Man, is SCUBA an expensive habit

[GasX]

So I got back into SCUBA diving lately (after a trip to Hawaii where i dove a wreck at 120' and had the time of my life)and decided to get my PADI Master Scuba Diver rating by next spring. Since then, I have taken two classes - Advanced Open Water and Nitrox,signed up for a 3rd class - Rescue Diver, made 2 trips to Dutch Springs and have been accumulating my own gear so I don't have to shell out $50-$100 for rental equipment every time I go out. (approximate expenditures $1000)

Here in New Jersey, the local diving is, for the most part, diving at Dutch Springs quarry or wreck diving in the Atlantic. This is NOTHING like diving at a resort and special training and equipment is required just to get on most boats let alone dive the wrecks. So, I am feeling pretty good about where I am, but I just read THIS ARTICLE and realized I have a LONG way to go. Ignoring the fact that I haven't taken my wreck diving class yet, I still need the following pieces of equipment:

7mm wetsuit $200
5mm hooded vest $50
EMT Shears $15
Wreck Reel $70
Primary light $75
Slate $20
Lift Bag $75

And I will STILL have to rent the Primary and Pony tanks and pay for the air fills for each dive.

Ah well, you gotta do what you love to do!

 

[Farbio]

yea, i dive occaisonally, and am very lucky that i'm still a member of the SCUBA club here at FSU - one of the largest in the nation, only UTexas has one even close. for $50 a semester, i get unlimited rentals of everything but fins, mask snorkel booties, including tanks, fills, cameras, suits, underwater vehicles if not being used by a research project or such and anything else i could ever need...such a great deal!

 

[GasX]

You get free scooters? :Q

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous

 

[prvteye2003]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
So I got back into SCUBA diving lately (after a trip to Hawaii where i dove a wreck at 120' and had the time of my life)and decided to get my PADI Master Scuba Diver rating by next spring. Since then, I have taken two classes - Advanced Open Water and Nitrox,signed up for a 3rd class - Rescue Diver, made 2 trips to Dutch Springs and have been accumulating my own gear so I don't have to shell out $50-$100 for rental equipment every time I go out. (approximate expenditures $1000)

Here in New Jersey, the local diving is, for the most part, diving at Dutch Springs quarry or wreck diving in the Atlantic. This is NOTHING like diving at a resort and special training and equipment is required just to get on most boats let alone dive the wrecks. So, I am feeling pretty good about where I am, but I just read THIS ARTICLE and realized I have a LONG way to go. Ignoring the fact that I haven't taken my wreck diving class yet, I still need the following pieces of equipment:

7mm wetsuit $200
5mm hooded vest $50
EMT Shears $15
Wreck Reel $70
Primary light $75
Slate $20
Lift Bag $75

And I will STILL have to rent the Primary and Pony tanks and pay for the air fills for each dive.

Ah well, you gotta do what you love to do!

I think if you look around you can find this stuff for a lot cheaper. Where are you diving that you need a 7mm wetsuit? EMT shears are a lot cheaper than that. You can find them for 3-4 dollars. I'm not real sure about the other stuff but look around. Diving is a great hobby/sport to get into. I dove Paradise Reef last year at Cozumel and Grand Caymens also and it was freakin' awesome. I have my advanced level cert but would like to go further with it.

 

[DurocShark]

yep

And your point is...?

Want a cheap hobby, take up booger collecting.

 

[GasX]

Those prices I listed are just estimates. I have bought most of my gear used, so I know how to save a few bucks.

My BCD is a Zeagle Ranger that costs ~$500 in a dive shop. I got it used for $200 and it is in perfect condition.

I got a bunch of gear from a guy on a SCUBA forum for $240. I am going to sell most of it on eBAy for MORE than I paid for it and still be left with a 2 regulators...

I have a bunch of bids out on eBay for some of the items listed above for far less than the prices I listed....

Even if I "SAVE" a crapload of money getting all my gear, I am still going to broke doing it...

 

[K1052]

Have a computer yet?

 

[Gooberlx2]

yep....be a divemaster (I'm in the process of doing so) so you can atleast get paid to dive.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: K1052
Have a computer yet?

nope - I am happy to used tables at the moment, but I definitely want one.

Santa, can you hear me?

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: K1052
Have a computer yet?

nope - I am happy to used tables at the moment, but I definitely want one.

