scrane
Contributor
I like the three dimensional aspect of diving plus the ability to observe close up some pretty interesting creatures. I've been doing it for almost 50 years and I love it more than ever.
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I answered #1. I averaged a little over 100 dives per year after my OW certification. I then got a weekend job at a dive shop for several years plus worked as a DM on a couple of local dive boats. My average shot down to about 35 dives per year. I bought a twelve foot inflatable and went back to diving a lot. I followed that up with a sailboat, then a 22 foot power boat and finally a 25 foot C-Dory Tomcat. In between boats I made a ton of shore dives. My average is back to around 100 dives per year. I wish it was higher but the ocean has not been compliant lately.Hi Max,
I am about a year behind you with that 60 thing.
Did you buy your boat for diving and did you buy it early-on in your diving adventure?
If you answered the poll, did you choose question #1?
cheers,
markm
'Transitional' was / is a very reasonable term to use. For quite a few people, scuba is simply a recreational activity pursued after they stop, or begin to lose interest in, pursuing something else, and before they begin to pursue their next activity, as they lose interest in diving. Scuba is therefore what some people do when they are in transition, e.g. between bungee jumping and hiking, or between jet skiing and cross-fit training. Many people, particularly younger individuals it seems, are recreational activity dilettantes.
The term 'transient' also is applicable, given the relatively short period of time during which many people pursue the sport in their lifetime.
I confess, I came to diving not because of a love of water, or an interest in marine biology, but because I wanted to do things that not everybody else did. It was probably an ego booster. Given that background, I was statistically likely to engage in scuba as a transitional activity, and my participation in diving was likely to be transient.
What made the difference for me: a) I had a newly certified dive buddy who was equally enthusiastic about our new endeavor, and that got me into the water a number of times during that critical 6 month period after certification when too many new divers are not able to dive, lose most of their skills developed in OW training, and are increasingly reluctant to dive much after that; b) I happened to get certified through a shop where the owner was a 'pied piper'. He was such a cheerleader for diving that it was infectious. He and I became friends, he got me interested in buying gear. He persuaded me to take tec training, to enroll in the DM course, he made it easy to travel to dive (he drove much of the time). Diving became my primary social activity - a core group of us would go out to eat together, get together for Halloween, New Year's, Super Bowl, etc. So, it became a central part of my life.
I frankly admit, I was not all that comfortable underwater for quite some time. But, gradually, it became easier and easier, my confidence increased, my enjoyment of simply swimming underwater grew, and I came to look at every dive as a training dive, so I looked forward to doing something underwater, anything, better than I did it before. Now, I can go to the quarry where I have dove 100s of times, and find something new and interesting to do.
Now, diving has become a habit, it is something I am modestly competent to do, most of my friends are people who dive (it really is a self-selection process), and I work in the dive industry so I have a reason to go to the pool, the quarry, the coast, etc..
Why is scuba diving a transitional sport?
How did you find your niche in scuba?
I have a co-worker who runs in marathons. To me, why travel for that? You can run around the block at home! But I think running, like scuba diving, skiing and a number of other things, is a means for someone to engage/relate to a destination, create an experience that makes it a part of your life.
Richard.