I will be heading over to Thailand and will be doing some scuba diving. Can anyone advise the quality of the equipment used at the dive operations? Is is of good quality? Safe?

I am also considering buying my own equipment, does anyone know prices of regulators & BCD's compared to North American prices? Is it Cheaper here or in Thailand?

Appreciate any information you have for me!

If its been made in Thailand ie Masks, Fins, Bags, Snorkel and suit you can find them cheper than most places, your actual BCD's, Regs & Guages would probaly be cheaper in the states (im going by the prices quoted on the popular Internet Dive Sites, eg Larrie, Scubastore etc ) A new Computer (D9) prob cheper in Singapore.

Ive always found rental equipment to be of very good standard and had no probs at all

There are many professional dive operations in Thailand who have good rental equipment. However it is always best to have your own equipment.

As for prices a lot depends on what brands you are looking to buy?

I now use my own Regs, computer and mask after a couple of problems with rental gear in the past. If my baggage space permits, I take my BCD too.

Problems experienced in the past with rental equipment include mask cracking at 14 metres, free flowing regs and leaking bcd dump valve.

Generally speaking the rental gear is ok but nothing beats your own gear.