The initial costs of diving

[drrich2]

It sounds like the cert class and personal gear are just the beginning of the OP’s issues. If he can’t swing that, he’s not going to be able to swing travel

In this day and age, when many of us are reeling from inflation, the U.S. has a publicized retirement crisis where many people have inadequate savings and college costs are way up and student loan debt a big concern for many, a guy with 3 kids all looking at maybe getting certified has really got to weigh the pro.s and con.s.

If I had known starting out what I was going to pay for this hobby...I dunno!

I'm a pretty cynical person, in that I believe the heart of cynicism is that the messages we get from other people are often in service to outside agendas that aren't fully disclosed. I'm prone to suspect ulterior motives, in other words.

But someone else gave a different definition of a cynic years ago; per a little quick Googling, it's Oscar Wilde credited with the quote “The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing” (or some close variation; one source said 'fool' instead of cynic).

Diving gives me something to look forward to, a way to engage and explore the natural world in a richly rewarding way, diverse travel experiences, something to research and learn about, and a sense of personal enrichment.

I don't know if @Jeff Dykes and his family are ready for the jump into diving or not. It does have big costs; it can have big rewards, too.

P.S.: Years ago, I noticed some PADI courses could be used for 'P.E.' credit of some sort at some colleges. Back when I went to college I didn't have to have such, but things might be different now. There's a page on the subject.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

From what I see on CL in the Chicago area for scuba gear - crappy looking fins/masks, SP BCDs from the 80s or 90s, and ancient looking Dacor stickered AL80s - good quality and garage sale don’t belong in the same sentence here.

Well, I don’t know what to tell ya, but we have some pro grade stuff come up for sale here all the time. Nothing wrong with old scubapro and Aqualung (hack-a-lung).

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Once again, a policy like this was recommended by the owner of the dive agency my old shop switched to before I left.

Does he have any feet left or a nose?

 

[boulderjohn]

P.S.: Years ago, I noticed some PADI courses could be used for 'P.E.' credit of some sort at some colleges. Back when I went to college I didn't have to have such, but things might be different now. There's a page on the subject.

That has been true at least from the 1960s.

It is explained in this History of NAUI. When NAUI was first formed in 1960, its leadership had come from the taxpayer-supported Los Angeles program, and they tried to run it the same way (nonprofit) without the benefit of taxpayer support. That made them dependent upon donationis as well as student fees, and it was not working well. When a university professor (Glen Engstrom) was its leader, they focused on university classes as the way to get both students and income. That way the scuba fees would be paid from tuition money that would have been paid in any event, so it was essentially free to the student, and the amount they would get for each student was more than the cost of a typical class outside of school.

As that history says, it was ultimately not a good plan because it limited them to a small portion of the potential student base.

 

[mcohen1021]

P.S.: Years ago, I noticed some PADI courses could be used for 'P.E.' credit of some sort at some colleges. Back when I went to college I didn't have to have such, but things might be different now. There's a page on the subject.

I did all of my courses minus Nitrox at Jr College in the 90s. Cheap and long class to better learn skills. I wouldnt have changed a thing.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

When I first started I bought my gear in increments.
I started as a freediver/skindiver.
I was always a fishermen and sportsman so my motivation was to abalone dive and spearfish.
I skindived and hunted/harvested for a few years before even considering getting scuba certified.
I pieced together my wetsuit, hood, gloves, booties, weightbelt, fins, float tube, Hawaiian sling, ab iron and gauge, etc. and this got me in the water having the time of my life.
After going into the dive shop repeatedly to gather something else I needed, I was finally convinced to sign up for OW. Seeing the gear prices was kind if a shock but after a while the sticker shock kind if wears off, so by the time I bought stuff it wasn’t a big trauma.
My OW was $350 which included the gear rental and the pic card.
I didn’t actually buy my own BC and regs until I did my AOW. Computers where kind of a luxury item then so I used tables for several years before buying one.
So for me there was no big initial investment, it was small purchases that after a few years added up to everything I needed.
Where most people who certify now, they go straight to scuba diving and I hear more and more about how shops are pushing for them to be fully outfitted before they are done with their first OW class. There is no culture of freediving first. For me and the location where I live there is, or at least was a big culture of freediving mostly because of abalone.
If I had to lay out that type of money right out of the gate to start directly with scuba with all my own gear there would probably be no way I could have done it. I always thought people who got straight into scuba without any skindiving knowledge or practice were at a disadvantage.

If I was to have to replace all my gear right now it would be completely different from how I did it then. But hind sight is 20/20.

 

[Marie13]

In this day and age, when many of us are reeling from inflation, the U.S. has a publicized retirement crisis where many people have inadequate savings and college costs are way up and student loan debt a big concern for many, a guy with 3 kids all looking at maybe getting certified has really got to weigh the pro.s and con.s.

If I had known starting out what I was going to pay for this hobby...I dunno!

