Questions for the Typical Diver, Any Answers Help!!!

[Mergo]

Hi, so for my current English class, I have to do a Qualitative Research Paper and I chose to do mine on the typical casual scuba diver. I currently only have a few questions, but if anyone is willing to answer them for me, that be great. I want to dive when I'm out of school and when I can move back to Florida, and this may also help me determine the route I end up taking. Just a quick reply or a private message would be great with one answer or an answer to all. I don't know how many divers on this site dive regularly like on weekends and what not, but any here, I'd greatly appreciate responses. Also, if you know of a better forum site for scuba diving I can ask these questions, let me know!

First off, how expensive is diving equipment? Between goggles, air tanks, and everything else, how much does it cost to even get started?

Also, how much do you spend monthly to dive? Replacement equipment, groups/outings, etc. What kind of income is needed to finance diving regularly?

Are there places in the US where you can go diving on your own or do you have to pay to ride along with a group? I know you have to be certified to dive, but to dive alone do you need any extra certification?

When I get more questions I'll add em, thanks anyone that takes time to help!

 

[455cutlassdave]

I am currently certified up to Rescue Diver and will be a Dive Master soon here in Panama City, FL. The price of the equipment is kinda hard to answer, If you are buying top end stuff all brand new then its kinda pricy. On the other hand you can find great deals on Craigslist or other local sales forums. This is expecially true in the winter. Also keep in mind that you can rent gear until you can aquire your own.

As for how much it cost to get into the water, it depends. I frequently dive our local Jetties and only have to pay the small fee to get into our State Park. It is a very popular diving place and is often used to train new divers. If you are going on a boat you have a couple of options. Most dive shops put together dive trips on their boats, the shop I use has two dive trips starting at 80 dollars. Alot of times I will split gas with friends and other divers who have boats and are looking for passangers to help make their trip more affordable. Splitting gas 4 ways is usually costs me 40 or so dollars and gets me 2 or 3 dives.

There are lots of places where you can dive on your own but common practice is to have a dive buddy. Although it's not my cup of tea, alot of people dive fresh water lakes, springs, and quarries. As for salt water there are lots of places to make a shore dive from like Jetties, patch reefs (like the Keys), near shore wrecks, and bridges ect.

If you have any questions or need some more detailed help I would be glad to offer my support.

David

 

[r-balljunkie]

I'll help you out.

You might want to try scubaboard.com

I dive every weekend. By locale, its very easy for me to just grab a tank, ride down to the beach and jump in the water. This isn't the case for most.

It's a wonderful hobby and do recommend you try diving if you get the chance.

First off, how expensive is diving equipment? Between goggles, air tanks, and everything else, how much does it cost to even get started?

you can count on spending around 800-1600 for new entry level equipment. im ok with used too, as long as it checks out for about 500 on the low end.


This includes the basics: BCD, regulators, mask, fins, snorkel and a dive computer.


Technically, you don't need a dive computer"¦..only an air pressure gage but 99% of people will use a computer in this day and age for safety reasons.


we do warm water diving out here, so we generally don't wear a wetsuit. This might be a factored cost if you live somewhere and the water isn't a constant 83 degrees.

a run down of my personal gear.
Since I use my equipment every week, I'm ok with spending a bit more $$ than someone who is "entry level"

BCD: scubapro go $475
Regulator: Atomic M1 $750
Computer: Galileo Luna, with x-mitter $700
Mask: Scubapro frameless $80
Fins: Atomic $80
Snorkel: meh dont use one....

Also, how much do you spend monthly to dive?

depends. sometimes we take a boat dive, hit some wrecks or ocean side. this can run $25 a person. do this 3 times a month, thats $75.


A walk in dive is free where I live...but we usually take our underwater scooters...another $750 initial purchase

Average, hundred bucks a month???

Replacement equipment, groups/outings, etc. What kind of income is needed to finance diving regularly?

generally speaking, you dont repair equipment due to wear and year. You will have to service your regulators once every year or so (assume $100). If you are unlucky, you might flood something, like your computer, but this is unlikely.

Group outings?? Packaged live aboard trip to the Maldives, or meet with your buddies at a local jetty. this is a subjective question. that could range from tens of thousands to two twelve packs for after dive drinks on the tailgate of a pick up truck


Finances...its a leisure sport. Its not just extra money, its extra time. Not a lot of good diving in Iowa. The best diving generally involves getting on a plane and going to far flung places around the globe. This isn't cheap if you're looking for the "ultimate experience". if you lived near the coast and enjoyed diving for the sake of diving, you could do walkins for little to nothing.

Are there places in the US where you can go diving on your own or do you have to pay to ride along with a group?

I have never been diving in the states, but I would think you would need to charter a boat to get to the good spots if you wanted to see reefs.

I know you have to be certified to dive, but to dive alone do you need any extra certification?

Yes. There's recreational diving, with different levels of training. I might be missing a few steps, but generally speaking its: open water (beginner), advanced open water, rescue diver, master diver and then dive master. After this, you can look at instructor.

In between all of this is a Nitrox certification, which will allow you to dive with enriched air, more than 21% oxygen blends.

For solo diving, you can take a PADI course called "œself reliant diver" course but you'll be hard pressed to find an charter outfit that will let you get in the water without a dive master present.

The only exception is, once you have surpassed all of the above and start technical diving. You'll get into trimix gasses, rebreather technology and deep diving. Along with this is solo diving.

Generally speaking, diving is about the "œbuddy" system on the recreational level. You dive with a partner to reduce the chances of getting in to a "œpinch" underwater.

If you follow your training and remain calm, you should never ever get in a situation that is not manageable with or without a buddy.

Hope this answers your questions, good luck!

C
.

 

[Mergo]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

 

[zach jay]

First off, how expensive is diving equipment? Between goggles, air tanks, and everything else, how much does it cost to even get started?

Like the other person stated, depends. From what I remember, spent around
$60 for mask,
$30 for snorkel (though I hardly use it diving, more for snorkeling and to get certified),
boots were $30, and
$180 for fins (splurged, they're lifetime guaranteed though)
Also, I think it was $950 for my Aqualung BCD with regulator and computer. I added a compass for $80.

Also, how much do you spend monthly to dive? Replacement equipment, groups/outings, etc. What kind of income is needed to finance diving regularly?

Honestly, I can only get out maybe 3x a year, so my vacations are planned around it. Usually it's $100 for a 2 tank boat dive.

I haven't needed to replace anything yet and I don't really plan to. I do have a shop check out my reg yearly which runs around $120

Income-wise, I'm a student so I don't make anything now, but when I started I was working menial jobs, never making more than $14/hr hah

Are there places in the US where you can go diving on your own or do you have to pay to ride along with a group? I know you have to be certified to dive, but to dive alone do you need any extra certification?

I was certified in Gloucester, Ma- cold, but great dives. Definitely cost some money, but my cert was included. You can dive in the US and don't need to be apart of a group, but I'm pretty sure you need a "buddy," or someone to go with you for safety reasons. I'm planning on going out in Long Island Sound this summer

When I get more questions I'll add em, thanks anyone that takes time to help!

hope this helps