Price of fuel

**MgicTwnger** · 07-06-2008, 10:31 PM

Has the obscene price of fuel affected when and where you dive? I've had to cut back: the nearest dive spot, a quarry, is 2 1/2 hours away, and most of the others (including my favorite, lake Michigan) are 4+.
Everything else seems to be going up, too: charter boats and airline fees directly from the price of fuel, the rest from the cost of doing business. And this is not an inexpensive hobby to begin with!

**dalehall** · 07-07-2008, 01:00 PM

Not really. Being 4-5 hours away from the nearest dive spot, I can only do a limited number of trips a year anyway. But, of the charters I have scheduled, I'm being hit with that dang fuel surcharge now. That sux.

**Scuba Mama** · 07-07-2008, 05:57 PM

I really hate computers some times. Here is my second write up. The cost of fuel and getting to the dive sites the shop I work for ask me to just do pool and class. They feel I can make better money doing that. There right but now I don't get certification numbers and that will kill my moving forward in PADI. Not sure what I want to do. The quarry they use is 2 hours away. If they used Haigh it would only be an hour away.

I want to travel this winter but can't afford all the addtional cost to fly.

Scuba Mama

Vegas · 07-07-2008, 06:41 PM

yup... it's a "double-whammy" for divers out here....the price of gas, and the drought.....Lake Mead is down 123' from 'full' according to the park service.

Our "scuba park" is gone. (it used to go down 100+ feet - now you can have a picnic there if you like rocks and dry hard mud.)

The 2nd choice was Saddle Cove - once Scuba park dried up all the local classes and boat-less divers showed up there...it has now been shut down for a SNWA (Southern Nevada Water Authority) construction project.

...and that only leaves Boulder Beach for shore diving -- you can swim out about 150 yards or more from shore, (watch that boat traffic!), and if you're really lucky you'll get down to 28 or 29'.

So if you don't have a boat, -- or a good friend with a boat --
it's off to Lake Mohave!
....nice diving even with the air temps averaging around 117 at the lake (yes for each "chilly" day of only 112 degrees, we have a scorcher hitting 122+!) - but the water is chilly (7 mil suit suggested) and quite clear - very nice diving - several coves out of the boat traffic lanes, pretty underwater 'landscapes', generally calm conditions and great vis for a local lake.

But with the heat, the 1 and a half to two hour drive can really be
rough on alot of cars.
Without A/C? you'll cry - don't even try it.
And with A/C? - watch that thermostat....every day there's someone
stranded along that lonely highway between Vegas and Searchlight,
NOT where you want to be.

We've backed out of one trip to California - the gas it takes to get there makes it not just a matter of drive-time anymore...but $ is really an issue. ... and most of the Charters have added a fuel charge for anything beyond Catalina.

I'm sorry it's hitting you so hard Scuba-Mama....I'll hold a good thought
for you!

and ....well....in effort towards staying positive - at least we aren't all hooked
on race-car driving as a hobby, right?