The Comparative cost of scuba, including instruction

[fantarara]

Diving in Southeast Asia generally has become more affordable for international people due to scale (lowering unit costs).
But for people earning the income in local currency like Indonesia, it has become less affordable (comparing 1990s to now). In the 90s the Indo govt pegged the Rp to the US$ and the $ was not more than Rp3,000 or so. The Asian financial crisis caused it to lose value - Rp16,000 for $1 in early 2000s. Not much different than today, actually. Since a lot of equipment are imported (from USA, Europe) and price of oil has continually increased, diving has become much more expensive for Indonesians, and probably only the top 5% income can afford it now (for liveaboards probably top 1%). I've been able to afford diving due to work travel (so most time flights are covered), otherwise I'd probably can only afford diving locally (Jakarta Bay ).

 

[BoltSnap]

Yes, as a native Floridian, I can attest that we also have "rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shiat-kickers and Methodists."

Whats your point?

No camel raiders and cow hustlers?

 

[BoltSnap]

Just to be clear, that was a joke. SW Florida is a great place for anyone to go diving.

I know

 

[lowwall]

I know

I know that you know, I wasn't sure about everyone else

 

[lexvil]

I know that you know, I wasn't sure about everyone else

I’m rewatching Dexter, Fl is rife with serial killers!

 

[lowwall]

I’m rewatching Dexter, Fl is rife with serial killers!

I can't wait for the chart showing serial killers by state.

 

[lexvil]

I can't wait for the chart showing serial killers by state.

Unless those are compiled from showtime documentaries like Dexter they are irrelevant! I have heard of something similar in the snow states.

 

[Ez E]

Scuba starts out relatively cheap. I took a comprehensive refresher and bought a new mask, snorkel, fins, boots and a mesh bag. All Tusa stuff. I had about $500 in it not including the $200 for the PADI course. Wish I could have found all my old diving gear but it was gone.

In less than 1 year since then I have bought a used Atomic BC2. Which I recently sold and bought a ScubaPro S-Tek BP and wing. Bought a used SP Mk 25 evo with an S550 and Apeks Egress. Have upgraded both regs to brand new SP G260’s. Bought a used Shearwater Peregrine and am looking to buy a new Garmin Mk3i as a backup computer and also to replace my Garmin D2 Delta as a nice watch. Replaced my Tusa mask with (2) Atomic masks. So now I have 3. Looking to replace my Tusa fins with a SP GoSport offering. Bought a new Catalina aluminum tank.

So yeah. Diving can be relatively cheap to get the basica and rent the rest. Or you can do as I do and spend thousands.

 

[Rob9876]

Gear doesn't have to be super expensive. For years I've been diving a ~$500 BCD+Reg Set package from Divers Supply in nearly every type of situation a recreational diver can dive (fresh, salt, cenotes, reefs, shallow, deep -- The Oriskany, etc.) and I've never had an issue or ever wished I had a more expensive set up.

It's the travel and the boat trips that get expensive.

 

[Still Kicking]

Gear doesn't have to be super expensive. For years I've been diving a ~$500 BCD+Reg set package from Divers Supply in nearly every type of situation a recreational diver can dive (fresh, salt, cenotes, reefs, shallow, deep -- The Oriskany, etc.) and I've never had an issue or ever wished I had a more expensive set up.

It's the travel and the boat trips that get expensive.

We get too hung up on gear. Basic gear is reliable and works fine. Skills are more important than gear. But they take way more dedication.