I've seen several versions of the SNUBA rig. My personal choice is the small raft that you strap a SCUBA tank onto and have the regulator and about a 20 ft
or so hose to for exploring the reef.
They are a lot cheaper than the compressor, around $550 to $600 for a full set-up, the air last a lot longer as long as your staying fairly shallow, and for that 2nd dive just change the tank, no battery to recharge.
Why folks don't want to go to that setup is quite simple. In order to fill the tank they have to have an air card which means they have to take lessons.
I actually bought one of those floats today. I got the Seac Bounty instead of the Seac Seamate. Bounty is made better. I also ordered a 25' Miflex scuba hose. I will be putting two tanks on the float and a larger dive flag.
I have been able to dive this year but the weight on my neck getting my equipment to the water has been hard. I am also thinking of getting an electric golf cart to take all my equipment to the water. I have a trailer for one already.
I am disabled but not dead. I still want to enjoy this hobby as long as I can.
If anyone has the desire to find the things I find, I really would recommend you get certified. You learn things like the easiest way to put on a weight belt, a wet suit and how to ditch your equipment in case of an emergency. How NOT to PANIC when you get into a situation. I dive in weeds over 6' tall. I stay calm and I can get gold out of them. Some are spooked when they can't see. I dive in "0" visibility lakes and can get gold, silver and coins. I have had a lot of practice and training.
Do you know what to do if your mask gets kicked off? If your mask strap breaks? If your regulator gives out and starts free flowing all your air? ALL that can happen on scuba, snuba or hookah.
Water kills and has killed one of my best friends and two acquaintances that were wading while detecting. (Actually to be fair, one had a heart attack while wading and then drowned) NO piece of gold or silver or even a metal detector is worth your life. Sure you might be able to jump in and be just fine. However, no shame in learning safety tricks and tips at all.
I won't advise anyone to buy a hookah and dive without training although you don't need any. You can also buy tanks off Craigslist and a compressor off fee-bay and fill your own tanks.
Is the gold I find worth the risk? Last year I found over 6 grand in gold and over a grand in silver. 50 gold rings, two gold bridges, a gold ear ring, 307 silver coins including 21 halves and over 100 sterling rings, bracelets, religious metals and pins. If you get trained you can find enough to pay for the training and in my personal experience it would be well worth the expense.
Another great thing about training is once you have your sea card it is good for life. I got certified in March of 1980. No need for checkups, no need for refresher courses if you stay diving and remember things. All you need to do is keep diving and keep calm. Do not expect the results I get. You have to have the time, patience and spots I have come across in order to get great results.
On the coast that is hard. Water 20' deep one day can be dry another when the tide goes out. Waders can clean those areas up. Inland lakes and rivers are great for the kind of hunting I do BUT people have had to swim there at one time. There are 11 thousand lakes in Michigan. No way I can hit all of them and all the spots that had beaches. Even behind private homes I have made a killing because there used to be a camp or a hang out spot before the home was built. However, weeds and muck have overtaken those great swimming holes and you have your work cut out for you to swing a machine. You can make the clear water black in absolutely no time at all.
Think before you jump in. I will take anyone that wants to try diving with me, BUT only in shallow water you could stand up in and have your head out of the water. You could at least see if my kind of hunting is for you.
OK at that price I definitely would get one! 
I can see a purpose for it in several areas I hunt around here...Working the ROI parameters now...
Easy money though! Plus, I can smoke all I want! Cant do that with a hookah!
