Regulators

The whole reason we can scuba dive! The regulator is the delivery system for getting air from the tank to your mouth. It is your life-support device.

Though there are many styles, ease of breathing is the key to a good set of regs. To hard and it'll feel like you're sucking a golf ball through a garden hose. To light and you'll find it freeflows at every opportunity.

As part of your regs, you'll need the first and second stages (the part that attaches to your tank and the part that goes in your mouth), and alternate air source (in the highly unlikely event that your buddy runs out of air, he can breath from this), and your gauge console (telling you how much air is left in your tank as well as holding your depth gauge or computer and a compass).

Most new regulator systems will have excellent warranties and parts/service programs, which can help save you money over the years during annual service (where a certified, trained technician will disassemble your regs, clean them up, and replace warn parts).

While you probably won't need the best flashy wiz-bang regulators on the market (at least, not in the beginning), we do recommend that you invest in the best regs you can afford.