I have a few important questions

[SurvivalRateZ3ro]

This place seems so to have plenty of informative people, so I'll need some help.

1. For starters, how much money should I be looking at to make an initial investment for getting into diving between all the equipment necessary and certification costs (an approximate breakdown would be greatly appreciated).

2. Anyone have a list of NJ Diving Certification locations? I know a couple local places, but I'm trying to find an area in between my house and my friend's house which is about 45 minutes away.

3. I'm honestly not a gracious swimmer past regular swimming. My backstrokes are so ugly, and crooked, but I didn't see that being a factor in getting a certification. I mean I know how to swim and I've been snorkeling before, I just wanted to know what it took to get this certification.

4. I know there is a separate forum for this, but I'm looking at purchasing a digital rebel XT, and I want to get water housing down the line. I've seen an IkeLite go for $1200ish, and a UweMarine I think it's called, go for like $300 for the same camera. The IkeLite went 50 feet deeper though, am I overpaying for the IkeLite? Or paying for what I'm getting? Any good place for underwater housing?

Thanks a lot, I'm very excited to get into this hobby, and I'd love to make friends on the site to go with some time.

 

[BrianS]

1. Prices vary by locations and how much they charge. In my area, the OW Course was $140.00, $45 for the book, $45 for gear rental (for the entire course). Items we had to buy, mask/fins/snorkel/gloves/booties, ran about $200-$240 total.

3. Make sure you can tread/float for at least 10 mins, and swim 200m non stop.

 

[pants!]

(1)
Here's a rough guess on pricing:

Class $200
Checkout dives $50
Mask, fins, snorkel, booties $150

This is all you need to get certified. gear that's nice to own so you don't have to rent:
Wetsuit $200 [drysuit is a great idea - think $1500]
BC $300 - $600
Regs $300 - $600
Light $50 - $150
etc

(2)
www.njscuba.com and a call to your shop will take care of this

(3)
Just get in the pool and practice, but you'll probably be expected to do 200-300 yards in some reasonable amount of time, using any strokes you like, plus a 10 minute or so tread.

(4)
Er........ photo forum

 

[Wayward Son]

VERY rough numbers, expect to spend $2000 to $2500 per diver. Does not include specialty items, such as cameras & housings, the sky is the limit with that.

But about $250 for OW training, and you can easily spend upwards of $1500 on a full set of gear. Wet suit (much more money if diving dry), weights, BC, regulator, octo, gauge/computer set, boots, fins, mask, snorkel, knife and/or shears, gloves, hood, tanks, flashlight (often usefull even during daylight dives), gear bag.

You can save buy shopping patiently for quality used gear, but you need to know what you're doing, it's easy to get burned & end up spending just as much as new.

If you dive year round, you will end up needing more than one suit to match conditions, too.

 

[GeekDiver]

Class $150-300 depending on location and LDS
Books and Video $50-100 You can do without the video
Traing site entrance fee $10-20 for open water dives depending on location

Normal Gear required
Mask & Snorkle $50-150
Fins $75-175
Booties $50
Wt Belt w/Wt $30

You don't have to be a great swimmer just need to be reasonably comfortable.

Good luck,
Geek