Hi soldier.

Thanks for your service.

As far as instruction goes, the agency is not as important as the instructor
and dive shop you become associated with. Hit all the dive shops you can,
and use the one that feels the best.

As far as gear goes, dont buy anything at first, rent gear and try different
BC's and stuff. Dive shops are going to try and sell you as much gear as
possible right out of the gate, because there is a 25-35% return, meaning
many people who take SCUBA instruction, either never dive again after they
get certified, or dive so little it wont matter.

You will have to buy a mask and snorkel for the course, but you will soon
learn to lose the snorkel, so buy the cheapest one you can find. In fact, I
bet there are a few people reading here who would give you one. There are
hundreds of different fins, and you'll get hundreds of sales pitches and
advice, but most technical and advanced divers us Scuba Pro Jet Fins.

http://www.scubapro.com/prod/fms/Jet%20Fin/Jet.htm

Right out of the gate, I will tell you to get a backplate and wing setup
from Patrick Duffy at Oxycheq;

http://www.oxycheq.com/backplates.html

http://www.oxycheq.com/Wings.html

Once you get the plate and harness set up, you can change the air cell to
match whatever kind of diving you are going to do, cold water, warm water,
doubles or single tanks.

Some others will be right along to tell you I am full of it and to ignore my
advice.

Hope that helps.

I don't know about discounts for veterans but it wouldn't hurt to ask at the
shops and email the training agencies. I do know that you can take scuba at
some colleges as a credit course so maybe you can get training under the "GI
bill".

Al
Bottoms Up Divers

<snip>

http://grumman581.googlepages.com/welcome-rec-scuba

Oh well, now that we've gotten the introductions out of the way...
<grin>

Overpriced... There's two issues here... Learing how to dive and
getting certified... Getting certified just lets you get a C-card so
you can more easily get air fills... You can teach your own self how to
dive if you have the gear... Getting air fills might be a bit more
difficult in some places these days without a C-card though...

If you get your certification at a community college, TA will pay for it.
Join a dive club, they can give you lots of free advice as well as show you
many gear set ups. I am a member of Atlantic Rangers (
http://www.atlantisrangers.org/visitors.html) and would be glad to assist.
As far as buying gear, don't rush out and buy a bunch of stuff. Use rental
gear or borrow at first. As I have become a Closed Circuit  Rebreather
Diver, I've got lots of regular scuba gear that I no longer use. Drop me an
email at grahamj@nospammerusna.edu take out the nospammer part of the email
address.
Regards,
FC1(SW/AW) USN