And what is the reason for new divers buying the complete set up?
I suppose, in their kan-cheongness of getting certified probably added fuel to an already big "fire" (ie semangat). heh. Tis true that you are far off better diving with your own equipment, as the familiarity with it will make you less prone to asking "how the hell do you read this SPG?" or having an ill-fitting gear on you that just makes u plain uncomfortable.
Of course, the initial cost of buying equipment can burn a very, very large hole in your pockets. But you think you will be diving more frequently, the cost of the initial outlay will balance itself out in the long run.
Few things you can do when considering buying equipment:
- Do extensive and ask thousands of questions. Not only from the guys at the dive shop, but also from dive buddies, forums etc. There is never a case of "too much info".
- Throw in a bribe of teh tarek and perhaps a plate of mee goreng mamak, you can test out their equipment (in a pool), which will give you a first hand feel of how they work and feel on you prior to purchase.
- As mentioned by chip, do check on the cost of maintenance and servicing Dive Computers and regulators. Different brands will differ in cost - some hitting the higher end of 3 figures. Not to mention, how easily available the parts are, too - you wouldnt want your precious gear to be lying on a technician's worktable in a dive shop during a dive season, would you?
With proper care (pre & post dive) these equipment can last you a long time - which brings us back to what i said about costs of initial outlay balancing itself out in time". My gear is now entering its 7th year of constant use - oklah, albeit a few "upgrades" like hose changes, replacing lost masks and "new" fins to make the load lighter when flying.
