Posted: 11/2/2010 10:35:49 AM EDT
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Hi all, as of late, I have been interested in SCUBA. A buddy of mine found a class through his school and learned Open water NAIU... whatever that means.
Is anyone here an 'expert' in scuba or anything like that? I'd really like some good sources on it and figures on how much it could potentially cost me to start a new hobby if I like it. |
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Basically, How much will it cost me to get started on gear. What brands to use. what brands to avoid. What all I can do eventually.
I think it would be neat to dive down fairly deep in an ocean at least once, but for the most part, I'd probably not go too low. And another... any specific places I should look to to learn? I CAN do it at school, but I'd kind of rather not. I'm not sure why, I guess I don't like how things work at the school. Is this the right place to take a course at? |
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Quoted:
Basically, How much will it cost me to get started on gear. What brands to use. what brands to avoid. What all I can do eventually. I think it would be neat to dive down fairly deep in an ocean at least once, but for the most part, I'd probably not go too low. And another... any specific places I should look to to learn? I CAN do it at school, but I'd kind of rather not. I'm not sure why, I guess I don't like how things work at the school. Is this the right place to take a course at? Like everything else, it's as expensive or cheap as you want to make it. However you're literally talking about life-support gear, so you don't go cheap and you don't go used. It depends on where you are, but I've rented gear for the weekend (everything other than fins, mask, and snorkel) for about $100. Tank refills are cheap and most dive sites have compressors on site. Do it, it's tons of fun! Find a local dive shop and ask them about classes. I went with PADI and it was easy - classroom stuff from a workbook and videos, then diving in a local pool, then two open water dives and you're certified. |
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So most likely I should own for myself the things to free dive as a start? Fins, mask, snorkel, wet suit, boots, weight belt, hood? What brands should I look for? Fins, mask, and snorkel are all you need to buy. Any local dive shop can help you with that. The rest you can rent until you figure out if you want to drop many thousands of dollars into the hobby. |
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Different shops and instructors have different policies. I teach independent of a shop and I don't want my students to buy any equipment until they have been through the equipment section of the class. So I provide all the equipment during the training. I do this because I have had students in the past buy their equipment before class and it doesn't fit right or meet their needs and we end up wasting a lot of time trying to make improper fitting equipment work.
Instruction from a dive shop will normally require the student to purchase equipment for class. The norm is boots, fins, mask, and snorkel. I have taught independently, through a shop, and at a university with 16 week full semester classes for credit. Your best bet would be to visit local shops and instructors and see what you get for your time and money. The least expensive or quickest is not always the best. You will be operating in a foreign environment and using life support equipment. |
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NAUI & PADI are Scuba Organizations... there are many.
take it at your school, it will keep it easier on your schedule. Probably cheaper too. no need to buy anything up front. if done at school, they usually have everything available for use. i'd make sure you like it before buying anything. once you figure out that you like it, only buy mask, fins & snorkel. the rest can be rented as you go. this keeps it easier for trips, less to travel with. if you really get into it, then you will have a better idea of what gear you like & need. |
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Quoted:
Hi all, as of late, I have been interested in SCUBA. A buddy of mine found a class through his school and learned Open water NAIU... whatever that means. Is anyone here an 'expert' in scuba or anything like that? I'd really like some good sources on it and figures on how much it could potentially cost me to start a new hobby if I like it. I've been PADI certified since 1976 and still dive. I'm still using the same tanks and regulator, I bought in 1978. Definitely have gotten my $$$ worth. Do you swim semi-decently? Do you live in a part of the country where you can dive readily? Or would you have to travel a lot to get to decent spots? I lived in Calif., the ocean was a 3 hour drive minimum, not to bad. Dived a lot between Monterrey and Santa Barbara. We also dove a lot of the lakes close to home (Fresno). Once a year, usually, we went to Baja Calif for some warm water. When I got older and had more money I was able to go to the Caribbean, some great diving there. If you don't live near bodies of water then your diving will be less often and more expensive. |
Well, going into the military... Not sure where I will end up living, but right now i live in Ohio
I'm a great swimmer, i swim underwater for the most part, so I figured I may as well try diving, freediving, or snorkeling. Never tried swimming underwater with snorkel/mask and fins, I'm sure that alone will make a huge difference. I'll talk to the school about it. Hopefully I can take the class if they have enough people going for it or places available, I haven't heard of it until recently. EDIT: Spoke with school and the instructor at the nearby shop. The school asks that you buy fins, snorkel, mask, weight belt, and suit. The shop asks that you buy snorkel, mask, and fins... The school also charges you the same fees as the instructor on top of tuition :( Looks like the shop might be better for me. I know ALL SCHOOLS aren't this bad, but mine is apparently. I should have went to UC, a way, way better school overall 
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You are looking at about $600 to get a basic certification, more or less, depending on where you do it. The basic Open Water Certification will run you about $300, and you will spend another $300 roughly on a mask, fins, snorkel, boots, and gloves. Some instructors might not require the boots and gloves, mine did. If you get instruction done with a dive shop, you will either be able to rent, or in my case, the shop will provide your wetsuit, BC, regulators, gauge, and weights, while you are taking the classes.
