Dacorum Sub Aqua Club - Equipment Hire

The Club has six complete sets of training equipment which we hired out to trainees on long term hire and to other members for short term hire. Six sets are kept for try dives. Each set consists of:

a 10 or 12 litre steel cylinder

a buoyancy control device (BCD)

a regulator with alternate source and contents gauge

We also have electronic depth gauges and compasses which can be used as required. We also have a stock of weight belts, fins and masks. We generally don't charge for the loan of these.

Charges

The equipment on short term hire can be hired for pool and open water training dives at a rate of £5 per day of actual use per item signed out from the club store on a Thursday night and returned the following Thursday. Alternatively, the hire charge for a complete set for the whole of the Ocean Diver course is £150, with a £50 cash deposit; or for the Sports Diver course is £200 with a £100 cash deposit. This long term hire lasts the length of your course or one year whichever comes first and you can keep the kit at home and use it for fun diving as well as your training. You are responsible for its care and security and we advise members to check their house insurance to make sure it covers SCUBA equipment.

See the Buying Equipment page to compare the prices of buying and hiring.

What equipment does the club NOT provide?

The club cannot at the moment provide open water clothing such as suits, hoods, gloves or fins that can be used with booted suits. You will need some form of dry suit or semi-dry suit to complete the Ocean Diver course unless you are one of the very few to complete their open water training in the tropics with a commercial dive school.

It is possible for you to rent a suit from a dive shop. It may be possible to borrow from other club members, as a member-to-member arrangement, before deciding which one to buy. Make sure you arrange this, yourself, well in advance of your dive.

Your own gear

You don't have to hire equipment from us: you can buy your own at the start of the course, if you choose to. Some equipment can be bought second hand. Second hand equipment goes on sale at the club and in dive magazines infrequently, so it will take months to assemble what you need. Many people are now using eBay and bargains can be found here - but great care must be taken to ensure and research the condition and service state of items bought here. Ask around the club for advise from those who have bought on diving equipment on eBay before. Most equipment is bought new from dive shops. Mention DSAC at Deep Dive in Luton, Rec 'n' Tec in London Colney or ScubaNet in Aylesbury and you can expect a 10-15% discount..

Most people prefer to buy their own mask and fins early in the course. If you feel cold in the pool, you may need to buy a "shortie" wet suit.

After you have completed the Sports Diver course, you will need to buy your own equipment. Buying your own kit is expensive, but it is also an important step in developing your diving. It is always best to have your own kit which you can tweak to your needs and become familiar with. There is huge amounts of experience in the club - ask around. Most people will be happy to let you try their kit in the pool. Don't rush in, but do plan to invest in your own kit - as this is a sound investment in your future diving enjoyment