How do you afford this sport?

[Eric Sedletzky]

For one thing, I am a minimalist. What's a minimalist? I am going to do a whole separate post about the new minimalist movement soon.
Other than that I dive locally, I buy dive gear online, and I get my southern california boat trips wholesale though a dive club in socal (I'm a satelite member) and I do a lot of shore diving.
I don't make great money, I'm self employed and income is very spotty.
I have been to Hawaii and Australia to see real coral and pretty fish. I actually prefer the real diving we have up here on the North Coast, 46 degree water, lots of fish, scallops, abalone. I love it and have no desire to fly somewhere to dive just so I can say the water was warm. I've gotten used to freezing my a$$.

 

[Jim Ernst]

I do it, How I do not know...

I am a single father still raising an 11 year old son alone on my very lousy pay for this day and age.

But I manage to continue to dive, Not as often as I want, And not all of the places I want to go, the best closest diving for me is Monterey CA and that is three hours away and the very VERY cheapest trip ever for me was $180, But if you want it bad enough you make sacrifice's.

Oh and I might add, I have very good friends that care and like me enough, that they help by splitting cost, and sometimes even paying for the trip and letting me reimburse them.

 

[samaka]

I get paid for diving... I got my Instructor card and I havent looked back... I live and work on liveaboard in the Red Sea... It's the way to go mate

Check it out on WELCOME TO AZIAB

...a...

 

[Sas]

I work a job that not many people want to do long term (software tester), I have a fair bit of experience in the field and thus get paid a lot for what is a 9-5 Mon-Fri job that I really enjoy. Leaves me lots of money to spend on diving and lots of time to go diving.

My partner runs his own business successfully too, so I don't have to support him financially at all too. We have no kids and no plans for at least 5-6 years (might be broke in 5-6 years then ). I also don't buy many clothes, no makeup, don't own a telly and all the peripherals, no hairdressers, don't drink much, don't have a mortgage, my bills (other than internet) are very low, I quit smoking a few years ago, I live 5mins walk from 95% of the shops I need to go to and 15mins by train from work so don't need to drive much - those things seem to drain a lot of my friends of money but I spent it on diving (or my computer! ) instead.

 

[NudeDiver]

Also FWIW, you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money. Figure you spend $500 on a quality OW class, and you buy used (all prices made up, based on things I've seen here or Craigslist)

Mask, Fins, Snorkel: $60
BC: $200
Regulator set: $200
SPG & Compass: $100
Misc. Stuff: $200

So, now you are into the hobby for about $1300. Dive locally, rent tanks and weight, and don't take any more training.

Alternatively - compare with the cost of motorcycling. Go out and buy a decent used bike and gear up and you can easily spend $5000 or more and you're just getting started....

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I have used the feature and did not see anything like this. I hope this is the correct place to post this question. If not please move it where it needs to be. With that said:

SCUBA is an expensive sport and I see everyone talking about that trip they took to some exotic destination or what new gear they just purchased. What do you do for a living that allows you to enjoy diving so much?

I am a field service coordinator for a sewage and water pump company. The pay is ok. but not nearly enough to allow me to dive in those exotic locations.

My wife told me it was either her, or scuba ... I truly miss her sometimes, although we are still friends and even take dive vacations together ...

Actually, my job is in some ways related to yours ... I work in a sewage treatment plant for a fairly large city utility. They pay me well. Besides that ... being a scuba instructor has some advantages when it comes to buying gear. Several manufacturers offer keyman discounts to instructors ... knowing that students have a tendency to buy what they see their instructor using.

Mostly it just comes down to priorities ... I've always had expensive hobbies (skiing, sailing, etc) ... I've just given up or cut way back on most of the other ones and used that money for scuba ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[drbill]

I rob from the rich to give to the poor... me!

Actually almost all my gear is purchased used either from friends or on E-Bay. I know what I like (most of it is no longer made) and look for it. Why spend $600 for a new reg when I can find a number of the model I like on E-Bay for about $150 (and have techs check it out before I dive). The BCD I like is occasionally available for $150 (sometimes unused) rather than another $600.

As for dive travel, I've done 3 month trips circling the Pacific for $4,500 vs one week at a dive resort for $2,000.

 

[imasinker]

I am a construction worker, site supervisor, jack of all trades. Like most I just do what I can when I can afford to do it. This was my first year of diving. I gave up a few things to do diving and trust me it was well worth every bit. I made a choice set a goal and stuck to it. With each dive, each wreck I saw it just gave me that much more insentive to save and bugdet for that next piece equipment. I have not gone to any far off destination this year because I can't afford to. This years plan is to budget for a week somewhere diving or that underwater video housing, hmmm maybe the course I was thinking about... lol.. Time will tell.
God I hope I get a raise soon!

 

[Jimmer]

I'm a mechanical engineer, been working for about 1.5 years now, and am finally starting to get somewhat caught up on my student loans. I don't make great money since I dont have the experience that demands great money, But I do ok for a new designer. I have a couple friends with high school diploma's that literally make twice as much take home pay as I do, working in a brand new very clean factory, and I must admit, the thought has crossed my mind wondering if I should just apply there.

I've been diving for 15 years and have no intentions of quitting, and I lucked out. The shop I've been diving with for the last 12 or 13 years, has really taken me on, encouraged me to get my DM, I guess because they saw something in me that they liked, and now I get gear at cost, free air fills, nitrox for only the cost of the O2, and have a key to the store so I can go for air fills late at night after getting off work. I even get the occassional free charter. It hasn't been uncommon for me to go on a two tank dive expecting to pay $100 or more for the day, end up escorting a new diver around the wreck, or spending 10 or 15 minutes sorting out a mooring line on the bottom, and getting back to the dock and having my instructor say, "no charge, you worked today".

I'm really quite lucky having the LDS that I do. They aren't the biggest shop with the biggest selection, but they have the biggest hearts and are willing to help me out whenever they can.

 

[Web Monkey]

SCUBA is an expensive sport and I see everyone talking about that trip they took to some exotic destination or what new gear they just purchased. What do you do for a living that allows you to enjoy diving so much?

I am a field service coordinator for a sewage and water pump company. The pay is ok. but not nearly enough to allow me to dive in those exotic locations.

My secret is I have a good job and never pay interest on my credit cards.

I dive using the 15% interest the bank would charge me if I didn't pay off my credit card, and every winter, my wife and I take a cruise on the $800 credit they give us for spending their money. I'm not sure how it works out on their end, but I'm not complaining.

Seriously, although the above is actually true, local diving really isn't expensive once you have your equipment. It's a tank of gas, a couple of air fills and lunch. Maybe $40 for a whole day.

When reading about all these exotic trips, you have to keep in mind that not all of us do these all the time. Some people go on an exotic trip once in their lifetime, some never go, and some go all the time because they have a lot of money. Diving is where you find it, and chances are good that you live near some dive-able water.

However even if you're not loaded, the exotic trips are do-able if you change your priorities. Even a $6,000 Galapagos trip can be had by driving an old car for a few more years and saving up the car payments, and most Caribbean trips can be done for well under $2,000 (If you really work at it, sometimes for not much more than $1,000)

Terry