Just start a crack habit. It will be cheaper in the long run and less addictive too....you've been warned. Consider this an intervention before the intervention...
Here's my take on it. Mask, fins, boots first. I like the Mako masks, they are cheap, guaranteed to fit, and as good if not better quality then most of the big name masks out there. Fins- Dive Gear Express has some jet fin copies, with spring straps, for $60. They move ALOT of water. I have Mares Avanti Quatros as well that were twice as much and, while great fins, not as fast as the jet fins. Arguably more comfortable though.
Boots, warm water, cold water, take your pic. I've seen dive masters that dive multiple dives a day 24/7/365 use Converse canvas basket ball shoes. I own at least 5 snorkels and have taken them diving exactly ZERO times....your call.
Next, wetsuit for your temperature range of diving, gloves, hood, etc. a full exposure suit of your choice...only peed in by you. Used is fine here because NOBODY ever pees in their wetsuit....ever....really....
Now assuming rentals are not readily available in your area. Rentals are a great way to see what you want, try it out without a huge financial commitment, and make sure you make the right decision the first time. Kind of like a whorehouse but without the need for condoms, ball gags, antibiotics, and itch cream.
Next, regulators and a computer. A $250 set of Hog Edge, Deep six regs, to $2200 scubapro mk25 titanium......your bank account is the only limit here. Just starting out, you probably won't be able to tell a difference from one to the other.
Ok, at this point your wife is considering leaving you. Your dog craps in your shoes regularly because you shop for gear ALL the time and never take him out to do his business...and we're just getting started. By this point you should have learned from the creepy pervert in the office to always have a separate window open so you are one mouse click away from hiding your Scuba porn from anyone walking buy. Clicking on Dive Right In Scuba, (I think they are close to you) Dive Gear Express, Leisure Pro, Deep Sea Supply, Northeast Scuba Supply, Scubatoys, the Scubaboard classifieds, or even eBay provides instant gratification for your growing Scuba gear habit instead of working like you are supposed to be. Your job performance should be suffering noticeably and you may want to check on your state's unemployment benefits just to have a plan.
Now, it time to start thinking, dreaming, obsessing about a BCD. Jacket type, rear inflate, soft plate, aluminum plate, steel plate, basic harness, deluxe padded harness, weight pockets, cam bands, d rings, d ring placement, tropical wing, doubles wing, HOG, Scubapro, Diverite, or (bright light from heaven and angels singing here) dare I say Halcyon? This is the part that that renting, borrowing, stealing if you can get away with it, will pay off and save you money and time if you can dive every possible option first before dropping $500 on your choice only to think....maybe I should have just bought a backplate and wing to begin with.....don't ask me how I know...
Now for the rest of the crap....lights (just buy a few DGX 600 or 800 and call it done). But wait...there's more. You say, but I want a can light for wrecks.... ok, do that. Redundant cutters trilobites, knives including the obligatory BFK, and titanium trauma shears. Barrel snaps, retractors, compasses, back up masks, a separate reg set for your new pony tank so you can dive solo, weights- solid, shot, solid...but vynil covered....
The bad news is your wife left you 3 months ago....the good news is she took the furniture, car, and her clothes so you have much more room to store dive gear. By the way, she moved in with your brother and they are raising your kids. Oh....and you lost your job when the IT guys realized that the virus from watching Phillipine wreck dive videos cost the company millions in lost data and uploaded all of the customer credit card numbers to the dark web.... but the glass is half full since you have more time now to shop for new gear.... it's a win-win....sort of.
Tanks- steel, aluminum, unobtanium, high pressure, low pressure, din valve, yoke valve, brushed, painted, galvanized, Nitrox cleaned, etc..... you can never have enough tanks...right?
Ok, finally, you are fully rigged out, redundant, and redundantly redundant. Also Single, in foreclosure, and you can't file bankruptcy because Dive Gear is not exempt unless it qualifies as a tool of the trade, facing living under a bridge (hey...don't judge...it's closer to the water) walking around with a regulator mouthpiece in your mouth all the time in your $2200 drysuit (with pee valve) because you sold your clothes to make it easier to move out and that's when the worst of the addiction happens..... you only discuss diving and mumble decompresssion stop planning (also arguing with your self about which algorithm, partial pressure, or gas mix to use)
You can now dive with less weight since you sold a kidney, part of your liver, a testicle, one eye, and one lung to buy Dive Gear. (But think of the people you have helped...) The dizziness you feel from selling blood, plasma, and semen all over town is just your way for training for Narcosis.
Remember? Six months ago It all started with the Mako Minimus mask for $39.... and you think......hmmmmmm I sure like the Baja mask, then you really need a set of split fins, and your regs aren't the newest gold plated, special edition, oxygen cleaned, Apeks/ Scubapro/ Deep Six/ Oceanic/ HOG/ collaboration that actually create air while you dive from the water.....
And the process starts over feeding the monster until you die. Really, crack is cheaper and probably a better way to go.
If you see my ex-wife and Brother, tell my kids I said hi....and I spent their college fund on a rebreather.....
Oooooooh. Look....a full faced mask....
Good luck, you're going to need it, you were warned....
Jay
