How expensive is tech?

[dvankirk]

I've probably spent more on stainless bolt-snaps, bungee and zip-ties alone; than the average recreational diver spends on equipment. LOL (no joke...)

I think the same thing every time that I spend $10 on a bolt-snap at my LDS.

 

[DevonDiver]

A real tech diver doesn't use zip ties.

Okay...okay! Duct tape!

 

[victorzamora]

I've probably spent more on stainless bolt-snaps, bungee and zip-ties alone; than the average recreational diver spends on equipment. LOL (no joke...)

Every time I look at buying something that's like $20....or when I feel bad about the cost of an O2 fill....or whatever, I look at this little assortment of clips. I've given several away, and EVERYTHING I need a clip on has one. Just in SPARE clips, I know for a fact that I've got over $200 sitting in a bag. I've been frugal. I haven't wasted money. I've been careful. I'm also new to this whole Tec thing. I've also been a broke college kid until recently, and now I'm a broke college grad with an entry-level position and another expensive hobby (my fiancee, lol).

 

[kmarks]

.....

 

[Superlyte27]

Well, you live in Iowa, why even bother.

 

[Skittl1321]

Well, you live in Iowa, why even bother.

They do let Iowans out of the state on occasion. There are a number of tech divers here.

 

[corvettejoe]

A real tech diver doesn't use zip ties.

There's nothing my el-spool-o-awesome-bungee can't fix!
I think I reach for it more than I do zipties and have replaced most zipties with this particular bungee LOL

---------- Post added August 23rd, 2013 at 04:58 PM ----------

trying to think back what I spent.. I did all this on an extreme budget. I don't make much, got a mortgage, car payment, wife, etc...
Most of my money came from Santa and generous birthday gifts every year that I just saved and took straight to the dive shop.
This has all been accumulated over about 4 years...

major costs:
- using initial OW reg set, split it up, bought another SPG for sidemount..$500 total-ish or less I think all HOG, new (includes initial purchase years ago, then different hose lengths when I switched from BM to SM)
- Hollis sidemount rig $350 used
- 21W HID Can light under $1000 NEW
- Shearwater Petrel $875 NEW
- Backup computer - using old one when I first started diving, $free, or watch and tables also $free
- 2 pairs of LP85's (4 total) $400 total, used off CL, plus whatever hydro/VIP was at the time per tank.
- AL80's. usually free or multiple for dirt cheap used, plus hydro/VIP when purchased. I have a few new ones but the ones I always use for tech diving I got free.
- sidemount bands, clips, etc, stage bottle extras... just re-used what I had laying around, used stuff in buddy's junk bin, etc. $free
- basic gear and exposure: still using my old OW purchased wetstuit, hood, boots, fins, mask, etc. $free
- Software: Diving Log 5.0 $40, iDeco Pro $10, vPlanner $80? whatever it costs currently I forget.
- AL40 for O2, $100 used including the Hydro/VIP and first fill.
- another reg set for stage or o2 bottle under $100. I used a 1st stage and hoses I already had. Bought a used SPG and 2nd stage.
- HOG BP/Wing for backmount/stage use when OW diving find the cheapest deal new online, that's probably what I paid, but I use it for some technical diving, and since I already had it, it cost me nothing after I started doing tech stuff... point is... just reuse a LOT of what you already have. Keep adding to it.

Reoccurring Costs:
- Annual FL State Park Pass $60 (lots of cave diving!)
- Annual DAN Insurance - $110
- Annual DM Insurance lets say a decent amount under $100 from my LDS
- Annual NSSCDS Dues $40 (basic membership)
I'm thinking there's more but can't remember what...

I've NEVER paid retail/MSRP for anything. That said I will refrain from saying where I bought a few of the new items, as that's between myself and the LDS/Dealer/DiveShopOwner/etc. The point is you can build a relationship with them and get things for WAY cheaper.

