Greetings from SF

[Eric Sedletzky]

Yeah it's the whole 7mm setup that I would need... and by the time all those purchases are made, it ends up coming to around the same cost as a week or more of diving in SE Asia, lol. So, with funds being tight, I've been saving for more tropical travels and camera gear upgrades for the time being instead.

About $550 to $600 buying locally.
Seal's in SR has a few Omer 7mm skin-in Freediving suits left on clearance right now for $400. Booties and gloves on top of that, probably $75 each max.
You could also rent if you just wanted to see what it's like.
But if warm water is strictly your thing then disregard the above.

 

[runsongas]

used 7mm for cheap like 100 bucks and then putting the rest of the money towards a drysuit is a better option if looking at diving locally long term

NCUPS is the local underwater photographers group, they run the monterey shootout yearly

bamboo reef runs an affiliated dive club, but like most shop affiliated clubs its purpose is more to get people in the shop

the SF Scuba meetup is pretty dead, but used to be a good way to meet people both for local and travel diving

 

[talaysatravels]

About $550 to $600 buying locally.
Seal's in SR has a few Omer 7mm skin-in Freediving suits left on clearance right now for $400. Booties and gloves on top of that, probably $75 each max.
You could also rent if you just wanted to see what it's like.
But if warm water is strictly your thing then disregard the above.

Thanks, yeah I would definitely rent to give it all a try first, but my focus lately has been more on dive travel (to warmer waters) than trying to get in the water locally. Appreciate the resources all the same, though!

 

[talaysatravels]

NCUPS is the local underwater photographers group, they run the monterey shootout yearly

the SF Scuba meetup is pretty dead, but used to be a good way to meet people both for local and travel diving

Thanks! Yeah if I ever decide to really get into diving locally, will likely need to go the drysuit route given how cold I get even in tropical waters.

I am familiar with NCUPS but haven't been able to figure out if their events/gatherings are mostly remote/Zoom or in-person/Monterey area (beyond the shootout, of course).

I did go to a few SF Scuba Meetups before the pandemic... was wondering if it would be worth it trying to revive a version of the meetup group, or if it died because of not much interest...

 

[Bobby R]

Welcome to Scubaboard!

 

[runsongas]

@talaysatravels I think it died mostly because Kevin/Geoff stopped really organizing events, it was a struggle after the pandemic unfortunately. also doesn't help that I knew a lot of people left the city for various reasons. NCUPS moved to remote meetings and stayed that way I think.