Diver image. Do you even think about it?

[DiveMaven]

I hope the irony is not lost:

In a post of 121 words wherein you try to convince us (and yourself) that you believe that "it's all about function" for you... the very first thing you mention is "the look" you strive for.



---------- Post added March 18th, 2015 at 07:55 AM ----------



I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the gear you dive just so happens to also be "cool" and/or one of "the right brands."


EDIT:

Interesting... a quick click on your profile reveals that brands are actually fairly important to you. You even mention one of them three times for emphasis. And I suppose we can assume by the plural "wetsuits" that you are also a Pinnacle brand-loyalist as well?

GEAR: "Zeagle, Zeagle, Zeagle...oh, and an Oceanic VT3 computer, and Pinnacle wetsuits."

PS - Do note that here on ScubaBoard Zeagle is definitely considered "cool" and is one of "the right brands" to say that you dive.

Actually I haven't updated my profile in a long time, nor my gear preferences. I continue to have a Zeagle BC, but nothing else is Zeagle. I still have my VT3, but it's definitely too old to be considered cool and I got it because I wanted to go hoseless. I do still own Pinnacle suits (a 3mm and 5mm) because after trying on nearly every wetsuit on the market, the Pinnacle fits me the best. Nothing I have ever purchased or worn was because of any "cool factor" and back in the day my Zeagle BC and regs were purchased before I was a Scubaboard member. Every piece of gear I own is purchased for its fit and functionality and no other reason.

Heck, if I wanted to be cool around here I'd have a BP/w, a bungled octo, etc, etc etc. instead of the stuff I own.

 

[Nemrod]

I was thinking about this one day as I saw some guys trying to get their gear on as beach on lookers giggled as one of them fell trying to walk backwards with the fins on and kept falling. He was probably a fairly new diver but he made himself look silly in front those with him as well as the on lookers.

I do think every sport or activity has with it an inherent degree of pride and style that goes with it. I believe some aren't really aware of that. For instance I like to surf. Style is everything when it comes to this sport. Surfers have learned to be mind full of their style as well what they wear and what board is used. If he looks like a kook he is probably a kook. Every thing is important from the way they paddle into the line up and catch the waves to how they perform on that wave. If they have a real goofy style they will easily lose respect in a crowd of surfers and will have to settle for surfing the scraps or just find a another spot to surf. This is just something that is natural to me since I have been used to seeing it for so long now.I'm sure there some who are skiers and they work their graceful style or are also some what fashion conscious.

I know we spend almost the entire time underwater but I think you take pride in your image. Example: How you carry your self, putting on your gear walking out to entry point. How is your gear is displayed is it all sloppy flopping all over the place,tank paint all peeling off, etc.. Or have you found ways to keeps it neater,streamlined and you look and act like you got it together.I am still learning to do this part but it is something I really want to do because I want that image versus the sloppy image.

I believe what gear we use is also important on the way it looks because it puts an image of oneself of how they are looked on. I particularly like the darker colored tanks, mask etc.. for myself because I like the tactical kind of look. Image in this activity is downplayed somewhat, but image is an important factor in the public eye. If we are all just slapping on gear with no real awareness on how the public views us, we are basically ignoring an important element in society.

Let me propose this question to you. Would you do anything to improve on your image?
Whether it is something that you do below or above the water to better your image, what would it be.

Is image even important to you.
Honesty is the best answer!

I think the outside is a reflection of the inside. And that said, many people would do themselves a favor if they would look at that reflection in the mirror.

N

 

[KeithG]

Actually I haven't updated my profile in a long time, nor my gear preferences. I continue to have a Zeagle BC, but nothing else is Zeagle. I still have my VT3, but it's definitely too old to be considered cool and I got it because I wanted to go hoseless. I do still own Pinnacle suits (a 3mm and 5mm) because after trying on nearly every wetsuit on the market, the Pinnacle fits me the best. Nothing I have ever purchased or worn was because of any "cool factor" and back in the day my Zeagle BC and regs were purchased before I was a Scubaboard member. Every piece of gear I own is purchased for its fit and functionality and no other reason.

Heck, if I wanted to be cool around here I'd have a BP/w, a bungled octo, etc, etc etc. instead of the stuff I own.

