Multi-currency & travel: The cost of scuba diving: training, kit and dive trips
The cost of scuba diving covers a beginner certification course, some personal kit, equipment hire and the dives themselves. In a worked example, a first year with a course and a few dives costs about 1,000.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- The cost of scuba diving covers a course, personal kit, hire and dives.
- In a worked example, a first year costs about 1,000.
- Hire the expensive kit until you dive often enough to justify buying.
- Diving on holiday in cheaper destinations can cost much less.
What is the cost of scuba diving?
Scuba diving opens up a whole underwater world, but it's not a cheap hobby. Before you can dive on your own with a buddy, you'll need a beginner certification course. After that, each dive has a cost, whether you're diving locally or on holiday. Most new divers buy a few personal items, like a mask and fins, and hire the rest. In a worked example, a first year with a course and a few dives costs about 1,000.
Prices vary a lot by country and dive centre. Learning to dive on holiday in some destinations can cost much less than at home, while diving in cold water needs more expensive kit.
Safety matters more than price when choosing where to learn. Look for a dive centre with good reviews, qualified instructors, well-maintained equipment and small groups. A cheap course with poor teaching can leave you less confident and less safe, and you may end up paying for extra training later. Ask how many students each instructor takes and what's included before you book. A few extra questions at the start can save money and give you a much better first experience underwater. Some people try a short introductory dive in a pool first, which costs little and shows whether breathing underwater feels comfortable.
What does a first year of diving cost?
Here's a worked example, in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Item | First year |
|---|---|
| Beginner course | 500 |
| Dives after the course | 300 |
| Mask, fins and snorkel | 100 |
| Kit hire and extras | 100 |
| Total | 1,000 |
The dives figure is six dives at 50 each. A dive holiday with many dives can cost much more, while occasional local dives cost less.
What are the main costs of scuba diving?
Certification course
A beginner course teaches you the theory, practice in a pool and dives in open water. It usually includes hire of the main equipment. Some divers do the theory online at home and the dives on holiday, which can save time and money. It means less of your holiday is spent in a classroom, and you arrive ready to get in the water.
Dives
Each dive usually costs a set fee, covering the boat, guide and air tanks. Packages of several dives are often cheaper per dive. Shore dives, where you walk in from the beach, usually cost less than boat dives, and can be just as rewarding at the right sites.
Personal kit
A mask, fins and snorkel are the first things most divers buy, since a good fit matters. Many also buy a dive computer later, which is a bigger expense.
Hire
Wetsuits, regulators and buoyancy jackets are expensive to buy. Hiring them is the norm for new divers. A full set of kit can cost about 1,500, which only makes sense once you dive often.
Insurance and health
Dive insurance or travel insurance that covers diving is important. Some people need a medical check before diving. Is travel insurance worth it? covers what to look for.
What else adds to the cost of scuba diving?
Travel is often the biggest cost, since many divers fly to warm-water destinations. Further courses, like advanced or specialty courses, add cost as you progress. Servicing your own kit, if you buy it, is a yearly expense. Underwater cameras and housings are tempting extras, though a simple waterproof case for a phone is enough for many divers starting out. Local diving in cold water needs a thicker wetsuit or a drysuit, which costs much more than warm-water kit.
How can you dive for less?
Learn in a cheaper destination, buy dive packages rather than single dives, and hire kit until you're sure you'll dive often. Buy a well-fitting mask and fins second-hand or on sale. Joining a local dive club can bring cheaper dives, kit loans and lifts to dive sites. Travelling outside peak season often brings lower prices too. How to save money on sports kit has more tips on gear.
Work out the cost per dive
Divide what you spend in a year by the number of dives. If you dive only on one holiday a year, hiring kit and buying dive packages makes more sense than owning a full set. Cost per use explains this way of comparing.
How do you track diving costs in Wealtie?
Add a diving category to your expense categories and set a budget for it. If you dive abroad, log costs in the local currency and Wealtie converts them with multi-currency support. How to budget for a trip abroad covers planning the rest of a dive holiday.
Questions people ask
In a worked example, a first year with a beginner course, six dives, a mask, fins and some kit hire costs about 1,000.
In a worked example, a beginner certification course costs about 500, usually including hire of the main equipment.
Hire the expensive kit until you dive often. Most new divers buy only a mask, fins and snorkel.
Learn in a cheaper destination, buy dive packages, hire kit, travel off-season and join a local dive club.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
