How are gas prices and inflation going to affect your diving?

[TravelGas]

People used to razz me about my Escape, saying you needed a truck for diving. Haven’t heard anything along those lines for months. I get 27 mpg even loaded down with tanks.

Without 3 weeks of clothes, tanks and all the dive gear I now own in the trunk. I would still be lucky to get 17.5 MPG with the A/C on driving on the Interstate. While commuting in NYC traffic I get in the 14s.

 

[Tracy]

The price of Helium is on my mind also. I will need a lot of it for the training and diving I am looking to do.

On an unrelated note, this web site could use a good long U Boat thread, trip reviews, discussion the whole thing.

Serious question, why would you be contemplating training that requires a large amount of helium? OC Trimix diving isn't dead, but it is definitely dying. Rather quickly. I can't understand seeking out training for something that isn't going to exist in a few years.

 

[TravelGas]

At this point in life, I don't want to invest $10,00-12,000 for a CCR that I will not get my investment back on with the amount of diving that I am likely to do in the next couple of years.

 

[BlueTrin]

Serious question, why would you be contemplating training that requires a large amount of helium? OC Trimix diving isn't dead, but it is definitely dying. Rather quickly. I can't understand seeking out training for something that isn't going to exist in a few years.

I often hear some people saying that it is good for training in case you bail out from a CCR.

Not being a CCR diver myself I would like to know the different opinions of more experienced people on this.

 

[formernuke]

I saw very few boats out in early July in Rockport, MA on a very hot day. I think the total number of boating hours - those actually running boats - has probably dropped substantially. People are out, but they tend to not travel as far.

Likely since marinas tend to be much more expensive than regular gas stations.

 

[Graeme Fraser]

Serious question, why would you be contemplating training that requires a large amount of helium? OC Trimix diving isn't dead, but it is definitely dying. Rather quickly. I can't understand seeking out training for something that isn't going to exist in a few years.

Last week I filled my medium sized SUV with diesel and my twin 2x12L's with 18/40. The price was the same.

Although helium has definitely gone up over here, it's no where near as bad as the hike in fuel prices in the UK.

 

[Marie13]

At this point in life, I don't want to invest $10,00-12,000 for a CCR that I will not get my investment back on with the amount of diving that I am likely to do in the next couple of years.

What if you can’t get helium or shops won’t fill OC trimix? Already happening here.

 

[TravelGas]

What if you can’t get helium or shops won’t fill OC trimix? Already happening here.

I don't even know. I did not know that shops are not filling OC Trimix tanks. I could not even tell you the going range for Helium right now. I just know it keeps going up. It that happens maybe I become a specialist on Deep Air diving ?

I do remember the advice you gave me about doing Helitrox instead of DP and that is my intention when I get started with the Tech training, which has now been delayed for a variety of reasons. I hope late Spring early Summer next year to get a handful of classes done and many deep dives in. I always appreciate your advice.

BTW, I need to get 1-2 sets of Faber LP 85 doubles.

 

[Tracy]

At this point in life, I don't want to invest $10,00-12,000 for a CCR that I will not get my investment back on with the amount of diving that I am likely to do in the next couple of years.

I can understand that thought. But spending $3000 on training that you won't be able to use seems even more silly. Many places won't fill OC trimix currently. Those that do are spending serious money to make it happen.
Deep air is just a dumb idea, there is a reason it was moved away from. You either pay what it costs to do the dives safely, or you really shouldn't be doing them.

 

[Marie13]

I don't even know. I did not know that shops are not filling OC Trimix tanks. I could not even tell you the going range for Helium right now. I just know it keeps going up. It that happens maybe I become a specialist on Deep Air diving ?

I do remember the advice you gave me about doing Helitrox instead of DP and that is my intention when I get started with the Tech training, which has now been delayed for a variety of reasons. I hope late Spring early Summer next year to get a handful of classes done and many deep dives in. I always appreciate your advice.

BTW, I need to get 1-2 sets of Faber LP 85 doubles.

$5/cft in the western Great Lakes area - if they can get it, which is probably not.

I’m going CCR now instead of next year. Waiting for it to arrive in about a month. Couldn’t find helium to finish OC AN/DP/Helitrox. I hope to do CCR Helitrox next year.