CuzzA
Wetwork for Hire
It's one of the few industries that never developed centralized product distribution to not only protect brick and mortar retailers, but also allow them to service their customers sufficiently and level the playing field vs. online shops by instituting MAP pricing controls.
That said, I agree with the sentiment that you're nuts for buying gear before you're certified. How do you think so many of us get really sweet deals on barely used gear? You guessed it. People that ran out and bought gear only to find diving wasn't for them.
It is wise to buy from your local dive shop if you value getting your tanks filled because once they are gone, your SOL. Waiting two weeks is not a big deal for primary gear such as a regulator setup, BCD or computer.
Get your mask, a folding snorkel and rent everything else. Then spend a few months on here asking about different setups for the type of diving you want to do. You'll get various opinions, but at least you can then do a pros and cons exercise to make your decision.
That said, I agree with the sentiment that you're nuts for buying gear before you're certified. How do you think so many of us get really sweet deals on barely used gear? You guessed it. People that ran out and bought gear only to find diving wasn't for them.
It is wise to buy from your local dive shop if you value getting your tanks filled because once they are gone, your SOL. Waiting two weeks is not a big deal for primary gear such as a regulator setup, BCD or computer.
Get your mask, a folding snorkel and rent everything else. Then spend a few months on here asking about different setups for the type of diving you want to do. You'll get various opinions, but at least you can then do a pros and cons exercise to make your decision.