Scuba diving doesn’t have to be expensive. Compared to many other ‘adventure’ sports, learning to dive can be great value for money.
Joining a BSAC clubs is the most cost-effective way to start diving. You will pay your BSAC membership and our club’s subscription for the year and then our club instructors will provide your training. Local club fees vary but typically you could learn to dive (and get other club benefits such as pool access, events and diving opportunities once you’ve learned) for between £250 and £400.
Why not book a no-strings Try Dive with us and we will explain all about the costs of diving and joining a scuba club.
The answer to this question is that it depends…
To be a qualified Ocean Diver you need to complete six theory lessons (either in-person or via eLearning), five sheltered water (pool) lessons and four open water lessons (plus some other bits, like theory and swimming tests). Your training might be organised in different ways, for example doing all the theory sessions in one weekend, or doing one a week for seven weeks. Obviously, doing it in one sitting means you can be qualified quicker!
So, you could be finished very quickly, or it might take you a little while. We will want to make sure that you are safe and happy underwater, which means we’ll be looking after you through your training so that you can be a safe diver while doing lots of exciting diving.
We offer ‘Try Dives’ in a pool and will provide all the equipment. All you need to bring is your bathing suit and perhaps a t-shirt to wear over it. Once you start your Ocean Diver training, it’s a good idea to purchase your own basic gear – a mask, fins and snorkel.
When you progress to open water and especially in the UK you will require a wetsuit or drysuit. These can be hired from dive shops, but you may want to purchase your own to ensure a good fit and familiarisation. It is often only when you are qualified that divers obtain their own full set of gear, although some prefer to hire it, especially when travelling overseas.
As with most specialist gear, there can be a huge range in prices, but budget on £130 upwards for a pair of fins, mask and snorkel. Wetsuits for UK diving start from around £250 and drysuits from £650, going up to over £2,000 for a top-end drysuit. To fully equip a diver, expect to pay around £2,000 although if your kit is well-maintained this will be a long-term investment.
