32 replies to this topic Post Order

[Little-Ben]

is there anybody on the hub who is a scuba diver, reason being is i am really interested but i wanted to know what equipment you need so i can work out how much it will cost, if its way to much then i might not bother,

 

also can u get second hand gear like the tanks etc.

 

thanks guys

[leet22]

Hi Little Ben

To start you need no equipment. A decent diving school will have everything that you need . Most divers buy their own mask,fins and snokel to start with though. Evrything else you can hire then start building up your kit.

You can by loads of 2nd hand  stuff just be carefull that it is in good condition as you life depends on it.

 

Cost varies from place to place. If u in JHB scuba scene in 4ways mall is doing a good special. . Loads of shops and scholls in jhb just have to check around for the best deal.

Enjoy it its is one of the best sports out there

[flex]

I'm a huge scuba diver, Little Ben. Okay, have to admit that my diving has taken a bit of a knock since having kids 2 years ago (78 dives logged in 2006, 14 logged in 2007, 2008 and 2009 together!!)



The amount you spend on equipment has a lot to with personal preference. At a minimum you'll require soft gear (wetsuit, fins, mask) since these need to fit you and can't be easily rented. I would recommend renting your hard gear (tanks, BCD, regulator, computer) before committing to the purchase, since this is the really expensive part of the exercise.



And yes - you can get second hand gear, most of the dive stores sell this.

[Little-Ben]

Quote

Hi Little Ben

To start you need no equipment. A decent diving school will have everything that you need . Most divers buy their own mask,fins and snokel to start with though. Evrything else you can hire then start building up your kit.

You can by loads of 2nd hand  stuff just be carefull that it is in good condition as you life depends on it.

 

Cost varies from place to place. If u in JHB scuba scene in 4ways mall is doing a good special. . Loads of shops and scholls in jhb just have to check around for the best deal.

Enjoy it its is one of the best sports out there

 

thanks bud, i saw some guys and a lady doing it it durban an i saw the enjoyment that they got out of it and it really took me in and i just thought i gotta do that,

 

where can you get second hand gear from though

[flex]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention (and to second leet's comment, diving is quite simply one of the most awesome activities out there. Be careful... you can get hooked easily

[Little-Ben]

Quote

I'm a huge scuba diver, Little Ben. Okay, have to admit that my diving has taken a bit of a knock since having kids 2 years ago (78 dives logged in 2006, 14 logged in 2007, 2008 and 2009 together!!)

The amount you spend on equipment has a lot to with personal preference. At a minimum you'll require soft gear (wetsuit, fins, mask) since these need to fit you and can't be easily rented. I would recommend renting your hard gear (tanks, BCD, regulator, computer) before committing to the purchase, since this is the really expensive part of the exercise.

And yes - you can get second hand gear, most of the dive stores sell this.

thats pretty much the plan but anything i gotta put in my mouth will have to be new because i couldnt put something that someone else has used in there mouth into mine,

 

gee thats a hell of alot of dives for one year haha,

[Little-Ben]

Quote

Oh yeah, forgot to mention (and to second leet's comment, diving is quite simply one of the most awesome activities out there. Be careful... you can get hooked easily

 

i can almost be certain il be hooked,

[niklasvm]

It depends where you going to dive. In Cape Town you need a good quality 5mm or 7mm or even dry suit to endure the cold at depth. When you starting out its cheaper to hire the hard gear (BC, regulator and cylinder). If you find that you get hooked to the sport its cheaper and more convenient to have your own gear. Try a few dives first and see what gear is out there. Also maybe join a dive club as they normally offer much cheaper rates for gear hire.



I bought my gear after about 8 months of diving as I found i was going out every weekend. Its been one of the best investments. I ordered mine from overseas. Depending on the exchange rates you can get some very good deals. There aren't enough divers in South Africa to demand lower prices so there are a few companies that hold monopoly power.

[Little-Ben]

Quote

It depends where you going to dive. In Cape Town you need a good quality 5mm or 7mm or even dry suit to endure the cold at depth. When you starting out its cheaper to hire the hard gear (BC, regulator and cylinder). If you find that you get hooked to the sport its cheaper and more convenient to have your own gear. Try a few dives first and see what gear is out there. Also maybe join a dive club as they normally offer much cheaper rates for gear hire.

I bought my gear after about 8 months of diving as I found i was going out every weekend. Its been one of the best investments. I ordered mine from overseas. Depending on the exchange rates you can get some very good deals. There aren't enough divers in South Africa to demand lower prices so there are a few companies that hold monopoly power.

 

hmm well for the time being i just want to learn so i have no idea where i would be diving but ide like to dive wherever is possible.

[niklasvm]

Where are you based? There's great diving all along our coastline. There's also a couple of inland sites but i don't think they can be compared with the sea.

[gummibear]

You think cycling is expensive wait till you see what diving costs.

 

You have to have the basics ie snorkel,wet suit,weight belt ,mask and fins.

 

Register for course(winter is best for discounts) and use there equipment to see if you enjoy it.you most likely will.

 

A full scuba rig can cost from R3500 up used and from R8000  new.Don't buy a used cylinder as there are a lot of problems with rust with steel tanks.

 

Hope you get sorted and enjoy.

[niklasvm]

Quote

You think cycling is expensive wait till you see what diving costs.

 

You have to have the basics ie snorkel,wet suit,weight belt ,mask and fins.

 

Register for course(winter is best for discounts) and use there equipment to see if you enjoy it.you most likely will.

 

A full scuba rig can cost from R3500 up used and from R8000  new.Don't buy a used cylinder as there are a lot of problems with rust with steel tanks.

 

Hope you get sorted and enjoy.

Although once you set up and have the full gear you pretty much sorted and it'll cost you a lot less than a full carbon bicycle.

[nickc]

And as a wet suite for your MTB - I just cannot find one to fit my Cannondale, maybe I must just keep looking

[Little-Ben]

Quote

Where are you based? There's great diving all along our coastline. There's also a couple of inland sites but i don't think they can be compared with the sea.

 

the reason i want to start is because i went snorkeling at ushaka, i know its quite different but i really enjoyed the experience and all i wanted to do was go deeper and swim with the poor no-teethed sharks at the bottom, at the same time there were some guys an a girl right at the bottom almost touching the shark as they past by, thats what i want to do.

 

gee im getting hyped up, time to put head in cold water and relax haha

[leet22]

Go for it It does get better than the snorkeling but thats a good idea of what is going to be like

[Little-Ben]

Thanks leet, had a good chat with Amateur and she is going to help me out with finding a good school, as for the money thing i think it will be cheaper than cycling since there is less stuff to break and seeing as though my life will kind of depend on the kit i will not attempt to fix/service the stuff myself