Getting started with next to no budget. Possible?

[BigShot]

Hey folks,

Right now all I have is a 3:2 surfing wetsuit with no hood and a pair of 3mm split-toe boots
I have no gloves and the swim fins I had in the good ol' days of swimming for my town no longer fit barefoot so no hope with boots on.

My most immediate thoughts are that I need a spear (going to make a Hawaiian sling and a spear to shoot with it) and fins so I can move well and hunt. I'll be needing weights too, I expect.

After that I'll need something to extend my time in the water, so a hood, gloves (probably need these anyway for fish handling) and some socks for under the fins (which I'll have to get before the fins anyway, I believe). Much later I'll get a (probably custom) 2-piece with built-in hood and a more suitable thickness.

My problem (or at least, my problem in this context ) is lack of funds.
I'm borderline broke. I may have a dribble of cash coming in the next week, but apart from that... pockets are empty.

There's next to nothing on ebay and new prices on most fins seem to be way out of my reach.
Having no idea how much weight I'm going to need I don't even know where to start looking for that part.

So, can anyone suggest a way for me to get the kit I need without breaking the bank?
I'm happy to beg or borrow on most things... but I do draw the line at stealing, so no hopping onto church roofs for lead. Buying second hand wouldn't be out of the question either if the saving is big enough.

 

[Simos]

Hmmm you can look at the freebies sections of classified sites like gumtree - if you are lucky you might find gear here and there that people are trying to get rid of or alternatively just collect lots of freebies (eg furniture) and try to sell them for a bit of money - you might save enough to buy some second hand gear... Good luck!

 

[Simos]

Or just save enough money for a cheap ticket to a hot country and move there, you won't need a suit

 

[Andrew the fish]

this is rather philosophycal question. One should always shop carefully whether one has lotsa money or very little. While shopping carefully (or digging through a pile of junk), consider the fact that using inferior equipment subtract from overall joy of doing whatever is that we are doing.

My advice - go and get the money, you need them anyway :blackeye. Once you have money it will be a matter of priority, question of what is more important to you. I hear about not having enough money a lot, usually from youger folks. But when one consider carefully his/her priorities, it turns out not having 200$ for a wetsuit but finding 7000$ for a new motorcycle is hardly a question of having money at all.

 

[BigShot]

I hear you, Andrew.
I sincerely wish it was just a matter of priorities - oh how many things I'd be able to do if it wasn't like that!

I'd love to be able to choose between a $200 wetsuit and a $7000 bike... I'd get a $4000 bike, a new bow (archery), a full set of spearfishing gear and have plenty of money left over!

Hey if the money is imaginary I can spend it however I like!

 

[Chris_C_NZ]

Why dontcha see if you can get a job working in a dive shop - getting paid in gear?

 

[BigShot]

Now there's an idea I hadn't thought of!
Doubt I'd have time to get that set up before I head off on my summer road trip, but it's definitely a thought.

Can see a potential issue with not knowing my arse from my elbow with dive gear, but if they could see past that I'd be set.