Part of why a proper deep or Intro to Tech class costs what it does.

[Jim Lapenta]

Got home and unloaded the gear from this weekend's SDI Deep and TDI Intro to Tech classes. It occurred to me that I and others may not be charging enough. Here's part of the reason why. This was the gear I used for the class. I started to add up the total dollars invested in this and just stopped when I hit $5000 and my drysuit, undergarments, and other little miscellaneous items like the $600 worth of tools, spare parts kits, etc that I take when doing a class were not yet added in. This is not all my gear by a long shot. Next time you wonder why a class like this in cold water costs more than say an UW Nav class in warm water remember these photos.

Does not include the tanks I'd take if the student did not have their own doubles or singles of at least 100 cu ft capacity and their own stage or pony bottle.

I refuse to take students below 90 - 100 ft on an al80 like I saw being done this weekend by an instructor who took 6 students to 100 ft on al 80's with no redundant air, or certified assistants, at one time as part of an AOW class. BTW the water temp was 42-44 degrees.

Oh and if you plan to go tech - this about what it will take to get a good start.

 

[decompression]

You, like most of us, do this for the pure love of the sport........

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Yep that's it.

 

[fire_diver]

I thought quality tech classes cost more because they were longer and more involved so that students could actually learn something instead of buying a card.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

That's another part of it. Along with a solid curriculum, a desire to see divers safely undertake this side of it, and a system of selecting students as opposed to selling it to the masses.

 

[DevonDiver]

I think the 'Intro-to-Tech' is always going to be a loser, from a financial/income basis. The payback comes when some of those students subsequently enroll on full technical training. It's a bit like a DSD... and a great opportunity to show people why you should be their future technical diving trainer. It also makes your life (as an instructor) easier in the long-run, because you can pre-educate students on the personal skill development they need to achieve before attempting full technical training.

 

[stevensamler]

Got home and unloaded the gear from this weekend's SDI Deep and TDI Intro to Tech classes. It occurred to me that I and others may not be charging enough. Here's part of the reason why. This was the gear I used for the class. I started to add up the total dollars invested in this and just stopped when I hit $5000 and my drysuit, undergarments, and other little miscellaneous items like the $600 worth of tools, spare parts kits, etc that I take when doing a class were not yet added in. This is not all my gear by a long shot. Next time you wonder why a class like this in cold water costs more than say an UW Nav class in warm water remember these photos.

Does not include the tanks I'd take if the student did not have their own doubles or singles of at least 100 cu ft capacity and their own stage or pony bottle.

I refuse to take students below 90 - 100 ft on an al80 like I saw being done this weekend by an instructor who took 6 students to 100 ft on al 80's with no redundant air, or certified assistants, at one time as part of an AOW class. BTW the water temp was 42-44 degrees.

Oh and if you plan to go tech - this about what it will take to get a good start.
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I better start saving , oh damn sorry kids i accidentally reallocated your college funds.

 

[decompression]

Andy has a good point, if I do their intro to tech, I know what I'm getting for the next level. It makes it a bit easier than adapting on the fly with "outside"students. I remember another instructor for an agency that "wrote" his own technical course.........without him ever doing a single tech dive or other training for experience.

 

[mathauck0814]

You're generous. I provide students with a list and expect them to show up with it. Intro or otherwise, if you want to be a tech diver, make the investment.

 

[ermaclob]

how much does a good into to tech class cost ?? im soon to be on the hunt for one once i get through this fall semester of classes. id love to know what to look for. sorry if this seems like a hijack of some sorts

BTW thats an impressive eye opener. u seem to definably go above and beyond to deliver good training. i swear u have about 4 times the mountain i have in my dive locker (bathroom). i don't dough your students highly appreciate your efforts.