Tried 'em both...let me know if you know anyone that wants to trade me a dry suit or a set of doubles for my clubs...
Scuba Cost Vs. Golf et al.
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Paul168341
Guest
This just says it all!
Don't just compare diving to golf. There are a lot of interesting expensive sports/hobbies.
Downhill Snow Skiing - good equipment $800 - $1800, Lift Ticket $50/day, Plus Lessons, meals, hotel, transportation.
Skydiving - equipment $2000, Lift $10/jump, Plus Lessons.
Flying - License $3000 - $6000, Aircraft rental after licensed $55 - $75 /hour.
Serious biking - Bike $1000 - $3000 and up. Medical insurance - priceless.
Oh BTW, my son just asked for a $250 baseball bat. I told him to get a job.
NetPro
Charter member of the He Man Scuba Diving Golf Haters Club.
Downhill Snow Skiing - good equipment $800 - $1800, Lift Ticket $50/day, Plus Lessons, meals, hotel, transportation.
Skydiving - equipment $2000, Lift $10/jump, Plus Lessons.
Flying - License $3000 - $6000, Aircraft rental after licensed $55 - $75 /hour.
Serious biking - Bike $1000 - $3000 and up. Medical insurance - priceless.
Oh BTW, my son just asked for a $250 baseball bat. I told him to get a job.
NetPro
Charter member of the He Man Scuba Diving Golf Haters Club.
landlocked
Contributor
That kind of puts it in a nut shell doesn't it.
(Didn't mean to imply that one was better or more fun than the other. Just the facts.) For me it's a family thing. Father, all three brothers and four of my six kids all golf. My wife is the only SCUBA diver in the family. On the other side, SCUBA is no where near as expensive as snowmobiling and probably not as dangerous! Snowmobile $3,000 - $8,000 plus trailer, truck to pull it wilth, gas, lots of repairs and maintenance, emergency kit and suit. Of course, to be safe you need two machines (kind of like the buddy system.) Can be done cheaper but not safely.tchil01
Guest
I like golf, I love scuba. I like to fish. I enjoy playing with computers. I like camping and hiking. I want to learn how to sail ( this summer's project). I enjoy mountian biking. I love hanging out with my kids.
I have a problem.. too many hobbies, not enough time or money...
Ty
Rockhound
Guest
I'm happy to read that I'm not the only one here who doesn't like golf. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me.
The guys I work with golf at least once or twice during "working hours" each month, plus almost every weekend. They don't understand why I don't do this with them. I don't understand why I can't take off to go diving or sailing as compensation for their golf days. I sure don't understand the appeal of golf as a sport.
Of course, I don't have any "normal" hobbies. Diving, sailing, flying ultralights (now grounded by my wife until my kids get older), auto racing (SCCA, WRC, CART, but not NASCAR-which seems almost anti-American), weightlifting, and fishing with my boys, 6 and 9, ....those are my interests.
Things I wish I could learn to do:
Race my own car (briefly did that as teenager, but just SOLO in the SCCA)
Compete in "combat" pistol competitions (Used to "paper punch" with handgun. Shot combat once. It was a hoot.)
Hunt (no time, no lease)
Study self defense
Earn Private Pilot rating
Become a scuba instructor
learn to be a "technical" diver and dive wrecks all over the world.
Oh, yea...a little "golfing" anecdote:
When I moved to the Houston area 12 years ago, I moved to a small community called Kingwood. It is a beautiful, wooded, "Master Planned" community that includes 5 or 6 golf courses, many of them featured in the movie, "Tin Cup", representing various locations on the PGA tour.
With beautiful, stately homes lining some of the courses, and others in a park-like setting, it is quite picturesque (oh, shut up. I don't have a spell checker).
Anyway, my wife and I were driving into Kingwood early one Saturday morning to check on our new home, which was under construction. There was a light mist over the road, but it promised to be a beautiful day. Birds were chirping, the breeze was cool and it was very serene as we slowly cruised down a street beside one of the golf courses with our windows rolled down, taking it all in.....
Ahead of me, as small golf cart crossed the street, as an older gentleman headed for the course, coffee mug in hand. To the left, standing in a small group, were some men out for a day of golf. I thought I caught the sound of gentle laughter.
