The Comparative cost of scuba, including instruction

[Still Kicking]

A lot of dive shops require you to buy gear from them as a condition of being able to take your OW. Even of you had a friend who could loan you gear, you would probably not be allowed to use it.

Walking into a class with used gear with unknown history is problematic.

If there's a gear issue, the instructor has to devote time to that, neglecting the rest of the class. If the student is injured, then there's a liability issue.

Students may be allowed to use their gear if it passes a safety check. But this is one reason most shops provide rental gear to OW students.

 

[MB NZ]

I've got to that grumpy old man stage of life where I can lament inflation and rising costs. My dive gear is old. A quick look at prices online for replacement gear has horrified me. What has changed for the better is AliExpress and similar online outlets. Once upon a time, I paid a small fortune for aluminium arms and clamps for underwater photography. Now they are cheap as chips. My DSMB came from AliExpress and functions very well. I'm not yet at a point where I would buy regulators or a dive computer direct from China, but a wing or backplate, maybe.

 

[runsongas]

I'm hoping to find a kraken at an estate sale to go with my RAM/pilot/mark X dual balanced

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I'm hoping to find a kraken at an estate sale to go with my RAM/pilot/mark X dual balanced

No, you want a "divorce" sale.
that's where the woman sells off all the dudes crap dirt cheap just to piss him off.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

A lot of dive shops require you to buy gear from them as a condition of being able to take your OW. Even of you had a friend who could loan you gear, you would probably not be allowed to use it.

I would just rent, then after I got my OW I'd use whatever the hell I wanted.

 

[JuLe]

I haven't been skiing (downhill, x-country I do all the time) in years, so no idea what that sport costs here nowadays.
I do have some experience of the cost of getting into scuba as we have 4 members of the family start diving in recent years.
Training done with our local dive club.
OW course 450 eur
Mask 60 eur
Fins 60 eur
Wetsuit 280 eur
Boots 70 eur
Hood 30 eur
Gloves 30 eur
Light 100 eur
Computer 250 eur
This adds up to 1330 eur to do the course just to get started w/ diving. Regs, tanks and BCDs are supplied by the club for the duration of the course.

After the course one needs to start investing in the equipment that came from the club for the course.
BCD 400 eur (or BP/W 500+)
Regs 450 eur
SPG 100 eur
Tank 400 eur
Weights 50 eur
Compass 50 eur
Cutting device 30 eur
Miscallenous stuff (clips, smb, line, etc) 100 eur

This adds up to 1580 eur and brings the total up to 2710 eur.

With this set up, we have been doing shore dives in the lakes around here, close to home.

Then one soon realizes that diving here you really do need a drysuit. That will set you back anything between 600 eur (used) to 3000 eur (mtm new w/ undergarments)
Also, with the low visibility, a better light is good to have, add anything between 500 to 1500 eur. (the small light bought earlier works really well as back up)

So, the initial investment to start diving can easily be something to keep people from starting. Once the start up costs are over, diving is cheap. Tank fills cost 45eur/year, club membership 99eur/year and then just the cost of driving to dive sites (15min - 1hour) + fuel for club rib if it's boat dive.

Vacation diving at holiday destinations is completely different, but then one has to take into account the cost of travel.

 

[MB NZ]

I have to say, none of this is on the same scale as boating. Bust Out Another Thousand and a hole in the ocean you throw money in to are entirely correct.

 

[Umuntu]

I have to say, none of this is on the same scale as boating. Bust Out Another Thousand and a hole in the ocean you throw money in to are entirely correct.

At many big marinas there are hundreds if not thousands of expensive boats/yachts that don’t seem to go anywhere … many have not moved for years … and just being moored up costs money and depreciation.

 

[Still Kicking]

I have to say, none of this is on the same scale as boating. Bust Out Another Thousand and a hole in the ocean you throw money in to

I have recently learned that if your boat goes to the shipyard, it's actually Break Out Another Ten--Thousand

and/or

Bend Over And Take (It)

 

[halocline]

A lot of dive shops require you to buy gear from them as a condition of being able to take your OW. Even of you had a friend who could loan you gear, you would probably not be allowed to use it.

I have never heard of a dive shop that requires OW students to buy scuba gear from them as a condition of taking a certification class. I know of many places that require OW students to have their own mask, fins, snorkel, and expect that many of them will buy that gear from the shop. But requiring purchase of full gear like regulator, BC, etc..that I don’t believe. Maybe you can provide some documentation?