Cost of Tec Diving?

[ADeadlierSnake]

I first got my open water certification last August, and since then it has been my goal to be able to support a dive lifestyle for my whole life. I really want a career in diving (but it seems the only option for that is an instructor or a commercial diver), but i also want to be able to have ample time to dive everywhere in this world that i possibly can. I am extremely interested in tec diving, and my main question is: How are you able to shell out the money and time for it while also having a diving related job? It seems that if i end up becoming an instructor, that i will be kind of tethered to diving the same dive sites hundreds of times teaching people how to dive. And it seems that if i go commercial diving, my life span will be short (according to what ive read) and i wont have time to dive everywhere i want to. So im really curious what people on this forum do in order to fund a life time full of tec diving, or even just thousands of dives.

Sorry that there are so many questions in there, not all necessarily tec related, but hopefully someone will be able to help me out here. Thanks for any help!

[TSandM]

Part-time ER doc. Husband owned his own company and sold it. Tec diving isn't cheap, and neither is travel.

[Peter Guy]

So im really curious what people on this forum do in order to fund a life time full of tec diving, or even just thousands of dives.

I sold my business and my wife is a Doc!

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Wow, here it goes, for one, you need to have a lot of patience (don't shoot for zero to hero). There are so many aspects to what you just posted.

Here are some bullet items:
1. Find an instructor(s) that are going to give you quality training
2. Apply training and get experience
3. Once you get to DM (first pro level) take some time, make sure you enjoy it
4. Most Instructors do have second jobs, really hard to make it all on diving
5. Tec diving is expensive, don't expect to get into it cheap
6. Once at Instructor, need to balance Teaching & Fun Diving

Those are the first things that came to my mind, gotta run, will be curious to check back on the thread later!

[FWADIVER]

note to self, encourage wife to goto medical school.

[NWGratefulDiver]

I first got my open water certification last August, and since then it has been my goal to be able to support a dive lifestyle for my whole life. I really want a career in diving (but it seems the only option for that is an instructor or a commercial diver), but i also want to be able to have ample time to dive everywhere in this world that i possibly can. I am extremely interested in tec diving, and my main question is: How are you able to shell out the money and time for it while also having a diving related job? It seems that if i end up becoming an instructor, that i will be kind of tethered to diving the same dive sites hundreds of times teaching people how to dive. And it seems that if i go commercial diving, my life span will be short (according to what ive read) and i wont have time to dive everywhere i want to. So im really curious what people on this forum do in order to fund a life time full of tec diving, or even just thousands of dives.

Sorry that there are so many questions in there, not all necessarily tec related, but hopefully someone will be able to help me out here. Thanks for any help!

I have a day job that pays me well, and do get some discounts as a scuba instructor. I have no kids, and my wife left me some years back. So I get to prioritize where the money goes. Scuba diving is a priority ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[DiverLS]

Or you can do it my way. I met my boyfriend on line. My profile reeked diver. So he emailed me - rec or tec? I emailed back rec. He emailed back tec but I'll rec. Well, that first dive he stuffed me in a transpac. Now I'm going for full cave in Mexico in May.

He's an IANTD instructor and I pay him for books and cert card. Cheap.

As far as the relationship is going, very strong. We are celebrating our 2nd anniversary of our first "date" on Sunday, driving back from Monterey. I'll be diving my doubles and him, his rebreather. I call him my snuggle buddy.

[Rhone Man]

I am lucky enough to have a well paying day job and to live in an area where the weekend diving is pretty good.

[fdog]

I work ~90 to 100 hours a week. Sadly, this is NOT hyperbole...


All the best, James

[fire_diver]

Diving is expensive. Technical diving is VERY expensive.

It's up to you to decide how much you can afford to spend on a hobby. If you want to work as a dive proffesional, don't plan on having the income to follow the tech trail. It just doesn't pay that well.

I have found a sad truth in this life. For most of us, when we have enough money to pursue hobbies it's because we are working too many hours to pursue them. If you have plenty of time, you aren't making enough money. Personally, I can't wait to retire from 1 or 2 of the 3 jobs I work right now.

[Rhone Man]

Or you can do it my way. I met my boyfriend on line. My profile reeked diver. So he emailed me - rec or tec? I emailed back rec. He emailed back tec but I'll rec. Well, that first dive he stuffed me in a transpac. Now I'm going for full cave in Mexico in May.

Must... resist... tempatation... to... crack... obvious... non-PC... joke... :D

[Scott]

You don't have to work as a commercial diver or an instructor. You could always work as a manufacture rep, become a manufacture, work in dive media, own a scuba forum.

[Sas]

I work as a software tester and am on a high income. I have no dependents, my partner is on a decent wage as well, I have no debt, and my other hobbies don't take up much money.

Diving is not super expensive if you stay at recreational level in my opinion. I only started having to shell out a huge amount of money when I started cave diving.

Heaps of people have recommended I get a career in diving to help pay for everything and because I love it so much, however I'd really rather work in an averagely interesting job Mon-Fri 9-5, earn six figures and dive whenever I want rather than whereever I am asked to.

[Akimbo]

Could be worse: Underwater photographer with a rebeather and your very own hole in the water to pour money into... err I mean boat.

[limeyx]

I sold my business and my wife is a Doc!

Of course, now I can hear the wheels turning "....hmmm, will I get more for the wife as an ER doc or if I attempt to sell her too ...." heh heh Poor Lynne can never retire!

[liuk3]

I honestly had no idea that technical diving would cost this much. I unfortunately enjoy it too much. Too late for me. Just hope that you don't like it that much and don't need to do much of it. Will be easier on your wallet this way. :) Heck, even recreational diving cost more than I thought it was going to cost. Scuba is not a cheap hobby.

