What Cost To Get Started Scuba Diving?

Mark#1

Hi,

I bought a mask, snorkel & fins after passing my PADI OWD course, and have used rental gear for everything else for subsequent dives.

I'm sure I'm not alone in making up my dream list of what gear I'd like to own if I could afford it - I'm not talking top-of-the-range, money-no-object, best-of-the-best - just decent, well-respected, mid-range gear.

So what's the minimum a prospective Irish diver needs to spend to set himself up as independent and self-sufficient, ie - not needing to hire/borrow any gear? €500? €1000? €2000?

What gear would you not buy second hand?

What gear would you not buy on-line?

What Irish bricks-and-mortar shops would you not buy from?


Thanks for any replies,

Mark

twowheelsonly

First bit of advice.... Join a club. Guaranteed diving throughout most of the year, various trips to places that you'll never get to with PADI organised dives, loads of free advice from members, the possibility of a loan of gear to try out from other members and all the contacts that you need.

€1500 - €2000 should set you up quite nicely with a decent set of gear. It's the type of hobby though that you could spend your life upgrading stuff. I'd stick with the brands recognised and sold in this country - the likes of Scubapro, Poseidon, Apeks etc and not any foreign gear that you or any of your buddies have never heard of.

I've never bought anything online (for diving) but I do know plenty of people that have with no real problems. All my gear I bought here. A little more expensive but that's just the way I am!!!

I've never had any problems with any of the 'Bricks and Mortar' shops that I've used either and indeed have found them to be more than helpful and obliging practically all of the time. I've only dealt with established shops though or through people I know and never through any 'Back of the Van but it's fully guaranteed' or 'Fly by Night' merchants.

The one thing that I always recommend for people to buy new is a regulator. Again, that's just my thing. IMO, it's my lifeline and I want to know it's full history from start to finish.

Anything that you do look at secondhand, either only buy it if it's recently tested and certified or else subject to being tested. No point in paying €150 for a second hand cylinder only for it to fail the test next week at a cost of €70/80...

Wetsuits are like shoes in that they pretty much adapt your shape after a while. My Large suit could be large in all the wrong places for you..

BCs' can be mostly physically examined and tested for leaks by yourself but be wary of any with a small cylinder attached as these are notorious for failing tests so need to be tested as well. Inflator mechanisms are relatively simple devices but also need to be checked.

Drysuits should be tried on as well to ensure that they fit - that tight boot, slightly tight groin or baggy chest will crucify you in the water...
The few online disasters that I've heard of have all been related to that Drysuit 'Barely used, in perfect condition'...

For all that , I still go back to point one - Join a Club!! Even if it's not to your liking try it for a while, you'll gain invaluable experience and contacts and training tends to be ongoing rather than paying for every single facet of your training. You can't buy experience but you can benefit from it for free!!

Enjoy....

loctite

Estimated Prices of Gear

Complete set of regs...... 250-270 ish (based on Apex ATX40's)
Gauge 50-95 (based on single or double consoles)
Tank 230 ish (based on 232 12ltr w/ Valve)
Computer 190 ish (based on Oceanic Veo 1.0)
Suit 235 (Oceanic 2 piece)
BCD 285 (Oceanic BCD Cruz red)

These are all prices that I've sourced from local dive shop.

Loctite

joeKel73

Keep an eye on divegear.ie if you want to pick up any cheap second hand gear.

But as said above, essential gear that requires tests and service (reg, bcd, tank), make sure it's in test or factor in that cost. If the seller is confident it would pass, ask them to send it off for testing and you'll pay the cost, if it passes.

And yeah, join a club!
http://cft.ie/clubs.htm

beachrunner

Diving here or overseas?

If here...I would follow the advice above, but if you are going to some of the tropical dive spots - kit gets heavy fast and airline allowances are minimal