How do you pay for SCUBA?

[HarveyO]

I work two Jobs (One to live on and one to dive on)and have a wife working. Kids are grown and out on their own. As for my relationship with the Dive Shop(s). They give me discounts and air in return for me not taking of advantage of internet bargains (which probably would work out cheaper, but I enjoy dealing with the shops.)

 

[rookers]

Highly paid techno-wh0re. I am thinking of night-jobbing as a pure man-wh0re so I can buy a scooter.

 

[Sawllkwa]

I am an engineer with no kids, and my wife was working in Sweden for two years, so I got into diving while in Vancouver. While she was away I got through OW, AOW, Rescue, DM, a few specialties (wreck, nitrox. etc.) and rigged up for tech. It was actually easier while she was away, but now it's getting a bit tight. I even got my boss to spring the bill for some of the courses too.

 

[Azza]

I am thinking of night-jobbing as a pure man-wh0re so I can buy a scooter.

Ooohhhhh I looked at that but my wife spat the dummy

 

[down4fun]

Perhaps this winter when the water is not some warm, I will devote myself to some weekend work in the hospital in pursuit of my doubles

 

[carolrose]

If I want to make a major purchase, I use my bonus or sell stuff on ebay so it's not coming out of our household budget. You'd be surprised how much stuff you have that you don't really need until you start looking at everything in your house as potential scuba gear. I feel like a junkie looking at all my stuff going 'how much can I get for that', but really it's the best way to make side money that I've found without getting another job.

 

[drbill]

How do I pay for SCUBA? MasterCard of course... it's the American way!

Seriously, I'm one of the fortunate ones who has developed a (largely unearned) reputation for being someone who knows something about marine life (but not necessarily diving per se). Thanks to that, and a PhD in marine ecology, I'm blessed with an LDS that has given me the opportunity to keep expenses minimized in exchange for sharing my knowledge with their customers.

I dive on their dive boat and get air fills for free. All I do is help customers identify and learn about the marine life they see on the dive boat trips.

As for expensive dive gear, there is no way I'd buy much in the way of new gear at the MSRP. I like older equipment and buy it off E-Bay after ensuring it is in good condition. I definitely do not replace "old" equipment just because it is old. My wetsuits often last 400-600 dives, although they are tattered and torn and full of holes by the time I usually retire them. My current BCD has about 1,500 dives on it and is still looking quite good and is fully functional. Only one of my regs is newer than 10 years. I buy older ones that are rock solid (like the SP Mk10/G250) used and make sure they are checked and rebuilt if necessary.

Maintain the equipment you do get to increase its lifespan. Although the initial costs can be high, you can keep them down by making sure your equipment lasts.

I also have (some) skills in UW videography. I've occasionally been able to trade out finished product for free diving services in foreign areas I visit. For example, I did a one hour DVD in Belize and gave the finished product to an operator who let me dive for free while I was there.

I'm not interested in a real job since I'm so focused on my underwater videography and education. However, my bank has been suggesting I consider it! I'm having too much fun to go back now.

 

[Dig]

I'm an Aerospace technician for a fortune 500 company. I run a small shop dedicated to repairing and modifying equipment (new and after market) for a premier business jet company in Savannah, GA and I feel I'm compensated pretty well....well enough to dive, anyway and stay ahead of the bills that come with three kids and a mortgage . Did I mention my nasty 145mph+ sportbike habit that also sucks the cash out of my life? I also teach social sciences at a couple Universities part time which is an excellent way to augment your income, really the only reason I got my Masters in the first place. The extra job(s) have paid for alot without having to dip into my family budget. I'm also exploring the possibility of opening a small service company to combat and defeat domestic eavesdropping and covert surveillence.....finding and ridding your business and life of all those little bugging devices, computer taps/probes, and nasty little pinhole cameras that have invaded daily life.

I just bought all my gear and have departed the rental ranks....all the extra work has paid off as I'm extremely stoked right now over owning my own rig. I'm sure alot of you guys are over it by now but I'm on top of the world just looking at my new stuff! yeah I guess I'm a ......


-Dan

 

[DeputyDan]

The best way to pay for Scuba is to

#1. Get off yer *** (assuming this applies)
#2. Get a good education
#3. Use that education to get a good job.
#4. Work hard to make lots of mulah
#5. Use the mulah to pay for dive trips!

The old fashioned American way!

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Like AlmityWife, I don't drink, smoke or party. I work full time and have a very tight budget. If I can't pay for it, I just have to wait until I can. I almost never go to movies, and seldom eat out. I save so I can go on trips and buy gear, but even at that I only have about a $2,500/year budget for diving (at best). I prefer to travel so I plan accordingly. I also don't have to have the newest and fanciest equipment, which should not be equated to not having very good equipment.

I replaced my reg/computer in 1995 after about 10 years (that was only because my computer died). My BC still serves me well, no need to replace it.