[waterpirate]

a well paying job helps alot. Tech diving is like racing cars, when asked how much it costs the stock answer is "everything you got, plus 20%" lol nuff said?
Eric

[Sas]

a well paying job helps alot. Tech diving is like racing cars, when asked how much it costs the stock answer is "everything you got, plus 20%" lol nuff said?
Eric

Haha. Actually, racing cars is cheaper than diving in my experience! ;) (my partner races).

[rx7diver]

... I am extremely interested in tec diving, and my main question is: How are you able to shell out the money and time for it while also having a diving related job?

I don't have a diving-related job, but I thought I'd respond anyway.

I took my first scuba course (a PE course) at the university where I was completing my PhD. Spent several semesters as a TA for the course while I was writing my dissertation. Drove down to Ginnie Springs, Florida, one Christmas break to earn Cavern and Basic Cave certifications. After completing my degree, I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan--proximal both to training quarries in northwest Ohio and to the Great Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior--and continued scuba training/diving. Much of the free time and disposable income of this then unmarried assistant professor for the next several years was spent on scuba training, scuba equipment purchases, and Great Lakes wreck diving.

Yes, all this was very expensive, but quite manageable since it was done over time. It helped that I had no significant debt, that I lived in an area where a lot of tech training was available and a lot of tech diving was being done, that I had no family with its associated expenses, and that I lived an otherwise spartan lifestyle.

Having kids now, and facing the reality of maintaining three college funds for them, I don't think I would be able to *easily* invest in tech training and purchase tech equipment at this point in my life.

Good luck with your plans.

Ronald

[rongoodman]

Lots of overtime on my job as a paramedic!

[liuk3]

Haha. Actually, racing cars is cheaper than diving in my experience! ;) (my partner races).

I dunno what kind of racing your partner is doing, but diving is definitely cheaper in my experience (went through 2 BMWs and all their associated parts/tires).

[Sas]

I dunno what kind of racing your partner is doing, but diving is definitely cheaper in my experience (went through 2 BMWs and all their associated parts/tires).

I dunno what kind of racing, the one where you go around tracks in a car. :rofl3: His car was about 20k, mechanical work is usually free (he does himself or his uncle does it), tyres and parts he gets pretty cheaply usually by hunting around a lot. Races twice a month.

It might be expensive for him actually but I do spend a HUGE amount of money on diving ;)

edit: ok he tells me "Super Sprints and Hill Climbs" and that most people spend a lot more money than he does!

[Jim Lapenta]

Teach to pay for insurance, dues, and some diving. Do not take overly expensive trips. Day job pays the bills. Kids grown and gone, GF who is very good with money and setting priorities for it, and I don't need warm water and reefs. Tech while working lots of OT to pay for the gear. Breaks on initial cert costs for teaching and assisting. Cheap rent. Truck is nice and in good shape but it's an 03. And now writing helps to offset some costs as well.

[CamG]

Well ADeadlierSnake I have managed to remain legal thus far when it comes to fund raising for dive gear. It has not been painless though!
I have forgone countless hours of hunting, fishing, and used every penny of funds that I could spare, reallocate, recycle.
I have taken items; firearms, etc. traded or sold them to fund dive gear.
My overtime, bonus, and all my other means of extra cash is dedicated to diving.

If you think I am lying ask my wife, she will give you more than a few things that are in need of repair that well lets say continue to be overlooked.
Sometime honesty stinks but hey we are all in the same boat, TOTALLY ADDICTED TO SCUBA!
It really did not get expensive till I started into the Tech realm and then the initial step was the tip of the ice berg.
Now with several sets of doubles, numerous tanks, 8 sets of regs that are mine, but the gear is the cheapest part of it.
The travel is the most expensive and $4-$5 a gallon helps out a lot.

Bottom line I used my time as a DM to build relationships with other divers and LDS's this has lead to many great deals.
Cave diving has made it very obvious that I need to move closer to FL and vacation in the Great Lakes in the summer wreck diving.
I could dive literally every weekend and still not get enough of it!
If you get the itch look out you are hooked for good!

My advice is to start out right with a good set of BM doubles set up right with a dry suit and find a good mentor.
The rest will fall in place as your experience builds.
There are many different paths to follow but one thing I found is not to limit yourself or say, "I will never" that only means in a few years YOU WILL BE DOING IT!
Good luck.

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!

[TSandM]

I'd really rather work in an averagely interesting job Mon-Fri 9-5, earn six figures and dive whenever I want rather than whereever I am asked to.

My sentiments exactly!

Tech or cave diving is expensive. BUT -- expensive is relative. Where we used to board our horses was $1K a month PER HORSE, but that didn't include turnout and feeding supplements, which was another $250 or so per month . . . $125 every six weeks for shoes, $600 a month for lessons and training, and a single local horse show runs about $1k for a weekend. Tech diving, even at the $200 a day that Errol is asking for his T1 dives in Florida, looks like a pretty inexpensive hobby to me :)

[Rainer]

Tech diving, even at the $200 a day that Errol is asking for his T1 dives in Florida, looks like a pretty inexpensive hobby to me :)

I don't know, I think it's pretty expensive (and that's not counting airfare, hotel, food, car rental, tips, etc) when you're paying all that for only 20-25 minutes of bottom time! ;)

The lame part is, sometimes those few minutes are worth the cost of admission (though I must say, I've done way more ho hum T1 dives than great ones...).

[Pullmyfinger]

My wife and I are both really into diving. I took a job in Guam just to dive, we wanted to relocate so that we could be closer to better dive destinations. I am fortunate as I have a high paying job, yet still work a regular schedule and have weekends off.
Even with moving closer to great diving, the travel is still expensive. The cost of technical training, equipment, gas fills, and even more equipment is expensive but the cost of dive travel is comparable.
We make diving a priority, so the expense is just part of what we choose to do.

My wife is an X-ray and Mammography technician, but she now teaches middle school science and now has summer, spring break, and Christmas off.

