Grampian Sub Aqua Club - scuba diving in Aberdeen City & Shire
Equipment and Training: How Much Will it Cost??
To train with us, you will first need to join both the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club (see ScotSAC web site; currently £55pa plus a first year cost for your training schedule pack ). Grampian Branch Membership is normally £150pa (£75 for under 24s) but new joiner benefit from a discounted initial 2 year membership at £200 (£100 for under 24s).
Once you have joined the branch, to train with us in the pool, all you need are fins, mask and snorkel. For the first few sessions you should be able to borrow these, but we ask trainees to get these items fairly soon into training. Because you will be aiming to use your fins eventually in the open water on dry suit boots, we recommend open heel fins worn with neoprene pool boots/shoes. You can expect to pay about £120 for this kit new, but for fins (the most expensive of the items), second hand options are often available. All other equipment for the pool is provided by the club-in fact apart from your dry suit (see below) club membership allows unlimited and free use pool and open water dive equipment from the club until you have completed training (1-2y), after which a small rental charge may be made Once you have completed training we do encourage you to begin to acquire your own independent set of kit.
Before you progress to the sea (typically before the end of the pool training season in March), you will need to obtain a dry suit. If you are lucky you might find a good second hand suit locally; but if you are buying new you can expect to spend between £500 and £800 depending on whether you go for "off the peg" or "made to measure". Your dry suit will last you many years and is best compared to the investment you would need to make in starting many other outdoor sports (think about a mid-range mountain bike). Apart from the dry suit, the club can provide all other equipment for open water diving, and this is one of the benefits you get as a club member. Most members do gradually start to collect their own scuba kit once they complete training.
Our experienced members are happy to offer advice on dive kit and its purchase, whether new or second hand, and for expensive items such as dry suits we strongly recommend taking advice in this way before making any purchase