How much should I be ready to start Scuba diving?
- Thread starter grundy707
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
The cost of the diving courses is very difficult to say. It can range widely from region to region, shop to shop & even instructor to instructor. Some course fees include book fees, some do not. Most (not all) courses require the students to have a minimum of equipment that typically includes your own mask fins, snorkel & boots. If you want to look at additional gear, I would suggest waiting until after your OW course. That may give you some ideas as to where you may want to take your diving. Different forms of diving may take different typ[es of equipment. If nothing else, you can start with a simple BC & regualtor set. The best thing you can do, is to interview & ask questions from the shop/ instructor. Get details on how the course is run & all fees involved. One thing I would be a bit leery of is any shop that "requires" you to purchase your gear only from them to take their course. If you choose to buy from them, that's fine, its your choice.
As for what courses to take, get through your Open Water Diver course first. Get some diving in, see where your interests take you. One course I would say that is an excellent compliment to OW, without getting into specific specialties is a Rescue Diver course (after getting some experience & comfort in your OW skills). Once you think you may have a certain interest, get with your instructor & discuss how to best attain your golas. Once again the cost can vary according to region, shop &/ or instructor.
There are a few branches of diving that you can investigate after your OW course. You may choose just to stay within the area of simple recreational diving (absolutely nothing wrong with that), you may even eventually look at technical diving, going into the proffessional ranks (Dive Master/ Instructor), commerical diving or possibly public safety diving. Know that the latter types of diving typically require quite a bit of experience to do them. The best thing you can do after you complete your open water diver course is to get out & dive, including diving with those at your level & those with more experience who may be able to help mentor you a bit.
As for what courses to take, get through your Open Water Diver course first. Get some diving in, see where your interests take you. One course I would say that is an excellent compliment to OW, without getting into specific specialties is a Rescue Diver course (after getting some experience & comfort in your OW skills). Once you think you may have a certain interest, get with your instructor & discuss how to best attain your golas. Once again the cost can vary according to region, shop &/ or instructor.
There are a few branches of diving that you can investigate after your OW course. You may choose just to stay within the area of simple recreational diving (absolutely nothing wrong with that), you may even eventually look at technical diving, going into the proffessional ranks (Dive Master/ Instructor), commerical diving or possibly public safety diving. Know that the latter types of diving typically require quite a bit of experience to do them. The best thing you can do after you complete your open water diver course is to get out & dive, including diving with those at your level & those with more experience who may be able to help mentor you a bit.
Some shops will rent everything, others will require you to have your own mask,fins,and snorkle.
Books, and dive tables may or may not be included depending on how the pricing structure is setup.
Like TStorm mentioned, discuss it with an instructor to get a better idea of the total cost.
It really does vary by area. In Florida I've seen it range from under $200 to around $350, depending on different factors.
In Alaska it it almost $500, but this included drysuit training and rental and the costs of boat dives is higher.
Pool time costs more there as well, which adds to the cost. Where I live now, it's under $200 but boat dives are fairly inexpensive here, or the shop may do all shore dives.
One shop here includes a boat dive for one of the dives for the same price.
There are many variables, which is why you'll get a better idea from an instructor on what the complete costs will be.
Shop around, but look for quality. And have fun. ;-)
-Mitch
Books, and dive tables may or may not be included depending on how the pricing structure is setup.
Like TStorm mentioned, discuss it with an instructor to get a better idea of the total cost.
It really does vary by area. In Florida I've seen it range from under $200 to around $350, depending on different factors.
In Alaska it it almost $500, but this included drysuit training and rental and the costs of boat dives is higher.
Pool time costs more there as well, which adds to the cost. Where I live now, it's under $200 but boat dives are fairly inexpensive here, or the shop may do all shore dives.
One shop here includes a boat dive for one of the dives for the same price.
There are many variables, which is why you'll get a better idea from an instructor on what the complete costs will be.
Shop around, but look for quality. And have fun. ;-)
-Mitch
- Messages
- 1,678
- Reaction score
- 80
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
The following are approximations (prices vary greatly):
Training = 400
Mask = 100
Fins = 200
Scuba unit = 1000
Misc (wetsuit etc) = 400
Computer = 400
Boat ride = 130
Hotel = 100
Travel = $$$
Training = 400
Mask = 100
Fins = 200
Scuba unit = 1000
Misc (wetsuit etc) = 400
Computer = 400
Boat ride = 130
Hotel = 100
Travel = $$$
There are alot of shops here that charge $250-$300 for Open water training. Youll need a mask, fins, snorkel, Possible booties and weights. You can rent the rest for now. Buying used is alot cheaper but a friend/mentor may be needed to keep you from buying junk. The shops you question will not want to hear of you buying any used gear so keep that under your hat. Buying regs new might be the best decision as well as mask, wetsuit and snorkel.
