My opinion will differ from the first two a little.
If you are looking into buying your own gear, you must think that you are going to be diving a while? I looked at your profile, and since there were no specifics I assume that you are newly certified or are working on certification.
As a new diver myself, let me tell you the approach that I took and what I am looking at now.
I have wanted to dive for 20 years, and was just recently able to start. So to start with, I purchased a package very similar to the ones that you are looking at. I slowly built my gear package after the initial purchase. My initial purchase was very close to the one you are looking at from Leisure Pro (actually, that is where I ordered the package from). I have been very satisfied with my package. However, there are some things to keep in mind.
You are purchasing gear with a limited knowledge (even though I read everything having to do with diving, I still had limited knowledge), and you are going to base many thoughts and opinions on this (and other) gear. Do I regret buying my package? Absolutely not! It is just that as you get more experience you are going to realize "I don't like this, or I do like that". That is just the way it goes. You are really going to learn your likes and dislikes about many things.
On a positive note, as you learn your likes and dislikes and buy new gear, you will always have a backup should something happen (short notice dive while your regs are getting serviced, etc.).
You are going about things the same way that I have (except you look like you are getting off cheaper!
), and I don't regret any of it.
Knowing what I know now, I would go with package number 2 from Joe Diver. Then just see where your preferences lay. If you are like me, it is hard to drop close to $1,000 in one lump for gear, but spending a few hundred at a time seems to make the blow a little easier to come back from.
Just my .02 worth. Hope it helps.
Dark Wolf