Having the time is an equal factor to the money at times. That being said....we're headed to Palau in a couple of weeks. ;)

-Mitch

[craracer]

Until a few years ago I raced motorcycles. If I didn't crash, it cost me around a grand a weekend, so in comparison, technical diving is relatively inexpensive. When I did crash (if you're not crashing, you're not racing), the costs went up exponentially.

I'm a murse (male nurse) in an ER, and my wife is a GI doctor. Like you, I would love to make a career out of diving, but as most know, it's a tough venture.

[ajduplessis]

Tech Diving can be very expensive as already stated. You never tell your wife what you have spent, or what things costs. Don' try to keep count of costs, you will go mad :demented: Depending on where you want to end up, costs can be $10K plus easy!!!!

[Rhone Man]

I think there is another, non-financial, reason for having a non-diving job to fill the most part of the day. I worry a little that if diving was what paid my bills, too soon it would start to feel like work, and a lot of the simple joy of it might go.

[ADeadlierSnake]

Based on a lot of the responses Ive read so far (thank you all for doing so by the way), it seems that the only way to really afford a lifetime of diving (especially tec) is to NOT have a career in diving.

[robertarak]

Based on a lot of the responses Ive read so far (thank you all for doing so by the way), it seems that the only way to really afford a lifetime of diving (especially tec) is to NOT have a career in diving.

Truer words may have never been spok...err...typed.

[rx7diver]

Based on a lot of the responses Ive read so far (thank you all for doing so by the way), it seems that the only way to really afford a lifetime of diving (especially tec) is to NOT have a career in diving.

I didn't mean to imply that! My Michigan tech instructor owned his dive shop and was a course director and instructor trainer, and he did a lot of amazing diving--both rec and tech--worldwide! The person who eventually purchased his shop is following suit.

[ianr33]

Quite a few "tech" divers have a good day job and a sideline business instructing. Probably don't make much on the instruction but it helps buying all the gear (discounts/tax breaks)

If you live in Florida cave diving would not be incredibly expensive once you have all the gear,provided you stick to the 100 foot deep caves everyone dives on 32%.
If you prefer to do 300 foot dives on a rebreather with a big scooter then the sky is probably the limit!

[Captain12Pk]

I just spent in excess of $300.00 in gas fills for tomorrows dives. And now a tsunami... So unless we can reschedule the same dives (or very simillar dives) before I need the tanks for something else, much of that gas will have to be dumped (at a complete loss) or transfilled (at an additional cost). This is sometimes the unforseen cost of Tech diving. Probably a cost most people don't think about until they're forced to deal with it.
The way I look at it is ... This is what I do. This is why I work all week.

[Rainer]

Why can't you dive? We're going out tomorrow.

Lol, this is also why I own lots of doubles. Getting blown out just means grabbing another set. :)


I just spent in excess of $300.00 in gas fills for tomorrows dives. And now a tsunami... So unless we can reschedule the same dives (or very simillar dives) before I need the tanks for something else, much of that gas will have to be dumped (at a complete loss) or transfilled (at an additional cost). This is sometimes the unforseen cost of Tech diving. Probably a cost most people don't think about until they're forced to deal with it.
The way I look at it is ... This is what I do. This is why I work all week.

[Captain12Pk]

We're hoping to,but right now conditions are not looking too good. Unfortunately I filled 2 sets of 120's and a stage w 25/25 for tomorrow. Both sets of 85's and remaining stages already filled w 32. So if we don't go, I sit on it and wait to see what gas I need for the next dives. Hopefully it's 25/25 or 32 ... and in the right volumes. Obviously the O2 survives either way.
Where are you going tomorrow?

[Rainer]

Our captain was down at the marina this morning. Said things look fine. NOAA suggests the same (a bit of swell and some wind, but nothing too crazy).

We're out on the Fog wreck and the rigs.

You with the group heading to the Palawan?

[Captain12Pk]

Yup. From the look of it King Harbor has been pretty nasty this morning. I hear that LB Harbor was pretty bad too. Hopefully underwater conditions are better.
Have fun.

[Rainer]

You, too.

[And now back to our regularly scheduled programming on "Why Tech Diving is Expensive".] :)

[scubafire]

While everyone on here is out diving, I sneak into their homes and steal some goods and then I sell them to various pawn shops.

When they all return home, I go diving.

Genius.

[stargost]

I dont know much about tec (tek? teck? Teque?) diving, but i assume that when decoplanner will be ready for OS4, it'd be another 650$ expense (149 + 500 for ipad2) to consider.

[nielsent]

When I was growing up, my father always used to say "When we do things, we are always after good, fast and cheap... You can never have all three, but you can get two at a time." As a result, I have learned a lot of patience, and have managed to make some great progress in my diving for not a huge amount of costs (say less than two grand in my tech investments).

[NWGratefulDiver]

I don't know, I think it's pretty expensive (and that's not counting airfare, hotel, food, car rental, tips, etc) when you're paying all that for only 20-25 minutes of bottom time! ;)

The lame part is, sometimes those few minutes are worth the cost of admission (though I must say, I've done way more ho hum T1 dives than great ones...).

Best tech dives I've done to date were Nootka Sound ...

Below 150 feet we had gorgonian corals.

130 to about 80 feet, cloud sponges

Above 80 feet, strawberry anemones and inverterbrates

20 feet and up ... kelp and jellies

I could've done twice the deco and enjoyed every minute of it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[boulderjohn]

I start with kids out of college, knees too bad for my former expensive skiing hobby, and a decent retirement plan. I add in my instructor discount on all my purchases through the shop.I then turn 100% of my instructor-related income into my tech diving needs. Finally, I throw in an attitude that I would rather have rich experiences like this than riches.

I could not have come anywhere near affording this without all of those pieces in place.

[Rainer]

Sounds like some great dives. I'd love to check those out at some point.

Multi-level profiles where you can deco up a reef (or along any structure) sure beat mid-water deco (which is usually what I do).

