Speaking of which, I have a friend who just signed up for an "express" diving class and was charged $239 US, plus $666.67 in diving gear, and he doesn't even own his own regulator! I was completely stunned by the prices. I have been diving and spear fishing for a while now and I just don't remember the brotherhood being so abusive. To me it's just plain abusive to charge someone so much money for an express two day class, for a course that should require at least a month, not to mention equipment the dude is never going to USE!!!!
My original long blade Viper fins(bodysurfing ones BTW) and First generation Genesis mask, plus whatever snorkel is floating around is normally what I wear, sans a weight belt every now and then and these seem fine to me still.