Once certified, you will have your basic gear, so to go diving, you can either rent the rest of your gear, or go out on the limb and buy your own. I suggest renting for a couple of dives to make sure that this is something that you will want to do. Gear isn't cheap, and some items like regulators require yearly servicing to maintain the lifetime warranty. These run about $50 a year, and you will do it whether you are diving or not. I went two years between dives but still kept my warranty up. When I bought the rest of my gear, I spent $2000. It isn't hard to do, especially if you buy a dive computer. Oh, and when you go diving, you will find out just how out of shape you are. |
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You will not regret it.
I was certified in 1986(PADI). I was hooked right away. I purchased mostly Scubapro equipment. It was a lot of money, $2500.00ish. At the time, I had a shit paying job while going to school. So, that was not chump change to me. But, I never regretted it one bit. My last dive trip was to Hawaii. To say it was my best dive trip ever is an understatement. We did a few night dives with Manta Rays, A W E S O M E ! We saw humpback whales, dolphins, sharks, moray eels. Can't wait to return. Good luck to you |
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Been an instructor for twenty years now all the major organizations are fine its the teacher that counts, do they blast you thru or do they make sure you have the skills to be a safe diver?
I've seen good and bad as i'm sure many here have and for gods sake do t take one of those silly experience dives in the carriben, you don't have. Any idea how many people I know have been taken to 100ft or thru a wreck on there first try. No liability outside the good old USA. It's a fun sport you can spend as little or as much as you want but remember it is life support equipment so let that be your guide. I completely agree with waiting till your course is over and rent some stuff to get a feel for what you like. I would buy a regulator first as you never know what condition rental stuff is in and trust me its not washed all that well so you will be sharing your mouth piece with the last person that coughed up snot in it-  if it's a YMCA pool you will see lots of fun stuff on the bottom, snot jelly fish floating by your face ,toenails,hairballs , keep that regular firmly in your mouth and have fun.
In all seriousness it the greatest sport going if you like the water. Just imagine a place were stupid people can't talk |
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Kg3 offers some real good advice. What branch of the service are you looking at? Did you know that all the services have divers? I got trained by the US Army down in Key West in 85 and have dove around the world, course it was work and not always fun. As stated you should just start with some good basic swim gear ie mask, fins, booties and snorkel. Next would be a regulator and wetsuit/drysuit for Ohio. The services will ship your tanks for you if you have them but they have to be drained of air and pruged before shipping. Good luck and have fun.
CD Drager Lar V rebreather 
following a compass at 20' in 3000' 
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I got certified in high school like 6 years ago. I did it 3-4 times a year down in the Fl keys while living with my dad but after moving out, lost the funds to go.
Like any hobby you can find the cheap route and with a little resourcefulness and determination have just as good of a time as someone who buys all the gadgets and doo-hickeys. I will say, snorkeling in Puerto Rico has been a better time than any scuba trip I've taken. Over all though, scuba is an amazing experience and can become quite addicting. |