Mask, snorkel, fins, hood, gloves, BCD, regulator, drysuit and tank...check!

One of the most frequent questions from would-be scuba divers is "how much does it cost to buy all of your equipment once you're certified?" And, depending on who you ask, the answer can sometimes deter one from taking the first step in exploring another world.

For the average diver, renting equipment at the beginning of your dive journey is an economical and intelligent way to go. Most scuba centers have rental departments and with a little forethought, you can enjoy the sport of scuba for the same price as any other one-day outdoor activity.

Forethought: Check out your local dive centers rental equipment. Visit three or four shops, compare pricing and actually LOOK at their gear.

How old is the equipment? Sure, the equipment will be "used", but if it appears more than a year old, you may want to keep shopping. Two years, on most rental equipment, is the max life. If the shop is managed properly, the daily rental rate should allow for upgrades every year or two on all of the vital rental equipment.

Is the equipment designed for local diving? If you're certified in a cold water environment, your instructor probably talked about weight integrated BCDs and how important it is to split your weights up, not wear a 30# weight belt that could slip off at depth. Are the BCD's weight integrated? Do the regulator sets come with a dive computer, or are you relegated to a gauge setup? Most dive centers have comparable rental pricing, so find the shop with the best (and safest) rental for your dollar.

Do your part. What size are you? How much weight do you wear? What size boot, hood, gloves? Some dive centers have the organizational ability to record all of this information, but the rental department in most locations is a "sideline" and, quite honestly, the staff doesn't usually have every customers size and weight recorded. If you're a frequent renter, ANY shop would be happy to keep a printed copy of your sizing and weight requirements so they can pull your gear with a simple phone call.

Scuba can be as costly of a sport (as can any other outdoor activity) as you'll allow. However, the undersea world is available to those who are wanting to start with baby steps first. Take the plunge, get certified. Daily rental rates generally run from $70-85 per day/weekend and offer the opportunity for a full day of diving beneath the waves in one of the most abundant ecosystems in the world.

Now that you've made your list of things you want to do in the new world underwater, it's time to make some SMART equipment choices. Your next step is information gathering.

Manufacturers websites and brochures can let you see what's available. Often, they will explain the function of the equipment, activities and temperatures it's rated for, and the benefits their particular brand provides. Sometimes this will help narrow down the field. If you're wanting to pursue deep wreck diving and a technical diving path, you'll save money at the start by purchasing a back plate and wing set up, rather than a BCD like you trained in your class with.

Watch your local area for DEMO DAYS. A small number of companies have stepped up to the plate (DUI, Bare, Dive Rite, Whites) to offer the diving public a chance to try out the equipment prior to purchase. Let's hope these events prove successful and more manufacturers choose this path.

If theres' a dive show in your area, take a full day and talk to manufacturers representatives about their products. The representatives are not only familiar with the line they carry, but with their competitors products as well. Representatives have a vested interest in steering you towards a good buying decision, not just "their favorite BCD" in the line.

Then there's your dive buddies. This is a channel I would avoid. Everyone will tell you they have the best gear. (Even though it's the ONLY gear they've ever tried) Here lies the opportunity for misinformation to sink in. Often divers buy what their instructor uses and this can have a causal effect that everyone in their circle dives the same drysuit, regardless of the quality of the suit in reality.

Also, professional instructors often receive financial rewards for a student purchasing through the shop. This can be good...or bad. A quality instructor will assure you have the proper gear for what YOU want it for. This builds a good, long term relationship with the student. But often, an instructor, no matter how good intentioned, will be limited to the selection in their shop, and may opt to interest you in slow moving items in the store, rather than direct you to a competitor.

Now, start to gather the information about the equipment. Next article, we'll talk about being a SMART SHOPPER.

The ideal way for a novice diver to purchase their own equipment is with a high limit credit card and the experience only seasoned divers have. Selecting a dive set up in a world you've just earned admission to is tough. Most start the search with misinformation, opinions from other divers and strangers recommendations. Poor buying decisions now can affect you later in time and money. With this in mind...let's look at making your first scuba gear purchases.

First, let me emphasize just how crucial your choice of gear is. Your personal safety and comfort depend on it. If your gear doesn't fit properly or isn't the right kit for conditions, you may find there are dives you opt out of or, worse yet, you choose to dive and accept too high of a risk by doing so.

The first step to making a smart buying decision is to consider the type of diving you will be doing. Try to think ahead. What underwater activities piqued your interest during your Open Water class? If your diving is going to be exclusively holiday diving in tropical locations, your gear will look much different than your classmates who opts to dive in the temperate local waters as well.

Where do you want your passion to take you? The equipment needs of someone who wants to delve deeply into fish identification is different than one who wants to explore wrecks at depth. Quality equipment, properly cared for, will last you many years, so its important to saving you money in the long run to take future diving plans into consideration now.

For the first step in your decision: Make a dream list of those places you want to go with your diving in the next 5 years. What classes do you wish to take? What environments are you most likely to be spending time in?