How to Engage Younger People in Diving?

[divad]

That’s it, build the relationship on honesty and trust, the way dive shops do it now.



Bob

You seem bitter...

 

[Midwesterndvr]

Young people don’t spend time outdoors like past generations. Start there before trying to drop them in water.

 

[Ben_3]

Introducing it somehow to high school aged kids is always good. Maybe if they advertise diving differently. Instead of always referring to exotic locations and instead promote more local stuff..

I don’t think cost is that much of an issue, they drop crazy amounts of money into electronics.

All lot of people my age don’t really know much about diving at all and think it’s for professionals and stuff..

 

[SleepySlipper]

Under thirty here, before scuba diving I was spear fishing in the Pacific Ocean. I had always looked at scuba diving as a joke, it didn’t seem like much of a challenge and it wasn’t very trendy. That was until I had a shallow water blackout incident and decided to take an open water class thinking I would learn ‘how not to blackout again’. After becoming certified I sold all of my spearfishing gear for a reg and bc. For me personally, the marketing of recreational scuba is what always kept me away. Being a younger male, I needed more of an adrenaline focused visual stimulation to reel me in, opposed to the vacation diver photos you typically see. It wasn’t until I reached tech level that I fully engaged my focus into scuba. @Midwesterndvr I couldn’t disagree more, for as many of my peers are stuck indoors behind a screen, there are just as many progressing extreme sports of today.

 

[Midwesterndvr]

“For many of my peers are stuck indoors behind a screen” further bolsters my point. Past generations had no screens to sit behind. Also I’m glad to find someone of your age as active as you are, and that you know of other examples maybe things are better then I make them out to be.

 

[KathyV]

“For many of my peers are stuck indoors behind a screen” further bolsters my point. Past generations had no screens to sit behind. Also I’m glad to find someone of your age as active as you are, and that you know of other examples maybe things are better then I make them out to be.

To be fair, we had TV and books and other sedentary activities to occupy us - and it was our generation that popularized junk food and recreational drugs and we helped to create a large number of Couch Potatoes - so I don't think that we have much right to dump on disinterested young people. I just wish that more of them would be willing to take a look at what has become a fascinating experience for many of us.

 

[Midwesterndvr]

To be fair, we had TV and books and other sedentary activities to occupy us - and it was our generation that popularized junk food and recreational drugs and we helped to create a large number of Couch Potatoes - so I don't think that we have much right to dump on disinterested young people. I just wish that more of them would be willing to take a look at what has become a fascinating experience for many of us.

I agree it’s an excellent activity for many reasons and would like to see it shared with as many as possible. However the sedentary activities of the current generations have a more detrimental effect on attention spans then before. For example models, hobbies, etc were for many reasons better for the young person to be engaged in then video games.

 

[KathyV]

I agree it’s an excellent activity for many reasons and would like to see it shared with as many as possible. However the sedentary activities of the current generations have a more detrimental effect on attention spans then before. For example models, hobbies, etc were for many reasons better for the young person to be engaged in then video games.

I am hoping to stimulate some discussion and ideas to engage younger people in diving - not drive them away with criticism and condemnation.

Each generation has its' fashions, fads, passions, victories, failures, and challenges and I truly hope that more members of the current younger generation discover the joys of exploring the underwater world.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I see none of this. Perhaps its a US thing, or maybe the younger people don't vacation in similar places to us "Boomers"

80% of the people I've certified are under 40, On any day trip here, there is a 60/40 split towards younger people

Go to popular non US vacation areas such a Indonesia, and the vast majority of divers are under 40. Even Misool, a super high end resort, has a good number under 40 at any time

Sure dive shows are dying out, often populate by old grey hair bearded people wanting to socialise with other old acquaintances rather than to buy

The youth have migrated away from brick and mortar stores away on to the internet, and use social media etc.

The younger generation are out there diving, its just they're more affluent and more mobile and as such go farther a field.

 

[Midwesterndvr]

perjhaps, but I am hoping to stimulate some discussion and ideas to engage younger people in diving - not drive them away with criticism and condemnation.

Each generation has its' fashions, fads, passions, victories, failures, and challenges and I truly hope that more members of the current younger generation discover the joys of exploring the underwater world.

I believe the numbers of divers will continue to decline. I also think the ones that enter the sport and the ones that remain will probably be better divers.