What is a dive snob?

[AdivingBel]

"Tidy bowl diver"...warm & blue...that's me. I've tried coldish, lowviz. Just not my cup of tea. I'm happy for those that enjoy it. It's a big ocean out there. It's a plus that there are lots of ways to enjoy it. Dive snob? You're not a "real" diver unless you dive like ME. No time for those folks...not enough bottom time out there to waste any. Enjoy the diving you like for as long as you can. It won't last forever. Safe diving.

 

[Z Gear]

I've been certified since 1989, worked in a dive shop for eight years, worked as a DM on a couple of large dive boats and have been around a lot of divers in that time. I've been very fortunate to have only met a handful of dive snobs. Most of them are only snobbish on the internet but a few were over the edge in real life. They criticized the way others dive, the gear they use and prided themselves in the fact that they would not dive with anyone who was not a "like minded" diver. The funny thing is all of those people I've known who looked down on other divers have since stopped diving. The ones who they deemed unfit are still enjoying their dives and will likely do so for many years to come.

It is ironic how things unfold. I guess after reading some of the previous comments I can appreciate most attitudes towards this type of negative behavior. I'm glad most recognize this and have it pretty clear that this is something they do not want to fall into, it is encouraging.

The potential of others snobbish attitudes or tendencies to rub off on you increases the more you accept that particular behavior as OK with you.
Resist joining in on those bashing ridiculing threads, all this does is put you on the same road as those snobs.


I believe that as one becomes more experienced and knowledgeable one must also try to humble one self. It is a balancing act that is continually at play but ultimately knowledge is strength. You can use it to help others or hurt them.

Its not fun being snubbed!

Frank G
www.zgearinc.com

 

[clownfishsydney]

Guess I am not a dive snob then - Uk waters are never very warm (max 14C) and vis is generally considered very good if it gets as high as 8-10m.

Would love to be a snob with it but I would hardly ever dive and I love diving too much not to do it so I will put up with the hardships.

I certainly have dived in the UK in waters warmer than 14C, for example, the wreck of the HMAT Kyarra off Swanage in the English Channel. We had 18C on this and other dives in the area. In Ireland (yes, I know not UK) I had 17C.

 

[clownfishsydney]

My definition of a dive snob would be someone who thought that they were too (qualified, experienced, important, young - take your pick or add something else) than someone else on a dive that does not require it. For example, a tech diver saying that they would not do a shallow reef dive, a diver with a 1000 dives not wanting to dive with someone with 50 dives.

I do not dive with dive snobs and they end up having a short membership period of our dive club.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I've been certified since 1989, worked in a dive shop for eight years, worked as a DM on a couple of large dive boats and have been around a lot of divers in that time. I've been very fortunate to have only met a handful of dive snobs. Most of them are only snobbish on the internet but a few were over the edge in real life. They criticized the way others dive, the gear they use and prided themselves in the fact that they would not dive with anyone who was not a "like minded" diver. The funny thing is all of those people I've known who looked down on other divers have since stopped diving. The ones who they deemed unfit are still enjoying their dives and will likely do so for many years to come.

LOL - had a similar experience with a group of young men who were active at our local dive sites back when I first started diving in 2001. We called them "The Posse", as they would stand around in a group near the sea wall where everyone liked to gear up and snicker at the OW students getting into the water with their brand new snorkels and split fins. Most of those they sneered at, including myself, are still active divers ... many of us having gone on to tech diving, cave diving, various stages of dive pro, etc. Meanwhile, only one of The Posse is still diving occasionally ... the rest of them went on to become "the best" at other recreational pursuits, having achieved the pinnacle of diving excellence early on ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[urbaneve71]

seems to be that there are 2 definitions of dive snobs going on here in this thread.

1. the one that likes to dive in warmer waters
2. and one that seems to be better than others

i personally would love to dive with someone with way more experience than
so which one are you?

 

[Octopusprime]

Well so I consider my self a beer snob and the way I define that is I would rather not drink beer than drink miller light or bud light. So if you use they they would rather not dive than dive cold.

Only the diver can plan their dive. If they are not confortable do not push them. Peer pressure and diving is dangerous.

 

[Cali_diver]

Well so I consider my self a beer snob and the way I define that is I would rather not drink beer than drink miller light or bud light. So if you use they they would rather not dive than dive cold.

Only the diver can plan their dive. If they are not confortable do not push them. Peer pressure and diving is dangerous.

LOL that does not make you a beer snob.... just smart.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

What if a person only likes to dive warm water and will only dive with certain people? I guess they would be a super snob!

If I only like to dive in water as cold as the micro brew I drink, would that make me a cold water beer snob?

If I don't like to dive with certain people because I think they are such bad divers that they could potentially cause me a lot of grief underwater, does that make me a snob or a self preservationist?

Everybody just want's to have fun, but let's not confuse snobbery with safety. Sometimes people choose a certain path or buddies or locations for personal and comfort reasons. When it gets ugly is when those people belittle others for not being like them, and not realizing that the ones they are bashing may actually be safer and having more fun. I'm glad we're not all the same. But honestly, the story about 94 degree water and 120 air temps, holy crap!! That's way too hardcore for me!! I couldn't do it.

And what MaxBottomtime said,
the ones that did all the bashing are gone. BTW, I know who he's talking about, LOL!
They come, and then they go.

And about wine snobs, I live in Sonoma county and Napa county is my next door neighbor. I'm living right smack in the middle of wine country ground zero. I can't help it if we have some of the best wine in the world!
So what's your point? lol!!

 

[Neilwood]

seems to be that there are 2 definitions of dive snobs going on here in this thread.

1. the one that likes to dive in warmer waters
2. and one that seems to be better than others

i personally would love to dive with someone with way more experience than
so which one are you?

Type 1 - I can see the allure of that but if I only stuck to warm water I would miss all the lovely things here.
Type 2 - is the person just better in their head or have they learned something with their hundreds of dives? Just because they have hundreds of dives does not make them good (it can actually make them worse as they think the basics don't apply to them as "I have done this a hundred times and I am still here" where they have gotten away with bad practises. I prefer the thinking diver who has learned something.

I aspire to be the diver that hopefully never stops learning the right way to do things.