ATTENTION SCUBA LADIES! Womens only dive charter help/advice!

[harlieclements]

I understand that men also appreciate charters like the one proposed but recently I have noticed in my local area fewer women learning to dive and fewer already certified women continuing to dive! The charter is women's only because I have not observed this problem in the male divers that I associate with. I am basing this on the divers that I know personally and that are active in my local area, I understand that this may be different in other parts of the world.

I hope that through my research I can uncover why it is that many certified female divers are discontinuing to dive! From feedback already many women have expressed discomfort of equipment, feeling rushed and pressured and diving to depths and in temperatures that were not suited to them as factors that have discouraged them from continuing to dive. I thought, if I take these factors into account and create an experience around minimising these factors as much as possible then maybe more women in my local area would be encouraged to get in the water more!
My project is a feasability study looking at is there a demand for this kind of operation? Maybe at the end of my research I will find that there isn't a demand and as you say "there is no need to be a women to prefer a charter like this".

[ktomlinson]

The trend for divers in general is to learn how and then quit...keeping divers active is one of the best things the industry can do to grow. I have been invited on men only dive charters (because obviously women cant go on a spearfishing trip) and didn't go, I thought it was bull**** to exclude someone based on sex. That's my emotional side. From my business side, I'd worry you wouldn't have enough people to be successful if you excluded members of an already limited clientele. You also mentioned gear...I'm not saying this just because it's ScubaBoard, but backplates and wings are very customizable and may be good for divers who can't get a jacket style bc to fit.

[a22shady]

I personally dont think men are any better or more qualified in diving than women. Nor do I feel or believe that men have any advantage or that our "sex" has anything to do with the comforts we like. Also there is specific equipement out there for women that is not only "pink". My G/F for instance Dives with me She uses a Halcyon Backplate/Wing that was "fit" to her as all backplates are set-up. She also dives with a womens Black/Blue Bare HD Tech-dry Drysuit. She dives every bit as well as I do if not better, only difference is I tend to be better on Air. She actually dives with Doubles (2 HP100 XS Scuba Tanks) Carries them herself, Loads/Unloads herself does everything. She is not a big girl Nor a super Skiny girl She is average about 5'6 130lbs. I have met some women who are way better divers than I am, Some of the best divers out there are women. I think have a good Idea but I dont feel women are at any disadvantage. Skills/equipment/diving is what you make out of it.

After reading through your last post, Being rushed can cause any new student anxiety and make them nervous or scared, Not being properlly prepared can have more of an impact on others, Using the Right equipment will make a big difference. As you stated in your part it is this way, i know here in the USA there are more men divers than women I would say but women are not lacking. Good luck on research

[Sheri SGR]

Great idea, I will definitely fill out the survey. We recently took a group of women out on the Bodyglove boat for a day of diving and more women targeted fun, check out the story maybe some ideas for your charter. (Bob probably not an option but the other items probably are)
http://scubagearreports.com/index.ph...d=45&Itemid=27

[SeaStar1]

Interesting career path. I wish you the best of luck. I completed your survey.

[Thalassamania]

I don't understand the linkage between working on a marine biology degree and a survey looking at a female only dive charter.

Your survey question have rather limited possible responses, many of the questions assumed boundaries and limitations that I do not see as existing.

As far as gear is concerned, I really feel that the idea that there is not good female gear out there is rather a myth. My view is that much of the gear out there sucks, regardless of the sex of the wearer, but the women have a better opportunity to complain. I have been helping women scientists find gear that works well for them since 1973, and it really is not a problem. Today, BP/w's are almost always the best choice for women, custom wetsuits are often a must. But, if one is concerned that an extra 5mm to 14mm of neoprene or a dry suit will not show off one's figure to the best advantage, then this is the wrong sport, face it, snot on the upper lip is not that attractive either.

[nuderdiver]

Through market research the aim of this study is to attempt to plan a successful and unique, women only diving charter operation.. This unique diving operation will be specific to womens needs and limitations while diving, committed to keeping women in the water while offering enrichment activities that will expand knowledge and keep women healthy and interested in diving.

