[Conor]

Seems like you have put a lot of thought into the list above.

Personally I would go with APeks, but thats only cos its what I'm used to.

Top tip.....before the dives show mail your shopping list around a fewshops and you may get a better price than through waiting for the show. I got all my kit in one go from kent diving after they undercut Go-dive after I accidnetally let slip how uch they were going to charge.

I would save the dry suit purchase for the show....that is what I have made my greatest saving on. You can get to try on a couple of suits, haggle, possibly find some end of line stick (my oceanic flexia was £390 when the rrp was around £560).

As said you should be thinking about a computer, smd and reel. Computer.....well think aout the kind of diving you will be doing in 2 or 3 years time and buy for that, SMB......buy either a closed or self inflating, probably Buddy and probably at the dive show, reel........well reel or spool, try both and ten choose, I wouldn't want to buy a spool without trying one first, having never tried one myself, but I am keen to try one and use for a back up

hope this helps

Conor