Does ScubaBoard help you to dive more than otherwise?

[Kim]

The majority of certified divers are almost without doubt the 'only a couple of dives a year on vacation' type. Actually, if the truth was known I was little more than that myself before I joined the board. Where I live doesn't have a huge diving scene available just down the road - it takes an effort, and an expense, to get to the water. For me though, being a member here and reading and participating in the SB community really keeps the interest alive and powerful - and gets me into the water more. I estimate that I probably dive at least the double number of dives per year than I did before.
I realize that we have a bunch of members who are complete fanatics anyway, board or not, but mostly they live close to good diving so it's a lot easier. Hey...we'd all like to live in Hawaii or Florida for instance! That's not where most of us with normal lives and ordinary jobs live though. So I wonder....for us 'ordinary Joes'......does SB help you to dive more often than you would have done otherwise?

 

[laserdoc]

yes it does for me. Have gotton my AOW since joining the board ( after 20 some odd years of diving,,,go figure) one weekend dive trip and two morw week long trips this year

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Absolutely. I've meet many fellow midwest divers who love to dive and will find places to dive locally. The vast majority of divers in the midwest are warm water, vacation only divers. I want to dive more than that. I also want to gain experience diving in all types of environments. The people I've met and continue to meet on this board have been an extremely important part of my progress as a diver.

 

[jpsexton]

I'd say about a third of my dives so far have been with people I met here, not to mention the knowledge I have gained from just reading here.

 

[ReefHound]

No brainer, I was an annual vacation diver until I got active online. Now I'm logging 60 dives a year. When your SO and best friends don't dive, the lack of dive buddies is a problem, one I hear all the time from new divers.

Now that I'm active in my local dive club CHUM I really don't *need* SB for buddies anymore, but it's still fun to meet new people. I met Suprbugman last week for some great jetty dives in Destin, and am meeting Jumpergirl in a few hours for some local diving.

Plus, SB and other online scuba forums keep me interested in diving during the stretches that I can't actually get wet. But it's an obsession/addiction for sure.

 

[DeputyDan]

Couple of points - you premise about vacation only divers is wrong (If you are considering all certified divers)

Between 80 and 90 % of all certified divers have less than 15 dives. They have the certification dives and that one vacation dive trip. No equipment purchases outside of snorkel gear.

I am in the 10% thats left and yes SB does increase diving.

I have dove the keys based on SB Advice
I have dove Hawaii based on SB advice.
I have one trip to Bonaire (and a second this month) with folks met on SB and one trip to COCO View with SB members
Have a planned COCO View trip in 2007 with SB folks.

SB is hard on the pocket book.

 

[Kim]

Couple of points - you premise about vacation only divers is wrong (If you are considering all certified divers)

Between 80 and 90 % of all certified divers have less than 15 dives. They have the certification dives and that one vacation dive trip.

Maybe I don't quite understand what you are saying but as it seems to agree with what i said, which bit is wrong?

 

[dive_lover88]

SB has help keep my interest in scuba up even i dont get to touch the water...planning a long trip to sipadan becoz of SB...just reading about it is just unbearable...

 

[S_SIMON]

nope, i read this board while at work ...lol, but i go diving for the love of the sport. It is interesting to read the different views, etc.....but i have to remember as with any news site, thread/board.....you take it with a grain of salt.

 

[red_infinity]

In a way, it does. It's actually responsible for getting me into diving actively. That, and it helped me become a safer diver.

-Francis