Relative cost of diving equipment then and now.

[Eric Sedletzky]

OK, were getting prices of what equipment was then.
Now lets figure out what wages were. I know this is complicated and depends on geographical location and particular line of work.
But lets start with a union journey level trade such as electrician or retail clerks union, that seems to be a mid line standard and a good measurement.
A minimum wage job or CEO salary of a large corporation won't really work for this.

Otherwise throwing out prices of gear back in the old days doesn't really have much meaning unless we know what median income was.

 

[simonbeans]

Just use this. Income is relative.

The Inflation Calculator

 

[Rhone Man]

I only started diving in 1984, but what I pay for an item of gear now is usually about half to two-thirds of what I used to pay (in absolute terms, non-adjusted) back in 1984.

God bless those Chinese sweatshops. And Leisurepro.

 

[Rich Keller]

Many times people talk about "the good old days" back in the late 50's and early 60's when a house was 10K, a car was $3500, and a their first double hose regulator was $79.95.

Maybe some of you people that have been in diving for a long time can elaborate on the relative costs of what a full set of dive gear costed then as opposed to now.

So in other words, that reg costing 79.95 back in the 50's would be what, $1200.00today adjusted for inflation?
I'm curious as to how much cheaper or how much more expensive dive equipment was back then and what you got.

I purchased a steel 72 and a reg, 1st and 2nd stage only for $100.00 in 1970. I do not know how much that would be in todays dollars. Two years later I got a pickup truck for the same price but I am sure I over paid for that POS!

 

[simonbeans]

I purchased a steel 72 and a reg, 1st and 2nd stage only for $100.00 in 1970. I do not know how much that would be in todays dollars. Two years later I got a pickup truck for the same price but I am sure I over paid for that POS!

What cost $100 in 1970 would cost $555.13 in 2010.

 

[SandyRobinson]

In 1981, I think I paid:

USD Rocket fins - $25
USD Calypso reg - 179??? wish I had gotten the Conshelf
USD jacket BC - 200?
Farallon depth/pressure combo - $79???
Ikelite 6V light - maybe 50?

Damn, that was a long time ago.

 

[USdiver1]

How much were air fills back in the 50's and 60's?

Remember that the cylinders back in the 50's and 60's were either 1800 psi or 2250 psi rated. So a "fill" of your tank was less than your "fill" today as well.

Back in 1976, my first new piece of equipment was a Sea Tec horsecollar BC, it had manual inflation and two CO2 emergency surface flotation cartridges. Think I paid $125 (astronomical amount) for it.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Remember that the cylinders back in the 50's and 60's were either 1800 psi or 2250 psi rated. So a "fill" of your tank was less than your "fill" today as well.

They charge me the same for filling one of my 72's or my 120... $7.00

 

[SwimJim]

I bought my first wetsuit through an ad in Skindiver magazine for $49.95, custom fit! That was in 1977. Air fills at the time were $1.50 and I had to drive about 30 miles. I bought a brand new Dacor Olympic 100 for $100.00 with a used 72 and back pack. I was a teenager working the sweet corn fields and driving a delivery truck for the princely sum of about $1.50 an hour.
Even then, all my money was going into diving. LOL

 

[aquaregia]

They charge me the same for filling one of my 72's or my 120... $7.00

I've always felt like dive shops were punishing me for saving money on tanks by recouping their profits on fills.