jcole:
Thanks for all of the feedback so far. I've already got fins, mask, snorkle, and wetsuit.
Realistically, I probably only will be making about 8-12 dives a year in relatively warm and shallow water for the most part...at least for the foreseeable future.
However, I appreciate the words about upgrading and not buying cheap equipment. I can probably come up with an extra couple hundred dollars if it makes sense to do so.
Best,
John
John, i work in a dive shop in vegas and i really don't get it when people talk about buying cheap gear or even buying a complete system if they are not going to dive it all the time. what is the point of having a complete system that sits for most of the year. these online packages are a joke for the most part. 700 bucs for a bc, reg, console, bag, knife, lights, batteries??? if you are buying gear because you want to be a vacation diver, then get stuff that is made for that. the cheap bc that comes with the package and a good weight integrated "travel" bc are quite different. really, is renting a bc so bad if you are only getting in 10 dives a year? You will spend as much in maintainence charges as you would in rental, if you buy all your gear. what i tell my customers, is first, buy the best air management system you can afford. SCUBA is about breathing underwater,and thus the thing that makes the breathing work is the most important. knowing your reg and computer have been tested and serviced takes a lot of weight off your shoulders. that and you don't have to swap spit with everyone who rented that reg before you. when you go on some dive boats and you are diving tables, the divemasters may make you stick to your tables, as you should. if you are a computer diver, just dive your computer. for these reasons i say take you 1000 bucs and buy well performing reg with a good air integrated nitrox computer. while i think the link you put up has some great prices on computers, like the dacor darwin air integrated, which has everything you need on one screen and does their new RGBM algorythm, has user replacable batteries, unlimited backlight, and even calculated SAC rate on the fly, i really believe you should go to your local dive shop and get gear there. aside from needing a local place to get air, your local shop is a great place to meet other divers, instructors, and find ways to increase your dive frequency. i hate online scuba shops. sure, we can save money, but when all the local dive shops close, will you pay the hazmat fee to get your tank filled and shipped from the online fill station?
i would recommend, for your money, a sherwood wisdom air integrated nitrox computer and either an atomic z1 or z2, or a scubapro MK25/G250HP. both have lifetime warrantees, the scuba pro gives you life time parts as well. you will not find a reg that breaths better for the money, and if you question this, find a stage deco diver that dives a mares or tusa.
happy diving!