I looked over at my wife and said, "Now I know why they like golf. It must be really nice just to be out with your friends this morning, enjoying such a beautiful day." After a pause, I added, "I think I might try golf. It would be fun."
About that time I heard a shouted, "Mottttthhherrrrr F.........cccckkkeerrrr!!!!" Then a "swoosh" sound and a flash caught my eye. It was a golf club twirling end over end through the air, it's trajectory sailing it into the middle of a small pond.
"Yep." my wife said, "THAT looks like fun".....
Nuff said. I never took up golf.
The guys I work with golf at least once or twice during "working hours" each month, plus almost every weekend. They don't understand why I don't do this with them. I don't understand why I can't take off to go diving or sailing as compensation for their golf days. I sure don't understand the appeal of golf as a sport.
Of course, I don't have any "normal" hobbies. Diving, sailing, flying ultralights (now grounded by my wife until my kids get older), auto racing (SCCA, WRC, CART, but not NASCAR-which seems almost anti-American), weightlifting, and fishing with my boys, 6 and 9, ....those are my interests.
Things I wish I could learn to do:
Race my own car (briefly did that as teenager, but just SOLO in the SCCA)
Compete in "combat" pistol competitions (Used to "paper punch" with handgun. Shot combat once. It was a hoot.)
Hunt (no time, no lease)
Study self defense
Earn Private Pilot rating
Become a scuba instructor
learn to be a "technical" diver and dive wrecks all over the world.
Oh, yea...a little "golfing" anecdote:
When I moved to the Houston area 12 years ago, I moved to a small community called Kingwood. It is a beautiful, wooded, "Master Planned" community that includes 5 or 6 golf courses, many of them featured in the movie, "Tin Cup", representing various locations on the PGA tour.
With beautiful, stately homes lining some of the courses, and others in a park-like setting, it is quite picturesque (oh, shut up. I don't have a spell checker).
Anyway, my wife and I were driving into Kingwood early one Saturday morning to check on our new home, which was under construction. There was a light mist over the road, but it promised to be a beautiful day. Birds were chirping, the breeze was cool and it was very serene as we slowly cruised down a street beside one of the golf courses with our windows rolled down, taking it all in.....
Ahead of me, as small golf cart crossed the street, as an older gentleman headed for the course, coffee mug in hand. To the left, standing in a small group, were some men out for a day of golf. I thought I caught the sound of gentle laughter.
I looked over at my wife and said, "Now I know why they like golf. It must be really nice just to be out with your friends this morning, enjoying such a beautiful day." After a pause, I added, "I think I might try golf. It would be fun."
About that time I heard a shouted, "Mottttthhherrrrr F.........cccckkkeerrrr!!!!" Then a "swoosh" sound and a flash caught my eye. It was a golf club twirling end over end through the air, it's trajectory sailing it into the middle of a small pond.
"Yep." my wife said, "THAT looks like fun".....
Nuff said. I never took up golf.
there are interesting similarities between these two activities:
1) They are both very gear intensive. And there is a lot of pressure on newbies by retailers and peers to overkill on the latest and greatest equipment.
2)There isn't nearly enough emphasis placed on the importance of proper instruction/training.
I often see 20-handicappers at public golf courses with $500 Titelist drivers that can barely drive a ball 200yds. And I've seen couples on boat trips decked out in tech gear that can't make it back to the boat they jumped out of, because there was a slight current...
1) They are both very gear intensive. And there is a lot of pressure on newbies by retailers and peers to overkill on the latest and greatest equipment.
2)There isn't nearly enough emphasis placed on the importance of proper instruction/training.
I often see 20-handicappers at public golf courses with $500 Titelist drivers that can barely drive a ball 200yds. And I've seen couples on boat trips decked out in tech gear that can't make it back to the boat they jumped out of, because there was a slight current...
VTWarrenG
Guest
My list of expensive hobbies:
Scuba diving: Down $3000-$4000 in gear and training now
Tracking my car: Car's $40k, lessons and track time now amount to $2000.
Flying: Private pilot cert. cost me $5500. I only fly occassionally.
Astronomy: $3000 telescope, $2000 pickup truck to carry it in.
The least most expensive hobby I have is rock climbing, and I've already invested $500 in that!
I'm broke, but it sure beats watching TV.....
