I and a few others from the forum dive backplate and wings, instead of a regular jacket or rear inflate BCD. I find that its much better for buoyncy, and its good because youc an put pockets where they're useful (thigh), instead of under your armpits like a jacket BCD. Gone also is the full-inflate crush feeling they have.

I'm diving mostly Zeagle USA gear from Dive Tub, currently their Flathead LT primary balanced reg. The gear is second to none and cheap to service which puts it ahead of apeks and aqualung. Oceanic offer free parts for life, but then they charge so much for the service jobs, you may as well get the parts for free - so thats a bit of a gimmic. To top it off Chriso will pricematch US prices on the same or equivalent gear and offers trydive to get you started.

A cheaper way in might be buying cheap boss, sherwood or cressi piston regsets. They're exceptionally basic, but they don't breathe as well at depth. Hookah Dive or Dive Imports would carry those brands.

TOP BRANDS=TOP $$= Cressi sub and Mares

Mate are you new to diving?

If you are new to it go and buy an ex rental set of gear it will get you well on the way at a fraction of cost to buy that quality of gear new the ex rental geat will last you more than long enough to figure out what you want

A wing is a great option but i feel to start out with middle range gear so if you do decide to up grade at a later stage you will notice the difference as starting at the top end you wont notice appreciate the difference.

I have had lots of dives (300+) with an ex hire set and cant fault it but am now some years later looking at a plate and up grading

Most of the shops will sell exhire gear

Ahh mares and cressi sub are just better than ordinary brands, but that's just their advertising.

I'd never buy another of the mares bcds or regs but the avanti quatro is a great fin. I do dive a cressi sub big eyes evo mark, and it's great, but again nothing special about their regs.

Hi connors

I have some mares dive gear in really good condition that i do not use very much any more. If you are local to Perth, feel free to come a give my gear a go before deciding on buying any. I will be putting my gear on the market soon.

Dave

Im with graham, because of budget i had to buy ex rentle which was in exellent condition and saved a packet on new.

Ended up with good viper computor, intergrated bc and bottle. Coming from a shop you know it has a good service history which i have also maintained and never had a problem in four years of diving. 

Scubapro does it for me - I've had several different brands over the years, but have always come back to Scubapro. I had Sherwood, and that was ok, until it was stolen from the boot of my car. That was a good reason to go back to my favourite...

Perth Scuba at Canning Vale have a good range - or Scubanautics in Rockingham.

Agree with other advice here - go for ex hire gear from a shop to start with - the gear is usually mid range, good price and will serve you well for many years while you gain experience and take the time to look around.

Happy diving!

Judy

Go to a dive shop find your sizes and what brand you like, Then look in the quokka you will get kitted up for a 3rd of the price of new. People get dive tickets all the time buy new gear go for a few dives then never use the gear again.There are some good bargins out there