Gearing up: One newbies experience (long)

[JohnN]

If you add that to the $2647 from the original post for OW gear and training, that's $8061 for gear and training since taking up this sport in April of 2011.

I keep telling my (very patient non-diver) wife that my next hobby will be less expensive (like flying helicopters )

 

[NWA395]

Okay, Ill jump in the pool on this thread. Now bare in mind this is my second go round so we will not count NASDS certification and gear cost from 1980someting. 2013 I did several dives and rented from different dive shops to try out rental and borrowed gear. It is more of a HOBO collection. Tried to balance what I needed and what I did and did not like (jacket BC)..

If I quoted 1980 prices for gear and cert, it makes me cry. NASDS OW Course $85

2013 Prices
PADI OW Cert: $275 includes 2 free fills/tank rentals
SP Knighthawk/Air 2 $275 USED LDS
1st/2nd stage SP MK20/G250V/Octo $250 USED from LDS (Octo redundant but may keep)
Weights: FREE from a friend
Fins/Mask: SP Jet Fin/Tilos Low Profile $118 NEW (online)
Computer: Mares Puck $183 NEW (Online)
SPG/Compass: Depth, Pressure, Compass $210 NEW Online (redundancy)
Henderson Thermoprene 3mm full $180 NEW LDS
Boots: Neosport ankle zip $6.00 USED LDS
Nitrox Course: $115 LDS

New gear only lasts one dive, then it's all used gear. All USED gear was serviced by LDS prior to purchase so no additional cost.

I have always believed in fair market and I may have paid good prices for some and a little too much for others. Online v.s. LDS is always a debate, but my LDS will let me try any piece of gear in the pool with a full tank at no cost prior to purchase and services all used gear prior to sale. All gear purchased online was a brand which was not carried by LDS.

 

[j2s]

It's been about 15 months since I first posted this. During that 15 months I took up cave diving, so had to get a whole new set of gear, since there's basically no overlap between OW and overhead gear. Just for fun (or just for pain) thought I'd update the gear and training expense list (in case anyone is thinking about taking up cave; be prepared). Note that much of this gear was bought used, substantially cutting the costs.

Gear:

Dive Rite Stainless Steel Backplate & Harness (used): $90

Hollis X Series 55 Lb Doubles Wing (used): $150

DC1 (2)/ 212 (4) DIN regulators (used, like new): $425


Shearwater Petrel Dive Computer (new): $950


Dive Rite Primary Reel (used): $50


Manta CR-1 Primary Reel (new/open box): $120


Larry Green Jump Reels (3; used): $100


Technical Lighting Specialists Primary Can Light (new): $580


DRIS 1000 backup light (new): $90


DRIS Shorty backup light (new): $120


DUI TLS350 Drysuit (used): $685


DUI ZIP Wrist Seals (4) and neck seal (1) (new): $350 (I've only used one of the wrist seals, but I like to have them so I don't have to call a dive because of torn seals)


Fleece undergarment (new): $84

ScubaPro Jet Fins (new): $120


Misc safety spools, hoses, fittings, cutting tools, etc., not included; probably several hundred bucks worth of stuff, but who's counting


$3914 gear total

Training:


NAUI Cavern: $400


NAUI NTEC: $100 (basically I just paid my instructor for a half-day of diving to get me squared away diving a drysuit and doubles before taking cave)


NAUI Cave I: $1000


$1500 training total


$5414 gear and training total for cave diving.

If you add that to the $2647 from the original post for OW gear and training, that's $8061 for gear and training since taking up this sport in April of 2011. I'm not going to try to add up the dive trip costs, but that's substantial too. No regrets; It was all money well spent. I love to dive; I love to dive cave (and you don't want to dive cave with crappy gear). I'm a happy camper. Looking forward to my next dive trips: Florida for 4 days of cave diving in March, Cancun for a week of ocean and cave diving in May.

I didn't know you had a DRIS 1K 'Shorty'......I would have stolen that from you last time we dove ;P !!!!!!......

 

[Nemrod]

Most new divers purchase their gear before they know what they need or want or where their interests lie. This often results large sums of wasted money.

As to people not being passionate about regulators, that is joke right, more heated discussions revolve around regulators than any subject other than BP/wing vs poodle jacket.

SCUBA diving is an expensive sport and has a very high five year drop out rate. In five years, post up another thread on how all that gear worked out and what is being used now. I will still be here, interested in how it went.

N

 

[MikeWebb]

And that's all before the underwater photography/video bug bites.

Then along comes your first ride on a DSV which turns into a must have with Trimix pushing hard from behind. A few trimix fills later and rebreathers start seem like a good idea.

My fist rule of diving. Don't add it all up. Just dive and enjoy.