The Comparative cost of scuba, including instruction

[cerich]

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

Yes

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.

Less liability than if they have your rental gear or gear you sold them, that is a simply not true thing the dive industry says

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.

 

[Still Kicking]

Yes


Less liability than if they have your rental gear or gear you sold them, that is a simply not true thing the dive industry says

Maybe but why allow students to dive with crappy gear and give lawyers room to go work?

At least you have some control over rental gear.

 

[Umuntu]

Football is the most popular sport because it is relatively cheap. The ball can be anything from coconut to real McCoy.
It was the only sport I could afford to play when at primary school. However, it is the only sport that I really enjoy until my body could no longer coup with the demand.
Skiing and scuba diving? When I started earning money but football is still No.1.

For people in North America, I think they call it soccer there . It helps if you have decent community or club fields

Hong Kong has excellent community sports facilities. Maintained to a high standard.

 

[Umuntu]

So what's a better comp than skiing? Physical activity that doesn't require tens of thousands to start or big exertion (of course you can if you want to) but does require some skill. Bonus for a whiff of danger.

Hiking? I guess. But IMO either too hard or too boring.
Bowling, bocce, axe throwing, sporting clays? Let's stick to free range sports.
Hunting? Pretty comparable in most of the US. But doesn't appeal to everyone.
Fishing? I don't drink that much anymore. And I like my wife.
Golf? (shudder) Also see fishing.
Sky diving? Seems very close. Any skydivers care to comment on costs?

Mountain Climbing. Hiking. Outdoor wilderness camping can also be expensive if you want top end gear, but still possible to do economically.

Hiking and outdoor camping can take you to some truly spectacular unspoiled places.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Bikes cost that much now??????????????????????????

He said e-bike mountain bike but yes, there are non electric bikes that cost more than that. My bicycle is a mid range bike price wise. I've got $4500 in it with the extra wheel set for road use and the other items I have on it. My local shop has sold several in the 12-18K range for a non electric bike.

 

[LFMarm]

He said e-bike mountain bike but yes, there are non electric bikes that cost more than that. My bicycle is a mid range bike price wise. I've got $4500 in it with the extra wheel set for road use and the other items I have on it. My local shop has sold several in the 12-18K range for a non electric bike.

When you find out that a rebreather is not that expensive…

 

[cerich]

Maybe but why allow students to dive with crappy gear and give lawyers room to go work?

At least you have some control over rental gear.

There is a reason that providing students rental gear is an additional fee and rider to instructor liability insurance.

You keep asserting something that isn't true. I get it, many shops, sales reps and instructors in the industry like saying that and most likely even believe it. That doesn't make it true.

Your "control" over rental gear is YOUR liability and providing it gives the lawyers the ocean size room to go to work versus the students providing their own that is a shallow small pond. But, that is why you should be paying the extra cash to have it covered by insurance.

 

[pauldw]

Shops here require fins, booties, mask, snorkel, and a weight belt...

A weight belt? I don't get it.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

A weight belt? I don't get it.

Maybe they still teach rolling on a weightbelt?

 

[jellycatsdad]

As a soon to be person in their 40s who is involved in scuba, cycling and snowboarding, I can cycling has become scene and judgy now - sure scuba has GUE, Scubapro and Apeks but if you’re not showing up to the weekly club ride on a Specialized S-Works/Cervelo and wearing full Rapha/Pas Normal Studios kit and don’t have the Strava stats to talk the talk, you’re nobody. I ride a very, very, very modest steel-framed road bike with a proven but “old” Shimano 105 gruppo but I see even 20-somethings on the latest carbon frame with full Di2/SRAM eTap/Campy EPS in full Rapha kit. I’m starting to debate how long I’ll keep buying season passes - Vail and Alterra have Tahoe on lock and I’m starting to despise Vail’s antics. My snowboard kit costs as much as I spent on scuba gear over the last two years. It’s an American-made Never Summer - I refuse to ride Burton snowboards or Specialized bikes(but yet, Scubapro is on my short list for new regs).

I’ve spent a good chunk of money on scuba certs - both my basic and advanced open water but I know those are “lifetime” certs and the drive down to Monterey once a month is cheap compared to a weekend in Tahoe. Even cheaper is riding my bike but scuba lets me in a state of sensory deprivation and I live in the moment when I dive. It’s been great for my mental health. No, I’m not going to chase down speciality certs like PADI wants. I’ll be happy with a rescue and drysuit certification and I’m considering GUE(or TDI) Fundamentals down the road. Even my therapist thinks scuba is healthier for me than cycling - though she thinks I’m also drawn to high risk and high reward.