Married but single Diver what to do?

[rpayne]

Background:

I've recently got interested in scuba and am currently pursuing my OW certification. My wife however has had no interest in scuba diving as of yet. Her comments are " I am perfectly happy staying on top of the water." I am not going to pressure her into diving, but I have told her that I think it would be more pleasurable with the two of us doing it rather than just me. But if that's decision I respect it, hopefully over time she might change her mind. Personally I believe she afraid she'll drown or something. But like I said I have to intention of pressuring her into it. If she doesn't want to that’s fine with me. Second most of our vacations have been only to Disney World or Ashland NC.

Question:

That said I've started talking to her about taken some vacation in some exotic locations. Places mostly in the Caribbean or down in Gulf so that I can do some diving. Her number one question has been: What am I going to do while you’re off diving? I've told her that if theirs diving their has to be snorkeling, beaches, and pools she can do while I'm out diving. Does anyone have anything else I could add? Since neither of us have any experience down at any of those places what is there else to do? Does anyone have a similar situation? What does your spouse do while your out diving?

Thanks you have all been a great help!
Rob

 

[ShakaZulu]

Get a girlfriend who does dive..........

 

[The Kraken]

Shopping . . . ????

Ooops !!!! Sorry !!!!!!

 

[Gary D.]

Background:

I've recently got interested in scuba and am currently pursuing my OW certification. My wife however has had no interest in scuba diving as of yet. Her comments are " I am perfectly happy staying on top of the water." I am not going to pressure her into diving, but I have told her that I think it would be more pleasurable with the two of us doing it rather than just me. But if that's decision I respect it, hopefully over time she might change her mind. Personally I believe she afraid she'll drown or something. But like I said I have to intention of pressuring her into it. If she doesn't want to that’s fine with me. Second most of our vacations have been only to Disney World or Ashland NC.

Question:

That said I've started talking to her about taken some vacation in some exotic locations. Places mostly in the Caribbean or down in Gulf so that I can do some diving. Her number one question has been: What am I going to do while you’re off diving? I've told her that if theirs diving their has to be snorkeling, beaches, and pools she can do while I'm out diving. Does anyone have anything else I could add? Since neither of us have any experience down at any of those places what is there else to do? Does anyone have a similar situation? What does your spouse do while your out diving?

Thanks you have all been a great help!
Rob

It took my wife around 20 years to come around. Now she is a diving nut.

Gary D.

 

[smokey braden]

rpayne,
i've been married for 22 years and diving since the '60s.
what we do on a family vacation is that i'll blow two am tanks and the rest of the day is hers.
when i take smokey on vacation i'll either do a land base resort with a dive buddy or a liveaboard if i go alone.
this setup so far has kept the peace.
regards

 

[Walter]

Choose your vacation locations well. Some places have lots of other activities, others have nothing but diving.

 

[munkispank]

I fell for you rpayne- this is a tough one. It really depends on what she likes to do usually anway- whilst you get up early and head off for your dive, maybe you could persuade her to take a relaxing breakfast in bed and then hit the pool. Most resorts will have a spa area- or one nearby, maybe she could treat it as a pampering holiday for herself.
Also, she can always comeon the boat as a 'bubblewatcher' and then she gets to be involved in the trip too. And don't forget to point out that you can compromise- if you just do a morning two tank dive each day, you will be back by lunch time, so you can have the afternoon together.

it is a difficult situation, but being in a "dive' relationship can be tough too- we always argue about who has logged the most dives !!!

 

[DeputyDan]

I joined a dive club.

The club provided dive buddies as well as non-divers who could do activites with the non-diving spouse. (and no not that you dirty minded types :>) )

This was a good first step in solving this problem.

 

[wscdive]

I am an instructor and my wife has no interest in diving!! She loves to sit on the beach and loves the islands so it works out great (i can't stand to sit still!!). She does her sunbathing while i am diving and then we go do things together. Just be sure to check out where you are going, some places dont have good beaches but incredible diving.I also usually take one day off of diving in the middle of any weeklong vacation (good idea when diving alot anyway) and spend it with her. Have fun!!!

 

[diversteve]

Background:
Question:
Since neither of us have any experience down at any of those places what is there else to do?
Rob

Places you could go where your wife would have a wide range of topside activities include the Florida Keys, Nassau, Freeport-Bahamas, Grand Cayman - when it recovers from Ivan, Curacao, Aruba, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta-Mexico. All of these places have some range of beach activities, simple to really over the top resorts, shopping, watersports, nightlife, casino gambling, sightseeing, historical site tours, parasailing, windsurfing, golfing, daycruises etc.

None of these places, with the exception of maybe Cayman and Cozumel are considered dive destinations, they all are known for something else and just have great diving along with the other activities. Bonaire is really the only "divers' island where a non-diver would probably be very bored very shortly after arriving.

And nearer to you, we did some wreck diving in the Charleston and Myrtle Beach SC area a couple years back. The non-divers were able to tour the plantations and old houses, go to the aquariums, naval museum, mini-golfing, shop at tourist locations and spent time at the beach while we were gone. Actually they probably had a better time than we did, the viz was really bad.