What is the BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO DIVING?

[Thalassamania]

Believe me, for some people, for a variety of reasons (probably primarily task loading) clearing ears is hard and painful, even in a 13ft pool.
Try going up and down, somewhat uncontrolled, 30 times in 2 hours without clearing your ears and you will be in pain.

If a student is taught to stay ahead of the pressure exposure then their ears will NEVER hurt. Having student's ears hurt is, to my way of thinking, inexcusable incompetence.

Somebody new to diving has often a lot of difficulty remembering all the things that need to be done in addition to being uncomfortable wearing (often an ill fitting rental) wetsuit, scuba gear, just having done skills like mask clearing and reg retrieval (so most likely got water up his/her nose). Then go up and down a bunch of times while trying to remember the inflate and deflate at the right time while losing control of one's buoyancy. No wonder the student forgets to clear, or clears too late.

If an instructor can't teach that successfully they should find another line of work. If their course design does not permit the time and attention to assure that it does not occur, that course design should be scrapped.

t takes a fair amount of time for most people to get comfortable enough in the water to clear in a timely fashion.
WeekendDiver

If there is not enough time in a course to assure that ear clearing is taught properly, and to the point where it is second nature, that course should be seriously revamped ... what other critical items are being given short shrift?

 

[Papa_Bear]

Ear clearing is basic and a major part of comfort! How can you be comfortable or concentrate on a given task if you hurt? Learn to pre-clear and clear often using the method that works best for you! Forcing anything makes it uncomfortable! I would suggest more skin diving training until you are comfortable with your ears! If a student can't clear their ears it is a direct reflection on their teacher!

 

[littlejohn]

$$$$$$$$$$$$

Living in Orlando cost me $75 in gas + $60 for the boat ride add in some tips and tank fills and you are looking at $175 for two 45 min boat dives.

 

[Jrock1062]

I am new at this i have been certified less than a year -- I cant find anyone i know to learn how to dive i have made friends with people who already dive but i believe peoples lives are too busy they don't have time and don't want to expend the effort and you never know when you will love something until you do it and they will never get started. like an earlier poster said you have to be smitten first dive i did i didn't love itmy second and i was hooked that being said i don't like cold but have 6 dives for the year and will be in FL this month for 6 more

 

[dive_lover88]

i think its the money issue for my friends since we're all studying or just started working with very little disposable income.

oh, some cant swim to pass the minimum requirement.

 

[BlueC5Kitten]

I am new at this i have been certified less than a year -- I cant find anyone i know to learn how to dive i have made friends with people who already dive...

Dive buddies are my biggest shortage...but it doesn't keep me from diving regularly with some free dives with my LDS. I've only been certified since 2 Mar, but I have 7 dives done, so far...planning more!

I agree with Jrock though...none of my non-diving friends want to try it. I even tried to get some folks to go with me on a Discover Scuba Diving course thing while on a cruise earlier this year...some said they had claustrophobia problems, some said they had medical conditions...one girl even went so far as to lie to get out of it, saying that the purser's desk said the excursion was sold out. When I got to the course, it was me and 5 other people...which was ideal!

Needless to say, I am making myself learn more and meet more folks, so I can have the dive buddies I need. For the most part though, my friends are a bunch of chickens, I guess. I even found a few friends that were already certified, but they haven't been diving in so long that they have to do a re-cert class before we can dive together...again, they aren't too enthused with the idea of having to do more classes.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

For me its all about the money but then again I'm trying to do the tech thing and thats super equipment intensive and you never can have enough gear plus if a person wants to do trips they become exponentially expensive. Really if money wasn't the primary issue wouldn't all of us leave our jobs and dive on a daily basis will all the best gear and at a new dive site anywhere in the world every day.

Sure if all you want to do is dive the warm water reefs lookin at fish and you live near the ocean its not so bad but if your a tech diver and want to dive deep wreck or push a cave to the limits then you are gonna need more than your average income.

Look at 1 simple set of gear for an entry level tech diver.

Double al80's with bands and manifold $800 +/-
Al40 deco bottle EAN40 with regs and rigging $550 +/-
AL40 deco bottle 100% O2 with regs and rigging $550 +/-
Primary regs for use on doubles w/ 7ft hose $800 +/-
Wrist computer $500 +
Drysuit $2000 +/-
BP/W $500 +/-
DPV $3000 +/-
Mask, Fins (springs), misc gear $300 +/-

That leaves stuff out and doesn't include owning multiple of stuff like sling tanks in various sizes. I would say diving cost me about $20000 so far and I have plans for double that if you include training and travel to training.

Anyone who doesn't believe money is a major obstacle please adopt me or marry me or just cut me a check.

 

[psychocabbage]

I even found a few friends that were already certified, but they haven't been diving in so long that they have to do a re-cert class before we can dive together...again, they aren't too enthused with the idea of having to do more classes.

Who says you have to recert if its been long?
I know you should for safety sake just refresh your skills in a pool or somewhere you can control everything but if you have your card, you are set.

 

[Sas]

if you have your card, you are set.

Hardly. Cards don't mean a lot. Just because you have a card doesn't mean you should go diving after a long break (it doesn't mean you can't though...). It doesn't take a lot to pass OW really and if you only go diving rarely then you should properly refresh your skills - whether it is via a course or diving with more experienced friends who can go through the skills and safety stuff for you.

 

[Jrock1062]

When we are talking about new diver or just learning I disagree about the money issue. Here's why. you can take you OW classes for about $300 another $100 for cheap fins snorkel mask for a total of $400. thats roughly 5 or 6 nights out with the boys or 3 or 4 diner dates. If someone wants to learn thats not bad ,they just don't want to. It is sad i live on Long Island and we have some good diving herein the summer.