You need Instructor that works in the dive shop or freelance instructor?

read thru this thread and u will have your answers

in a nutshell - use the dive centre equipment first.

if u wanna buy - go for mask (esp if you are vision-impaired) and fins (cos rentals can be pretty uncomfy).

once you decided that you're addicted, then you can buy the rest of the equipment.

total cost? prob from 1,500 onwards, the sky's the limit...

There are different types of equipments. If you really wanna get, just get mask, fins and booties (for open heeled fins). Wetsuit also if you want to but it's not really important. A lot of people that dive in Malaysia just wear rashguard and surf pants. When you are really into it, then only you invest in the regulator and BCD, dive comp and also a dive bag maybe.

Depending on what your needs are. There are fins that are really cheap and there are fins that are like RM700. Wetsuits got thin, thick and really thick, long or short, cheapest around RM300 and some can go up to RM1000 and above. Mask also many types, branded or not-so-branded, got cheap ones that you can get for RM80 and expensive ones probably around RM300. BCDs, regulators all got many types also. Dive more first and make more friends, then talk to them and see which one you prefer before investing in the equipments.

You're just taking OWD so just use rental equipments first. 

danial92,

good start for deciding on mask n fins and i suggest open heeled fins with booties. the booties walk u past all surfaces under the sun with comfort, most importantly, preventing u fall down or injure urself on the wet and slippery boat after dive.

i witnessed once a diver fell n hit her head on the beach onboard right after our dive.

For the mask, try getting Japanese brands one. My nose also quite small and hard to find masks that can fit nicely. So far I've found IST black color silicon mask to fit me perfectly. I was told Tusa mask are quite suitable for people with smaller and flatter nose, but I have not used one for diving yet.