Scuba...the "rich man's" sport

[ChrisEdwards]

My main passion is road race track days. My avitar is me on my Ducati 996 (18k new) at Barber Motorsports in Alabama.

I do these events, usually a weekend, about 7 times a year.

Event entry is about $200 per day.
A set of tires, that will be scrap after two days, is about $350, if you mount them yourself, which I do.

With travel and hotels, it's usually a $1000 weekend.

My brief 6 week love affair with scuba has set me back just a little shy of $6000 for equipment and classes for my Son and I.

I also play paintball with my Son and it looks like scuba will be a little less expensive than that. That normally costs about $200 per day for the two of us.

 

[snhrph]

Many of you say that Scuba is NOT the "rich man's" sport. Somehow, I do not recall meeting any divers on public assistance (Wellfare or SSI).

 

[mase]

I try to seek out the most inexpensive places. Cozumel, Honduras, Thailand all have excellent diving and you can do it on a budget, especially if you don't stay in the high dig hotels.

 

[k4man]

I try to seek out the most inexpensive places. Cozumel, Honduras, Thailand all have excellent diving and you can do it on a budget, especially if you don't stay in the high dig hotels.

These Places Inexpensive? :11: :11: Surely you jest?

As many in this thread have stated, I guess it's all in one's perspective. Inexpensive locations to dive for "thes colage edicated scooba divar" means the local quarry...which, by the way, I'll be at all day tomorrow.

 

[mase]

I was talking in terms of travel. Local is certainly cheaper, however some of us are warm water wimps.

 

[Stu S.]

To non-divers, scuba looks more expensive than it is. I have a picture at work of my daughter diving, and she has good basic gear. It cost about $800. People "say that looks expensive". Our second-shift plant maintenance man bought a new Harley Electra Glide ($20,000?), and nobody considers that expensive or extravagant.

In Florida, the equipment and fees can cost about the same as golf.

 

[northernexposure]

Compared to the annual expense of hockey, icetime and upgrading equipment costs, I personaly don't see any difference, except the water is softer!
That coupled with the fact that I've been paying for my gear plus my son's I still think I'm getting off cheap. Just a Canuck opinion

 

[k4man]

To non-divers, scuba looks more expensive than it is. I have a picture at work of my daughter diving, and she has good basic gear. It cost about $800. People "say that looks expensive". Our second-shift maintenance man bought a new Harley Electra Glide ($20,000?), and nobody considers that expensive or extravagant.

In Florida, the equipment and fees can cost about the same as golf.

So true...that's why I have scuba gear but NOT the HARLEY THAT I WANT

Besides, I couldn't haul all the gear on a HOG, so the Chevy van works just fine.

 

[SterlingDiver]

......not when you consider your return on investment (ROI).

Show me any other sport or activity that has a greater ROI. Wether it is seeing larger pelargics, a dice sized baby trunk fish, or a 3.5' free swimming octopus on the Rhone, it all seems like a great investment in my mental, spiritual health and family relationships.

It is one of the best investments that I own.

Good Diving,

Dave

 

[TracyKent]

What about not only age, however, but economical status?? This HAS to play a huge factor concerning those who dive. So, as delicately as possible, what's your household income (yes, you can spend your SPOUSE'S income on scuba, too )

I've met a few rich divers, not many. Most are broke because of Scuba!!

I for example, have no money, but lots and lots of dive stuff!