diveprof
Contributor
Tsstormdiver has good advice and Lee Taylor's cost estimates are a good ball park (cost varies greatly). Just a few points to add. It doesn't hurt to at least get some (if not all) of your basic required gear (mask, snorkle, fins, boots) from the local dive shop. Some shops will often allow you to try different fins to decide what you like or swap out a mask that doesn't fit your face well. Buying this gear locally will also probably put you in better favor (price wise) with the dive shop when it comes to buying a full set of gear. Shops don't make that much off the training, the gear sales are their bread and butter. When buying the full gear set-up (BC, regs, computer)don't just go for the bottom end stuff just to save money. I know divers that went that way and ended up buying twice to get what they really wanted/needed - wasting money in the long run. Look at the reviews here on Scubaboard, talk with other divers, read magazine reviews (keeping in mind that gear manufacturers buy ad space in their mags) and consider what advice your instructor may have (particularly if it jives with what you hear from all sources).
2 Big 2 Fail
Contributor
I'm not all that much beyond being at the stage you're at and am therefore not much of an authority, but I've thrashed some of this out, and I don't think your question about costs can be answered in any way that will help you, not without a lot more information and maybe not without you having acquired some experience. I think a lot of it is going to depend on what you want to do, as well as some less tangible personal things. In most activities (not specifically diving), some people spend a lot more than they need to, either because they think that more expensive equipment has some magic that transfers to them, or because they are just the kind of person who feels compelled to spend a lot and show it off or because they just feel more comfortable with it.
It's kind of like people who won't camp for a weekend in a tame state park without $1,500 worth of hardware and someone else who would have a true wilderness experience spoiled by that much stuff and who has a ball for two weeks with a blanket roll, a tarp, and an old frying pan. On the other hand, it's going to be a rather extraordinary person who does okay for a week in harsh backcountry snow conditions with that minimalist outfit.
What I'm coming to suspect is true (it's true about most things) is that, even once you study the local scene and decide what you'll need and how you'll use it, the total end cost will rarely be less than you anticipated but will frequently be less than the higher quoted numbers.
It's kind of like people who won't camp for a weekend in a tame state park without $1,500 worth of hardware and someone else who would have a true wilderness experience spoiled by that much stuff and who has a ball for two weeks with a blanket roll, a tarp, and an old frying pan. On the other hand, it's going to be a rather extraordinary person who does okay for a week in harsh backcountry snow conditions with that minimalist outfit.
What I'm coming to suspect is true (it's true about most things) is that, even once you study the local scene and decide what you'll need and how you'll use it, the total end cost will rarely be less than you anticipated but will frequently be less than the higher quoted numbers.
Bogie
Contributor
Depends on how much diving you are going to do. If you just want to get certified and dive on vacation occasionally, you don't have to buy much. Just rent it.
If you are diving cold water and very often and want to own all your own gear it can range from $1500 to $5000 (drysuit, steel tanks, etc.)
There is lots of good used gear available.
If you are diving cold water and very often and want to own all your own gear it can range from $1500 to $5000 (drysuit, steel tanks, etc.)
There is lots of good used gear available.
GFuterfas
Registered
I got PADI OW certified 10 years ago and didn't dive again until June of this year. It cost me under $700 all in, and I still have the mask, snorkel, fins, gloves, and boots. All else was rented (included with the course fee: BC, Regulator, Tanks, Weights, wetsuit\hood). I think the boat trip was additional, but we stayed a weekend on Catalina Island. It took two weekends to do the course (plus some homework beforehand), one in the pool and one in the Ocean.
After falling in love with diving with my wife on vacation this summer, I'm now going to take my Advanced Course... again, about $500 all in.
Don't buy fins yet if you can rent them (and boots if possible). Buy a decent mask. Commit to doing a dive trip within a few months after getting your cert, even for just a day -- stay interested in it! That gear sat in my garage for a decade unused.
Oh, what an expensive new hobby!
Enjoy,
-Graham
After falling in love with diving with my wife on vacation this summer, I'm now going to take my Advanced Course... again, about $500 all in.
Don't buy fins yet if you can rent them (and boots if possible). Buy a decent mask. Commit to doing a dive trip within a few months after getting your cert, even for just a day -- stay interested in it! That gear sat in my garage for a decade unused.
Oh, what an expensive new hobby!
Enjoy,
-Graham
Similar threads
