How expensive is tech?

[Rhone Man]

I was wondering how expensive would going into tech be?

You know what they say - if you have to ask, then it's too expensive.... ;-)

But at the risk of saying stuff that leads to flame wars, depending upon what compromises you are willing to make, you can manage the costs. If you are willing to dive deep air instead of helium, you chop a huge cost off your "per dive"expense. Some people think deep air is OK (within limits), others think it is suicide. You can cut tables instead of buying an expensive tec computer (or two!).

And tec givers always seem to accumulate much more gear than is strictly needed. Whilst it is not mandatory to have two dozen tanks, about fourteen regulators and four different sizes of wings in your garage, it just somehow seems to happen when you get into tec...

 

[LiteHedded]

You know what they say - if you have to ask, then it's too expensive.... ;-)

But at the risk of saying stuff that leads to flame wars, depending upon what compromises you are willing to make, you can manage the costs. If you are willing to dive deep air instead of helium, you chop a huge cost off your "per dive"expense. Some people think deep air is OK (within limits), others think it is suicide. You can cut tables instead of buying an expensive tec computer (or two!).

And tec givers always seem to accumulate much more gear than is strictly needed. Whilst it is not mandatory to have two dozen tanks, about fourteen regulators and four different sizes of wings in your garage, it just somehow seems to happen when you get into tec...

helium isn't where I'd look to start cutting costs. or what I'd suggest to new divers to do at least

 

[Rhone Man]

helium isn't where I'd look to start cutting costs. or what I'd suggest to new divers to do at least

Completely agree. I was just illustrating a point, albeit not well.

 

[Kevrumbo]

I was wondering how expensive would going into tech be? I have researched course prices for advanced nitrox, deco-procedures etc and they are not cheap. But once you do get certified, can anyone give me and idea as to

1. what kind of gear investment are we looking at? Is it necessary to own 8 different regulator sets etc? It is understandable to collect gear as you go up in training experience but if you get 6 different regulators serviced annually, that alone is a lot of money. No? Are all tech guys extremely rich people? (Doctors, CEO, dentists etc)

2. How much does a typical tech charter cost?

3. What about gas fills? I pay 13 dollars for nitrox fills so how much would helium and trimix etc cost?

Any other hidden costs? Thanks. I want to do tech but if it means diving less than Id rather stay recreational and just dive more.

Typical tech/wreck charter that someone like myself interested in historical WWII Indo-Pacific wrecks:
http://www.asiadivers.com/tech/images/techasia_diving/expeditions/Hermes_MoreInfo.pdf

Gas costs for a week or more tech diving the wrecks of Truk Lagoon:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=152727&d=1366162580

Truk Stop dive-ops 2012, Standard Gas Bottom Mix estimates for one set of double 11L (twinset AL 80's):
21/35 $205
18/45 $260
15/55 $310

Last month's Bikini Atoll Liveaboard (M/V Windward) open circuit gas costs for 17 dives over eight days including crew gratuity: $3.8k. (Helium $5.66/cuft, Oxygen $1.70/cuft). Excess baggage total fees charged by United Airlines (each way -each flight leg!): $1.2k. My X-scooter itself cost $400 as check-in luggage

I work in SoCal Aerospace Industry, 9 to 12 hours a day, sometimes all seven days of the week for nearly a month straight. If all goes well and units delivered on time, I take the rest of the Quarter off and blow all my earnings in Overtime on tropical Scuba Expeditions like those above.

 

[LiteHedded]

ugh....

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Typical tech/wreck charter that someone like myself interested in historical WWII Indo-Pacific wrecks:
http://www.asiadivers.com/tech/images/techasia_diving/expeditions/Hermes_MoreInfo.pdf

Gas costs for a week or more tech diving the wrecks of Truk Lagoon:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=152727&d=1366162580

Truk Stop dive-ops 2012, Standard Gas Bottom Mix estimates for one set of double 11L (twinset AL 80's):
21/35 $205
18/45 $260
15/55 $310

Last month's Bikini Atoll Liveaboard (M/V Windward) open circuit gas costs for 17 dives over eight days including crew gratuity: $3.8k. (Helium $5.66/cuft, Oxygen $1.70/cuft). Excess baggage total fees charged by United Airlines (each way -each flight leg!): $1.2k. My X-scooter itself cost $400 as check-in luggage

I work in SoCal Aerospace Industry, 9 to 12 hours a day, sometimes all seven days of the week for nearly a month straight. If all goes well and units delivered on time, I take the rest of the Quarter off and blow all my earnings in Overtime on tropical Scuba Expeditions like those above.

Great life!

 

[gekodivebali]

Thanks for the price estimates but they do feel over-inflated on the whole, especially if buying 2nd hand items!

 

[DevonDiver]

If you don't rush through technical training on a card-collecting exercise....balancing progressive experience and ingraining skills before moving on in levels, then it's quite painless to slowly accumulate the equipment you need in line with the training level you are at.

I see too many divers slapping credit cards on counters - and funds are the only limit to their progression. As the saying goes 'All the gear and no idea'.

Aim for an initial $2k equipment investment and $1k on training.

Aim to spend $1k a year thereafter on equipment and $1k on training.

For most 'non-professional' divers (1-200 dives per year), that is about the right balance of speed versus expenditure (assuming a significant proportion of dives done are in-line with your most recent tech training level).

 

[Superlyte27]

Thanks for the price estimates but they do feel over-inflated on the whole, especially if buying 2nd hand items!

I would think you guys don't know how to read, but then you are capable of writing.... So I'm really confused.

You understand that the guy said SEVERAL times that he was quoting new prices at or near MSRP right?

 

[gekodivebali]

I would think you guys don't know how to read, but then you are capable of writing.... So I'm really confused.

You understand that the guy said SEVERAL times that he was quoting new prices at or near MSRP right?

Which primary regs cost 2000$ new?

---------- Post added August 22nd, 2013 at 08:59 AM ----------

We have an op asking how much tec diving costs. If even asking the question then price is a concern. For this reason talking about max prices that can be paid makes little sense!

But, yeah, you can spend 100k$ +++ on tec diving within the first year if you like...