I found a class. It costs $375 but says NOT INCLUDED: Rental equipment ($85.00) or your Personal Snorkeling System for openwater dives ($140.00 to $300.00)
So, $500-$700. Is that an ok price? They also do SSI or PADI. Any preference?
Price varies widely depending on location. Around here that price would include everything except your mask, fins, booties and snorkle (MFBS) and entry fees to the quarry where we do our OW training dives. All rental gear and pool access is included.
MFBS cost can vary widely. There is nothing at all wrong with used equipment if you can find some good gear at a good price. Don't spend a lot of a fancy snorkle and don't go to the other extreme with Kmart fins and mask. The one place where you need to totally forget price is the mask. FIND ONE THAT FITS and buy it reguardless of cost. That might be a high end mask or maybe a low end one, fit is all that is improtant. I am lucky, one of the mask that fits me the best is a low end ($35ish) mask that has been made for decades. I just replaced my second mask from wear after several hundred dives and who knows how many air miles.