I'm certified. I bought all my own gear also. The only regret is the tank. I don't go as much as I would like so the tank is just a pain to have around. You have to get it inspected every year...I haven't got it inspected for years now, so it just sits there.
I agree about the tanks, the inspections are a pain if you don't use them often. I have a couple steel tanks and I like them for their compact size and negative buoyancy, but having to get them inspected hydro-tested can get kind of annoying (and costly). These days I mostly dive on vacation, too, so I end up renting tanks more than using my own.
Thanks. Yeah, I was pretty much the only person on the boat to laugh at the Crabs and Mermaids. Everyone else was trying so hard to pay attention they missed his jokes.
Haha I've never been diving around here, but I've heard that we've got some interesting things like pacific octopus, jellyfish, whales, etc. I might have to try it one day.
Would definitely recommend getting certified. I got my cert 2 years ago and have my AOW now. Getting my rescue cert this summer and going for dive master as soon as I am old enough. I dive quarries and lakes and am happy with vis as low as 6 feet but most people like more than that.
