Rookie needing diving gear advice

[sfbluestar]

Hi,

I am a sailor and I need to clean the bottom of my boat periodically. I decided to dive and clean myself instead of hauling the boat out.

So I will be diving no more than no more than 15' deep. But I do need the oxygen tank so I don't have to keep coming up and down. I also want to go with dry suit to minimize contact with water.

So what do I need? And what's the minimum price tag I can get by with? Thanks in advance.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

You need to get certified first. That will run $200-$300.

A new regulator is $250-$300 for an entry level model. Add another $100 for the alternate second stage, $85 for an SPG and $300 to $400 for a bouyancy compensator and some weights and another $100-150 for mask fins and snorkel. A tank will run you around $130 to $170 for a run of the mill Aluminum 80. That brings you up to about $1200 to $1500.

A dry suit will run anywhere from $500 to $2500 depending on what you get. A wet suit, hood, boots and gloves on the other hand may only run you about $300.

It's a very eqipment intensive sport so figure $1500 in training and equipment. But most of the equipment can be rented for fairly reasonable rates so there is no need to buy much more than mask, fins and snorkel initially.

Used equipment is another option that could cut the equipment cost in half but you have to know what your are buying as well as what you need.

Either way your best bet is to work through an instructor or dive shop to arrange the training and the equipment purchases.

 

[Gary D.]

Hi,

I am a sailor and I need to clean the bottom of my boat periodically. I decided to dive and clean myself instead of hauling the boat out.

So I will be diving no more than no more than 15' deep. But I do need the oxygen tank so I don't have to keep coming up and down. I also want to go with dry suit to minimize contact with water.

So what do I need? And what's the minimum price tag I can get by with? Thanks in advance.

Hummmmm, What do you need?

A check book to pay someone qualified to do it.
OR
A lot of training and gear.
AND
Don't use Oxygen.

Gary D.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Yeah. Don't use oxygen. We've got enough statistics, you're contribution isn't needed. Get proper training first. Untrained divers can and do DIE in 3 feet of water. As for gear...the shop who trains you can set you up with some quality and economical gear for this. As for the actual scraping...maybe a putty knife?

 

[crpntr133]

What about a hooka system? Here is a link http://www.akmining.com/diving.htm

 

[Diver0001]

Hi,

I am a sailor and I need to clean the bottom of my boat periodically. I decided to dive and clean myself instead of hauling the boat out.

So I will be diving no more than no more than 15' deep. But I do need the oxygen tank so I don't have to keep coming up and down. I also want to go with dry suit to minimize contact with water.

So what do I need? And what's the minimum price tag I can get by with? Thanks in advance.

It doesn't sound like you want to become a regular diver so you will probably want to rent the gear. It's going to cost you about $50-60 per day each time you rent. You'll also need some traning in how to use the gear. Training might cost in the neighbourhood of $300-400 depending on where you get it done and may take up to 6 weeks.

Realistically these are the costs you'll have to offset against the costs of having somone do it.

Using a Hookah system like the one in the link is a realistic alternative if your boat is small enough but you'll still need the training. I don't know how much it costs to rent a hookah.

R..

 

[FatCat]

You can still get a lung overexpansion injury using a hookah. Still, get training first. And take it from me, boat maintenance is not easy, so an Open Water cert is probably not enough.

 

[freediver]

Did you say rookie? OK first of all you will need one of my
Self
Contained
Aquatic
Monitors
to ensure you are performing at optimal level. i sell these for two easy payments of $19.95. heehee

Seriously, you can't go wrong with the advice given from this board. Bear in mind that SAFETY is paramount.

 

[emtdan]

Where do you live, sfbluestar? You didnt say.
I think what equip you need depends on where you are. If it is warm, you may be able to get away with no BC.
I think that all boat owners should have some sort of scuba expierence, because it is so helpful. My parents owned a boat for a long time, and being able to go down and unwrap a prop, or find whatever fell overboard is very helpful.

Good luck!

 

[teknitroxdiver]

No BC? He's going to want one of those no matter where he's at! Especially for wheel jobs or cleaning. Just out of curiosity, what would you advise him to wear in place of a bc?