Hi, my name is Matt, I?m living in Milwaukee, and I?m getting back into diving.  I suppose some my have issues with my using the term ?back into.?  I was certified in about 98 in a college phy-ed class.  The school I was attended required all students to take 2 physical ed classes, so downhill skiing and scuba sounded pretty cool to me. 

I never got a chance to buy my own equipment because I ended up moving to Japan for 1.5 years doing a study abroad program.  Did some diving on a vacation in Thailand (spoiled me real good).  After that, I transferred to UW-Madison.  This would have been a perfect place to get back into it, as the Hoofers have a very active club.  I didn?t though.  Maybe because of money.  I?m not sure. 

Graduated, got a job in Milwaukee writing software for a large company.  ? 2 years of the daily grind... Got married last September to my long-term sweetheart.  I got the itch to start diving (or I should see a dermatologist) around the great lakes, so I started looking into getting equipment.

Man, the only thing more expensive that scuba diving is cold water scuba diving.  Going from no equipment to a full kit is not a cheap endeavor, however I?m going to see what I can do.  The first portion of this blog is likely going to focus on this process of discovery.

I?m on a limited budget.  Like most people, there is car payment, insurance, rent, paying off the wedding (which was really cheap as weddings go), etc.  But wife has been very encouraging and supported so long as I don?t go insane (I must admit I could be guilty of this occasionally ? so the suspicion is justified).    

So for the last week or so I?ve been running through options and I think I have a good start as to what I need.  In order to acquire:

1. Mask
2. Fins
3. Dry Suit + weights
4. Undies
5. Back-plate, harness, wing
6. regulators
7. Bottom timer / computer

I know that?s not a complete list, but its most of the major stuff. 

Next Post:  Brand/Style debate, or DIR.