Diving is an incredible experience and many people dream of doing it but they all have the same concern: how much does it cost? This question requires many factors to be considered. The scuba tours themselves are not very expensive and many tours are very reasonably priced, but the initial starting cost can vary based on training classes and equipment needs. Several factors must be weighed when considering the cost of diving, including the cost of training classes, fees for equipment rental or the price of buying your own equipment, and even the cost of the tour itself.
The cost of the classes
This is where the cost of diving starts to come into play. Training classes consist of several segments, including courses, pool work, and open water diving (and more). To get certified, you must complete at least four of the training courses. While not all prices are equal, depending on where you take your classes, you can safely expect to pay $200-$300 for courses and pool work, as well as $150-$300 for the scuba portion of their training courses. In total, you will spend between $350 and $600 to get certified.
Some dive tours also require a diver who has not dived in a two-year period to take a refresher course that can cost between $25 and $50.
Boat dives and equipment
This is where the real money comes into play: equipment. Diving equipment is not very cheap and it is often better to rent the equipment on a tour rather than buy your own. However, for people who want to buy their own equipment, they will end up spending between $720 and $2,050 depending on the equipment they buy. This does not include the price of dive weights which can cost between $5 and $20 each. Renting a complete set of scuba gear is much cheaper, as it will only cost you, roughly, $50-$100 per dive (great for those who only dive once or twice a year).
Many tours offer different prices for boat dives. Generally speaking, depending on the location and tour operator, you’ll end up spending anywhere from $75 to $150 for a basic two-tank dive. These dives last several hours and many tours offer longer excursions that will increase the cost from there.
There are additional expenses that you must take into account before diving, such as travel expenses and even dive insurance. While not required, many people would recommend diving insurance in case of unforeseen accidents.