We have always been fortunate in that access to diving equipment was right at our fingertips, which has kept scuba diving less expensive. But now, as we start to scuba dive all around the world, it is time for us to purchase our own equipment! This is a very exciting part of this journey, but just like you, we have been wondering how expensive this lifestyle is going to be.
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What makes Scuba Diving Expensive?
There are two aspects that we need to consider when we start looking at whether or not scuba diving is expensive. Locations and gear. Let’s chat about locations and travel first.
Locations
There are a lot of variables when we start talking about all the places one can scuba dive. First, you need to consider what type of experience you are looking for. Are you happy to book yourself a trip to Jasper National Park in Canada, and dive some of the mountain fed lakes there? Do you have the desire to head of to Vancouver Island, hit up the beautiful town of Tofino and dive the Pacific Ocean? Or are you keen on heading to Thailand and dive around the Gulf? Maybe all you have ever dreamed of was to get underwater and see the glory of the Great Barrier Reef in person!
No matter what you choose, it is likely to be worth the time and the money to do it. Of course, some trips will cost more than others. It depends where in the world you live, your proximity to the sites you want to see, and what expensive really means to you!
For us, living in western Canada, we have access to lots of lake diving and are very close to the Pacific Coast of Canada. This is area that our family has dived extensively and knows it well. Because I am only just getting certified, this will be a great opportunity for the family to get back down there and see it through my eyes as a newbie!
But we have dreams, and our next trip might just take us somewhere outside of North America! So yes, the cost will be higher.
You see where I’m going with this? The variables on location are too many. It can be as expensive or as affordable as you want.
Travel – It Doesn’t Need to be Expensive
As we have been looking at booking a scuba getaway for this year, the options for travel are endless and overwhelming. Let’s talk about two possibilities.
There are many great dive spots that have all-inclusive resort stay as an option. This will be on the more expensive side of what we mention here. But this type of travel offers the benefit of having all your food prepared, rooms cleaned, etc. In other words, no extra efforts required. All you need to focus on is your diving experiences, eating well and getting lots of sleep. I really like staying in all-inclusive resorts; though we are choosy about which ones we stay in. Our experiences thus far have been good; the staff have been wonderful and the food very good.
With that said, we are definitely the kind of people who like to optimize our spending. And as we are aiming to take multiple trips in the near future, being smart where our money goes is important. This means that likely we will be staying in an Airbnb or something like that. The accommodation cost is far less, which makes the trip more affordable. Hitting up a local grocery store and preparing food ahead of time for breakfasts and lunches is another great tool. But we are also on vacation, so doing all of this allows us to be able to afford dinners out, and to enjoy the local delights.
Group Trips
As I have been researching scuba diving travel, I have noticed a very common theme. There are often groups of divers taking scuba specific group trips. I’ve seen several through our local dive shops, and fully intend to go on some of these. It is a fantastic way to connect with people in the dive community and make some friends who love the sport as much as you are sure to!
Plus, the people who are putting these group trips together are often experienced global divers and are planning trips to see sights and experience ocean life that we, as newbies, would never think of!
The bonus of these group trips is cost. Often with group travel, there are volume discounts offered. This might help to offset the expensive nature of heading off to gorgeous destinations to vacation and dive.
Gear – Not Always Expensive Either!
When we start talking about gear, it too has variables. The range of pricing goes all the way from rentals to ownership of extremely tech savvy delights! As mentioned in our article “Is SCUBA Diving Dangerous?“, we mention that our equipment helps keep us safe while we are under the water. So its important to have good quality gear. This does not mean you need to break the bank to get it though.
The most affordable way to have gear when you are new to the sport, is to rent it. Your local dive shop may offer rentals, and it is worth talking to them about short term rentals vs long term rentals. In fact, thinking outside the box, it would be worth discovering if there is a dive shop that might even do a rent to own situation. At some point you will do enough diving that paying a rental fee for each and every dive becomes more expensive than investing in your own gear.
So let’s discuss what gear you are going to need as a new diver.
Getting Started as a New Diver
When you go to take your open water or beginner certification, it is often required that you bring your own mask, fins, and snorkel. In my research I have discovered that there are different qualities of masks and fins, so check with your instructor to ensure what you have is sufficient for scuba diving. You can get a good beginner set from Aqua Lung for less than $100 here! Or, if you prefer to shop local, many dive shops will bundle these items to provide you a discount. It never hurts to ask!
The dive shop you do your certification through may or may not include the cost of your BCD, regulator, computer, oxygen tank (cylinder) with the fees. It is a good question to ask ahead of time, so do your homework. This isn’t an inexpensive sport to get started in, so saving where you can is important.
Another item you may need is a wet suit. The thickness of the suit will depend on the environment you are diving in, ranging from 3mm to as thick as 7mm. Sometimes you can rent these. For me personally I am going to invest and purchase one. I know I am going to do a lot of diving, and I feel it is worth having. Plus, I like the idea of having my own wetsuit for hygiene purposes. Any rental location should be cleaning them between renters, so this just comes down to personal preference. Eventually I will also be investing in my own regulators for the same reason.
So, Is SCUBA diving expensive?
The answer remains that no matter what sport you are getting into there will be monetary investment. I think the end result is that there are ways to scuba dive at a reasonable cost, between rentals, bundling costs on equipment and being smart about how you travel. Group trips are a great option as well.
In future articles we will be chatting about the specifics of scuba diving destinations. We will also be getting more specific about scuba equipment and the variety of brands, costs and needs vs wants.
