There are always some golden tips on equipment selection:
1) Price is not the indicator for best - it may be the indicator for good quality though (if you are paying reasonable price, more expensive stuff tends to be better quality).
2) Big and thick are not the indicator of powerful - it's powerful if only you can handle it (a bigger boat needs a bigger engine to move it - do your muscle able to move those BIG equipment?)
3) Suitability comes first, colour comes next - who say colour selection is not important? When you are underwater, it's very very important to differentiate you with other - especially under low visibility, night dive, or many divers.
4) Many divers like the style of unique equipment - please do think about the spare part availability; if it's unique, the spare part will be unique as well - worse, if the technician to service the unique equipment must be unique too...
5) If your dive trip always involve a lot of logistics, then you should consider light and easy + small size equipment (dry faster too), cause our most travel airline, mr. Air Asia only allow 15kg on check in luggage.
P/S REMEMBER - light and easy + small size NOT those that doesn't perform well!
Brand introduction? Contact us for Sherwood, Apollo, Bare, Suunto, Seacsub...
Equipment reference (in purchase priority of price versus necessity) :
Mask - great to have mask that suit your face, no leak
Wetsuit - if you don't mind about cold (25 - 28C) then you may put this later - or get a hood or vest
Fins (with booties or socks)- Sizes differ so much in different brand, and after some time, the fins will form your 'foot shape', and your 'finning pattern, meaning other will not fit it perfectly - scary, ya?
Torch light - it's not essential, but it's very helpful and fun to have one that have low battery consumption
Regulator (with compass if you know how to use)- you are breathing with it, once you can afford it, it's better you have your own...
Dive computer - it has became the essential dive equipment nowaday, but I still think regulator is more important
BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) - it's bulky, and dry very slow - but for own comfort, consider to have your own
Dive accessories (you should have it): Signaling sausage, metal stick/hook (if the diver don't misuse it, it great to both the environment and the diver), glove (for thermal protection, or mild abrasion)... other you think of your self.