Don't wait for life to happen

[Packhorse]

We are not anti dive industry at all. With out the dive industry there would be very little diving and I would have to do heaps more DIY to get in the water. There is nothing wrong with commercialism either.
We just prefer to run a club that is not tied to a dive shop. This way we can offer our members the very best deals on trips. Many of them free, others at the discounted rates dive shops pay for them before adding their cut and on selling them to their "club" members.

Try find a shops dive club that will organise a 5 day trip to the Mikhail Lermontov for $850 all inclusive (except for travel to and from Picton). We have one space free for that trip if anyone is interested.

Also its a true club where everyone can make an input, find deals, organise trips mentor or be mentored. We have a whole lot of fun and everyone is more than welcome to join. Even you Andy!

 

[AndyNZ]

We just prefer to run a club that is not tied to a dive shop. This way we can offer our members the very best deals on trips. Many of them free, others at the discounted rates dive shops pay for them before adding their cut and on selling them to their "club" members.

Which is different from Craywranglers club, that's all. Which is affiliated with a dive shop, comment was made in jest as I didn't see how it was re-inventing the wheel when there are such different philosophical differences!

Also its a true club where everyone can make an input, find deals, organise trips mentor or be mentored. We have a whole lot of fun and everyone is more than welcome to join. Even you Andy!

Thanks for the invite, PH. But I am somewhat over-committed in terms of diving circles right now and there's no actual benefit in joining the club as far as I can see. The thanks are genuine, not sarcastic (honest!), and I know we've had our differences of opinion about various issues - none of which have been taken personally, I assure you. Best of luck with SODS, like I say, it's just not for me.

 

[Packhorse]

Anyway good luck with your shop and club. I truly believe that dive clubs will make the biggest difference to

..... their gear will stop appearing for sale on trademe with the bi-line “as new”,

I hear that the diver retention rate in NZ is 4% (although 78% of people know most statistics are made up on the spot) which is pretty pitiful.

Why is this?

I have a few theory's

Poor training resulting in divers not being comfortable in the water.

Poor equipment choices resulting in divers not being comfortable in the water.

Lack of buddies to go diving with.

All of which can be helped with a good club. Rumour has it BSAC is starting up in NZ. I think it could be the best thing for scuba diving in NZ since tanks!!