The economy and diving

[KyDodenhoff]

With the struggling economy businesses are certainly making cutbacks I cant believe my LDS is still running. So are people with theye hobbies. Ive been looking at resort prices and even LDS planed trips and the prices really havent gone down compared to years past, with airlines tickets so expensive and everyone traveling alot less you would think they would be giving these trips away! Im wondering what percentages the dive industry has gone down and if any of you have had to dive less because of the economy. I know I have between paying for college and bills my main hobby and love is struggling to survive and its really bumming me out!


Ky

 

[White Knight]

A lot of LDS are going out of business and most of the ones that are left carry "zero" inventory. It is really depressing. I end up buying stuff on line because the LDS has to special order everything (because they carry nothing) anyway unless I want one their "very limited" display models for full price! As far as resort destinations, the prices are coming down some. Just not down to where a college student is going to notice. SCUBA is not a poor person's hobby anymore. $700 for a BCD and $1,500 for a regulator, $1,000 for a computer, $3,500 fro a dry suit, $250 for fins? Yes, it all could be purchased for less, but give me a break. The sport is killing itself. When it gets to the point that a new medium quality set of gear runs a new diver $10,000 it's over. Sport done. We all go home and watch TV.

 

[vtxkev]

I have noticed myself that some of these dive shops do not carry anything. I was always wondering why that was. Was it always like this? I would like to be able to go into a LDS and have 30 wet suits to try on, or 20 different BC's. I am new to this sport, so I assume you can not find this type of selection anywhere?

 

[nelia1978]

I know there is a few of LDS here in Montreal, and some better than others. There is 2 of them that I like, one had a a lot in stock (cpas), and prices are not too bad. Then there is another place where the shop is really small and has hardly anything in stock, but the prices are better, cheaper. I really like the smaller shop not just because it is cheaper, its cause the owner is a good guy and he explains everything which is good cause I am just getting into diving. He gives me better service than the bigger shops do in my openion.. (going to start the pool portion in April =)

 

[Blackwood]

When it gets to the point that a new medium quality set of gear runs a new diver $10,000 it's over. Sport done. We all go home and watch TV.

medium quality gear costs 10 grand? I don't think so. Since a new diver is likely not getting CCRs or scooters, he could get a full set of top of the line gear and not spend that much.

 

[captain]

With the current price of gasoline I will be taking the boat out diving much more than I did last year and it will be cheaper to run my gas powered compressor.

 

[mksmith713]

medium quality gear costs 10 grand? I don't think so. Since a new diver is likely not getting CCRs or scooters, he could get a full set of top of the line gear and not spend that much.

True True.
ScubaPro low end 1st,2nd,octo and SPG can be yours brand new for about $500.

A far cry from what was posted here earlier.
For what a dry suit costs, I can take several trips to Fla and dive a shorty.

 

[vtxkev]

medium quality gear costs 10 grand? I don't think so. Since a new diver is likely not getting CCRs or scooters, he could get a full set of top of the line gear and not spend that much.

I dont think he ment it that way. I believe what he was trying to say was WHEN medium quality gear costs $10,000. I guess he is assuming cost will spin out of control in the future.

 

[Blackwood]

I dont think he ment it that way. I believe what he was trying to say was WHEN medium quality gear costs $10,000. I guess he is assuming cost will spin out of control in the future.

Whoops. I think you're right.

 

[SkipperJohn]

With the current price of gasoline I will be taking the boat out diving much more than I did last year and it will be cheaper to run my gas powered compressor.

last year at close to $6 per gallon for Diesel and 340 gallon tanks, I used my boat very little. Around half the weekends and shorter trips.
I am hoping the prices stay at current levels, that OPEC realizes they were putting themselves out of business, so I can use it more freely.