From: jnickel@netcom.com (John Nickel)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: The Cost of OPENWATER I
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:06:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.1992Nov10.160611.5349
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

dbrown@newssun.med.miami.edu (Daniel Brown) writes:

>Recently I read several articles about a student's 
>"tuition" for his SCUBA class: $450, if I remember
>correctly.  Most of these responses gave the impression
>that he was paying way too much.  I'd like to offer 
>a different opinion.

-- Stuff Deleted --

>I've taught classes on both coasts, and the prices that 
>are offered by dive shops disgust me: on the east coast 
>I've seen course as low as $69, on the west as low as
>$129.  That's ridiculous!!  It encourages quick, shoddy,
>and thus dangerous courses.  Currently, I charge $250 per
>person on the west coast and $100 on the east coast. I 
>teach because I love the sport and so never expected any
>income from it.  But, the fact that I have had to subsidize
>my teaching from the start suggests that maybe $450 isn't
>too much to pay.  In the end, you usually get what you pay
>for.

>Dan Brown
>NAUI 13366

  I concur with Dan to some extent.  The amount that most instructors make
when teaching a class is very minimal.  Over the course of a year I pay for my
membership, insurance, and maybe a piece or two of gear that needs to be
replaced.  Fortunately, I have a fulltime job (even though I still read the net)
and therefore do not relie on my teaching of scuba to make my house payment, or
buy that next cool toy out there.  I have decided that part of the problem is
how people view scuba when they want to get involved in it.

  The sport is complicated enough, and has enough jargon that new people to the
sport find themselves a little overwhelmed.  Their normally good sense of what
is a good deal, and how to compare to apparently equal items goes out the
window!  They don't know the differance between a $69.00 special that covers the
lecture and pool, but does not include the ocean, c-card, etc. and a $450.00
class that includes everything, including rentals for the openwater work.  They
do not have the frame of referance to figure it all out, because they don't
generally have any experiance with it.

  Here is what I think most courses cost around the bay area for a typical O/W I
class:

   Lecture & Pool --  $50-75.00  ( generally includes used of scuba in pool)
   Ocean work     -- $75-100.00  (generally one wkend, does not include rental)
                                  Usually includes c-card fee.)
   Hotel          -- $50-150.00  (Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove area)
   Rentals        -- $50-75.00   (Wet suit, Wt Belt, 2 tanks, BC, reg w/depth
                                  timer, and compass)
   Personal Gear  -- $150-300.00 (Mask, snorkle, fins, booties, gloves, mesh
                                  gear bag, Course book, log book, tables)
   Second week    -- $75.00 >>   (An optional second week of ocean work, might
                                  include a couple of boat dives)
   Rentals 2nd Wk -- $50-75.00   (see above)

I will let you add this all up.  Diving is not any cheaper, or more expensive
than any other sport to get into, and get some experiance in.  The problem is
people are sold on the $50-75.00 dollar special for the lecture and pool and
are not told up front about the other expenses.  When some one finally brings
the subject of $$$$$ up, the student is offended or angry because they though
the $50-75.00 was all inclusive.

  My final word before I close:  Be a consumer.  Go out there and try to
compare apples to apples, and organes to organes!  You will learn a lot just by
asking about what is included, the number of open water dives, the cost of stay
in the area, etc, etc, etc.  You have the power to select who you want as your
instructor and you will pay for a certification.

John

jnickel@netcom.com 
Remember:  Sharks are just tasting you!
Take pictures, take memories, take friends, but do not take advantage of oceans.