Eric's post prompts a number of thoughts, one of which is that I am not really sure I know what impact the internet has had on diving. I have a definite impression that the effects are a mixed bag. I have a personal opinion that the effects are, overall, more positive than negative but that is just what I said - my opinion.
On one hand, I now have LOTS of information about diving - gear, destinations, marine ecology, etc. - available at my (key-stroking) fingertips. I really don't need to go to a dive club meeting to have good discussions with other divers. Potentially, that availability could contribute to a degree of isolation. On the other hand, the internet has allowed our dive club to move from a) reliance on local speakers because of b) the expense of paying travel costs to bring out-of-town speakers to our club, to c) now having 'live' (or at least real time, interactive) presentations at club meetings in Raleigh, made by speakers sitting in Houston, or Boston, or Wilmington, etc. The quality of club programming has been substantially expanded as a result of the internet, and meeting attendance has actually increased. So, the internet has promoted more, rather than less, interaction.
On one hand, I am able to research dive 'products' far more easily, and quickly, using the internet. It isn't a matter of not dealing with 'BS' - there is plenty of BS on the net, in fact it is more sophisticated, and beguiling, BS than what is available locally. But, I can find out more about what may be available, much more readily than I could in the 'analog' days. I can then order what I want, either online or through a LDS in many cases, because I learned about it on the net. On the other hand, the economics of the industry have changed enough as a result of online sales to limit LDS resources - there are fewer shops in business than before - dive shop closures far outnumber shop openings. This is certainly not a business trend that is limited to diving. It is true of many aspects of retail sales. But, if the dive shops that have survived have done so by being more responsive to customers, and/or offering better pricing, etc., then I potentially have better, even if not more numerous, local resources as a result of the internet.
I am not able to draw any meaningful conclusions regarding the effect of the internet, per se, on the number of divers and the overall volume of diving. Notwithstanding some comments in this thread, there is a reasonable body of data to suggest that scuba diving has not been a 'growth' sport for the past decade. Overall annual certification numbers have remained essentially the same, and there is concern about an 'aging' diver population, suggesting that there are fewer younger, newer divers coming into the sport, etc. Perhaps, there are numerical indicators other than certifications that could/should be used, but it is not at all clear what those might be. Anecdotal statements about 'overcrowded' dive destinations are just that - anecdotal. Is the plateau in certifications - as one indicator of dive activity - a result of the internet? Is it possible that internet availability of information about MANY recreational possibilities has increased the competition for discretionary spending resources? One comment that has been made by dive agencies, and dive business consultants about the health of diving is that it is feeling the effects of a growing 'one and done' mentality that seems to be developing among younger segments of the population. They may pursue dive certification and a week of diving, for example as a vacation activity, after which they are 'done', and then move on to their next recreational adventure. To what extent has the advent of the internet contributed to that social change?
Yes, diving as a recreational activity is directly affected by 'the economy'. In times of economic downturn, gear sales suffer, travel suffers, etc. We happen to be, at least in the US, in a period of economic upturn at the moment, and that will potentially favor more interest in diving. Of course, it will also favor more interest in other recreational activities as well. I don't know that the advent of the internet has changed that.
On one hand, I now have LOTS of information about diving - gear, destinations, marine ecology, etc. - available at my (key-stroking) fingertips. I really don't need to go to a dive club meeting to have good discussions with other divers. Potentially, that availability could contribute to a degree of isolation. On the other hand, the internet has allowed our dive club to move from a) reliance on local speakers because of b) the expense of paying travel costs to bring out-of-town speakers to our club, to c) now having 'live' (or at least real time, interactive) presentations at club meetings in Raleigh, made by speakers sitting in Houston, or Boston, or Wilmington, etc. The quality of club programming has been substantially expanded as a result of the internet, and meeting attendance has actually increased. So, the internet has promoted more, rather than less, interaction.
On one hand, I am able to research dive 'products' far more easily, and quickly, using the internet. It isn't a matter of not dealing with 'BS' - there is plenty of BS on the net, in fact it is more sophisticated, and beguiling, BS than what is available locally. But, I can find out more about what may be available, much more readily than I could in the 'analog' days. I can then order what I want, either online or through a LDS in many cases, because I learned about it on the net. On the other hand, the economics of the industry have changed enough as a result of online sales to limit LDS resources - there are fewer shops in business than before - dive shop closures far outnumber shop openings. This is certainly not a business trend that is limited to diving. It is true of many aspects of retail sales. But, if the dive shops that have survived have done so by being more responsive to customers, and/or offering better pricing, etc., then I potentially have better, even if not more numerous, local resources as a result of the internet.
I am not able to draw any meaningful conclusions regarding the effect of the internet, per se, on the number of divers and the overall volume of diving. Notwithstanding some comments in this thread, there is a reasonable body of data to suggest that scuba diving has not been a 'growth' sport for the past decade. Overall annual certification numbers have remained essentially the same, and there is concern about an 'aging' diver population, suggesting that there are fewer younger, newer divers coming into the sport, etc. Perhaps, there are numerical indicators other than certifications that could/should be used, but it is not at all clear what those might be. Anecdotal statements about 'overcrowded' dive destinations are just that - anecdotal. Is the plateau in certifications - as one indicator of dive activity - a result of the internet? Is it possible that internet availability of information about MANY recreational possibilities has increased the competition for discretionary spending resources? One comment that has been made by dive agencies, and dive business consultants about the health of diving is that it is feeling the effects of a growing 'one and done' mentality that seems to be developing among younger segments of the population. They may pursue dive certification and a week of diving, for example as a vacation activity, after which they are 'done', and then move on to their next recreational adventure. To what extent has the advent of the internet contributed to that social change?
Yes, diving as a recreational activity is directly affected by 'the economy'. In times of economic downturn, gear sales suffer, travel suffers, etc. We happen to be, at least in the US, in a period of economic upturn at the moment, and that will potentially favor more interest in diving. Of course, it will also favor more interest in other recreational activities as well. I don't know that the advent of the internet has changed that.