About MONUC

The Monash University Underwater Club is open to all students at monash regardless of campus!!!!
The club is all about being underwater, with most of the club being involved with SCUBA diving, and the rest in underwater hockey. We dive anywhere and everywhere, whether it be the tangled wrecks of the shipwreck coast, the waving rocky kelp of Phillip Island, the colourful sponge gardens of Port Phillip Bay or even the tropical reefs of Queensland! And since you can't spend all day in the water, there's a lot of time leftover for socialising, telling stories about "that huge shark/cray/wreck" and generally having a great old time.

Membership of the Monash University Underwater Club is open to everyone but is mainly aimed at Current Monash Students (ANY CAMPUS), Graduates, Staff and other friendly people.

SCUBA Diving is not the cheapest sport to become involved with, however it has many unique and rewarding experiences to offer. If money is an issue (as it is with most of us) then you have taken the right step in joining MONUC. It may not seem like it at first but when you add up all the costs associated with diving commercially you will soon see the savings and benefits in being associated with MONUC, particularly if you choose to further you diving qualification and be an active member in the club. If you are considering a dive course for the first time there are some basic costs involved, which include:

1.	A dive medical which costs about $100 (higher for none students). This is required by all people when first obtaining a diving license, it assesses your physical fitness to dive. Monash University Clayton has diving certified doctors on campus at the Union Building. Information and contact details for SCUBA certified Monash doctors can be found at the Monash Health Service site under Medicals. Complete list of Victorian Diving Doctors at SPUMS
2.	The cost of membership to MONUC is $20 (per year for students, higher for staff, community members). See Club Membership information
3.	2008: Courses will be run through AB OCEAN Divers with a large discount to the advertised price - contact club committee for details - See the brochure below. Beginner course brochure (pdf)
4.	The course at Ocean Divers includes all gear - you don't have to spend another cent while doing the course. To go diving after the course you will have to buy/hire everything except BC,regulators and tanks which you can hire at very low cost from the club. The club does have a selection of wetsuits, a few weightbelts, masks, fins, etc. and other things to help get you started, but you'll need to buy your own pretty soon.

So the approximate cost to do a beginner course is $325 plus about $100 for the medical, and on completion of the course you will be an internationally certified diver. You will now be able to go on club trips, dive from the club boat and hire club gear.

This is the bare essential cost for obtaining you diving license. It is however, highly recommended that new divers purchase personal equipment like:

1.	Wetsuit, a 7 mm new wetsuit starts at about $400-$450, or you can hunt around for a second hand one if you want to save some money but it may take some time to find the style you want and that fits well.
2.	Mask and Fins each starting at about $40-$50.
3.	Snorkel, Gloves and Booties at about $20-$30 each.
4.	Weight Belt at about $70-$80.

This is the basic gear cost involved, you can of course borrow some of this gear from friends or family to save money. If you are considering making good use of your license you should purchase the above items. As you gain experience you may choose to buy other items, such as safety gear i.e. lights, strobes, a SMB, a knife, etc., but for now what has been mentioned above is the bare essentials for getting started.