Affordable Dive Travel
You may have expressed interest in scuba diving to your friends and family and heard, “Scuba diving? In this economy?” And, to be fair, scuba diving is not particularly known as a cheap sport. But your life doesn’t stop with the rise and fall of inflation and neither should the things you enjoy. Let’s explore some very specific ways to keep your love of diving and dive travel flourishing (and affordable).
Saving on Scuba Certifications
Brand new and want to save a few? Understandable. One of the best ways you can save on getting your scuba certification is getting certified locally. Yes, even if you’re in Kansas, you can get scuba certified. Resorts can often upcharge on certifications and then you’re spending most of your vacation time in a class-style setting. But if you get your certification locally (where possible), it’s not only a more financially-savvy move, but you’ll be able to just go diving on your vacation and enjoy the sights with the know-how already instilled in you.
To Rent or To Buy? That is the Question.
One of the most frequently asked questions about scuba diving affordably is whether or not to rent or buy your scuba gear.
Just starting out? Renting may be best. This gives you the opportunity to figure out how often you think you’ll be diving in the long run, what kind of gear you prefer, and what kind of diving you may see yourself doing in the future. Therefore, you’ll be able to make a significantly more educated decision about the kind of gear you buy, should you choose to take that next step.
Getting into diving more often? Buying is far more financially savvy. If you’re new and you’ve been renting your gear for a while, you may have come across a few reasons on your own why you need your own gear. BCDs not fitting all that well, regulators you’re unfamiliar with, learning a new dive computer every time, just to name a few. Not only is buying your own scuba gear more comfortable and familiar to use, but in the long run, it will save you loads, especially if you’re diving multiple times a year.
If you’re buying your scuba gear:
Stick to the basics. Gadgets and gizmos aplenty may seem appealing and necessary, but not always. Get real with what kind of gear you actually need and try to stick to the basics. That way you can get the bare necessities of higher quality gear rather than lots of low quality things you may not actually need. Some questions that will help you make these decisions are:
- Will I only be scuba diving or do I see freediving or tech diving in my future (or currently)?
- Will I be keeping my dives fairly shallow around 30-60 feet or am I looking for more depth?
- Will cave diving or wreck diving certifications be in my diving future?
- Will I be diving out with a charter mostly or with my dive buddy off the shore?
- Will I have access to scuba dive regularly or will this be a once to twice a year adventure for me?
- Do I see myself spearfishing in the future (or currently)?
When you know the answers to at least some of these questions, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of gear you’ll prefer and need for the long run. Remember to ask questions if you have them, but be mindful if you feel like someone may be overselling. Do you need this thing or will it be a wasted expense?
Maintenance is key. Proper gear maintenance is one of your biggest money savers overall when it comes to owning your own scuba gear. This includes annual (or however frequently the company recommends) regulator check ups, regular tank inspections, BCD check ups. This also includes the little things like making sure not to leave your gear out in direct sunlight for extended periods of time or being sure to rinse it with freshwater after use. For more information, check out our blogs on How To Extend the Life of Your Scuba Gear and Getting Your Scuba Gear Serviced.
Keep an eye out for deals! Just like with money saving habits in other areas of your life, having a little patience for the right deal at the right time could save tons. This could be on your ideal gear itself, or even sometimes with dive travel or charter deals. Be sure to sign up for your local dive shops newsletters (should they have one) and try to book your trips early! Flight prices for a single flight can fluctuate drastically depending on the day and time of day you’re looking at them. Have your dates in mind and keep checking the prices at varying times of day throughout the week to see what’s best.
Planning for Success
One thing you could consider when looking to save a few is planning a trip off season. It’s pretty easy to find the most populated/touristy seasons for any given destination. That being said, be sure to do adequate research on your destination of choice and see when the busy season is and what the potential weather conditions are like in the off season. For instance, if you’re planning a trip here to South Florida, the busy season is in the winter months. Summer offers some truly great diving conditions and you’ll mostly be diving with locals on any dive charters you take. The trouble is, it’s also hurricane season, so it can be a gamble on booking a trip and having a tropical storm or something of that nature come through and disrupt your plans. You’ll be spending far less in the off season, but it’s the weather you generally need to look out for.
This next scuba diving money saving tip is likely the funnest one: Invite some friends! You know what they say, “ The more the merrier,” and that is both true in cultivating an abundance of joy on your travels and its true and retaining financial abundance too. If you and five dive buddies plan a trip together and split the costs, it’s significantly more affordable—more reasons to rope your buddies into scuba diving with you! This is especially true if you’re looking into staying at a vacation rental on your trip.
It can be tricky and quite tempting, but try not to go over budget. If you set a specific budget for yourself to spend on a trip, stick to it. No, you really don’t need to fly business class. No, that ocean view room at $300 more a night won’t make that much of a difference. If you struggle with this, try to remember the why of your savings. Is there something you’re saving up for? Keep that in mind while you make your financial decisions around your trip. Remember, the main things for a scuba diving trip are your gear, the transportation to the dive site (charter if it's way offshore or taxi/rental car if you’re shore diving far from your accommodations), and something nutritious and delicious to eat while you’re there. You’re not going to have any less of a good time by overspending.
Affordable Dive Destinations
Want to explore some top tier dive destinations for a price your wallet will thank you for? Check out this list below of amazing locations you can visit on a budget!
- Riviera Maya, Mexico
- Bonaire is famous for its shore diving - just get your gear there and the rest is an easy walk into the water
- Bahamas - If you’re in Florida like us, it’s a hop and a skip away. Easy to find affordable accommodations and charters
- Florida Keys - Keeping it local can be your best option (if you’re from around here, that is)
- Bay Islands, Honduras - Again, tons of excellent shore diving to explore
- You may not believe it, but Bali. Yes, the one in Indonesia. The flight will be your biggest expense. After that, your dollar stretches a long way and you’ll be living like royalty on a budget
FAQs
Is scuba diving expensive?
That’s up to you! It can be pricey to get started out with, but once you get your gear and get to know some of your favorite dive spots, you’re good to go!
Can you travel with scuba gear?
You can definitely travel with your scuba gear! Tanks (if you’re flying with them) must be empty, but it can be best practice to rent a tank when you get to your destination anyway. Be sure to have a good travel bag and pack smart!
Why are some dive destinations more expensive than others?
Popularity plays a huge factor, plus the flights to get there. If it’s on the other side of the world, it can be a pretty penny to take on that kind of trip, but sometimes, those are the more affordable destinations where accommodations and dive operations are concerned. You can almost always find a deal wherever you look though if you do your research.
Are scuba diving lessons expensive?
Scuba certifications run around a few hundred dollars these days at least. That usually includes the fare for the dive boat, rental gear, education material, etc. Of course, it varies depending on where you are in the world and what all is or isn’t included in the certification package.