Can anyone tell us if the impulse to publicly post your "gear" on your profile is somehow related to a desire to "be cool"?

I have noticed this strange behaviour on a number of boards. Camera rigs, cars, sound systems, phones, kitchen ware (sorry, just making that last one up). The people who run (write the software for) these boards seem to think it is a good feature.

I have never felt compelled to fill that stuff out. Mainly because I am lazy and I realize that it will (maybe) change over time and I will have to spend some effort to keep it current.

 

[RJP]

I've always considered Zeagle to be the most popular brand on Craig's List ...

Perhaps, but Zeagle reg and BCD market share among ScubaBoard participants is MORE THAN DOUBLE what Zeagle's market share is among non-Scubaboard divers. (9.9% of SB divers own Zeagle regs and/or BCDs... compared to 4.6% of non-SB divers.)

There are several "ScubaBoard darling" brands out there; brand's whose marketshare on ScubaBoard FAR outstrips their "real world" market share. (There's no better explanation for this other than the perception that "all the cool kids are diving _____")

---------- Post added March 18th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ----------

Can anyone tell us if the impulse to publicly post your "gear" on your profile is somehow related to a desire to "be cool"?

I wouldn't go as far as to say "a desire to be cool" but certainly a desire to make your gear choices known. People who want to "be cool" might be a subset of that group.

Also, you're talking about boards for "gear-intensive" hobbies. Shouldn't be a surprise that people will focus on gear. Hell, gear/manufacturer forums outnumber all other forums combined here on SB.

 

[dmoore19]

If the brand/color of gear I dive bothers you, too bad.

If you think what gear I have isn't up to your standards, that is your problem, my gear works great for me.

So the answer to the question is, I don't think about it.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Perhaps, but Zeagle reg and BCD market share among ScubaBoard participants is MORE THAN DOUBLE what Zeagle's market share is among non-Scubaboard divers. (9.9% of SB divers own Zeagle regs and/or BCDs... compared to 4.6% of non-SB divers.)

There are several "ScubaBoard darling" brands out there; brand's whose where marketshare on ScubaBoard FAR outstrips their "real world" market share.

... and I believe a great deal of that reflects less on the brands themselves as on the merchants who are selling them. Quite a number of businesses have made a name for themselves by actively posting on ScubaBoard. I remember well the early days of ScubaToys, when Joe used to be a regular contributor. Hardly a day went by when there wasn't a glowing recommendation of the business posted somewhere on the board. Now, it was probably deserved ... but it would make sense that people were attracted to the business by more than just the brands that they sold ... and coincidentally ended up making purchasing decisions based on recommendations from the business employees.

Much the same can be said for other businesses like Oxycheq (in the early days) and Deep Sea Supply (back when Tobin was more actively posting on the board). People were buying those brands based less on image or even knowledge than they were on glowing recommendations they were reading in here. And that, I believe, is why the market share for certain products are skewed among ScubaBoard participants. You can't buy the kind of advertising that personal interaction with owners and personal recommendations from fellow social media participants will provide ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[RJP]

If the brand/color of gear I dive bothers you, too bad.

If you think what gear I have isn't up to your standards, that is your problem, my gear works great for me.

So the answer to the question is, I don't think about it.

Who said anything about "bother" or "up to standards" or "problems"?

 

[KeithG]

I think the outside is a reflection of the inside. And that said, many people would do themselves a favor if they would look at that reflection in the mirror.

N

Unless you are one of the people that get up in the morning, look in the mirror and say "that can't be right".

 

[RJP]

You can't buy the kind of advertising that personal interaction with owners and personal recommendations from fellow social media participants will provide ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Right. And those sorts of non-product based influences are part of the whole "brand image" thing that people like to believe has no influence on their purchasing.

There's also some interesting research about the psychological reasons why brands that are lesser-known "in the world" become popular on social media. If anyone wants to start a real dust-up I can share that information in another thread... but I don't think it will go down well in some quarters.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'd be interested. I was an early adopter for both Oxycheq and DSS. In both cases, it was due to personal interaction with the owners. And my decision to stop using their brands were ... in both cases ... also due to personal interactions with the owners ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)