Sirsalliyan Small Air Compressor

Diving Compressor

Diving On A Budget - How To SCUBA Dive Cheaply

How to get cheap diving

In this article I'll focus on some points to keep in mind, if you're looking for cheap dives on any holiday destination. I currently work as a SCUBA instructor, and get to go diving in Cambodia every day, but the advise dispensed below are pretty universal and should help you pay less for your diving regardless of where you go diving.

Let them know your intention:

In my own diving career and life I've travelled extensively in the Middle East and Asia, and everywhere - without exception - I've found that it pays to let the guy behind the counter know you're looking for cheap diving. It might sound inane, but often people don't get what they want simply because they're too embarassed to ask for it! Either that or because they assume they'll find the cheapest diving if they just go to a couple of shops, and chose the cheapest of the qouted prices. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ask for a discount. What's the worst thing that can happen? Also for the person selling the diving, it's convenient to know what that particular customer's most important parameter is; There's no need for him to go on at lenght about their staff, boat and equipment. I don't mean to imply that these things aren't important, they are of course! - the point is just to let the guy know that for all you care, he could be selling diving from a luxurios yacht with complimentary backrubs - you still didn't want it unless it was reasonably priced.

Know the real reason why you should be able to get a discount

Buying diving is not like buying furniture. When you buy a new sofa, the shop you buy it from has to get it somewhere. The difference between the price you pay for the sofa and the price they pay for the sofa is what makes their living. Diving on the other hand is comparatively more complex - you essentially only buy air. The wear and tear on the rental gear, maintenance of the compressor, fuel for the boat etc. doesn't actually add up to all that much in reality, although any dive shop owner will have you believe otherwise. Even the salary of a divemaster isn't much (and they usually guide groups, so one person more or less shouldn't matter, if the divemasters are paid per dive.) Any new scuba shop will be struggling to make back the rather large start-up investment, but once they've established themselves and they break even it's all gravy when customers walk in the door. They'll make money if they charge 20 euro for a dive, but they'll also make money if they only charge 10. Alright, so this is the real reason why you shouldn't need to pay a premium for diving, however this doesn't mean that it's a good barganing chip; Most dive shops owners get rather annoyed when people talk about their business as if they knew anything about it. Just keep this knowledge to yourself, and instead focus on:

Your bargaining chips

These are the reasons or arguments that I have found persuasive both when I'm in front of the counter and when I'm behind it. You may find that some of these apply to you. If so,  mentioning them might help to get you cheaper diving.

Let them know if you require less service than other customers. If you and your buddy prefer to explore on your own, and don't need or want a divemaster for example, this might help the dive center to save some money. If they have a policy of only four or six divers per divemaster for example, then you stepping in as diver no. seven, means that they don't need to worry about hiring another divemaster for the trip.

Also, don't forget to mention that you have your own equipment if you do. Having own equipment is always a good point, as they don't have to worry about wear and tear on rental gear, and more importantly - they can rent the gear to someone else and make even more money.

If you're a diving professional yourself, it sometimes pays to mention it, hoping that your shared profession and love of the sea would persuade them to give a discount. It works more often than you'd think! Additionally the shop knows that you'll be a good and safe diver, who most likely won't cause any problems. I've sometimes found that I've been asked if I could possibly guide a dive or two in return for free diving another day. These are golden opportunities to grab, when you're just passing through and not actually looking for work.  

Do mention if you represent larger financial interests. You may well get a discount if your word, advise or recommendation could potentially bring in customers to the shop. If you're chairman of a diving club, a journalist for a scuba magazine, a tour organizer or something of the kind mention it! Don't lie however - you'll feel stupid if they catch you. One guy came into a diveshop in Dumaguete (In the Philippines), thoughlessly asking to be taught to dive for free, because he was an underwater photographer. Needless to say, he became quite a laughing stock. Another guy was a journalist of profession and wanted to become a PADI divemaster in Cambodia - in the end we worked out a deal, where he actually paid less than half price, but in return wrote a number of articles about the local diving in Cambodia.

If none of the above works for you, then there's no reason to give up. Just asking, without any reason at all, often yields results. If need be you can justify your request for a discount with being a poor student, really wanting to but not having the money or something of the kind. Remember, buying diving is no different from buying anything else. With diving you have the added advantage, that at most diving destinations you have the shops close together; There's nothing stopping you from walking out and talking to the neighbour, and the dive shops know it. Use this to your advantage, and you're already on your way to cheaper diving!

About the Author

Dive instructor, webmaster of www.gotomalapascua.com - the independent guide to everything about Malapascua; the amazing diving, accommodation, travel tips and do's and don'ts.

Diving $6 Diving

Diving In $34.99 Alberto Ruggieri Diving In - Giclee Print

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Chronograph Limited Mens Watch Q186T770 $12425.17 Titanium case with a black rubber bracelet. Unidirection rotating brushed titanium bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and stick hour markers. Arabic numerals mark the 6 and 12 o'clock positions. Date displays between the 4 and 5 o'clock position. 12 ho

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Ladies Watch Q1898720 $9200.74 Stainless steel case. White rubber strap. Silver guilloche dial. Extended date displays at 3 o'clock position. Bezel set with diamonds. Movement operating indicator. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Deployment clasp. Case diameter 38mm. Automatic movem

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving GMT 46.3 Mens Watch Q184T770 $10357.5 Grade 5 titanium case with a black rubber bracelet. Unidirectional rotating titanium engraved bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and stick hour markers. Arabic numerals mark the 6 and 12 o'clock positions. Minute markers around the outer rim. Date disp

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving GMT Mens Watch Q187T170 $9232.5 LIMITED EDITION. Titanium case with a titanium link bracelet. Unidirectional rotating titanium bezel. Black dial with silver-tone hands and index hour markers. Arabic numerals mark the 6 and 12 o'clock positions. . Minute markers around the outer rim. Lum

Jaeger Le-Coultre Master Compressor Diving Chronograph Mens Watch Q1862640 $23691.42 18k rose gold case with a black rubber bracelet. Unidirectional rotating 18kt rose gold bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and index hour markers. Arabic numerals mark the 6 and 12 o'clock positions. Minute markers. Pulsometer scale around the outer ri

Diving Baby $10 Diving Baby

Diving Into Darkness $10.49 Diving Into Darkness

Diving Bell $10.49 Diving Bell

Competitive Diving $19.99 Competitive Diving - Premium Poster

Woman Diving $24.99 Woman Diving - Photographic Print

Diving Start $24.99 Diving Start - Photographic Print

Man Diving $19.99 Man Diving - Premium Poster

Diving Bather $24.99 Diving Bather - Photographic Print

Platform Diving $24.99 Platform Diving - Photographic Print

Diving School $24.99 Diving School - Photographic Print

Diving Instructor $24.99 Diving Instructor - Photographic Print

Diving Trio $24.99 Diving Trio - Photographic Print

Diving Manoeuvres $24.99 Diving Manoeuvres - Photographic Print

Diving for Football $19.99 Diving for Football - Premium Poster

Diving Suits $8.99 Diving Suits - Art Print

Diving Whale $6.99 Prellop Diving Whale - Art Print

Diving for Abalone $79.99 Diving for Abalone - Premium Photographic Print

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Chrono GMT Automatic Mens Watch Q178T170 $11235 Titanium case with a titanium bracelet. Unidirectional black PVD bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and index hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Dial Type: Analog. Date display appears between the 4 and 5 o'clock position. Two sub-dials