Santa, can you hear me?

They are so nice. Makes things much easier.

The nice($$$$) ones can even download to pc IIRC. Nerd Scuba!

 

[911paramedic]

LOL, I thought that was you over on the scubaboard. (SARmedic)

Oh, and I have about three of everything you do since I'm an instructor, that gets expensive.

 

[Shockwave]

I would argue diving is relatively cheap. It has a high initial startup cost (A few thousand) but afterwards, the upkeep costs are minimal.
But yes, to GET started is the arm breaker leg taker of the deal

 

[K1052]

There are certainly more expensive pastimes.

Cars, drugs, guns, flying,boating, gambling, etc.

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: K1052
There are certainly more expensive pastimes.

Cars, drugs, guns, flying,boating, gambling, etc.

Yeah, this hobby is better than a $500 a week cocaine habit.

R

 

[DrPizza]

Whoa, you didn't even mention the cost of getting the certification....

So, I'm going to ask, how much does it typically cost to get your basic certification so that you could just present your card at most dive shops and rent the equipment? I'm thinking of taking a course at the school I teach at, but it's going to cost me several hundred dollars... is that about right? ($400 if memory serves me correctly, it might have been 600)

 

[GasX]

I just happen to have that right here next me courtesy of Hoboken Dive Center

Classroom & Pool $189
Books $89
Basic Equipment $160 (Mask, Snorkel, Boots & Fins)
Certification Dives $139
Rental Gear for Cert. dives $79

Yes, you can shop around and save money on some of this....

 

[DrPizza]

Let's say I can't see worth sh!t without my glasses.....
I already have a pair of prescription goggles[job benefit: $$$ in flex account, use it or lose it].... should I get a prescription swim mask to make it more enjoyable?

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Let's say I can't see worth sh!t without my glasses.....
I already have a pair of prescription goggles[job benefit: $$$ in flex account, use it or lose it].... should I get a prescription swim mask to make it more enjoyable?

Either that or dive with contacts in.

 

[Apathetic]

Originally posted by: Farbio
yea, i dive occaisonally, and am very lucky that i'm still a member of the SCUBA club here at FSU - one of the largest in the nation, only UTexas has one even close. for $50 a semester, i get unlimited rentals of everything but fins, mask snorkel booties, including tanks, fills, cameras, suits, underwater vehicles if not being used by a research project or such and anything else i could ever need...such a great deal!

Man, that is SUCH a good deal. Hell, if I lived in Florida, I'd sign up for a 1 credit gym class just to get the deal on the scuba rentals (assuming they're available to part timers).

Dave

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Apathetic

Originally posted by: Farbio
yea, i dive occaisonally, and am very lucky that i'm still a member of the SCUBA club here at FSU - one of the largest in the nation, only UTexas has one even close. for $50 a semester, i get unlimited rentals of everything but fins, mask snorkel booties, including tanks, fills, cameras, suits, underwater vehicles if not being used by a research project or such and anything else i could ever need...such a great deal!

Man, that is SUCH a good deal. Hell, if I lived in Florida, I'd sign up for a 1 credit gym class just to get the deal on the scuba rentals (assuming they're available to part timers).

Dave

no doubt. It's worth it for the air fills alone. Add access to scooters and it is the deal of the century!

 

[amnesiac]

Good luck getting life insurance if you don't already have it.

 

[Looney]

Equipment-wise, that's cheap! My tennis racket cost more than your entire scuba set. How much does it cost for each dive though?

Another expensive hobby is skydiving.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: amnesiac
Good luck getting life insurance if you don't already have it.

Anything serious about that post?

 

[Mani]

Yeah just got back from Cozumel and before the trip I decided to buy all my equipment after getting tired of renting.

The list:

Mask - 40
Snorkel - 20
Fins - 120
Booties - 40
Wetsuit - 170
BC - 700
Regulator/Octopus - 700
Air Integrated Dive Computer - 700
Dive Light - 140
Backup Light - 20
Dive Knife - 40
Beacon - 20
Glow sticks - 10
Noisemaker - 10
Retractable clips - 20
Weights - 20
Lift Bag - 80
100ft Waterproof camera case - 150

Total ~3000, and that's not including costs of certification, the divemaster's fees, or tanks. Expensive hobby indeed.

 

[GasX]

what BCD, Regulator and computer did you get?