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Registered
Hello all.
I am a recently certified diver who is strongly interested in taking additional classes with SSI, the only real option around Albuquerque, NM. While their are no dive locations around the city, there is one in Santa Rosa, called "Blue Hole" and it is an hour away. I would like to gain experience diving, and herein lies the dilemma. I could take more classes, specifically the so-called "Advanced" class (really four in one), the "Stress and Rescue/CPR and O2 provider" classes and eventually either the drysuit or Nitrox classes. All the time I take these classes, I would be spending both the amount required to take the classes and also about $100 a pop per day for gear (B.C., 7mm Wetsuit, Weights, Regs., Gauges, Cylinder) for my own personal use outside of the classes. Needless to say, with renting money runs out fast. Alternatively, I could buy most, if not all, of my own gear and go to Blue Hole quite often at much less than $100.
In summary, I can either take more classes or get more dives.
So the real questions are (in your opinion):
Should I
a)Take more classes, get less dives
b)Take less/no classes, get more dives
c)Buy the gear that costs most to rent and take some classes as well as a middle ground of dive amounts
or
d)Something else (I am open to suggestions).
Just some additional information: My max dive budget is ~$1500 for this year. I want to gain as much experience for the least money.
Also, any feedback on about how much a decent, complete/semi-complete gear set suitable for a new diver costs (minus computer, unless you feel it's extremely important. I like the tables) would be appreciated.
Thank you!
p.s. If there is a thread that is extremely similar please inform me of its whereabouts so I can delete this one and read that one.
I am a recently certified diver who is strongly interested in taking additional classes with SSI, the only real option around Albuquerque, NM. While their are no dive locations around the city, there is one in Santa Rosa, called "Blue Hole" and it is an hour away. I would like to gain experience diving, and herein lies the dilemma. I could take more classes, specifically the so-called "Advanced" class (really four in one), the "Stress and Rescue/CPR and O2 provider" classes and eventually either the drysuit or Nitrox classes. All the time I take these classes, I would be spending both the amount required to take the classes and also about $100 a pop per day for gear (B.C., 7mm Wetsuit, Weights, Regs., Gauges, Cylinder) for my own personal use outside of the classes. Needless to say, with renting money runs out fast. Alternatively, I could buy most, if not all, of my own gear and go to Blue Hole quite often at much less than $100.
In summary, I can either take more classes or get more dives.
So the real questions are (in your opinion):
Should I
a)Take more classes, get less dives
b)Take less/no classes, get more dives
c)Buy the gear that costs most to rent and take some classes as well as a middle ground of dive amounts
or
d)Something else (I am open to suggestions).
Just some additional information: My max dive budget is ~$1500 for this year. I want to gain as much experience for the least money.
Also, any feedback on about how much a decent, complete/semi-complete gear set suitable for a new diver costs (minus computer, unless you feel it's extremely important. I like the tables) would be appreciated.
Thank you!
p.s. If there is a thread that is extremely similar please inform me of its whereabouts so I can delete this one and read that one.