Diving: the future

[OldNSalty]

By 2030 Bob Evans will have us all wearing Force Fins!

Fear the future

 

[TimAZ]

Where's the "none of the above box?"

Rebreathers - rebreathers have been around longer than open circuit. There's no reason to believe they will become standard.

Sidemounted tanks - the future will likely see folks looking for easier options. Lots of people are lazy. Side mount will stay, but they won't become standard. They will continue to be rare.

Long hoses - Long hoses are great in overheads with narrow passages. There is no other advantage to them. Diving education, in general, will continue to decline. When assisting an OOA diver, you'll need to hold them close and keep eye contact (the best option today as well). A long hose is not necessary.

BP/W - BP/wing will become more common as more of them as screwed up with padding and cummerbuns, but they won't be standard.

Carbon fibre tanks - Possibly, but not likely. I do believe we will see higher pressure, smaller, lighter bottles become standard. Maybe even in the next 20 years.

HUD dive computers - Possibly - if it becomes an attachment to any mask. The current concept of a computer in the mask will not be standard until the price is very low.

Wireless SPGs - What's the advantage? I don't see it becoming standard.

DIN valves - If we see higher pressures, yes, but it might not be in the next 20 years.

Helitrox - Nope.

Underwater talking devices - They've been around for a long time. There's no reason to think they'll become more popular in the next 20 years.

Underwater GPS - If they are cheap and easy to use, possibly, but I doubt they'll become standard.

I mostly agree here. I don't expect carbon fiber tanks unless they become significantly cheaper than AL or steel. I have no interest in putting on the extra lead. I hope to God that underwater talking devices don't become standard. That hour or so the whole world shuts the hell up is golden. In HUD type dive computers I see a strong possibility. On the underwater GPS I have a different take. They will become not only popular with some recreational divers to use, but mandatory as sonar/location transponders for many dive boats which will ultimately monitor location, depth, dive profile and air state on each diver.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I think the biggest change over the next 20 years will be an increasing "nanny" mentality at popular destinations. The state of dive training will continue to decline as agencies seek cheaper and quicker in an attempt to increase market share. Dive ops will respond with increasingly greater restrictions on where and how you can dive ... by 2030 all commercial dive ops will require you to dive with a guide, and will plan your dives for you.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Walter]

It's already like that is some places, Bob. I doubt it will ever get to "all," but it's certainly headed in that direction. Very, very sad.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's already like that is some places, Bob. I doubt it will ever get to "all," but it's certainly headed in that direction. Very, very sad.

Yes ... some friends of mine just returned from Saba. They were really disappointed to have been treated like incompetent idiots, despite extensive diving experience.

That's what prompted my post ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Walter]

Saba is one of those places that require a guide by law.

 

[Randy43068]

don't you know the world is coming to an end in 2012? Will the World End in 2012? - ABC News

 

[Hoomi]

By 2030, I expect to have my surgically implanted gills so that I don't need a tank or regulator at all.

Granted, in 2030 I'll be 70 years old, and even if they DO develop such a technology, it's not real likely they're going to bother implanting it in someone that age, but I can dream, can't I?

 

[Acadian]

And think of all the new PADI specialties that could create!

I'm hoping to get my PADI Urban Diver soon

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

When I was in 5th Grade (in the 1960's ) we watched a movie in class that speculated about how the "future" would look in the year 2000.

In that short movie:

1. Cars were no longer powered by gas or diesel. They were electric / solar powered.
2. Polution had been solved. Along with world hunger.
3. Oh, yes, there were "flying cars".
4. But what I still remember, and the reason for this rambling post:

Full face dive masks with a "membrane" that extracted oxygen from water, like gills, eliminating the need for scuba tanks.

It was the beautiful underwater footage of a father and son diving through kelp on a bright clear day, no scuba, just the full face masks....

So, I'm still patiently waiting for the cool "gill" masks, and of course my flying car

Best wishes.