Dive Clubs: Why Aren't There More? Where Did They All Go?

[Ojai Diver]

Most of the dive clubs I have seen evidence a greater interest in the monthly pizza parlor gathering than they do in local diving.

 

[icechip]

The closest dive club I have found to join is over 2hours down the coast. I did join, but rarely make their planned dive events or gatherings, although I did host a dive up my way that a couple of them made it to. I've mentioned the idea for a club more here around the mid-coast to local divers but nothing has come of it... pretty challenging/frustrating.

 

[Storker]

in the UK we have BSAC, which is very much a club based system.

And in the rest of Europe, CMAS is built around the non-profit club concept.

wonder what they do about liability for fills and club boat use in our litigious society.

Not all societies are equally litigous. IJS.

BSAC provide members with third party liability insurance for club dives and activities, and all the clubs I belong to also have separate club insurance that covers club activities, the compressors, boats and so on, both storage and use.

Same thing around here for clubs affiliated with our national Association.

 

[Divegoose]

We used to have a very active dive club in the central Vancouver Island area, and were known as the "CIA" or Central Island Aquaholics. We used to have a day dive, and an evening or night dive almost every week, as we can dive year round on Vancouver Island. Dues were around $20.00 per year, which helped cover the cost of some social activities - usually a couple of barbeques over the summer months.

Our main organizer retired about 3 years ago. He and his wife sold their house, and spend much of their time traveling. When he left, I tried to maintain the weekly dive schedules, but the number of participants kept shrinking. Where we once had ten to fifteen divers coming out, it eventually got down to just two of us.

It was frustrating to see everyone drop out, but I did get a good buddy out of it. My buddy is semi retired, as am I, so we can dive just about any time during the week. We have now got a 3rd buddy, so there is always someone to dive with.

The local shops run weekly dives, so either of my buddies are not available, I can always join in on a shop sponsored dive. Getting out once or twice a week is a great way to maintain your skills, and build up your experience.

Stay safe - dive safe !!

Divegoose

 

[TMHeimer]

We have one dive club which is associated with the shop. And another (I believe) that is associated with the military in some way. This is on the ocean in NS. My guess is dive clubs in MN would be low in numbers, but I don't know at all. I haven't read a thread yet on SB asking why there are so few. There have been several threads about shops themselves closing.

 

[The Chairman]

Dive clubs are fun and fill a need. We'll be glad to set up a sub forum for any club that wants one. There is one in California I need to set up now that we are on the new format, but I can't find his contact info. I feel bad about that. The way it sits now, I only need a few minutes to get your forum up and rocking. PM me if you're interested.

 

[Phil_C]

And in the rest of Europe, CMAS is built around the non-profit club concept.


Not all societies are equally litigous. IJS.


Same thing around here for clubs affiliated with our national Association.

Yep, and if you check my profile you will see I dive with BSAC in the UK, and I am a CMAS diver and instructor when abroad - so it is all club diving for me. -

 

[macado]

There are a lot of dive clubs in New England. In the United States some are active while other clubs are more of a social group in nature. Very few dive clubs (at least in New England) have their own boat, compressor or provide any training. The difference is a lot of dive clubs in the UK can provide formal training (BSAC), may have their own boat or gas mixing facilities/compressor.

Unfortunately a lot of them are losing members and disbanding. Personally I feel a lot of this is due to the prevalence of the Internet / social networking / forums/groups.

The dive club model seems to not be really needed anymore. It's much easier to find a dive buddy now with Facebook and Meetup groups. Prior to Facebook, dive clubs were a great way to meet dive buddies, talk about diving and schedule group trips.

I've been a member of several local clubs and served as boat diving coordinator officer for one. It has been a challenge to get more people interested in local diving. I'm not sure exactly why but part of it maybe is the economy and the prevalence of other hobbies/sports

Here are some of the dive clubs in New England, just to name a few.
Boston Sea Rovers (founded 1954)
New England Aquarium Dive Club (founded 1975)
North Shore Frogmen (founded 1958)
MetroWest Dive Club
MIT Scuba Club
United Divers for Central Massachusetts

 

[Littlerayray]

Well the membership fees are I believe 60 dollars a year for seaway valley divers. Its not cheap but cheaper then a fill card in this area.
at under 80 dollars but 2 tank chartered dives are fairly cheap 40 bucks for a two tank charter in Canada and 45 for US dives. sadly the boats are getting harder to fill on the Sunday dives. it is for the full day we usually board the boat around 9 am and don't return home till after six.
Some of our dives require dive master aproval and others require passports
But one event they schedule every year is I believe is 3 day dive trip in tobermory

 

[Diving Dubai]

I'm a member of a Club here. We have 2 boats, and until recently we had our own premises and compressor to do nitrox and Helium filling. Unfortunately the landlord wanted the premise back so all the gear had to be mothballed except the boats which sit outside my house. Dive clubs are a great place not only to meet like minded people and go diving but to gain lots of knowledge that you may not normally get exposed to. There is a downside, in that they need people to participate and share responsibilities. Lots of people would be happy to dive at club prices on a club boat, but would be unwilling in helping to tow the boat, prep it pre dive, wash the boat down post dive, maintain the boat etc etc So club diving can only exist where there are people willing to shoulder the responsibility and accept that the majority will do very little (except moan)

I love club diving, we get to chose when and where we want to dive and with whom and of course it keeps people together in the non diving seasons (for those that have them)