Now you've got me curious

What would the initial investment cost to get started in diving?
and spear fishing?

What kind of experience should one have before going out in 90 feet of water?
And is a 90 foot dive considerably different from a 30 or 40 foot dive?
I know that classes are taught around here in the Greenville area but would this be lacking for the experience needed for a saltwater dive?

just wondering out loud here.

Key West 1720 90 4 srtk Yamaha

Lessons - $200-300.
Mask, fins, snorkle - $100-300
BC, Reg, weights, knife, light, wet suit - $800-2000
Gun - $150-500
Tanks - rent or $150 ea
Fills - $4.00

Make sure you get a good regulator, your life depends on it. The rest of the stuff you can get used.
Deep in SC is for grouper, snapper and bugs. Deeper tends to be better for visability since it is far from the muddy water. Shallow is good for sheepies, flounder and occasionally grouper. In tropical areas (Keys, Bahamas, Mexico) Shallow is good for corals and tropical fish. It is awesome down there. Even if you don’t shoot. Mark

23 ft Hydrasports with 225 four stroke yamaha

Some of these prices sound a little high to me. You can get anything used or from a pawn shop with the exception of a regulator. He is right about that. Get a new regulator, thats your lifeline. Everything else can be found at some pretty good deals, especially in the wholesale magazines, like divers direct. I dont know about lessons upstate, but around Garden City, Georgetown area they are aprox. $100 for beginning lessons, increasing with every level.

reelhorney

e-bay is loaded with gear. I have never purchased any of it but ghost rider has much sucess there.

Robert Cox

e-bay is loaded with gear. I have never purchased any of it but ghost rider has much sucess there.

Robert Cox

Go to some dive shops and ask if they have any rental gear for sale. I got a pretty decent BC for cheap from a store. Also if you intent to spearfish don’t buy any colorful stuff. Fish aren’t stupid. I have been underwater watching fish and have a new spearfisherman around and all of a sudden the fish are gone…they know! Darker colors are better.
JF

14’ G’3 w/ 25hp Yamaha 4 stroke “Both Seasons”

OK on equipment, but what about experience needed for these 90 ft dives.
Just take the “advanced class??” and hookup with other divers or what?

Key West 1720 90 4 srtk Yamaha

the more comfortable in the water you are the better…make some more shallow water dives. Go shoot some fish such as sheeps or spades when the water warms up. You’ll learn how to take em off the spear quicker and burn less air. It’s not as easy as it looks.
JF

14’ G’3 w/ 25hp Yamaha 4 stroke “Both Seasons”

Upstate,

Once you get certified, Lake Jocassee can provide you with some decent deep water so you can get “comfortable” within that depth range. The Lake obviously doesn’t have any currents like the ocean does, which will make a difference, but you’ll get a rough idea of how much air you’ll burn through at that depth…Maybe you could pop a largemouth bass if “the man” isn’t around…haha…just kidding, of course!

Pearsall

Man I shot plenty of bass when the man wasn’t around back in my younger “I don’t think they’ll really yell at me cuz I’m young” days. (lol like 6 years ago, havn’t shot one since…had plenty of opportunities, seems like I see all the big ones now that I dont shoot em anymore.) They sure are fun on a spear. Anyone see the article on the bass spearfishing tourny’s in the last spearfishing mag.?
Upstate what kind of gun do you shoot?
Is there a regulation on shooting trout (not the saltwater ones)?
JF

14’ G’3 w/ 25hp Yamaha 4 stroke “Both Seasons”