O my god!!!!!

[divndaisy]

Oh my God!!

I just found out what I got myself into! I went along to my local dive store yesterday and had the shock of my life. I had no idea this stuff was so expensive. I'm gonna have no money left at this rate.

So...... OK....... biggest question is...... do I really need my own kit? Do you reckon it really does save you money? Especially for a beginner like me.

If you think I should........ where do I start??!!!

[waterbabe]

Oh yep DD! It's a whole nu world out there an it aint cheap!

But u have to remember… this stuff is your life support. It's got to work properly! An it is well worth it in the long run.

As for savin u money, it's not just about that, when you have your own stuff, u know exactly what goes where, so u feel really comfy with it all. No nasty surprises. u also know it has been looked after, coz u do that yourself!!

Rented kit gets chucked about the boat, not rinsed properly, used until it falls to bits, Ok… maybe I'm going a little far… but u know what I mean. And I think it does save some money too.

Start small, with the basics, say mask fins n snorkel, then build up as u go along. Maybe exposure suit next an so on.

[sabre]

Yep, definitely with waterbabe on the start small front, it makes it seem a lot less scary on the finances!
Also, if you are a beginner, it makes sense to use some hire kit (eg BC and regs) the first few times so you can get some idea of how it works first and will know a bit more about what you are shopping for! I recommend also batting eyelashes at diving friends you make who may let you have a go with some of their kit so you can try out other things (some dive shops may also have different brands etc. they will let you test first etc. as well) - just helps u avoid expensive mistakes of buying something and then finding you'd actually have preferred a different type/brand etc! Also, diving being the friendly sport it is, as you go along in your diving career you will hopefully meet lots of knowledgeable people (though a few totally clueless ones it has to be said!) who will be able to look at your personal preferences and diving style and give you some more tailored advice (your Open Water instructor will hopefully be a good start!).

Happy diving!

Sabre

[Dive Bunnie]

I'll join the others on that one.
I can remember my first visit to a dive shop… grief! I nearly wept. As the others have already mentioned, it isn't just about the money, however when you add up the usual €25 or so that a centre will charge you to hire full kit for just one day, it certainly does add up. You also have to bear in mind that that kit will have taken a fair hammering by students who may still be learning the correct techniques, as well as divers who aren't maybe as meticulous in the rinsing department as yourself.
If you do buy your own, build it up little by little. It won't seem such a harsh stab to your bank balance, although you may find some centres offer a discount when you buy a few items in one go. They can be quite understanding when it comes to the poverty of divers and the price of kit.
Again really shop around a bit, talk to the assistants too, as they are usually divemasters or instructors themselves so will have some knowledge of what is suitable for your needs. You don't need to go for the most expensive item on the shelf, however you do get what you pay for, so try to avoid the real bargain basement stuff.
I know quite a few who have had great success buying on Ebay, and now they have returns policies, you are a little better protected. Though I would personally want to buy my kit from a dive shop as they will look after you once your kit has been bought, will often help you assemble your stuff, as well as help you out with a few tips about care and maintenance.

[Steve]

Personally speaking after the first few trips to sharm and renting kit there - the savings and peace of mind of owning my own was immense. First hit me after a 3week trip at OCean College shortly after it first opened - my bill was couple of thistlegorms and a couple of night dives plus discount saw it around $100 - much less than the kit hire that people were paying for one weeks rental.

I prefer to buy main kit from shops and spares / backup / toys from sources such as ebay. If you buy from a reputable shop you'll get the backup and support you need for the essential items - but don't try taking you ebay stuff in to a shop and expect them to sort it out for you cheap because it didn't cost you much in the first place - they don't tend to be too sympathetic about it