Does scuba gear often seem severely overpriced ?

[Caveeagle]

It's not my point that the "top of the line" is not necessary. It's that what is sold as "top of the line" is pretty much bs.

If some people think that buying a BC with integrated drop weights, an air2. More pockets than a pool table, and changeable color panels is worth $1700 then fine! But trying to make a new diver think they need all that crap to make them "safer" is just bs. And one of the finest wetsuits I have seen is a Hollis Neotec, which Can easily be found for ~$600.

New divers can be in a very vulnerable position. They are at the mercy of dive instructor and shop sales person. If your buying gear for you and a spouse or even a child. Nobody wants to feel like your economizing on "life support" equipment.

 

[mcohen1021]

Reading through all these comments, I just shake my head. How can people consider the gear expensive? My gear per piece cost me more in 1989 than it did over the last 4-5 years as I upgraded. Seriously, I could put together a decent rig with a full 3/2 wetsuit included for ~$1000-$1100. What do you want, for it to be provided by government programs?

 

[hroark2112]

Start diving rebreathers if you really want to watch the $$ add up!!

 

[kmarks]

Others have mentioned the cost of things like photography and skiing as being relatively similar to the costs of scuba diving. What about smart phones? Those don't even have a small production volume. Apple can charge over a grand for an iPhone X and will still have way more customers lined up around the block to buy one on day one than the latest regulator will sell in its lifetime and people just accept it, then replace it two years later.

 

[mcohen1021]

Others have mentioned the cost of things like photography and skiing as being relatively similar to the costs of scuba diving.

Waterskiing is my other vice and it is far more expensive than scuba.

Gear Cost:

New Water Ski: $1700
New Boots: $400
Vest: $120
Handle: $60
Rope: $60
=====================
~$2400 (roughly two full sets of scuba gear)

Add the optional comp boat $120,000 and lake front home on ski lake $500,000 and waterskiing makes scuba look extremely cheap

 

[outofofficebrb]

Others have mentioned the cost of things like photography and skiing as being relatively similar to the costs of scuba diving. What about smart phones? Those don't even have a small production volume. Apple can charge over a grand for an iPhone X and will still have way more customers lined up around the block to buy one on day one than the latest regulator will sell in its lifetime and people just accept it, then replace it two years later.

There may be the case of the Joneses here or that it acts as a status symbol for some. "I have the latest and greatest and everyone can see that." It is something that one might also justify as they are using it every day for many hours and there is a much larger second hand, grey, or black market for these products. There are also fewer substitutes in this category of products than in diving. If you want design and iOS of Apple, you can't get that from someone else. If you want a piston or diaphragm regulator, many other people make one, etc.

It's not to say that there aren't status symbols or the case of the Joneses in diving, or that some people don't use dive gear every single day...Don't get me wrong.

I'm not justifying or defending one or the other, but am merely providing a possible explanation to the example you presented.

 

[mcohen1021]

It's not to say that there aren't status symbols or the case of the Joneses in diving, or that some people don't use dive gear every single day...Don't get me wrong

Ever notice the guy driving the Mercedes convertible is the worst driver on the road?

 

[BRT]

Reading through all these comments, I just shake my head. How can people consider the gear expensive? My gear per piece cost me more in 1989 than it did over the last 4-5 years as I upgraded. Seriously, I could put together a decent rig with a full 3/2 wetsuit included for ~$1000-$1100. What do you want, for it to be provided by government programs?

I agree with this. Scuba equipment used to be REALLY expensive. The internet and China has changed that.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Ever notice the guy driving the Mercedes convertible is the worst driver on the road?

I would actually argue that the worst ones in California (where I am) are Prius drivers.

 

[kmarks]

I would actually argue that the worst ones in California (where I am) are Prius drivers.

There's a term (I want to say Moral Banking) for when people do something like drive an energy efficient car, or use reusable grocery bags instead of getting plastic ones, and then act like a total @$$ because their subconscious mind is thinking "I am saving the world by driving this hybrid and carrying my locally sourced kale home for Whole Foods (I would never shop at Walmart!) in a canvas bag, so I get a little leeway for cutting off that gas guzzling pick up truck!"

Of course, I'm the guy who doesn't drive his Ford Escape Hybrid much during the summer because he rides his bike to work. Man, if I didn't get my groceries from the Walmart next door to work, I would be the worst person on the planet.