It's not that I've done a lot of bad T1(+) dives, it's just that our recreational dives out here in SoCal are that good. It takes a pretty special deeper/longer dive to make the 5-10x cost difference justifiable (especially when the deeper dives involve usually half the bottom time). Simply doing something "different" isn't always a great reason to empty the bank.


Best tech dives I've done to date were Nootka Sound ...

Below 150 feet we had gorgonian corals.

130 to about 80 feet, cloud sponges

Above 80 feet, strawberry anemones and inverterbrates

20 feet and up ... kelp and jellies

I could've done twice the deco and enjoyed every minute of it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[TSandM]

I'm with Bob -- the best tech dives I've done so far were in the Brothers Islands in the Red Sea -- 20 minutes on the wreck, and then 70 total minutes of "deco", if you can call it that, on a spectacular wall with cascading hard corals, colorful soft corals, and lots of fish. It ain't deco, it's diving!

[liuk3]

Hey, like I said, just be glad if you aren't really into it. It's a lot cheaper that way! ;)

[Ozwald]

Well, after I got the bug which wasnt that long ago I have dropped probably $20,000. That's in the last year!

I am fortunate enough to have a profession that pays me well. 6 plus. I look at it this way.....when I come home from a dive and show my friends the video's and pics I look at their faces....priceless! More importantly what diving does for me both spiritually and psychologically.

I have two sets of priorities now...investing for my retirement and experiencing diving and neither is negotiable.

[ADeadlierSnake]

Hey, like I said, just be glad if you aren't really into it. It's a lot cheaper that way! ;)

I already know im going to be addicted to tec once i get the chance to actually do it. Ive been in and around water my whole life, and after going diving for the first time, i was 100% hooked. And having previously done a lot of rock climbing, i have learned to love technical aspects of sports. Im more excited to learn to tec dive than i have been about anything. So its a bit too late for me. I just gotta figure out what to do to pay for it. =P Was considering commercial diving... Mighta said that in the OP though

[boulderjohn]

And having previously done a lot of rock climbing, i have learned to love technical aspects of sports. Im more excited to learn to tec dive than i have been about anything.

I would say that the majority of the people with whom I dive regularly are rock climbers, and several are very accomplished in that pursuit, people with a number of first ascents and other accomplishments that rock climbing enthusiasts would recognize. (I am not among that group, so I hesitate to give inaccurate specifics.) There seems to be some affinity between the two pursuits.

[ADeadlierSnake]

I would say that the majority of the people with whom I dive regularly are rock climbers, and several are very accomplished in that pursuit, people with a number of first ascents and other accomplishments that rock climbing enthusiasts would recognize. (I am not among that group, so I hesitate to give inaccurate specifics.) There seems to be some affinity between the two pursuits.

Back when i rock climbed, i was very accomplished for my age (ranked nationally). I think there must be an affinity between them. diving and climbing are both technical sports that require a lot of unique training and gear. And they both come with a high degree of thrill. In my opinion. Ive also noticed a number of people around the forum make posts saying that they rock climbing. Theyre both amazing sports. But scuba is far more expensive xD

[rigdiver]

An old saying: If you have to ask, you can't afford it. But, 400' on a wall in Cayman=priceless. How many people have or ever will see that one little place that me and my buddy looked at?

[Phreatic Fanatic]

I found out long ago that the easiest way to make a small fortune in the diving business is to start with a large one.

[MaxBottomtime]

Sounds like some great dives. I'd love to check those out at some point.

Multi-level profiles where you can deco up a reef (or along any structure) sure beat mid-water deco (which is usually what I do).

It's not that I've done a lot of bad T1(+) dives, it's just that our recreational dives out here in SoCal are that good. It takes a pretty special deeper/longer dive to make the 5-10x cost difference justifiable (especially when the deeper dives involve usually half the bottom time). Simply doing something "different" isn't always a great reason to empty the bank.One of my favorite local deep dives is Ship Rock. There are chimney sponges below 200' with various rockfish milling about, and you end the dive with garibaldis in kelp.
As far as affording diving, I've sold off more gear than I now own. I got rid of my scooter, several sets of doubles and anything with a blue H on it. :)
I don't eat at restaurants, go to movies or sporting events any more. I buy cheap jeans once every couple of years only if needed. I drive a 1994 Mazda four cylinder pickup with almost 300,000 miles. I beach dived a lot during the years between boats. I usually have to save for a year or more for nice dive gear, but I enjoy and use what I have. I appreciate it more that way.

[Rainer]

One of my favorite local deep dives is Ship Rock. There are chimney sponges below 200' with various rockfish milling about, and you end the dive with garibaldis in kelp.

I think Ship Rock offers *great* diving. It's definitely one of those sites where there's always something to see whether on the bottom or on deco. I've only been down to around 170' there, but hear of people pushing 300'.

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[MaxBottomtime]

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[ADeadlierSnake]

An old saying: If you have to ask, you can't afford it. But, 400' on a wall in Cayman=priceless. How many people have or ever will see that one little place that me and my buddy looked at?

How many 19 year olds do you know who can afford tec diving? Of course i cant afford it, thats why im asking. So i can plan my life a little.




I found out long ago that the easiest way to make a small fortune in the diving business is to start with a large one.

Can you elaborate on that a little? Because my "college fund" is now my "diving fund" that i am using to pursue diving as a career and lifestyle. So i dont have a "large" fortune, but i have a bit to work with.

[fire_diver]

IF you are using a college fund to pursue a diving lifestyle you need to seriously sit down and rethink your priorities. The facts of life are that SCUBA is a hobby. If you want to go into the teaching area of the hobby, don't expect to make any real money.

There are very, very few people who can make a good living only from the dive industry. It takes money to make money. Want to own a shop, and be the boss (the only way to come close to making money) you better have a LOT of money starting out. You asked one poster to elaborate on that thought so here goes.

