Dive magazines -- "What Hurricane?"

[Trisha]

I just received my December 2004 issue of Scuba Diving. Other than three ads, no mention was made of Cayman Islands. Hey, didn't they have a hurricane there not too long ago?
The October issue still listed a dive special for Seaview Hotel (huh?) and both October and November issues had double-page ads with Seaview Hotel listed.
When, exactly, are they going to mention the destruction from Hurricane Ivan? Or is that a silly question?

Meanwhile, Dive Training's November 2004 issue has a three-page article on damage during this hurricane season. It's very tourism-sensitive and no pictures are shown of the destruction of property or natural resources, such as have been posted on ScubaBoard. But at least they admit something happened this year that can affect where divers spend their hard-earned dollars.

I understand the lag time between the event and coverage (I worked for a newspaper.) And I understand that magazines can, if they choose, cover stories in depth, but at a cost of timeliness. But there is a difference between trying to get an accurate picture, and no picture at all.
This "no hear 'em, no see 'em, no tell 'em" attitude is very discouraging.

 

[CaptSaaz]

Oh, they would rather just ignore/delete the ads rather than say the Grand Cayman got whacked by a hurricane and that it will months before it's up and running again. They are more afraid of negative press than they are of the truth. Same thing with Grenada. Half the people were homeless after Hurricane Ivan but it never made the press here.

 

[ScubaScott]

Trisha - not sure how long you've been reading that particular rag, but this doesn't surprise me at all.....

Considering how many of the advertisements come from Carribean destinations, they would loose a lot of advertising $$$$ by printing anything negative about it. Thats what you get when a magazine is paid for by advertising - biased reviews and only news and know-how from companies that support that particular mag.

This is nothing new, and nothing illegal or immoral about it. IMHO, keep reading Dive Training - twice the mag for reliable information than Scuba Diving....

SS

 

[Trisha]

Yes, and Dive Training is free at my dive shop! This is not a case of "you get what you pay for."
Although I did find this link on the Scuba Diving online forum:

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=2814

So not everything is censored, but it's still a shame. You'd think it would be better to have accurate reporting rather than the bad "word of mouth" once people get there.
And not everything would be negative. I hear that Cayman Brac and Little Cayman still have diving opportunities. Letting the public know how things are progressing would be helpful.

 

[jiveturkey]

Yes, and Dive Training is free at my dive shop! This is not a case of "you get what you pay for."
Although I did find this link on the Scuba Diving online forum:

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=2814

So not everything is censored, but it's still a shame. You'd think it would be better to have accurate reporting rather than the bad "word of mouth" once people get there.
And not everything would be negative. I hear that Cayman Brac and Little Cayman still have diving opportunities. Letting the public know how things are progressing would be helpful.

I also noticed ads in SD magazine, but not the ones you're talking about. It almost seems like Henderson is promoting pornography instead of diving. Jeez, their ads are getting worse all the time with all that sexual innuendo.

 

[outlawaggie]

not that i'm defending the mags but bear in mind that most advertising is purchased months sometimes years in advance. particuliar large ads like the full page ones for the Cayman's

 

[Trisha]

Depending on the deadlines, some of the pages in a magazine are printed in advance. The only way to change the content is to reprint and eat the cost.
But the features and other news usually have later deadlines. Updating these pages before going to press would be simpler.

I protest the media blackout on necessary information about dive sites in supposedly diver-oriented magazines. This does not serve the diving industry or the public. Ultimately, it determines which information sources are to be believed.

 

[rpayne]

Trisha - not sure how long you've been reading that particular rag, but this doesn't surprise me at all.....

Considering how many of the advertisements come from Carribean destinations, they would loose a lot of advertising $$$$ by printing anything negative about it. Thats what you get when a magazine is paid for by advertising - biased reviews and only news and know-how from companies that support that particular mag.

This is nothing new, and nothing illegal or immoral about it. IMHO, keep reading Dive Training - twice the mag for reliable information than Scuba Diving....

SS

Well if Scuba Diving Mag is a rag. What is the best diving Mag?

Just curious about opinions.

Robert

 

[ScubaScott]

Ultimately, it determines which information sources are to be believed.

Couldn't have said it any better...

SS

 

[Boogie711]

Just to chime in here and jump on the "Scuba Diving Magazine is crap" bandwagon...

Here here. Well said. There are so many problems with that organization I don't know where to start...