Finally made a decision on dive mags

[RICHinNC]

I know I will probably catch some flak over this, but I have decided I am not going to renew any of my dive mag subscriptions.

First off, and I know this is blasphemy, I just enjoy diving, but it isnt a "way of life" for me. I generally only get to dive when I am on vacation.

I looked at what I was putting out for dive mags and how repetitive they are and just cant justify it anymore. I know enough about Google that if I want to find something out about a dive location or equipment, not hard. This was not an easy decision regarding the mag....."Dive Training".
But I looked at an old copy and my recent copy and the advertising has more than taken over the mag. Good info is now the exception, so that subscription will bite the dust too.

So, that is it. No more money going out on dive mags.

 

[vladimir]

If I have to tighten my belt, and I may the way things have been going lately, I'll cancel the Wall Street Journal first, then the Undercurrent.

 

[RICHinNC]

If I have to tighten my belt, and I may the way things have been going lately, I'll cancel the Wall Street Journal first, then the Undercurrent.

You know, sometimes you just have to set priorities!

 

[Red_5]

I don't know about the rest of you, but my LDS provides copies of Dive Training

 

[sberanek]

If you only could have one or two dive magazines, which would you suggest? I'm looking into getting a subscription to something, but I can't figure out which one(s).

--Shannon

 

[pawclaws]

If you only could have one or two dive magazines, which would you suggest? I'm looking into getting a subscription to something, but I can't figure out which one(s).

--Shannon

I like Alert Diver and Dive Training.

 

[Damselfish]

I agree many are repetitive. But it's another way to enjoy diving when you're not diving. I let them expire when they get repetitive, and find another one that's different. Right now I find Fathoms and Diver to be interesting. And I still get Undercurrent.

 

[PerroneFord]

Choosing a magazine you enjoy really comes down to what you are looking for. I read Wreck Diver and Advanced Diver Magazine. They are the only one's I've found that really do a nice job covering the deeper wrecks and caves. For someone into reefs, they'd likely bore them to tears. Fortunately, they don't have a ton of advertising in them, and the ads they do have are all pertinent.

I don't even pick up dive training anymore at the LDS. And I haven't bought an issue of the large circulation dive magazines since Jessica Alba was on the cover. Well, except for that one issue of Scuba Diving where they had the "wreck special".

 

[ReefHound]

I looked at what I was putting out for dive mags and how repetitive they are and just cant justify it anymore. I know enough about Google that if I want to find something out about a dive location or equipment, not hard.

I agree. As a source for information about products or places, no magazine can compare to the power of the internet where you can interact directly with normal people about the equipment they are using and the places they are visiting.

 

[Pearldiver07]

I agree with the going trend. I've cancelled all of mine as well, although I see "Undercurrents" and "Diver" coming back. I get "Alert Diver" as a membership perk, so I don't count that one.

My biggest beef? Since Rodale lost "Scuba Diving" Magazine and the new owner pulled the reader ratings of resorts and operators, what do they really help you with when you're choosing a resort? I get sick of them telling us that EVERY location and EVERY operator is heaven on earth. How about a bit more balance, like telling us that "... it is a good resort for being so remote, but you should expect very basic conditions."?

Heck, I'm not asking to have them crucify anyone, but we all know that all resorts aren't 5-stars and perfect. They're just afraid of not getting another free trip or losing some advertising space.

Maybe if more people dropped their subscriptions and let the editors know why, this might change.

Steve