I'm a pretty cynical person, in that I believe the heart of cynicism is that the messages we get from other people are often in service to outside agendas that aren't fully disclosed. I'm prone to suspect ulterior motives, in other words.

But someone else gave a different definition of a cynic years ago; per a little quick Googling, it's Oscar Wilde credited with the quote “The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing” (or some close variation; one source said 'fool' instead of cynic).

Diving gives me something to look forward to, a way to engage and explore the natural world in a richly rewarding way, diverse travel experiences, something to research and learn about, and a sense of personal enrichment.

I don't know if @Jeff Dykes and his family are ready for the jump into diving or not. It does have big costs; it can have big rewards, too.

P.S.: Years ago, I noticed some PADI courses could be used for 'P.E.' credit of some sort at some colleges. Back when I went to college I didn't have to have such, but things might be different now. There's a page on the subject.

My comment was in response to your post about expensive travel to places in the Caribbean. Here a guy is drastically underestimating startup costs and seems to be struggling with that and you’re going on about diving trips!

 

[ScubaBunga]

In this day and age, when many of us are reeling from inflation, the U.S. has a publicized retirement crisis where many people have inadequate savings and college costs are way up and student loan debt a big concern for many, a guy with 3 kids all looking at maybe getting certified has really got to weigh the pro.s and con.s.

If I had known starting out what I was going to pay for this hobby...I dunno!

I'm a pretty cynical person, in that I believe the heart of cynicism is that the messages we get from other people are often in service to outside agendas that aren't fully disclosed. I'm prone to suspect ulterior motives, in other words.

But someone else gave a different definition of a cynic years ago; per a little quick Googling, it's Oscar Wilde credited with the quote “The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing” (or some close variation; one source said 'fool' instead of cynic).

Diving gives me something to look forward to, a way to engage and explore the natural world in a richly rewarding way, diverse travel experiences, something to research and learn about, and a sense of personal enrichment.

I don't know if @Jeff Dykes and his family are ready for the jump into diving or not. It does have big costs; it can have big rewards, too.

P.S.: Years ago, I noticed some PADI courses could be used for 'P.E.' credit of some sort at some colleges. Back when I went to college I didn't have to have such, but things might be different now. There's a page on the subject.

Fully agree here, I got into diving because I loved the underwater world (Lots of Cousteau shows). I knew before I got certified it was what I wanted to do (and still do 25+ years later - trying to find a way to afford a live aboard to travel and dive in retirement - donations welcome). My two boys got certified at 10 and are now both master diver level (and good divers - my opinion and their instructors- yep proud of them). I'm also what would be considered CHEAP. I have the same gear (basically) that I bought 25 years ago and have shopped ebay to get the same gear for my boys. All is self serviced, consistent and swappable (I have extras now too). Trips however are few as I can't get around those ongoing costs. It's not a cheap hobby if you do it - but well worth it for those like me that love it. (as are many other hobbies)

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

So in other words, if you show up to class with your own mask fins snorkel that are all pro grade they won’t let you take the class because you didn’t buy it from them? That’s insane!
I thought Washington was the land of freedom and hippies, acceptance, and they are all easy going and far out man. They all moved there from CA.
What’s with these tyrants?

Tell me you've never been to eastern Washington without telling me you've never been to eastern Washington. Or any area outside the Seattle metro area.

 

[Belzelbub]

0. Swimming and drown-proofing lessons from a very early age

Yep. That was done. Both kids were getting lessons before they could walk. Survival first, then more structured.

1. Skin-diving (snorkeling) skills

Yep. Check there as well. Snorkeling to the bottom of the pool, scalloping, etc.

2. Al 50/63 (or LP 45/50) with plastic backpack with nylon harness; never leave a tank standing unattended
3. Regulator recovery (simple regulator) and buddy breathing
4. Scuba ditch and don
5. Never hold your breath (always continue breathing normally)
6. Always ascend very slowly, exhaling, and switch to snorkel upon reaching the surface
7. Absolutely never mess with scuba gear, whether in or out of the pool, without me (Dad) or Mom with you!

They were familiar with my gear, but understood it was for later.

I, too, am not a scuba instructor. Yet, I was extremely comfortable introducing my then-young daughters to scuba in a backyard pool.

I probably could have safely done it. However, remembering back from 0 above, this was one thing that the instructors warned us about. During and before classes, pool time with parents could cause issues. Plus, it had been nearly 20 years since I had taken a Scuba course, I didn't have a good feel for what may have changed.

I probably could have done the same, I just elected not to. Didn't detract from their enjoyment of the water in any way.

Allowed me to gauge whether they had a real interest. Years later (last Spring term), my eldest, a college junior now, decided she wanted to get certified. Her twin sisters, two years her junior, are expressing interest now.

With my oldest, it was very clear at a very young age. She was asking about it starting around 5 years old, and looking forward to it when she was old enough. The youngest was a little less enthusiastic, but mainly due to a bit of nervousness on the first dive at a particular location. She's gotten over that, since then.