Do I need a 2nd mortgage?

[pennypue]

If I let cost stop me from doing things I never would have had children!!! Think of the gear I could buy with THAT money!!!!!! You have children because you love them, you dive because you love it. You find the money for them.......I'm still looking for it.

 

[pasley]

SCUBA = Golf on the buy in. SCUBA is cheaper than golf on the day to day.
Scuba gear new will run you $1,200 to how much have you got?
Golf Clubs will cost the same.

SCUBA Dive, beach entry $4.50 for air fill per dive.
SCUBA Dive Dive Boat - $75-$120 single day. (But that is a full day of diving and includes air, food and often a bed on the boat the night before so you don't have to drive there at the crack of dawn).
Trip to Mexico or the South Pacific for diving $1,500 to luxury how much have you got range. The memories, priceless (I am told, still only diving Southern California waters).
Golf - $40.00 (military course) - $400+ for Pebble Beach etc. plus food, drink etc.

Cost of owning SCUBA Gear, $100.00 per year for annual maintenance (1st & 2nd stage, octopus, computer and BC) inspection or after 100 dives which ever comes first. This is not an option. Dive it once or 100 times, in it goes for annual service. This is required by your warranty, and after that by your wife who does not want to be a widow. If she does not insist on having it serviced, consider lowering your life insurance, it may be too high! Now kidding, it is life support equipment so this is not the place to scrimp.

Computers are optional, but are very nice to have. You can buy a entry level one for $300.00 but most are in the $600 and up category.

Diving at least twice a month to keep the skills up would be good. Once a month at the least. I try to dive every week, but currently I am making 3 dives a week (2 on Saturdays and 1 weeknight dive). You are going to be challenced due to your location on finding intresting spots to dive.

Good luck and welcome to SCUBA.

 

[scubapro50]

I would check the thread "dumped on by diving companies again" before purchasing any new equipment

 

[H2Andy]

i got outfitted for OW diving for $700 after renting for a while and keeping my eyes open (all brand new stuff). none of the stuff i bought ever broke on me or gave me headaches.

[truth is, for most diving done these days, you don't need top of the line anything. by all means, buy the best you can afford, but i found my cheapo Dacor regs were good enough and never let
me down. i still use my old primary Dacor as my back-up reg]

since then, i have probably spent another $1,500 on equipment because i decided to pursue cavern and cave diving.

as for costs, i can dive for about $10.00 to $85.00 per day, depending where I go diving.

my wife and i went to the Caymans for a week, all diving
included (for me only) for about $3000 plus food.

we went to Bonaire for a week, all diving included (again,
for me only) for about $2300 plus food.