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It's very similar where I live and dive too.The number of divers out and about has always been a very intangible thing. For the most part local diving is done in small groups or solo at common and obscure spots and they come and go. For that matter in many cases you'd be hard pressed to detect them while they are down for the dive. In areas which diving I think many mode divers come and go than you would realize. Also being the concientious bunch that we are we dont leave much evidence of our visits.
Scuba involves a lot of work for the amount of time of play
I was going to say, scuba and golf are two entirely different things. Yeah scuba is a lot more work but the payoff to me is hundreds of times better than any golf game I ever played.A statement I agree with, but one's interpretation of that statement is the difference between being hooked, and just having "something to do".
It saddens me that there are so many who fill their plate with "something to do", but aren't hooked by anything...regardless of whether they dive or not.
As a 20 something diver I think there are less young divers because of the modern attitude towards diving. I wasn't alive for the old attitude towards diving. I can only gleam it from stories and wiser folks but I'll list a few points that I can think of.
- Many instructors make new divers feel that they have to be taking a class or diving with a guide in order to dive, and that is expensive. I am only familiar with padi, but it seems like the curriculum is designed to make you "suckle at the teat of padi" rather than make you a competent, confident diver. I was just lucky that I found an instructor that taught me to dive so I could feel confident to explore on my own. (with a buddy, but not a guide)
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I think you've hit on interesting points here. Perhaps (and I only say perhaps) these two points--"old attitude towards diving" and "competent to explore on my own" are related. I don't know, but would imagine that "back in the day" most people who dived lived at or near the salt water, or large inland bodies like the Gr. Lakes. This meaning they were "water" people to begin with. Flip to modern times---I didn't feel PADI, or my instructor(s) made me feel like I needed a guide to dive competently. There may be some truth to the "suckle at PADI's teat" thing, but I imagine someone who is a "water" person today would not feel that way and would go on to dive competently. I have seen people of all ages like that.
I think if you haven't done many (or any) water activities before taking scuba you probably will have a much tougher road ahead and my lose interest. Just some thoughts.
As a 20 something diver I think there are less young divers because of the modern attitude towards diving. I wasn't alive for the old attitude towards diving. I can only gleam it from stories and wiser folks but I'll list a few points that I can think of.
- Many instructors make new divers feel that they have to be taking a class or diving with a guide in order to dive, and that is expensive. I am only familiar with padi, but it seems like the curriculum is designed to make you "suckle at the teat of padi" rather than make you a competent, confident diver. I was just lucky that I found an instructor that taught me to dive so I could feel confident to explore on my own. (with a buddy, but not a guide)
- When I was living in California, many young divers I knew weren't aware that local free (as in cost) diving was even an option because there was an emphasis on the catalina dive park and dive boats and no beach dive training. But I think exploring local beach dives and new areas is half the fun!
- Many dive shops focus on the "life support" angle of selling gear. I think this scares the financially challenged diver because they then won't buy used gear, which is all we can afford. If you don't own your own gear, you likely won't dive as frequently. It seems like perhaps this could be hurting the local dive shop in the future. But I also know nothing about business.
These are just my opinions, so don't get butt-hurt about them.
As a 20 something diver I think there are less young divers because of the modern attitude towards diving. I wasn't alive for the old attitude towards diving. I can only gleam it from stories and wiser folks but I'll list a few points that I can think of.
- Many instructors make new divers feel that they have to be taking a class or diving with a guide in order to dive, and that is expensive. I am only familiar with padi, but it seems like the curriculum is designed to make you "suckle at the teat of padi" rather than make you a competent, confident diver. I was just lucky that I found an instructor that taught me to dive so I could feel confident to explore on my own. (with a buddy, but not a guide)
- When I was living in California, many young divers I knew weren't aware that local free (as in cost) diving was even an option because there was an emphasis on the catalina dive park and dive boats and no beach dive training. But I think exploring local beach dives and new areas is half the fun!
- Many dive shops focus on the "life support" angle of selling gear. I think this scares the financially challenged diver because they then won't buy used gear, which is all we can afford. If you don't own your own gear, you likely won't dive as frequently. It seems like perhaps this could be hurting the local dive shop in the future. But I also know nothing about business.
These are just my opinions, so don't get butt-hurt about them.