Expensive?!

Sam2000 · 07-18-2007, 11:38 AM

Hi all,

I've been snorkelling for ages now and I semi-surf as well. My snorkle cost me £20. I don't own a wetsuit or anything like that just dive in swimming shorts.

Which isn't a problem at all during the summer. I don't do a huge amount of snorkelling and there is a limit to what I can do so I'm aiming to step up to proper scuba diving, the closest local club is Cranleigh, which is easy to get to as my uncle is thinking of starting too (and he lives there).

Branch fee - (Cranleigh is currently £125)
BSAC - (currently £43)

I've not actually been to any sessions yet and I can use the clubs equipment for the time being. However I've been told that I will have to start building up my arsenel of equipment. I've looked at some of the prices of suits, wet suits are semi-affordable and dry suits (which I've been told by a friend of mine are more advisable for diving off the coast of Scotland in the winter) appear to start at £500!

Then there are regulators and everything else!

So after a few rough calculations it seems that getting everything is going to cost close to £1000.

Obviously I'm not going to start buying stuff until I am certain diving is something I want to persue. However, from a young age I have loved swimming (I'm captain of a succesful swimming club) and as I said in my introductory post I'm hoping to study oceanography and marine biology at university.

Any ideas as to how I am supposed to fund it?

Thanks in advance,

Sam

MgicTwnger · 07-18-2007, 01:46 PM

This sport is pretty expensive. Save your pennies.

Sam2000 · 07-18-2007, 03:10 PM

Lol I noticed!

I seem to have a taste for expensive sports! I horse ride also and my parents have a couple of horses and lets face it, they aren't cheap. Swimming isn't too bad though, archery is...

However, if I get into Southampton I'm saved. I get £50 a month for sports, that combined with joining the university divers (where I have to buy my own regulator and suit) I get the canisters etc. free!

MgicTwnger · 07-18-2007, 03:41 PM

Here's a couple of suggestions:

Package deals: you can often find packages from shops that will sell you a bunch of stuff for a lot less than buying them individually.

Used gear: Nothing wrong with that as long as you get regs and other vital equipment checked out by a tech before divging with it.

Sell the horses: diving generates a lot less poop.

John HP · 07-18-2007, 06:17 PM

Sam

I understand where you are coming from, as I too am just starting out. don't limit yourselve to looking at one club. I had a bit of a look around and looked the club you mention in cranleigh and a number of other schools. I've decided that I will do my PADI O/W with a school in Shoreham, as a bonus they have there own dive boot average cost £30 and will hire full kit inc tank £20.

Not necessarily the most econimical way but certainly saves forking out £1000's in one lump.

As has been said on numerous occasions I will look at buying a package deal.

Sam2000 · 07-19-2007, 05:42 PM

I'm afraid the horses don't technically belong to me, my mum and grandmother owns them and they are based on the land outside my grandparents house which they own...Besides, my dad likes them because they make great fertiliser for the garden.

Shoreham? Thats not far from me, I'll take a look at Shoreham.

I'll also have a look at some package deals. If I can get a lot of summer employment over the holidays I might stand a chance!