Getting started in scuba diving is similar to most other active sports. Once you’re past the initial outlay of money — a little or a lot, depending on your budget and desires — the equipment stays around for a long time.
“I’ve know people who have had their (scuba) equipment for 10 years and it’s still in great shape,” said Debbie Mallory at Adventure Sports on North Avenue. “Once you have your equipment, you don’t have to buy much of anything else.”
The biggest expense will be your wetsuit, said Cindy Stanfield, who six years ago combined her love of scuba diving with her travel agency, The Travel Connection, and formed Scubaventures, a dive shop she runs in connection with her travel company. She carries wetsuits starting around $90.
A top-of-the-line wetsuit and all the necessary equipment (including breathing apparatus and dive computers) could cost up to $2,000, depending on what model and level you want, Stanfield said. “But if you watch the sales, you can get everything you need for $1,200.”
The basic necessities, including fins, snorkel and mask, will cost about $100. You can rent the rest including dive computers, oxygen tanks and weight belt. Stanfield strongly recommends buying and not renting a wetsuit.
A breathing regulator, also considered personal equipmemt, costs about $150 and up.
Scuba lessons usually cover two days of classroom and pool lessons, which cost around $210, and then a day doing your open-water certification, which costs around $180. Think of it as costing about the same as a couple days with your favorite ski instructor.
Classes usually take two weekends, which means you can start this month and be certified in time for a Thanksgiving trip to the islands.
Most resorts offer open-water certification in case you miss the chance at home, but that means spending one day of your vacation watching the rest of your group play.
Speaking of groups, it’s recommended (and strongly so) that you never scuba alone.
Mallory said it’s not uncommon for a diver to be accompanied on a trip by a non-diver.
“There are so many things for a non-diver to do at these resorts,” said Mallory. “Snorkeling, sight-seeing, cooking classes, it’s almost endless.”
And don’t worry if you’re not a “group” person, Stanfield said.
“It’s more like we’re all individual travelers with our own private dive boat,” said Stanfield, who is heading to Cozumel in January for her birthday. “After we’re done diving, everybody is on their own to do whatever they want to do. That being said, because we are all such ‘fun junkies,’ most people end up meeting up at the beach, the bar, or the pool at some point in the day enjoying being on vacation with a group of new friends.”
Contacts: Scubaventures and The Travel Connection, 245-DIVE (3483); Adventure Sports, 245-3684.
Email DAVE BUCHANAN
