Breaking in the boys club??

[Humble older aquaman]

Agree that most people percieve diving is more guys than gals. It's true in many other recreational activities, more so gear intensive activities. It's a dilemma that marketing types struggle with every day. Without question women make more fun buying decisions than guys.

In the old days, the gear was the biggest hurdle to get gals into diving. Now, there are options, and many making our toys are seeing results. I know a TUSA rep, he 's having a great year because of there women friendly marketing.

Thankfully for us guys, you women like to look good while having fun. I'm having more woman than ever in training because the gear is more woman friendly than ever.

Man, or woman, (and with my own kids) I've found over the years that waiting till they express interest is more successful than to try to get them interested. Once someone brings it up, I focus more on the experience than the gear. For me, I like the gear, but I love the water.

Hoa!

 

[Cacia]

Tell them that they can meet a lot of single guys (of all ages) that like outdoor activities, travel to the islands, adventure, and have smoe extra dollars to do it with.

Most are heathy, respect women, and they most likely would be one of the few girls around 5 to 10 guys and have all the guys attention.

That should do it.

I would say that is the right direction. Not only the men, but the people that are into the outdoors in general are so much more interesting.

Also, I have found that most men really just want someone to "go out and play" with.
Women that want to meet men in bars and online are barking up the wrong trees. I see it over and over...

Also, my sister lives in Greenville and I found her GF's to be very into the hair, nails, and window treatments. She says some days it makes her want to blow her brains out! (Maybe it was just the yuppy new-mommy thing in her circles though.--I had a few turbo stroller years myself!))

All the cool manly men are out diving, surfing, and boating!

Unless they are snowboarding or hiking.

Plus it rules out the guys that blow dry their hair.

 

[DiverBeth]

Leah I'm in the same position as you. I've tried to get my female friends interested but most of them aren't interested. The few that are can't afford it as they're on really tight budgets and paying rent and eating come first. But I don't give up and keep at it trying to meet new people and who knows.

I don't mind diving with men and I've had some great dives with them and I am seeing more and more women diving when I go on trips. So we'll keep trying and men don't just tell your non diving male friends, acquaintances and co-workers about diving tell the women too!

 

[divebri]

you've got to WANT to do it, and there are obstacles, both to men and women.
looking like a dork in a wetsuit, or any gear, is problematic, but sociologicaly more so to women. Overcoming fear is problematic, again more so to women. Overcoming an obstacle (mask-clearing, squeeze, loose-fitting bc, whatever) is problematic, probably more so to women. Not everyone, obviously, but pick a group of 1000 men and 1000 women, and a sociologist or psychiatrist could predict with reasonable accuracy how many will and won't get certified if the opportunity arose.
Face it, we're wired different. In the fight-or-flee mode, men tend to fight first. Women tend to flee.
I feel your pain, and I hope no one's reading this as sexist, because I go to great pains to be neither condescending (honey, let me help you with that) nor ignoring (why did you let her fall on the deck? because she didn't ask for help!).
The great thing about scuba that I've seen is that there's very little macho-ism (if that's a word) with newbies. For the most part, the three or four dive stores I've been with are very professional to both sexes. It does tend to be a PG-rated sport, maybe R, so jokes, etc tend to be on the semi-tasteless side.
But overall, I think the biggest obstacle to women in diving is the way they're wired.
As a former skydiving instructor, their ratios of women students, and especially women advanced skydivers, is lower. in its most basic sense, a similar sport to scuba. More danger, however, and thus in my theory lower numbers of women.
Weight becomes more of an an issue later, after they're certified, IMHO. The majority of women pass before they ever put gear on.

 

[TSandM]

You know, all the dive stores I've been in seem to treat men and women the same, but one store seems to have a far higher number of female divers, and that store has something very different about it: It's PRETTY. It has nice carpet, and blue walls, and lots of light, and gear arranged attractively on racks. It has a stained glass window, and two cockatoos. It's a very pleasant space to be in.

On the other hand, ALL of the other dive shops I've been in, in Seattle and elsewhere, have more resemblance to somebody's garage. Carpet's grey, walls are tan, inventory is small and hung on the walls, and there's frequently something being disassembled in the middle of the floor. Often there's little or no attempt at any decoration (posters, photographs, etc.) And we won't begin to talk about the bathrooms . . .

Face it, women tend to be SHOPPERS. A lot of us shop for FUN (I used to!) A lot of money is spent by retailers to try to make stores inviting . . . Retailers, that is, in anything but diving.

I've looked around a couple of stores and thought, "Wow, a coat of paint and some new carpet, and a little effort rearranging stuff, could make this place really look different!" I think that might influence a few women who get the idea that they might like to dive, but get put off by the "I like nothing more than to take apart automobile engines in my spare time" atmosphere of the retail dive operation.

 

[Rick Murchison]

..."I like nothing more than to take apart automobile engines in my spare time" ...

Uh, and your point is?????
Rick (who has rebuilt a generator on the shoulder of I-20)(well, reversed the brushes... good for another 10,000 miles )

 

[Gilldiver]

I've looked around a couple of stores and thought, "Wow, a coat of paint and some new carpet, and a little effort rearranging stuff, could make this place really look different!" I think that might influence a few women who get the idea that they might like to dive, but get put off by the "I like nothing more than to take apart automobile engines in my spare time" atmosphere of the retail dive operation.

You must have been in most of the dive shops in the Northeast. But you have to add in that it would help if they heated the shops in the winter. The one I was in last week was a "jacket on" type of place, and not an evening jacket if you know what I mean.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, yes, that too! We sat for three hours of lecture during our wreck workshop, and I've been warmer in 43 degree water . . .

 

[Shasta_man]

The look?

That's funny. My wife wants to wear her suit to work because of its wondeful slenderizing effect!

 

[scarefaceDM]

DIVING DOC mentioned it and he is right. ( them Brits... )

The best thing that I have seen done and participated in was a Discover scuba for ladies. Every other friday in the local pool. Average female participants is about 4 to 8. ( some single boys slid in once in a ahwile)

Taking new divers on a discover scuba would be a nice idea..making a GRILY party and go for drinks afterwards....One of the fun things of diving is yacking away over a beer or two after the day is done.

Safe dives
Stephen