Hi. Scuba certification isn't really hard but it depends on how serious you want to get. If you just want to be a casual diver who does it when you go on vacation to the Bahamas, it's fairly easy. If you want to be hardcore and dive deep in rough water then there's a lot more you need to learn. You can get a basic certification in just 2 weekends most places, sometimes in less time. Equipment can vary, again depending on how serious you get. I went for middle of the road gear (not cheap beginner stuff but also not expensive advanced stuff) and I got everything for around $1200. If you take care of it, it can last over a decade so it's not a bad investment. If you just dive when you go on vacation, a lot of people just rent. Equipment rentals can usually be part of a package at most resorts.