As for me personally I donated some of my dive equipment (regs, gauges, BCDs, and wetsuits) to help promote the diving in the Philippines and hopefully help offset the cost of dive lessons. I encourage others, esp. from the US to do the same.
The regs./ gauges did not have to be brand new there are many very durable units sold for very reasonable prices in the US. (eBay)
Some examples are the Dacor XLE Pacers or Aeros and The classic US divers military regs. All second stages are chrome plated metal not plastic; the plastic regs crack from time to time. The metal regs. are also easy to repair.
On the pressure gauges there are many used 5000 ps.i all metal gauges some made in Italy, Swiss and the US. The common 4000 psi. units are mostly made of plastic. I bought a metal set for $30.
And as I mention before, Walmart is having their summer close out on wetsuits.
With all its magnificent coast lines/reefs and some very talented divers, its sad that scuba diving in the Philippines has to be expensive and only for the privileged few.
Oh, and give Moonlighting a break!
Dive Safe
