Buying Gear Before I start?

[snorkel16]

I am looking to get into Scuba Diving. I went to a dive shop to see about instruction and I picked up some information on it. It says that the cost of the course does NOT include: personal dive gear deende for course completion or air fills (there were some other things, but they are not of much importance). Do most places require you to buy your equipment up front, or do you rent, or do any supply you with the equipment, included in the charge?

Thanks

 

[gfisher4792]

Personal gear only includes mask, snorkel, hood, boots and fins. Everything else is rented (wetsuit, BC, regs, tanks, etc), usually included in the course fees. Ask your LDS for specifics.

 

[Wildcard]

Learn to dive with rented gear and try seveal different styles of gear before you buy. I don't recall any course that charged extra for air? Shop around at different dive shops too. Prices range widely.

 

[moneysavr]

some places ask you to buy fins & mask some dont,so shop around.Air fills were covered at the basic course level,but not sure how this is as you get into advance courses.
Brad

 

[wetrat]

Hi Snorkel,

Most places require you to buy mask, fins and snorkel up front, and then they will rent you the rest of the stuff you need. However, they are in the business of selling gear and so expect them to encourage you to buy all your other gear too. Also, it's good to learn with the gear you will be diving with because with familiarity comes confidence.

In my case, I was scheduled to start Open Water training with my wife 16 years ago when she got pregnant (somehow!). Of course, we put diving on hold. At that time, I had bought new mask, fins, snorkel and booties, and was planning on renting the other gear for awhile. This time around, I splurged and bought all new gear for me, my wife, and two sons before we even hit the pool! It was pretty expensive but well worth it because I couldn't even imagine renting all that stuff, diving, then bringing it all back the next day. But in our case, my wife and I were finally fulfulling our dream of getting certified, AND... turning our kids on to diving at the same time. So it was a pretty easy decision.

Good luck, and let me know what you decide!

 

[jonix]

rent gear before buying, you wouldn't really know what you'll need/want until after you get through OW certification...don't waste precious cash

 

[RonFrank]

I am looking to get into Scuba Diving. I went to a dive shop to see about instruction and I picked up some information on it. It says that the cost of the course does NOT include: personal dive gear deende for course completion or air fills (there were some other things, but they are not of much importance). Do most places require you to buy your equipment up front, or do you rent, or do any supply you with the equipment, included in the charge?

Thanks

Most every LDS's in the Denver area OW packages include everything EXCEPT personal gear for CheckOut dives. Some do NOT include personal gear for either pool or CO dives, Our LDS has a VERY nice selection of personal gear to try in the pool, and Surprise, they Sell everything they have availalbe to try!!

Most LDS's will let you purchase your personal gear, and exchange it for different stuff after one use or two IF you decide you want to go with something different.

But charging for air fills!! That is just cheap IMO. I'd shop around if that is possible. What you are looking for is 1) good instruction 2) a reasonalbe price.

But NewsFlash, to purchase personal gear through the LDS is going to run between $250-350. I hate to say this, but if you purchase online that same equipment is going to run a LOT less. How much less? Well LP sells the Genesis Panview mask for $24, and a dry snorkel for $12. Our LDS charges $60 for that mask, and $30 for the snorkel. Similar savings are found on the fins and booties.

IMO if the LDS you choose is gouging you on equipment rental pricing, and air fills you may consider taking the retail business elsewhere, and using them for training only. I have purchased both from the LDS and online, so I try and spread around my $$$, but I just can NOT see paying LDS prices on many items.

 

[redacted]

Providing your own mask, fins, & snorkle is fairly standard. Buying airfills for training would set off my alarm. Also I said provide, not necessarily required purchase from training shop. If air fills is correct or there are other surprise required purchases, I'd shop around more before selecting the shop to provide training.

 

[evensplit]

SCUBA training varies a great deal around the country, but, most shops will require you to provide the "Personal gear" - mask fins and snorkel. Some may require weight belts, gloves or other odds and ends. Shops in some areas provide air (ours does) some do not. Base your decision on whether you like the shop and instructor - if they're pushy from the start, chances are you'll get stung. If they are adding lots of miscellaneous charges before you even start the course, I'd be wary. We don't recommend buying the SCUBA equipment - above mask fins and snorkel - before you start the class.

I am looking to get into Scuba Diving. I went to a dive shop to see about instruction and I picked up some information on it. It says that the cost of the course does NOT include: personal dive gear deende for course completion or air fills (there were some other things, but they are not of much importance). Do most places require you to buy your equipment up front, or do you rent, or do any supply you with the equipment, included in the charge?

Thanks

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Find another shop. Personal gear is one thing. Charging for air is a little out of line. Also I don't know where the 250-350 figure for gear came from but we can outfit someone with good quality (oceanic,scubamax,sherwood) for around 200 and you can be sure it will FIT. Also during pool sessions prior to open water dives it can be exchanged if it fits differently in the water. Example all masks regardless of style or manufacturer 59.95(price should not control what you buy, yes on some the profit is higher than others but on others it's slim). snorkel 19.95 -39.95 depending on wet or dry make etc.,boots 29.95 for soft sole beginner to 59.95 for oceanic neo classics, fins 79.95 &up. result good quality lower end of the spectrum 190 bucks that are more than adequate for the beginner. plus regardless of what quality gear you buy we take 150 off price of open water course. reg 399 buy your gear from us 249 which includes all classroom instruction, presently in your home at your convenience if local area, three pool sessions, all hard gear and air for pool sessions, and open water instruction. For the open water checkout dives hard gear rental for the entire weekend sat. and sun., bc,reg,weights, wetsuit if needed,light, and two full tanks of air- 70bucks. Many shops require gear rental for the open water but pool should be included if not check around. Air for pool should be included and also should be included in the gear rental fee for the open water portion.