Cost Of Scuba Diving

The costs that may be incurred when thinking of engaging in scuba diving depends on a variety of factors. Foremost of these is the classification under which a diver will fall. Beginners, of course, have relatively larger expenses since they may need to enroll in scuba diving lessons apart from purchasing the needed scuba diving equipments.

Experienced divers, on the other hand, comparatively have lower expenses since training will be simply optional. If they already have the equipments, the expenses will come mostly from maintaining them.
In general, however, starting out in the sport is considered as the most costly phase. It has often been compared to buying a ticket for an enjoyable ski-lift, and even to playing an 18-hole golf game.

Initially, one needs certification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) before he or she will be allowed to have access to any diving facility anywhere not only in Australia, but across the globe as well. Without such a certification, one may not get to learn the proper and safe method of diving, but more importantly, one cannot gain entry in any diving facility, refused of tank fill up, refused of scuba gear rental, and many other advantages that only PADI-certified divers can avail of.

Diving certification courses

In Australia, an introductory diving certification course first requires the completion of a medical test, which can be taken in accredited Australian hospitals. The fee is around AU$40, but this can be refunded if, during the course of the medical exam, the performing doctor refuses to give the would-be diver the needed medical clearance.

Assuming one passes the Australian medical test, the next step is to enroll in a diving course. For beginners, or those who have no actual diving experience, the Open Water diving certification course is the one that should be taken, which can cost anywhere from $300 to $500, and this will largely depend on the venue where the course will be taken, with that being taught in an island resort naturally being more expensive. Course certifications given on live-aboard travels, meanwhile, can range between $100 to $200, excluding travel cost.

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Scuba diving equipment

Aside from the classes, budget should also be set aside for purchasing scuba gears. This will include a scuba mask ($20), a snorkel ($20), diving suits ($125), and fins ($50), the collective cost of which should be around $200. If the budget will allow the purchase of an entire diving gear set, including a regulator with SPG, an Octo, and a BCD, then expect to shell out about $600.
An option worth taking is scuba rental, with one complete diving gear set generally having a rental charge of $40 to $60. Many dive stores have this feature, although divers in the midst of securing a diving certificate are normally allowed to borrow scuba gears from these shops free of charge.