As a small business owner (not scuba related), I dunno why anyone would want to eliminate a large potential market. Anyone considering what you suggest needs to ask themselves:

a). Is there SUFFICIENT market demand for this service?
b). Is there SUFFICIENT profit to be made by marketing this service?
c). Is pursuing this line of business the most efficient use of my capital (or at least a good use of my capital)?

My gut feeling is that to all of these questions is "no". Can you prove otherwise? That's what I would focus on. The basic feasibility of what you propose. Leave out all of the questions of WHY women would want such a service, etc.

One thing to keep in mind is that if no one else is offering a service, there is very little (if any) for someone to start offering that service. This is because no customers are being lost to the "first mover". Balancing this fact against the risk of BECOMING the "first mover" results in very little incentive to become the "first mover". This only becomes untrue in the event of serve pent-up demand for the proposed service, the promise of quick returns and the ability to establish a strong market position before competitors are introduced into the market.

Being a dive operator is a capital intensive business. Once the capital is invested, one must make the most use of those efficient assets as possible. In your case - if a tour is routinely booking at, say, 75%, that's a 25% loss of revenue just because a few guys are not on board. In the meantime, if the "anyone board" tours are routinely filling up at 100%, it isn't going to take very long before the "women only" tours are discontinued.

Overall, I agree with T - this is more of a project for a business class than a marine science class. The only thing "marine" about it is that salt water may be involved. I'm surprised the instructor would approve the project - but I wish you the best of luck.

[nuderdiver]

One of the major limitations that I have found when compared to male dive buddies is equipment!

This has nothing to do with a dive charter - it's an equipment issue.

Women arn't as physically strong (generally) as men and are often not given alternative ways of doing things in the water. For example - putting on your gear in water at the suraface, entries and exits - there are ways to make it easier - it doesn't have to be about brute strength.

Again, this is a training or technique issue - nothing to do with a dive operator.

When diving with a large group of men I have also found a deterrent to be the pace in which dives progress! It seems to me that men are keen to dive to as deep as possible for as long as possible in search of the biggest crayfish, in the past this has left me feeling pressured and uncomfortable as I have been stuck with this particular dive buddy.

This is a dive buddy issue. Buddy up or go on the dive with another woman. Not a dive operator issue.

[photog]

...

Your survey question have rather limited possible responses, many of the questions assumed boundaries and limitations that I do not see as existing....

...face it, snot on the upper lip is not that attractive either.

Hah! I'd agree the things we do on a dive trip are not particularly attractive. I know, in my case, I only took up diving so I could spit (in my mask) without being so offensive!

I have organized group dive trips and charters for 18 years. Only one of them was 100% for women and I had trouble to fill it, but it was a fun trip.

What I noticed mostly on that trip, which was all photographers, was that everyone had a chance to learn more about their underwater photo gear. Many of the women were accustomed to a spouse, S.O., or friend taking care of their gear. I still see that on mixed group trips now.. a LOT.

On the mixed F/M groups, the hardy divers that do the most dives and stay underwater the longest, are very often female. I don't have a % on it, but I'm guessing it is better than 50/50 if I looked at all the groups I've organized and escorted over the years.

The problem many women have, is that they prefer not to share a cabin with a man, and they travel solo because their spouse, SO, or friends at home don't want to do such exotic trips. The women I see are mostly very independent, 40-70 years, and almost all are "attached".

Because I am female, I can always guarantee a woman diver she will share with a woman when she joins one of my groups. That helps a lot and I have more solo women travelers join us because of that.

Something to think about.. but I'm not doing the survey!

[TSandM]

I did your survey.

I have done an all-female dive trip, but it wasn't your run-of-the-mill dive trip. It was four women together, cave diving in MX. We enjoyed it. I don't think there was anything pink among us

For me, the biggest difference in an all-women trip is not feeling the need to "man up" about things -- I have much less hesitancy in requesting help moving heavy gear, or getting up a ladder.

I would not travel across the world to go out on an all-female charter -- but then again, I wouldn't travel around the world to go out on ANY charter where I didn't either bring my own buddy or know a great deal about the people who were going to be on the boat.