Commercial Scuba Diving License.

How much does it cost to get a SCUBA diving license?

• Assuming that I will study and be an average to an above average student. What will the total cost be to be certified? will it range from $200-$400 or $1000 or is it like getting a pilot's license $6-7k? If someone could break up the costs that would be best. Thank You

• Answer:

  The actual open water course itself usually runs between 200-300 bucks. It depends on the geographic location of the dive shop since they will charge what the market will bear. Honestly, do it at a dive shop rather than the online PADI course if PADI is who you are going with. One on one instruction is far better than self guided course.That will include your instruction and course materials. It may or may not include gear you'll need for the actual dives prior to becoming certified. Read the fine print there. You WILL need to have your own mask, snorkel and fins before taking the course. This is considered personal gear and will set you back on average about 250 bucks for quality gear. The rest (BCD, lead, exposure protection etc) will either be lent to you during the course duration or rented, depending on how the dive shop does business. Once you've completed the open water course you'll be certified to dive anywhere in the world to a depth of 60 feet with a certified buddy but not in any overhead environments. You can start amassing your gear at any time. Prices vary considerably as does the gear. Renting before you purchase makes good sense here since it's basically a try before you buy thing. Here's an idea of pricing new: 1/ Mask 80 bucks to 150 bucks 2/Snorkel 30 bucks to 70 bucks 3/Fins 90 bucks to 230 bucks 4/BCD 350 bucks to 1200 bucks 5/Reg set 400 bucks to 1400 bucks 6/Exposure protection varies in price and types here. Don't forget gloves, booties and hood if you're diving cold water. Complete package cold water 7mm suit etc about 750 bucks on average. 7/ Lead for weights 50 bucks to 80 bucks depending on if it's belted or integrated. 8/ Dive computer 300 bucks to 1400 bucks 9/Dive knives 50 to 150 bucks 10/Dive lights 30 for a small LED to 1300 bucks for HID 11/ 80 cubic foot alum cylinder about 200 bucks including valve Those are the basics. You can get along just fine with your personal gear and rent everything else until you have decided on what you want to buy. Don't go cheap. Buy the best you can afford. It'll save you money and hassle later. Make sure it fits you. For example, a mask that was a good deal online that doesn't fit you and floods out is just like no mask at all. Not worth the money for nothing. There's a lot of good used gear out there, which can cut about 50% off your prices here, but always have it checked out by a pro first before you lay your money out. Many dive shops will run consignment gear, especially if they have an in house dive club, as people are always moving up in their gear choices and getting rid of their older gear. They may be moving into tech diving for example, a year after starting diving. That means some higher end gear because their original one year old recreational gear just won't cut the new demands in their diving habits. A good opportunity for a novice open water diver to pick up some barely used, relatively new gear at a lower price. The dive shop will also know the history on that particular gear since they've probably serviced it. There are certain items that you should avoid online. Used regs, most used BCDs, masks and fins.Anything to do with life support as a rule. Just safer this way and with masks and fins..you won't know if they fit until they arrive unless you previously tried those exact models on at a dive shop prior. Dive knives, lights and accessory items of the like are usually ok bought online as long as they are from a known manufacturer that you've done your research on and the online store is reputable.