One of the most often asked questions that divers ask is, should I buy my own scuba equipment, or should I just rent it from a dive shop?
While just about every type of scuba diving equipment can be rented from a dive shop, there are some pros and cons to renting. First of all, you are betting your diving experience on the type of scuba equipment in the dive store. Many dive shops don't have a big selection of equipment. As you start diving more regularly on your way to becoming a scuba nut, you will certainly start having more discriminating taste in scuba diving equipment. Say you go to Catalina Island and the dive shop over there has a big selection from which to choose from. You absolutely loved the gear that you rented out and thought it played an important part in your enjoyment there. Now, when you go on your next diving trip in the Carribean, are you going to expect them to have the same selection scuba equipment? Plus, after a while the cost of renting on a regular basis will add up.
Having said all that, you want to phase in your scuba purchases over time. Here are some guidelines:
 You snorkel and fins are the first items that you should consider purchasing since they are relatively inexpensive, and cause the most problems in renting. A regulator can runs from $150 to over $1000. Only buy the regulator when you can afford the one you want. Only buy the BC when you buy the regulator, and not before. Rent the weights. They are not fun to travel around in.
Scuba Toys Some of the best prices for scuba diving equipment are at Scuba Toys. They have a broad selection of products ranging from dive masks, tanks, regulators, and much more.
JoeDiver America Joe Diver America has been around for over 30 years. Their philosophy has always been to give their "fellow divers the best value, no matter what their budget."
They also have broad selection of scuba diving gear, accessories, tools and gadgets.
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 Scuba diving equipment |