Training: a $LOT and it scales upward once you get into higher level courses.
Also, on top of whatever it costs you to train, if you do one-on-one especially, it's not necessary, but helping pay for your instructor's training weekends, especially if they are giving you a good deal, helps go a long way in continued training for a good price. You help offset their costs, they help offset your costs. I usually picked up part of the room if we stayed somewhere, or just split for one, paid for gas if we carpooled, paid for ALL food while doing actual training days, and if the LDS we used didn't give free instructor fills, I paid for them for my instructors. It added to the costs of my training, but the goodwill helped to a long way in building a good relationship between myself and my various instructors. I couldn't always pay for stuff, but when money allowed I always made a point of paying for what I could afford for them.

 

[CamG]

Ah Joe nice list.
I quit counting and just keep buying.
More tanks, regs, and all the goodies.
Gear costs plenty-o-cash, training is reasonable for the level of diving, charters are costly with blow outs always a risk.
Insurance which is wise one chamber ride and it pays for itself.
Bigger vehicles to carry gear, scooters, back ups for your back ups buddies gear.
Trailers with gas banks or loaded to the gills with sets of tanks.
Bla...............Bla.................Bla! ETC.

The whole mess $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thousands upon thousands of dollars what does it get you?

In a single moment a splinter of light cuts from a spring and into the cavern of the cave it numbs you in awe and for a few seconds you are lost in just the refraction of light in the water.
You are in the Straights @ 140' inside the steel hull gliding through the darkness slipping into cargo compartments then into the crane operators area the only others in the room a few perch / berbot. Light beaming through a hatch refracts insanely of the glass crane booth.
Many, many moments / shards of memories that are beyond words that only you get!
Like precious gems in your mind / soul so is it worth it?
Either you get it or you don't.
If you do, welcome to the DARK SIDE! It is always warm and fuzzy where we go!

You will learn to love even the smallest of spaces and look for other who have tasted the darkness.
Sound crazy then might not be for you but if you are curious come on over.

CamG

 

[down4fun]

You are in the Straights @ 140' inside the steel hull gliding through the darkness slipping into cargo compartments then into the crane operators area the only others in the room a few perch / berbot. Light beaming through a hatch refracts insanely of the glass crane booth.
Many, many moments / shards of memories that are beyond words that only you get!
Like precious gems in your mind / soul so is it worth it?
Either you get it or you don't.
If you do, welcome to the DARK SIDE! It is always warm and fuzzy where we go!

You will learn to love even the smallest of spaces and look for other who have tasted the darkness.
Sound crazy then might not be for you but if you are curious come on over.

CamG

this brought a smile to my face as i think about some of my best penetration dives. Nothing makes me smile like visiting the engine room on a wreck in 250 feet of water or slipping down the hallway in a space so tight i have to turn sideways to get through or going somewhere new inside one of these glorious underwater play grounds. :cool2:

 

[Kevrumbo]

46 meters deep, diving at the Bridge of the HIJMS Nagato . . .where Admiral Yamamoto transmitted the most infamous code phrase in 20th Century History: Niitakayama Nobore ("Climb Mount Niitake"), the "Go Code" to Admiral Nagumo's flagship of the Kido Butai -at the time the most powerful armada in the world. The Admiral then opened a set of top secret documents which confirmed that Japan would be going to war with the United States, Britain, and Holland. It also gave a date for the opening of hostilities…December 8th (the 7th on the Pearl Harbor side of the International Date Line).

46 meters deep, diving at the Bridge of the HIJMS Nagato . . .where on June 7 1942, six months later, a stunned Admiral Yamamoto received news that all four carriers of Kido Butai were burning or sunk at Midway -and the worst defeat in 350 years of Japanese military history.

46 meters deep, the once powerful battleship HIJMS Nagato, the first capital ship ever mounted with 16" guns, now capsized & bleeding fuel oil, the tall pagoda mast and Bridge superstructure smashed & bent lying on the sea floor: Symbolic Flagship of the Empire of Japan's destruction by the industrial might of the U.S. -and physically destroyed by the most powerful weapons ever developed & produced.

46 meters deep . . . worth every penny spent to see and re-live the monumental history of it all.

HIJMS Nagato - Wrecks in Bikini Atoll - Lust4Rust Wreck Diving Trips