You find that you spend hefty bucks for trimix, but then the dive is blown out.
But that set of doubles is filled with $125 worth of trimix, so you don't bleed it off. But your next trip is to the quarry, so...you need another set of doubles filled with nitrox.
Then most of your charter trips over weekends require two sets of doubles minimum because you can't always blend trimix wherever you're going diving (you can get nitrox fills, but not always trimix fills...so you need to take the trimix you plan on using with you.) Two dives per day for two charter boat days - more if for three days, so...you generally wind up with around 3 or 4 sets of doubles. (Tanks, bands, manifold, etc.) You need multiple sets of doubles if you don't intend to be dumping expensive fills when your plans change.
A set of new PST E8-130s set up with Highlands bands and manifold is likely around $1K. Three new sets of steels would be around $3K. You can buy used. The savings are not that spectacular.
Minimum four regs (right post, left post, 70' bottle, 20' bottle). If you're going to run your drysuit argon inflation from a separate bottle, a 6 or an LP 14, you'll need a 5th 1st stage for that. If you want to run 3 bottles, or a stage, you'll need a 6th reg. Plan on ~$1.5K for (4) regs and a 1st stage for argon, and all six of my regs are used SPs. As long as you buy top quality used regulators, (and all the same manufacturer,) which ones you buy are not as critical as the fact that you keep them well maintained.
Drysuits provide thermal protection in even moderately warm water when your exposure times including deco hit 65-85 minutes per dive or longer. In colder water, the need is even more acute. A good drysuit fits well. Expect to spend ~$2000-$2500 for a drysuit AND undergarment(s) AND drygloves w/ rings.
Two sets of E8-130 tanks, (1) set of Luxfer 80s, (2) 40s, (2) 63s, (2) 6s, (1) LP14, something around $3K in tanks.
Around $2K in regs.
Around $2.5K in drysuit + accoutrements
Around $2K in a used Gavin
Around $1K in backplates and wings
Around $1.2K in a can light
Thats > $11K in gear, and most of it is not that high-speed.
And then as the others said above, the cost of charter boats, courses, hotels, per diem, gas fills, and ancillary items such as hoses, connections, etc. (the vehicle you require to haul all your gear in - diving out of a Pinto sucks), etc. can really escalate the day to day cost of tech diving.
You can certainly spend the total out over a few years, and most do...but if you're trying to decide which way to go, for the cost of all you'll spend in technical gear and training you can also take some bodacious dive trips to Palau, the Galapagos, or numerous sites off Costa Rica.
Its truly a decision to spend your discretionary income one way or another...diving is expensive no matter which way you go!
Regards,
Doc
