Cost of Diving DIR

Divingniknaks · November 25th, 2005, 03:28 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Garf)

It also has a lot to do with cost. The fact remains that DIR is an expensive way to approach diving.

Hmmmm, I think I have to pick up on this, we had a discussion a few of us the other day on this very subject.

Quality Stab Jacket BCD - £400+ for a single rig. What hapeens when you twin up ?

Wing and plate = £340 - 375. To add a single wing only £200

Cpl of spools = less than a reel usually.

All the "toys" that the avg "other Agency" diver will buy ? How much ?

I'll grant you canister lights are not cheap, however, I've sold more Salvos to non DIR divers than DIR (they already had 'em mostly)

I really think that if you can get people early enough, the DIR kit route is a less expensive route over the first 3 years by quite abit of money.

Feel free mods to split this one off Bobs post as I think it might make a thread of it's own.

Cheers

Tricky · November 25th, 2005, 03:41 PM

I've bought most of my kit off eBay so have been able to get it for significantly less than if I'd have bought new. This applies even before I started down the Hogarthian/DIR route. eBay is also another factor to consider when replacing existing kit - there is a thriving market there for kit that is not DIR-compliant so the replacement cost can be offset against the resale value of the old kit.

Gareth Burrows · November 25th, 2005, 03:54 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks)

I really think that if you can get people early enough, the DIR kit route is a less expensive route over the first 3 years by quite abit of money.
Cheers

Maybe, but the fact is you are not going to catch them early enough. The majority of divers want a quick and easy course that will let them get diving whilst on holiday. Or they want to join a club and do it over a long period very cheaply indeed. I don't believe the GUE course is going to satisfy either of these requirements.

Divingniknaks · November 25th, 2005, 04:57 PM

I know what you mean, however, John K does a darned good job through his club AIUI. So it can be done.

Maybe as the message spreads that you don't need 200+ dives before thinking about a wing and that Nitrox is Devils Gas, then we have a chance. I do agree that it will be a long slow road though.

I still think it's cheaper in the long run if you get people early enough, it's working out how to do it. I've done a couple of evening kit demos and chats with BSAC clubs this year which have worked wonders to be honest, but again I'm only getting people after they've bought.

It's something I aim to work on next year though, for obvious reasons :D

.

vid · November 25th, 2005, 05:26 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks)

All the "toys" that the avg "other Agency" diver will buy ? How much ?

if you read this month's diver, there's quite a few "classic" bits of kit which seemed like a good idea at the time they came out

there are also some toys which are definitely in the marmite category - buddy dsmb with mini cylinder - you either love it or hate it

i still have my ankle weights - i just don't use them any more (honest) - but to use a poor analogy - how many kids get taught to ride a bike on stabilisers?

vid

vid · November 25th, 2005, 05:33 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks)

I still think it's cheaper in the long run if you get people early enough, it's working out how to do it.

most of our trainees use club equipment (buddy bc's) to train on. then they go and buy buddy bc's - it doesn't matter what input the insutuctors give, there's no way they want to move out of their initial comfort zone

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks)

I've done a couple of evening kit demos and chats with BSAC clubs this year which have worked wonders to be honest, but again I'm only getting people after they've bought.

believe it or not there are some bsac clubs who don't have a buddy bc between them (how open minded is that)

vid

***EBT*** · November 25th, 2005, 05:33 PM

To be fair, there are some heretics who would claim that to strictly follow the letter of the GUE/DIR law on gases can lead to an expensive diving career;

- Quarry diving for skills in 6m is an expensive use of 32%
- Dives in the 30-40m range on 21/35 can be seen as pricey.

Bloody heretics... burn them!

Rob Andrews · November 25th, 2005, 05:35 PM

I was only having this conversation with a friend last night.

We came to the conclusion that most people that want to learn to dive visit their LDS first for advice. The more DIR gear that appears in LDS's the more people will get interested, lets face it everyone likes shiney stuff!!!

It does also need the LDS staff to have some knowledge of the system though so that they can explain it to people who want to learn.

Divingniknaks · November 25th, 2005, 05:40 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by desertrat)

It does also need the LDS staff to have some knowledge of the system though so that they can explain it to people who want to learn.

You and I shared shops before you became my bitch :D

How many of the staff could spell DIR yet explain it ?

I do understand your point flippancy aside, so Niknaks Wholesale then ? Hmmm, theres a thought (not a new one I hasten to add).

Again, it all comes down to education.

.

Rob Dobson · November 25th, 2005, 07:54 PM

Kit that I have bought which I didn't need to - i.e if I had gone straight down the DIR route I would not have bought and these are the prices I paid where the stuff was 2nd hand:

4 X pairs of fins (£455)
4 X torches (£450)
2 X single wings (£635)
2 X SMBs and reels (£150)
1 X twin 10's with MDE manifold (£255)
1 X CD TDB twin bladder wing and BP (£450)
2 X Integated Computers (£755)

So basically the cost to me of not going striaght down the DIR route was over 3 grand. Oops...

