Quality/Moderate Price Equipment Recomandations?

Thanks to everyone for their input!
Got some good advice here.

BTW DiversDirect.com in Dania Fl. has lower prices
than DiversUnlimited.com in Pembroke Pines on same items. Though they both
have good selection and really helpful staff.
The DiversUnlimited salesperson even insisted my son and I try on several
items in their pool before we purchase anything.

"G-Force" <geabnyc@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:cA4sd.85244$IQ.13540@bignews6.bellsouth.net.. .
> We are doing our PADI cert with a small dive shop that has barely any
> items
> on display but he is a certified
> - GENESIS
> - SHERWOOD
> - AKONA
> - BARE

> We are looking to purchase:
>
> - BCD Jacket Style w/Weight Integration
> - REGULATOR (balanced 1st & 2nd stage)
> - OCTO
> - COMPUTER Console
> - WETSUIT Fullsuit 3mm
> - TANK
>
> Any suggestion would really be appreciated in our first DIVE into this
> Sport
>
> Thank You

My son (15yrs) and I (42yrs) are taking a PADI Course here in SE Florida
and will be shopping for new equipment in the $3000 price range for both.

Since we are new to diving we are not yet sure how much diving we will be
doing.
Our max budget now is $3000 excluding the basics (Mask, Snorkel, Fins).

It seems obvious that Net Shops are cheaper even those with Factory
Warranty,
but would prefer to buy locally for ease of service if I can find a good
bargain.

We are doing our PADI cert with a small dive shop that has barely any
items
on display but he is a certified
- GENESIS
- SHERWOOD
- AKONA
- BARE
shop that can order any above items at decent Mark Up compared to most
shops
in the MIAMI-LAUDERDALE-PALM BCH area that seem to have their
merchandise prices set at 100% and over.
Especially SCUBAPRO-AQUALUNG dealers.

We are looking to purchase:

- BCD Jacket Style w/Weight Integration
- REGULATOR (balanced 1st & 2nd stage)
- OCTO
- COMPUTER Console
- WETSUIT Fullsuit 3mm
- TANK

QUESTION:

1) Are the the brands my Instructor selling
- Good Quality
- Reliablity
- Value

2) Or are other brands better for the money we can afford to spend?

3) Should I just go with Net Shops and get high end stuff for the same
price
we would spend at a local shop
-or is -
dealer service more important for warranty repairs and exchanges?

Any suggestion would really be appreciated in our first DIVE into this Sport


Thank You

Thanks to everyone for their input!
Got some good advice here.

BTW DiversDirect.com in Dania Fl. has lower prices
than DiversUnlimited.com in Pembroke Pines on same items. Though they both
have good selection and really helpful staff.
The DiversUnlimited salesperson even insisted my son and I try on several
items in their pool before we purchase anything.

"G-Force" <geabnyc@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:cA4sd.85244$IQ.13540@bignews6.bellsouth.net.. .
> We are doing our PADI cert with a small dive shop that has barely any
> items
> on display but he is a certified
> - GENESIS
> - SHERWOOD
> - AKONA
> - BARE

> We are looking to purchase:
>
> - BCD Jacket Style w/Weight Integration
> - REGULATOR (balanced 1st & 2nd stage)
> - OCTO
> - COMPUTER Console
> - WETSUIT Fullsuit 3mm
> - TANK
>
> Any suggestion would really be appreciated in our first DIVE into this
> Sport
>
> Thank You