Scuba Divers - Gear?

REnt until you know you'll be doing it long enough to justify the investment in your own gear. That's what I did..
in the process you learn what you like - brands, etc.
sometimes when I need a new piece of gear my dive shop (that also organizes our dive trips) lets me rent one of theirs to see how I like it and later if I buy it the rent goes towards the price..

 

I own my own skins, wetsuit, bcd (with weights), fins, snorkle and mask. I didn't see the need to buy a tank or regulator. I'm actually considering selling my skins and wetsuit because I haven't been diving in so long and when I have an opportunity to go again, I highly doubt that I'll fit into them

 

Well guys I went ahead and ordered 2 of the more important things from leisure pro. I went "cheap" but decent with my purchase. I went ahead and bought the BCD and Reg, both of which are "higher up" than the reg and BC I rented in the past, but are still low enough to not have a ton of bells and whistles, which is fine by me.

I got the Scubapro MK2 Plus/R190 Regulator, Black which is just the most "updated" or "modern" version of the reg I used in the Bahamas. Which is fine by me, because I'll know that it's reliable, simple, and can handle whatever I can. We never had a single reg problem from the older rental version of these out of 14 people using them on a 6 day trip, with 2 or 3 dives a day. So it looks like it can handle it

I also got the Seaquest Latitude BCD because of it's simplicity, and also weight integration. It's about $70 more than the BC I used on my trip, but I used this BC in the classes getting certified and really liked it, so all is well. I wanted weight integration just because it feels so much better to me than a weight belt. Then, I can set my weight belt up for just snorkeling in a wetsuit (try spear fishing in a 5/7mm wetsuit without weights...you can't. :)

The gear I ordered is simple. But that's what I need for now, as a college kid trying to scuba dive.

And as for diving location? Who says I need to be near the ocean! I live in Tennessee...home of the TN River, tons of lakes, and rock quarries. There's a Scuba course at the college I'm going to here, so I might take some advanced classes there as well. Plus, once I hit 20 or 25 dives, I can dive for the TN Aquarium (I'm employed there at the moment). There's also the TURDS, Tennessee Underwater River Divers. I feel pretty well off with dive locations here

 

You're well qualified for TURDS! You've always been a little turd....:yelrotflm