November 25th, 2005, 03:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Quote: (Originally Posted by Garf) It also has a lot to do with cost. The fact remains that DIR is an expensive way to approach diving. Hmmmm, I think I have to pick up on this, we had a discussion a few of us the other day on this very subject. Quality Stab Jacket BCD - £400+ for a single rig. What hapeens when you twin up ? Wing and plate = £340 - 375. To add a single wing only £200 Cpl of spools = less than a reel usually. All the "toys" that the avg "other Agency" diver will buy ? How much ? I'll grant you canister lights are not cheap, however, I've sold more Salvos to non DIR divers than DIR (they already had 'em mostly) I really think that if you can get people early enough, the DIR kit route is a less expensive route over the first 3 years by quite abit of money. Feel free mods to split this one off Bobs post as I think it might make a thread of it's own. Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

November 25th, 2005, 03:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tricky(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 555	I've bought most of my kit off eBay so have been able to get it for significantly less than if I'd have bought new. This applies even before I started down the Hogarthian/DIR route. eBay is also another factor to consider when replacing existing kit - there is a thriving market there for kit that is not DIR-compliant so the replacement cost can be offset against the resale value of the old kit. __________________ "I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant." "Make me one with everything" said the Mystic to the Hamburger vendor. UK Diving Forum Sryth: A Free Online Text RPG Join the Adventure! Fallen Sword: Free online RPG

November 25th, 2005, 03:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gareth Burrows(Offline) Chimp 2 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Horsham, West Sussex Posts: 365	Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks) I really think that if you can get people early enough, the DIR kit route is a less expensive route over the first 3 years by quite abit of money. Cheers Maybe, but the fact is you are not going to catch them early enough. The majority of divers want a quick and easy course that will let them get diving whilst on holiday. Or they want to join a club and do it over a long period very cheaply indeed. I don't believe the GUE course is going to satisfy either of these requirements. __________________ Garf Amusing and Clever Signature under construction.

November 25th, 2005, 04:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	I know what you mean, however, John K does a darned good job through his club AIUI. So it can be done. Maybe as the message spreads that you don't need 200+ dives before thinking about a wing and that Nitrox is Devils Gas, then we have a chance. I do agree that it will be a long slow road though. I still think it's cheaper in the long run if you get people early enough, it's working out how to do it. I've done a couple of evening kit demos and chats with BSAC clubs this year which have worked wonders to be honest, but again I'm only getting people after they've bought. It's something I aim to work on next year though, for obvious reasons :D . __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

November 25th, 2005, 05:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Quote: (Originally Posted by desertrat) It does also need the LDS staff to have some knowledge of the system though so that they can explain it to people who want to learn. You and I shared shops before you became my bitch :D How many of the staff could spell DIR yet explain it ? I do understand your point flippancy aside, so Niknaks Wholesale then ? Hmmm, theres a thought (not a new one I hasten to add). Again, it all comes down to education. . __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

November 25th, 2005, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
vid(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: london/surrey border, UK Posts: 353	Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks) All the "toys" that the avg "other Agency" diver will buy ? How much ? if you read this month's diver, there's quite a few "classic" bits of kit which seemed like a good idea at the time they came out there are also some toys which are definitely in the marmite category - buddy dsmb with mini cylinder - you either love it or hate it i still have my ankle weights - i just don't use them any more (honest) - but to use a poor analogy - how many kids get taught to ride a bike on stabilisers? vid

November 25th, 2005, 05:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
vid(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: london/surrey border, UK Posts: 353	Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks) I still think it's cheaper in the long run if you get people early enough, it's working out how to do it. most of our trainees use club equipment (buddy bc's) to train on. then they go and buy buddy bc's - it doesn't matter what input the insutuctors give, there's no way they want to move out of their initial comfort zone Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks) I've done a couple of evening kit demos and chats with BSAC clubs this year which have worked wonders to be honest, but again I'm only getting people after they've bought. believe it or not there are some bsac clubs who don't have a buddy bc between them (how open minded is that) vid

November 25th, 2005, 05:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
*EBT*(Offline) Just another crouton... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 413	To be fair, there are some heretics who would claim that to strictly follow the letter of the GUE/DIR law on gases can lead to an expensive diving career; - Quarry diving for skills in 6m is an expensive use of 32% - Dives in the 30-40m range on 21/35 can be seen as pricey. Bloody heretics... burn them!

November 25th, 2005, 05:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rob Andrews(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wombourne, West Mids, UK Posts: 131	I was only having this conversation with a friend last night. We came to the conclusion that most people that want to learn to dive visit their LDS first for advice. The more DIR gear that appears in LDS's the more people will get interested, lets face it everyone likes shiney stuff!!! It does also need the LDS staff to have some knowledge of the system though so that they can explain it to people who want to learn.

November 25th, 2005, 07:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 533	Kit that I have bought which I didn't need to - i.e if I had gone straight down the DIR route I would not have bought and these are the prices I paid where the stuff was 2nd hand: 4 X pairs of fins (£455) 4 X torches (£450) 2 X single wings (£635) 2 X SMBs and reels (£150) 1 X twin 10's with MDE manifold (£255) 1 X CD TDB twin bladder wing and BP (£450) 2 X Integated Computers (£755) So basically the cost to me of not going striaght down the DIR route was over 3 grand. Oops...