Hey, happy divers! I’m excited about my post today. I hope it’s something that divers on a tight budget out there will find useful. Scuba diving is, after all, an expensive sport. For instance, even before you get to enjoy scuba diving, just getting certified can set you back thousands of pesos. And once you get hooked, you’ll need to invest in the gear! And then of course, there’s the travelling too! It seems like a never-ending stream of spending. However, all divers will agree that it’s worth it.

Still, how do we divers get the most bang for our buck? Well, here’s a few tips and tricks that will keep your wallet afloat while you’re exploring marine life underwater:

Scuba Diving Certification 

Getting certified is definitely an essential requirement for scuba divers as it teaches us safety measures, restrictions and proper diving techniques. If you’re living in an expensive country, getting your first scuba diving certification course can cost you hundreds of dollars. In the Philippines, that’s thousands of pesos. Furthering your scuba education can also cost you even more. After discovering what the realm of the underwater world can offer and after hanging out with experienced divers, you’d definitely be itching to learn more. Taking another step up the certification ladder will definitely add up to the cost.

So is there anything we can do to make this less expensive? Sure! If you’re willing and want to save some cash, take online lessons. Go to your favorite scuba diving training agency’s website and check out their online certification courses. This will definitely cost less than the actual training. 

Carefully Planning Your Diving Trips

This is where I feel lucky. Scuba diving in Cebu is easy for me since I’m also from Cebu and most great diving locations are just an hour’s drive away. While I was learning to dive, I didn't have to go too far either and I also had a couple of friends with me so we always split the gas and other expenses. 

However, there are divers out there who do not live near the water and need to book flights, hotel accommodations, etc. so they can enjoy the sport. But, see, first of all, if you’re still learning to dive, you don’t actually need “warm, tropical waters”, whatever’s available near your area should work, as you are still learning. 

Also, as a beginner, you can always take a dive program at a pool or beach near you. Check out your nearest dive center to see what they can offer you.

Just getting a feel for scuba diving doesn't need to be expensive. Once you’re ready for the real thing, then you can look up some great travel destinations for budget travelers (like me!) and start saving for that trip. Don’t forget to look up diving in Cebu! There’s tons of great places here that offer package deals and all-around cheap diving trips.

When you do plan your diving trips and want to stretch your budget, travel on off seasons. Visibility might not be so great but the experience will still be amazing. Sometimes, dive packages and tours can unnecessarily place overpriced rates on “summer rates”, try to go on another season or look up dive spots in places where summer is basically all year round, like Cebu or Southeast Asia in general.

You can also look up dive spots that are not as well-known as others since these will considerably be cheaper. Keep in mind, though, that the less developed a place is, the more difficult it is to get there. It might take multiple transfers from plane to boat to bangka (outrigger canoe) to pedicab and it might be difficult to find a place to stay once you get there, nevertheless, locals will always find ways to help you. Hey, even cheap trips come with a price.

Save on food. If you can, book a place where you can cook. My favorite is always when you can stay with locals. Do your homework and you’ll find places where locals offer their backyards so you can pitch a tent and cook for a minimal fee in their kitchen. Diving in Cebu is fairly cheap since one can find carenderias scattered all over however if you are travelling anywhere else, try bringing along your own refrigerator-free, microwavable food.

In essence, when planning your scuba trips, be smart and do a lot of research before booking anything. This will help you save tremendously and focus on the great diving experience and not the money.

Scuba Diving Gear

Scuba divers love their gear. However, if you don’t want to spend too much money on gear, then you don’t have to. Reputable dive centers will always have equipment available for rent that passes safety inspections and is serviced at least once a year. Check that out carefully and see if that works for you.

There are also a lot of great deals out there, if renting isn’t your thing. Some great second-hand gear can be bought through word-of-mouth, some on the internet, some your local dive centers might be willing to part with at an affordable price. If you’re willing to look and try everything out, you should be able to buy quality scuba dear at a lower cost.

Just be careful, though. And I can’t stress it out enough, please test the gear and give it a good once over before deciding to buy them.

Prioritizing Expenses

Just like anyone who’s into a particular sport, be it scuba diving or baseball, we tend to save a little money just for the love of the sport. It’s necessary too. Life, after all, isn’t all about work or paying bills. 

However, in order to survive in this world, we need to prioritize our living expenses, we can’t just ignore certain necessary things in life (like bills) or run up our credit limit just to get the best gear or go on dive trips each month. 

So if you’re into scuba diving, consider having a “diving fund”, be it a savings account in a bank or a little tin can where you stuff extra bills for that next dive trip, it doesn't matter. Prioritizing expenses is simply very important for budget divers like us.

Well, there you go! With some careful planning and a little open-mindedness, you can always have fabulous scuba diving experiences without breaking the bank. With these tips in mind, maybe you can plan a few more diving trips than usual.

Thanks for reading and safe diving, everyone!