You will need money for shop space rental
You will need money to purchase the "rights" to sell scuba gear. Every brand has there own minimum starting order, often $50,000 or more per brand.
You will need money for advertising
You will need money for air compressor and nitrox blending equipment
You will need money to get yourself trained to instruct
You will need money to purchase your rental fleet of BCs, regs, tanks, computers
You will need money for someone to run the shop while you are out teaching
You will need enough money to live for one year with making money at the shop.
And lastly, you will need to convince enough people to buy your training and gear to pay the bills.

Quarter Million to get through your first year probably wouldn't be too much.

[Elvistheking]

Much better bet is go to college and join the Uni diving club which will mean cheap diving whilst you do your degree,I dunno how your clubs are setup in the US, but over here you could end up with boat driving certs, blending certs, instructor certs and tech certs (I really wish I had started diving at Uni) then get a good job so you can pay for the tec diving.

[TSandM]

When I was college age, my passion was horses. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make a living doing something with them, and I came to the conclusion that I was far better off getting an education and earning the money to ride doing something else. Not only was that the right decision, but when my focus changed and diving came into my life, it was simple to take a flexible resource (money) and put it somewhere else. Life changes -- that's inevitable. It's good to be in a position to change with it.

[PfcAJ]

How many 19 year olds do you know who can afford tec diving? Of course i cant afford it, thats why im asking. So i can plan my life a little.





Can you elaborate on that a little? Because my "college fund" is now my "diving fund" that i am using to pursue diving as a career and lifestyle. So i dont have a "large" fortune, but i have a bit to work with.

Pump the brakes!! Use your college fund for college! For real! I'm still in college, and though careful management of my resources (including serving overseas with the Army, the GI Bill, Florida Guard EDD program, education tax credits, and a part time job), I've been able to fund some pretty serious technical diving over the years. Take a look at some Pell grants, as well. Its fo' free!

I cannot stress this enough: Use your college money for college. Its a real investment in your future.

[ADeadlierSnake]

Well I dont wanna steer this thread too far off topic, but the reason I wanted to use it for diving is because there is absolutely NOTHING taught by colleges that im interested in being taught BY a college. The way this countrys educational system is set up just doesnt work for me. But like i said, i dont wanna come off as complaining or get this thread off topic, so...

[rx7diver]

How many 19 year olds do you know who can afford tec diving? Of course i cant afford it, thats why im asking. So i can plan my life a little.

Can you elaborate on that a little? Because my "college fund" is now my "diving fund" that i am using to pursue diving as a career and lifestyle.


IF you are using a college fund to pursue a diving lifestyle you need to seriously sit down and rethink your priorities.


When I was college age, my passion was horses. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make a living doing something with them, and I came to the conclusion that I was far better off getting an education and earning the money to ride doing something else.


ADeadlierSnake: Two relevant anecdotes:

1. I spoke recently with a young man who became bitten by the tech bug after he took a university scuba course and then began diving internet boards. He is about to graduate from college (mechanical engineering, I think), and has committed to entering the Navy after graduation, to become a Navy Diver. He reasoned that he can further his diving education and dive more places while he is in the service, and have more options for a (civilian) career involving diving once he leaves the service.

2. In the town where I currently live, a young man (not a college grad) recently left the service and purchased an established scuba shop using money he had saved--hoarded?--while he was in the service (Army, I think). He learned to scuba while he was in the service, and was able to dive at some amazing places while he was still active duty. He has owned his business for about two years, and is doing fine with it.


I'm sure there are many, many options you might pursue to get you to a career involving tech diving.

Ronald

[Rhone Man]

Well I dont wanna steer this thread too far off topic, but the reason I wanted to use it for diving is because there is absolutely NOTHING taught by colleges that im interested in being taught BY a college. The way this countrys educational system is set up just doesnt work for me. But like i said, i dont wanna come off as complaining or get this thread off topic, so...

That may be so, but you'll find life's waters a lot harder to navigate without a college degree. Certainly future employers won't be impressed by C-Cards or log books.

Plus - give college a chance. It is easy to say there is nothing there than interests you, without ever having been. The fact that so many people change their majors indicates that thing you never knew existed may take your interest once you have had some exposure to them.

[PfcAJ]

A wise ol' professor once told me this:

"College tends to afflict the comfortable, and to comfort the afflicted."

Give it a shot, talk to a councilor at your university. In a short amount of time, you might be surprised at how your opinion has changed. I thought the exact same thing.

[boulderjohn]

Although I agree with the main ideas behind all the "go to college" posts, and if you follow my signature link you will see that I do value education, I am going to buck the trend and say that maybe going to college is not the best thing for you right now. If you go in with a very negative attitude, you may be just wasting a year and getting bad grades that will stay with you when you finally decide you want to go back.

If you do. Who knows?

The post I hope you will study the most is TS&M's. Whatever you do, don't take yourself into a blind alley in your life. The more flexibility you have, the more you will be able to cope with life's changes.

I know someone very well who was in a similar situation to yours. Eventually he wound up graduating from college with a degree in history, about which he felt totally lukewarm at best. He had always said that he wanted a job dealing with the outdoors in some way. He did not ever want to be behind a desk. When he graduated, he looked everywhere for a job, and eventually settled for one that put him in an office behind a desk--exactly what he said he would hate, and having nothing to do with his major. The company only hired college gradauates, but the major was not important. They felt graduation showed something about an attitude and a willingness to carry on.

That was 10 years ago. He is still doing the same work, although he has formed his own company. He is very good at it, and he loves it. One thing he loves about it is that he has the freedom, both in terms of time and finances, to enjoy a lot of outdoor activities.