- Warren
Scuba diving: Down $3000-$4000 in gear and training now
Tracking my car: Car's $40k, lessons and track time now amount to $2000.
Flying: Private pilot cert. cost me $5500. I only fly occassionally.
Astronomy: $3000 telescope, $2000 pickup truck to carry it in.
The least most expensive hobby I have is rock climbing, and I've already invested $500 in that!
I'm broke, but it sure beats watching TV.....
- Warren
Se7en
Contributor
Scuba is a cheap hobby, especially if you look at $ per time period.
Over ten years, I've spent less than $5k on gear and courses, and spent some 300+ hours underwater, plus you could triple that with preparation / post dive chat time.
Each dive now costs $5 for air for a shore dive, or $50 all up if I go out on a boat.
Windsurfing comes close, as the money spent on gear is about the same, but needs replacing more often. A days sailing is free, but there is a lot of driving to get to waves + wind, and pretty much garanteed to break some gear every 5 days or so.
Say $50 a day average.
Skiing steps up a notch. In the same ten years I've spent $4k on skiis boards boots and clothes. Each trip works out at $200 per day once travel, accomadation etc is added... more if we decide to ski canada / Austria etc...
And then there's motorsport... $30k on a car, another $5k prepping it to race, and an endless spend on tyres suspension, repairs and go fast bits. One 8 day event (targa Tasmania) required a $15k budget all up... that's over $1500 per day...
Surfing / rockclimbing are dead cheap... but I only do them when there's nothing else happening.
Golf is cheap ish ($500 on a set of clubs and shoes) but it doesn't count cause it's boring I consider golf to be a work activity...
Mike (No house, no back balance, lots of toys)
Over ten years, I've spent less than $5k on gear and courses, and spent some 300+ hours underwater, plus you could triple that with preparation / post dive chat time.
Each dive now costs $5 for air for a shore dive, or $50 all up if I go out on a boat.
Windsurfing comes close, as the money spent on gear is about the same, but needs replacing more often. A days sailing is free, but there is a lot of driving to get to waves + wind, and pretty much garanteed to break some gear every 5 days or so.
Say $50 a day average.
Skiing steps up a notch. In the same ten years I've spent $4k on skiis boards boots and clothes. Each trip works out at $200 per day once travel, accomadation etc is added... more if we decide to ski canada / Austria etc...
And then there's motorsport... $30k on a car, another $5k prepping it to race, and an endless spend on tyres suspension, repairs and go fast bits. One 8 day event (targa Tasmania) required a $15k budget all up... that's over $1500 per day...
Surfing / rockclimbing are dead cheap... but I only do them when there's nothing else happening.
Golf is cheap ish ($500 on a set of clubs and shoes) but it doesn't count cause it's boring
I consider golf to be a work activity... Mike (No house, no back balance, lots of toys)
ucladiver
Guest
I can speak for downhill skiing:
I spent:
about $1500 on my skis/boots/poles
about $350 for good North Face goretex ski jacket/pants
about $50/day for skiing:
recently a trip to Whislter Canada including arifar, lodging at the Westin, 7days, 5 days skiing and food cost me about $1300US = $185/day. (Canada does have a great exchange rate).
I spent:
about $1500 on dive gear
about $5 for an airfill
about $100 for a 1 day boat dive
beach dives cost $0!!
A recent weekend in catalina cost me about $700 (with 2 days boat diving, 3 nights and food) = $233/day
I have to say I think need to pick new sports....
If you beach dive, SCUBA is a great bargain and I do lots of that.... but if you pay for boat dives the $100/day hurts and is TWICE as much as skiing.
I spent:
about $1500 on my skis/boots/poles
about $350 for good North Face goretex ski jacket/pants
about $50/day for skiing:
recently a trip to Whislter Canada including arifar, lodging at the Westin, 7days, 5 days skiing and food cost me about $1300US = $185/day. (Canada does have a great exchange rate).
I spent:
about $1500 on dive gear
about $5 for an airfill
about $100 for a 1 day boat dive
beach dives cost $0!!
A recent weekend in catalina cost me about $700 (with 2 days boat diving, 3 nights and food) = $233/day
I have to say I think need to pick new sports....
If you beach dive, SCUBA is a great bargain and I do lots of that.... but if you pay for boat dives the $100/day hurts and is TWICE as much as skiing.
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