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The shop has to turn a profit too, and if they think you're willing to pay full price, thats what they charge you. Now, if you wanted to haggle and negotiate a price, I'm sure they would've been more than willing to bargain. They have to compete, and if they wont back down on that full retail...

Most LDS's have high prices, but are negotiable. Especially if you're talking about buying a bcd and reg combo from them. My opinion, buy anything that has to be sized or serviced from your LDS, but only if they have what you want. This mainly applies to regulators, since you'll have to get...

In my scuba class there was a little bit of snorkeling, but noone was critiqueing us on our technique or anything... that's crazy. There's not a whole lot to it, and I'll probably be hung out to dry for this, but I really don't think you need to know how to snorkel to scuba. I'm one of those...

With more risk comes more need for a standardized approach so in emergency situations, a standardized response will be what's expected. Some of the things I don't like about alot of the DIR people is the elitest attitude some give off about the stupidest things. For instance, the use of...

I looked at a few online sites for their lowest prices on what was still deamed a "drysuit", saw a bunch of bare nex-gen drysuits. ;) My LDS was offering low end for $1500, and some decent ones for well over $2k. Wasn't interested. My buddy recently spent $450 on a used viking vulcanized...

There's always a thousand variables to look at, but I think this guy is looking for a general answer. Drop a lb, keep a lb on, I doubt it'll make a huge difference for the day. If it's a 2 dive trip, keep it on the first dive then at the end when your tank is around 500lbs or less, depending...

A grand new. Maybe as low as $700-$800 depending on the suit. A good used suit will run about $400-500, but will probably need some repair work (seals replaced) on top of that. At least, those have been my findings over the past few months scouring different websites and ebay. My LDS...

Which brings up an interesting point... nobody has said they'd give up on life yet and dump their BC, go for broke and try to black out at 500 feet on their way to 1000 before they ran out of air.

I still think alot of stuff like proper gas management would go in one ear and out the other when people are struggling with all the other basics. AOW should cover alot of these things alot more in depth...

That's alot of good advice FT, never thought about having a plan B before.

I guess if you're in the right place you could ride a few seaturtles back

If I know where shore is, I'd make a raft out of the two divers that weren't regular buddies of mine, and rest while they paddled me to shore. My regular buddy would swim beside us. Otherwise I'd make a raft out of the two divers that weren't regular buddies of mine and slowly start eating...

I'm not sure if gas planning could've used more discussion, or if I just didn't pay attention enough to it at the time becuase I didn't necessarily see their importance. I was more worried with the whole getting under water and still be breathing part, along with bouyancy, remembering my safety...

I have one that is aprox. 1.1 inch wide that I got at my LDS, and another that's over 2 inches wide that I got at scubatoys.com. The scubatoys one is alot more rounded as well, whereas the one I got my LDS is basically a heavy duty very wide plastic hanger like you'd find at walmart (and it...

You only had to do 2 open water dives to get certified?

Within my first 15 dives I went to 126 feet with no problem. Both of my buddies with me were divecons though... if you're wife/buddy isn't up to the task and isn't going to be able to handle a situation where something could go wrong, then definatly don't do it. It's deffinatly a comfort issue.

Ha! That's awesome!

Keep in mind on equipment, most LDS's offer a high price, but they're always negotiable. Especially when you want to buy a package or something..

A year or two in the pool will make a jacket that burnt orange color... I'd look around for another shop.

Glad you found a good instructor... sounds like you need to find a good shop now. You can have your OW dives referred or transfered or whatever SSI calls it for a small fee. Then you can get your OW dives done through someone else... I'm sure plenty of people here can recommend decent SSI...