Spending $ ?

[Gidds]

I am trying to figure out what I spend per dive (rental/air/gas/tolls/meals/etc.) so as to decide whether I wish to continue renting for awhile or buy the rest of my own gear. If you don't mind sharing what do you think you spend/dive or day of diving and if you went from renting to owning how long did it take for your gear to "pay itself off"?

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Kinda depends on what kind of diving your into, how much and what kind(import or domestic) beer you consume after dives etc.

 

[spectrum]

If you intend to really dive and that seems to be your situation buy as soon as you understand what works for you and you can afford to buy it.

Since we can assume you own your basic gear and wetsuit and you won't be renting stuff like knives and lights let's assume were just talking about BCD and a regulator set with gauges.

You can get into some decent gear for $1200 with a decent LDS discount. You could spend much less depending on requirements.

What is the going rate for your rebtals? I think $15 + $15 = $30 is a safe number, you may be paying more.

$1200. /$30 = 40 dive days Since some of my days are 2 tankers I would have had my money back in about 100 days in this case. My MTBD (Mean Time Between dives) is less than 2 days since starting June 18, 2005.

Cylinders? Cost of cylinder divided by (rental - cost of the air fill you will now buy) = ??
Example, A PST E7-80 for $205.
Rental including a fill = $10
Fill alacarte = $4.50

$205/$6.50 = 31.5 dives!

Remember you do need to factor annual regulator / inflator service and cylinder VIPs. Hydro's are every 5 years so you can burry that.

I have been ahead of the game for quite some time including adding all sorts of accessioies like knives, lights weights, alternate gloves.....

As to typical dive day expenses with gear owned it's air fills, vehicle fuel and the biggest expense is probably eating out after the dive. We'd probably be doing that on any day we were out doing something else though. So far we have stuck to shore dives. We have paid a few modest site access fees.

Leaving home with your hydration, warm beverages and such keeps you out of the convenience stores.

Pete

 

[do it easy]

Dives can go from-

free if I DM the class
$20 at the quarry/ local lakes
$65-$100 boat charters
Throw in air/gas free-$60/fill
Tolls, hotels, beer, food, and then more beer!

This is all irrelevant if you want to decide whether to rent or to buy. Regardless if you own or not, you'll still pay those fees. You should look at how much you pay to rent and how often you dive. I started buying gear (everything except the tanks) soon after open water, and because I dove a lot, it has paid for itself! Of course I started buying more and more gear, but that's a different story. I was very conscientious of buying gear that I knew I could/would keep in using. The only things I've bought more than once or don't use are snorkels and some cheap flashlights.

Off the top of my head, I seem to recall that the break even point for me was roughly 20-25 weekend rentals, but it depends on how much you buy and when.

PS- I like your threads. You ask a lot of good questions!

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Seriously, there is such a wide spectrum of dive specialties and a vast array of equipment its a tough call. I'm a minimalist which is kind of a unique in this sport so I probably spend less than most.

Obviously, if you dive frequently it's much more cost effective and convenient to own.

 

[SStrecker]

My gut feeling is that, if you only go on a dozen or less dive days each year, where it is practical to bring your own gear, you are better off renting (provided you ignore issues of convenience, fit, quality, preferences and familiarity).

 

[Snowbear]

My gear "paid for itself" the day I bought it. Because I bought my gear, I was able to go diving any time I wanted to and didn't have to shell out for rental gear and go through the hassle of picking up and returning gear every time I wanted to dive.... not to mention having to pay anyway if I had to cancel for whatever reason :11:

I even bought tanks almost right away, since I had access to free, unlimited air fills through my work

I even consider my Whaler worth the money spent, as I can go boat diving at MY convenience and with whoever I choose and go to whatever sites I want to rather than being at the whim of the charter who may have a drysuit class or very n00b divers, which limits the whole boat to going to the less desirable sites.

Yes, it's true.... it's all about ME .... well ... and whoever is nuts enough to dive with me that day

Yes, I do regret some of the early gear choices, as I now have some almost brand new stuff that I'll never use and that no-one else seems to want either, like a Black Diamond BC, Titanium knife, Princeton Tec primary light (which I actually found a use for - it's stashed in the console of the Whaler in case I need a really, really bright flashlight The knife is destined to be a really expensive addition to the fishing tackle box.

Other stuff took me longer to buy, like the camera. I'm no pro and never will be ... just basically take snapshots of stuff I see. Every once in a while some of the pictures are actually in focus and turn out pretty OK, so when non-diving folks ask, "what do you see down there?" I can direct them to my ScubaBoard gallery and show them

 

[Gary D.]

I am trying to figure out what I spend per dive (rental/air/gas/tolls/meals/etc.) so as to decide whether I wish to continue renting for awhile or buy the rest of my own gear. If you don't mind sharing what do you think you spend/dive or day of diving and if you went from renting to owning how long did it take for your gear to "pay itself off"?

Just a couple of thoughts.

If you only have 0-15 dives over a certification period of 6-10 years, Rent.

If you plan on diving more start buying gear.

Why should gas, tolls and meals have anything to do with deciding to buy or rent gear? Those costs will remain if you own or rent.

It is much better to own than rent but you have to be willing to dive more and deal with the up keep of it all.

Gary D.

 

[carldarl]

There is a great deal more value in owning your own equipment than just monetary.

<> The safety of understanding and being familiar with your own gear. Especially in any type of emergency situation.

<> Avoiding lost dive opportunities when you arrive at a vacation site and discover they have no XXXL size to fit you. (Or any other special need)

<> Missed dives when arriving at the dive site only to find your rental reg has an issue and there are no spares on board.

<> Additional joy of diving in gear that is comfortable and fits you and your style of diving.

<> Just the overall joy of owning your own gear. (And getting the opportunity to scrub, rinse, clean maintain and stow it after EVERY dive trip)

Don't look at it as an expense, look at it as an investment. An investment in comfort, convenience and safety.

Carl

 

[Greg D.]

I agree with snowbear, my gear paid for it the day I got it! in fact I never once dove rental gear, except the stuff they provided in my OW class. My drysuit paid for itself at least five times when I got it on cristmas eve, and it was about 20 degrees at the dive site and 40 degree water