First piece of scuba gear

[CaptainNemo]

I already have mask, snorkel, fins, and skin suit. I live in Minnesota and have completed my OW cert. I am now looking at purchasing scuba gear, but I can't afford it all at once. My question:

What do I buy first? Regulator? or wetsuit appropriate for Minnesota lakes?

I'm thinking the reg, but it costs more to rent the wetsuit.

I don't like using other peoples toothbrushes so I would go with the Regulator.

 

[PerroneFord]

CaptainNemo,

Putting your own mouthpiece on it shouldn't be too much trouble right?

 

[cdennyb]

1- dry suit
2- regulator(s)
3- BC/Wing/tank(s)
4- Own Air Compressor
LoL

 

[Spoon]

mask, fins and wetsuit. then bc and regulator.

 

[rascal1933]

I Agree with the posts on a good quality wetsuit~drysuit that fits you!
Especially the water temps that you will be diving.
Being cold is just no fun...

 

[StSomewhere]

Putting your own mouthpiece on it shouldn't be too much trouble right?

Threadjack, you would not believe the sh!t I caught when I did this to a dive boat's rental reg in KW. I have my own regs now, but if I were to do this again I would definitely ask them first. :11:

To the OP, yes, get a wetsuit but it doesn't have to cost that much. Larry (see above) can get you squared away if you can't find something local. You're going to eventually need a drysuit, so shop for a wetsuit with that in mind. Afterward, I would do the regs next. Dive a lot of BC's and/or BP/W's before buying any of those.

John