[PansSiren]

I'm currently in college (audio engineering / music business) and work graveyard shifts stocking shelves at a grocery store (yeah... NOT much money to be made there). Ever since I got into SCUBA, pretty much ALL of my non-rent money has gone towards it. I eat cheaper, dress cheaper, stopped drinking, don't go out with friends as much, stopped chasing women (that really hurt to say... but they cost a LOT, lol), ride my bicycle more to get around, etc, etc. Everything I do is with the intent to get me to my next underwater destination, more gear, and more training (I also would really like to get into tech diving... caves and going deeeeeeeep). SCUBA has total control over me! I'm at a point where I've realised that I really must focus on my future, and the fun and the women will still be there when I'm ready. I just want to hurry up and finish school, move back to a coastal state (Florida, I'm looking at YOU!), make a career for myself and earn a living so I can dive to live.

You're still very young (as am I), and our future is still way ahead of us. You have to ask yourself, where do you realistically want to be X years from now? Then, how will you realistically get there? I had a lot going for me for a while... then I've had some pretty big downfalls over the last few years (DUI and kicked out of college for not attending classes, to name 2), and you quickly see how hard life is without a 'plan'. Now that I'm back on track and moving full steam ahead, I can see my future again... and I'm pretty sure this is the only way I'll be able to dive the way I want to.

I don't mean to get all philosophical on you, but being just a couple years older than you, and somewhat seeing me in you, and already having gone through the downfalls... I have to highly reccomend a good plan if you want a good future. If you want to fast-track it to the good life, you need a degree (or already have a lot of money... which we don't have... so that leaves us to needing the degree to get us money). It's pretty tough and will be a long and slow journey to get anywhere without it. It really doesn't even matter what it's for... you just need it to get somewhere (and trust me, you can find SOMETHING of interest taught by a college... and the system ain't as bad as you think). Of course, anything is possible... but one road will be less bumpy than the other.

Good luck!! (to the both of us!) And hope to see you on a tech liveaboard one day :)

[PansSiren]

haha, boulderjohn, with us posting similiar things at almost the same time (I was typing as you were posting) and being from the same area, it almost sounds like you're talking about me (minus the already successful part), lol. You're post really touches on the points I was trying to make, and the story of your friend is strikingly similiar to mine.

ADeadlierSnake, trust us... we've gone down these roads already... you really don't want to experience our stories first hand.

[vinegarbiscuit]

I'm a petroleum consultant and earn a high salary. My fiance worked as a network engineer and also made a good living before he became a full-time recreational dive instructor two years ago. Tech diving is very expensive, and not easy to practice with limited funds. Our two years here in HI has taught us that the hard way. He'll have to return to corporate America when we move back home to NYC...sad but true. It's the only way we can both afford to live and dive the way we want and have a shot at the future we dream of: lots of dive-travel and hopefully the purchase of a little condo in the Yucatan so we can take full advantage of the caves there.

[Dr Wu]

Silly people pay me to fly around the world to be funny (and/or) attractive.

When visiting this world I like to dive wherever I go.

Unfortunately, few of those places are in so called "shallow, warm water locations".

Therefore technical diving became a necessity.

As I age I have to admit this looks like a foolish endeavor. The logistics are just so difficult and time consuming.

Perhaps it's time for Golf?

[Peter Guy]

A different POV from a college graduate:

IF you don't want to "go to college" don't. OTOH, I firmly advocate getting an education but there are many ways to get an education:

a. College -- doesn't sound like this is what you want.

b. Technical School -- IF there is something you actually WANT to do, this might be the way -- oh, and yes, you can make a very good living depending on the trade. For example, Line Man -- there is an upcoming, if not existing, shortage of Line Man. Evidently, a significant number of Line Men were Vietnam Vets (they got priority as Vets going into the Union slots) and they are now retiring, or getting very close to retirement. In addition, there IS a demand for more lines being built so THAT is an area of good jobs and growth.

c. Military -- My Son-In-Law doesn't even have a high-school diploma (and won't get a GED!!!) but he got into the Navy and now works on helos. If he wanted (and if he had more ambition) he could learn a lot and go to wonderful places to dive -- all the time getting paid (and paid well in fact). Of course, IF he keeps his nose clean, he'll be able to retire with good benefits in another 10 years.

That written, I would NOT spend (blow) the college fund on diving or diving gear. At the very least, put it into some growth funds so that later there will be some real assets for real life.

[kierentec]

2. In the town where I currently live, a young man (not a college grad) recently left the service and purchased an established scuba shop using money he had saved--hoarded?--while he was in the service (Army, I think). He learned to scuba while he was in the service, and was able to dive at some amazing places while he was still active duty. He has owned his business for about two years, and is doing fine with it.


Ronald

I know this sounds terrible, I do support the services 100% (my father is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel), but you have to make it out in order to use that money you hoarded. After just recently losing another very dear friend in Afghanistan, I counted em all up and realized i've averaged losing at least one friend a year to the armed services. Wanting to go scuba diving is not a good enough reason to take that risk. Only join the military if you feel a strong calling to defend your country.



OP- Don't go to school if your hearts not in it. You'll waste a lot of time and especially MONEY (which is the topic of this thread, right?). If down the road you find something you really are interested in, then go after it. There are certainly ways to work in the dive industry and be able to afford technical diving, it's not easy, but it can be done.

I went from a 6 figure finance job (with no college degree), to about 12k a year divemaster/instructor position. The biggest difference, though: 100k+ a year sitting in a finance office in Wisconsin for 13 hours a day is worth about 10 cents a year diving every day in the Caribbean. I consider myself a FAR richer man now. I'm now a captain as well, and have been lucky enough to work for an amazing shop, and have worked my way up to about 25k/year plus tips (totals around 32k) and spend at least 2 months a year traveling, and make at least 1 tec dive a week. how? I survive on around 1000 bucks a month, the other 1500 or so that I take home goes straight into a travel and gear account, anything left at the end of the year goes into long term savings (not much). I live in a small apartment, drive a beat up old truck, don't eat out, go to the bars MAYBE once every 2 or 3 weeks, and have absolutely zero debt (the biggest part).

