Dude you don’t have to sacrifice the jeep or the share air part! Both are very compatible. I have let my jeep take me to some wonderful dive spots in Arizona, California, Utah and Mexico. Not only has she taken me there she has also carried the gear closer to the water than any ones else’s ride and that means a lot when your carrying two “80 cube’sâ€.
I am a PADI Rescue diver; I have held my “C†card since 84.
Yes it’s an expensive hobby, but let’s be realistic here, do you really need to own your own BCD? Regulators? 2.1mm,8.0mm wet suit and a dry suit for those really cold dives?
I can see owning your own gear if you plan on doing it a lot. I do own my own regulators and dry suit. BUT god help me if I change weight!
Realistically how much diving are you really going to be doing each year?
Your regulators have to be serviced every 5 years, not even counting your dive computer! Tanks go in every year, and a major inspection every 5. Trust me here it’s a whole lot easier to rent those, and the rest of your big buy dive gear the first few years till you know how much your going to be diving. You should buy your own mask, fins, even a padded pouch type of weight belt if you want comfort.
But the rest, wait and see. Where ever you go there will be a dive store just wanting to rent you a set of reg’s and BCD cheap.
I own most of my equipment but it has taken me 20 years (finding the specialty gear on sale), I still let the local stores own the tanks, 8 bucks to rent or 5 to fill. You do the math.
But there is nothing like a long day in the mountains 4 wheeling and a cool dip in a local lake with a spear gun to shoot dinner. Just call when your in need of a dive partner.