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Use of basic gear ,bcd,tank,regulator , weights at times , at pool customarily included..if you have your own course fee stays the same, not discounted...For training dives gear required would need to be rented.
You would be surprised on how little mechanical ability people have..so little that when you shake their bcd it sounds like a baby rattle toy from all the salt crystals in it. We see this all the time. Their inflator sticks when inflate button depressed, if they have a alternate air source integrated into inflator such as a Scubapro air 2 it needs service same do as a regulator would. Right about Dacor gear. Used to be a ok decent line, now most of it cannot be serviced properly due to lack of rebuild kits since they went out of business.
Ask the instructor what he was paid..was it at least minimum wage for the area..the facility I teach out of pays instructors here more than many others do, and the owner always says it should be more..I would not teach at minimum wage or "for the love of the activity" . That is a problem for this industry,it lowers the value for all..what does a tennis or golf pro get paid per hour? Yes I do like teaching,but not at the expense of it costing myself to do so..I have no problem paying yearly insurance or membership dues, don't even give it a thought, it's the cost of doing business. Many instructors teaching for "the love of it/giving back to the community,,struggle to pay for those expenses because they barely if ever make it back..same instructors teach so rarely that their course is done inefficiently. Ask how many classes a year they teach, probably not even as many of 4 a year with a total of maybe 12participants..I have weeks here that I may teach 3 to 4 different classes in a week alone. I refuse to lessen the cost of my time and experience. In your case the shop chose to to market the course at a possible low cost.. Perhaps their cost to do business is low, perhaps they sell course because that is what their market will bear..all I am attempting to get across is if a person ask how much to get certified a proper response can be after all expenses accounted for such as tuition,books,DVD,mask,snorkel,fins,boots, training dive fees,boat or entry fees to dive site, possible purchase of a 3 mm wet suit, it all adds up.