My only regret is that I wasted 5 years of teens and early 20's sitting in an office and diving one week a year. Life is an adventure, don't waste it by trying to plan it all out, it rarely works out to plan anyways.

[ADeadlierSnake]

That written, I would NOT spend (blow) the college fund on diving or diving gear. At the very least, put it into some growth funds so that later there will be some real assets for real life.

Well most of my college fund is actually in stocks, so there is actually growth there all the time. Its not just sitting.

[Pullmyfinger]

I'd say go to college. The fact is diving is expensive, you have to pay for it somehow. Looking at the bigger picture, you have to earn your daily bread while still having money to support recreational activities.
Go to school and start working on the core courses, they will serve you well no matter what you end up doing. Or consider using your college fund to go to commercial diving school if that's what you really want to do.

You gotta do what you gotta do, if you wanna do what you wanna do.

-Mitch

[fire_diver]

My only regret is that I wasted 5 years of teens and early 20's sitting in an office and diving one week a year. Life is an adventure, don't waste it by trying to plan it all out, it rarely works out to plan anyways.

Could you have ever afforded to make that move if you hadn't spent those "wasted" years at that horrible $100K job? Probably not.

[kanonfodr]

Dude: go to college, learn a trade, don't blow your money on scuba diving. I honestly thought, post-OW, about becoming an Instructor (after I finished my last tour to Iraq, I'm in the Army) but having read more, learned more, and most importantly DIVED more: there's not much money in it.

I'm 25 now, will be 27 when I get out and start college. High school friends of mine are earning 6 figures, I've got dive buddies who are still young (early 30s) with PhDs that take them interesting places and they go diving lots. I, on the other hand, will be restarting my life for the...third, fourth time?

And ya, after 12 years of public school the least intriguing aspect of life is spending another 4 years in school. But after that, your life is very well set up, a full ten years ahead of me.

Peace,
Greg

[trident00]

For what its worth. I did the schooling and everything.....Graduated collage....Took some time to really find my calling.

I spent some of the money I didnt have while attending collage to start diving in Colorado. Everything was on a shoestring and I managed to get open water certified and buy some cheep old gear from people I met and the classifieds. I dove a few times and then spent a bit of time in pools working on bouyancy or whatever, while wishing I had nice tropical fish to look at.

I'm quite a bit older now (but not on my deathbed by any means).....and now dive quite a bit.

Life is full of change, as people have already said to you. People have also given you sage advice about your education. Your education is simply a means to demonstrate that you have the ability to see things through, retain information, learn concepts, etc....etc.

I went into my field for a brief time after collage, and then found that I just didnt care to be behind a desk. My education wasnt wasted, however, because it opened many doors for me over the years. You really need to consider this before giving up your collage funds.

I have made my hobbies my business on a couple occasions. I will say that initially, it is amazing. You will be on the fast track for sure. But after awhile you realize that your spending more and more time trying to hammer out a living, and the time to enjoy the hobby becomes less and less. You get to the point where you are teaching more and learning less.

Like others have said, making a living in the diving industry is tough. I have seen some very very good stores close during this recession. I personally have gone down with the ship on more than one occasion during my time working in my hobby fields. It sucks to say the least.

As life has its twists and turns, my life finally landed me in Florida. I work outdoors and have to fight the oppressive summer heat, but I am in a well paying trade. I was able to rekindle my diving hobby, but had to replace all my old gear. Diving definitely gets me through the summer. It really helps that I am within a little bit over an hour to the florida cave country as well as the Gulf. I am not too much further from the East coast, and I can make the keys driving after work with enough time to sleep before diving the next morning.

Since I got back into diving, I have taken a refresher course, nitrox, advanced open water, and am currently taking tech diving courses. I have met people through the internet and through work that are diving enthusiasts. I have a friend that has made it possible for me to get very good deals on some of my tech gear, to the point that I almost feel sponsored.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you will probably enjoy diving more and stick with it longer if you dont put all your eggs in the basket right now. Give yourself time to explore all your options as far as making a good living. You just may enjoy your diving more if its your liesure passion as opposed to how you worry about making a living.

Good luck to you!!

Cheers, Walt

[kierentec]

Could you have ever afforded to make that move if you hadn't spent those "wasted" years at that horrible $100K job? Probably not.

Absolutely. I used the money I had put away to pay off my student loans (I tried school for a year) and the rest of my debt. I moved down here with literally only 2,000 dollars to my name, but did not owe a penny to anyone

[TSandM]

The thread has taken a bit of a turn from where I put my original post.

I still think the best way to enjoy something like diving, is to earn the money to do it, doing something else.

But . . . you are only young once. There is a golden period in one's life where you are largely unencumbered -- no wife, no kids, no house, no major debt -- and you have a ton of options. I think more people ought to seize the day, and go do something adventurous and different with that wonderful time. I wish I had. But don't jeopardize the money you have put aside for education. Do your adventure on a shoestring. Live, like my Cave 1 instructor did, four guys to a room, using hammocks :) Go chase your dream for a year or two. You will learn an enormous amount about what you DON'T want to do, and how you don't want to live, and you'll come back to college motivated and focused, knowing why you are there. Or you will end up living in MX and teaching cave diving, as my instructor did. Either way, you will know why you are where you are, and exactly what you gave away to do it.

[Elvistheking]

Surely there are college course that allows or even requires you to go diving? What is it about diving that interests you, the kit (Marine Enginerring or something similar), the squidge (Marine Biology), the spidge (Marine Archaeology)? That's just a few ideas, work out what you enjoy then work out which course will allow you to do that and get better at it!

[Goferrin99]

I think you (the OP) are totally underestimating the changes involved in turning a hobby into a profession.

