
see what you like best.

For your actual scuba equipment, go slow.  Try a variety of equipment and
styles until you've got a good idea what you prefer.  Then, and only then,
buy.  That goes for your regulator, alternate, Buoyancy device and computer.
Speaking of a dive computer, I suggest buying a computer rather than gauges,
that it be nitrox capable, but otherwise, as simply and inexpensive as
possible.

When you're ready to buy your own equipment, stick with name brands.  Scuba
Pro, Apex and US Divers are the brands I'm most familiar with.  You'll get
recommendations for other brands, some of which will probably be quite good
also.  Stay away from proprietary brands and read the warranty data for
anything you consider.  Regulators get serviced annually (generally) and
some warrantees cover parts.  Others don't.  If you buy used, you'll save
money in the short run, but probably not over the long term.  Parts
warrantees don't usually transfer with ownership.

Until you know why a lot of people don't care for Suunto and Cochran
computers, don't buy either.  When you do know, and understand the issues,
you may or may not consider them significant.

You're correct about tanks.  Unless you're going to dive close to home a
lot, rent tanks.  The rental cost is usually not much more than the cost to
fill tanks of your own and probably pretty close to break even if you
consider the need to have tanks inspected annually and hydro tested every 5
years.  I use my own tanks because I do dive near home a lot, because I have
a preference for tanks that are not easily rented locally, because I don't
want to have to wait for a shop to open when I'm ready to dive or rush to
return a tank before the shop closes and because I sometimes dive while
cruising in my own boat.  My reasons may not apply to you.

Lee

Matt Cushing <matt@cushingonline.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:

If fit is important, definitlely.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

Matt,
by now you have gotten tons of advise, which I have not read all of
but if you are still reading these here is my .02,

1.  rent/try as much different gear as possible before you buy;
2.  high end quality gear will last a long time with little change,
dont try to save a buck
3.  All dive shops are not the same, some are fantastic and some are no
better than used car lots;
4.  99% of my gear has come from one shop I have delt with since 1975,
and in the long run I have saved money over the "on-line shops" but I
am in the minority here, most are'nt as lucky as I;

enjoy.

John

It happens a lot.

It can happen. Choose shop carefully.

Where will you be diving?
Buying online might get you a cheaper price, but if you don't know what
to buy, does it make a difference?