I am not a dive professional but those at the places I do dive at do 5 to 700 dives per year of which less than 50 would be pleasure dives. The rest are 3 or 4 dive days trying to prevent crazy tourists from killing themselve. All used a 9 to 5 job to fund their initial gear and certification purchases and to build up a nest egg that now funds any travel or major gear purchases (or to buy the whole LDS....). Instructing only pays their living expenses.

If you want career advice on selecting a job that will be able to fund thousands of dollars of certificates, gear and travel, having a successful and lucrative career depends on three factors - how much you enjoy the job, your level of technical expertise (read formal qualifications or education) and your natural ability. Find something that cover two of the three and you will be successful and earning a good income. All three will give you a stelllar career with time and money to do all the diving when and where you want. Elvistheking's suggestion seems a good starting point

[eliminator]

I was bitten by the tech diving bug a couple of years ago. I enjoy the full spectrum of the hobby; the gear, the people, the training, the trips, and of course the diving itself. I'm fortunate that both my wife and I make a good income and I can fund my obsession.

However, no matter how much you make, tech diving isn't cheap and to do it proficiently and safely, you have to dedicate yourself to it to a certain degree. Of the people I dive with that don't have deep pockets, they seem to survive. You can always get used gear, limit yourself on the big trips, and save money in other parts of your life. Most people seem to spend whatever money they make anyways, so if you make tech diving a priority, just cut back on the $5 lattes, new cars, and expensive electronic gizmos.

[OkiMike]

I don't think there's one right path here, ADeadlierSnake, as people come into diving (and later tech diving) at different ages and different periods in their life. In addition, small details like which agency you start with, which agency you decide to do tech training with, where you live, and who your buddies are will all have an impact on the amount of money you are likely to spend to get into this niche.

As someone who started diving five years ago and am now 32, I can mention some trends I've noticed that may help you get to where you want to go:

1. I was horrible at saving money up until my late 20s and so was essentially "starting from scratch" when I began diving, but fortunately this coincided with a new, high-paying job at the time and I was still single (unlike my current situation with a wife and two kids). It's true that most people spend most of what they make anyway, and this is even more true for people fresh out of school who will likely take the next ten years to figure themselves out and decide on what hobbies (and the friends that come with those hobbies) to pursue. As such, it may just be a matter of getting better and better paying jobs over time coupled with your ability to "settle" on diving as your "One True Hobby" (i.e., the one that will receive the most of your money).

2. When you finish college, move to a place that's on the ocean and, preferrably, with WARM water. This will save you money by not requiring you to purchase the more expensive items like drysuits (vs. wetsuits), steel tanks (vs. AL tanks), that colder water diving requires, but it also means a massive reduction in travel expenses to/from your favorite dive sites. This means more dives per day when you do go out and, thus, more diving experience in general. I know many people who are dedicated enough to drive 2+ hours to do dives every weekend, but if you could be a mere 10-30 minutes away from all the local sites, why shoot yourself in the foot and live farther away? Save the home up in the mountains for later in life once you're more settled.

3. Do not invest in equipment until you have sat through a Primer or two of the agencies that have caught your eye and are in a better position to make a decision as to what to buy. As I started with PADI and bought all of my equipment that my teacher recommended while I worked through the PADI certification ranks, ultimately I had to sell it all when I joined GUE. I was fortunate that I had a friend just starting out who bought all of my "old" equipment off of me, but if I'd had less of a job, I would have been out of the water for quite some time to recoup those losses.

4. With all above the above settled, you can actually get by relatively cheaply on technical diving. In my case, I started with:

a. Two first stages, two second stages, one SPG, all necessary hoses (you can start out converting your regs from doubles's setup to singe's if you want to dive with your single tanks on a particular weekend).
b. Two masks
c. A 3ft SMB w/ spool
d. A 40# (doubles) wing (you may also wish to have a 30# (singles) wing for single tank diving). But, both can use the same 6lb stainless steel backplate.
e. A wrist mounted compass, wet notes, and a cheap bottom timer (not a dive computer)
f. Fins of the non-split variety.
g. One set of AL80 double tanks (with SS bands and manifold). You may also have one or two single AL80 tanks if you think you will be doing that type of diving with friends.
h. One or two 3 C-cell backup lights
i. A primary light. (10 watts or greater, though you'll eventually want an 18 watt or 21 watt, so it may be cheaper to get one of those second-hand right from the start)

Again, assuming you went with an agency like GUE, you don't actually need some of the more expensive items on that list to start with their Fundamentals training. And here, I'm thinking about the doubles, doubles regs, backup lights, primary lights, 40# wing, since you can take courses like that in a singles setup. However, since you know you want to go further into technical training, keep in mind that you'll be purchasing them anyway at some point.

Then, one of the more expensive aspects will likely be your training. But (at least with GUE) there are experience requirements between courses (25+ dives at that level), so usually you have enough time after you finish one course to save up for the next. :)

The more expensive items that we all drool over and that can be a serious money pit, but which do not impact the actual costs of technical diving implicitly are: dSLR cameras or HD video cameras, camera housings, still camera strobes, video camera lights, DPV(s), DPV camera mounts, drysuits and drysuit undergarments (though I'd argue that this should be your first purchase after the above mentioned items are taken care of), dive travel, extra bottles used for stage/deco gas, extra double tanks (for example, you might keep a set ready with trimix in them, but want to have another set or two with Nitrox for all the other weekends you're not doing a tech dive), extra "dedicated" regs to each type of bottle (deco/stage, doubles, singles, so you're not having to swap them out each weekend if you change your tank type), maintenance costs for all of these items on a yearly basis, courses that teach you how to maintain your own gear (tank inspections, reg repair, etc.), gas boosters (if you decide you want to "save a few bucks" by filling your own tanks, etc.

As usual, your mileage may vary. :) Is this helpful?

[AndyScuba]

prlGZD5JYPU

What are they testing for at 6:45 of the video?

nitrogen uptake????

[TSandM]

They're doing a Doppler venous study for bubbles.