Growing Technical Dive Clubs

[w ripley]

First, thanks for providing a non-public forum, or I wouldn't be asking this:

I am wondering what others are doing to keep off-shore tech trips filled, and to get tech divers to want to go deeper? Is it just that everything costs too much today, or am I missing something?

We've got a group called VBTech (Virginia Beach Technical Divers) that's been around for 10 or 15 years. I'm sure some of you know it. There was a time when we had a group of 20+ who - as a group - dove serious technical offshore dives at least once or twice each month. We had regular monthly meetings, and talked over the email almost daily.

Over the years some of the older members have stopped diving and some of the younger moved away. Today we still have a core group of 20 +/- (we also have a Facebook Group Page with 60+ friends), but only a handful with any serious diving experience. Because we're not doing tech dives all the time, there is a natural reluctance on the part of the newer members to want to go deep. And, of course, without the numbers the deeper dives, that are available in our area, are non-starters.

What are those of you doing to fill your trips and to grow the expererience level of your members?

Thanks,

 

[Tienuts]

I think it's the economy Bill. Like with any club, you're going to have attrition as people lose interest, grow old, move away, whatever. You need people coming in the door to fill the shoes.

People are just diving less, and taking less training simply cause they can't afford it. No different than any other leisure industry which is also taking a hit.

Here in Pompano the tech diving (diving in general) is way down. Dive ops need to make their charters cheaper, training needs to be cheaper, and consumables need to be cheaper to bait the hook and get people diving again.

 

[TSandM]

I don't know . . . I'm not convinced its entirely the economy. Down in Monterey, the BAUE club fills their tech boats -- it's the recreational charters they're having trouble filling. But I know that BAUE does a lot of Tech 1 boats (the 150 foot range) and that makes it easy for the folks with new certs to get some experience.

In your particular situation, would it pay off to try to organize some charters to a little shallower sites, to get some of your less experienced folks out to get some dives under their belts and build confidence? Those might not be the dives you particularly want to do, but the investment might pay off for you over a couple of years.

 

[Tienuts]

Lynn, I would say that perhaps Monterey for whatever reason, has not had the same level of attrition that Pompano and other areas have had.

I think you're partially correct - to the hardcore tech crowd, they keep diving regardless. They've already made the investment in gear and training. And for them, it's no longer scary or intimidating to do the deeper/longer/more challenging dives. It's now fun, and in some cases, a passion.

But I think what the economy does affect is those in the "farm system." People who are on the fence about doing a tech class are less likely to do so due to the increased cost. Especially for those unlucky enough to have a non-diving partner. Imagine that dinner time argument - "What the hell are doubles, and why should you buy these now when we're struggling to make the mortgage payment?"

So with the Monterey group, what if say 20% of the active divers stop diving? Without the up and coming tech divers to fill the void, the tech industry suffers.

Tony

 

[TSandM]

Well, it sounded, from the original post, as though Mr. Ripley's club has a bunch of people in the pipeline, but they just don't have the experience to do the dives he would like to do. It seems as though the answer is to run some charters to things THEY do feel excited and confident to do, and view those "less desirable" charters as an investment in growing a more seasoned dive group.

I know, for me, the opportunity to go out and do dives at the edge of my comfort zone in the company of more experienced people is something I really enjoy. When I go down to Monterey, I take advantage of access to great sites and great buddies, and do as much tech diving as I can.

 

[rjack321]

I can't fill charters at the basic level here, 120-150fsw. But I think its because most divers around here just want to stick close to home and avoid paying for charters by scootering from shore. They aren't interested in pricey fills and driving places when they can more easily dive closer to home.

I don't mind the travel, its part of the appeal to me.

 

[w ripley]

We usually run a day or 2 at the local quarry in the winter (had one 2 weekends ago) and then 1 or 2 shallow trips (usually the Ocean Venture @ 150fsw +/-) at the beginning of the season. We haven't been scheduling "make-up" dives, so if they miss the first few dives they are effectively cut out of the loop for the rest of the season. Maybe scheduling a couple of those shallow-tech dives later in the season could work in our favor. That's one good idea already from this thread.

Tony, this year the Ocean Explorer (OEX Charters) is coming up for 6 months from Pompano, and they're scheduling at least one tech dive per month. I've already chartered one weekend in June for our club, even though she not here yet. Keeping that boat fillled and wanting to head back this way next year is one of the reasons for the original post. If we can grow our club, then we can keep that boat full, then we can grow our offshore tech dives, then we can grow our club, then . . . well you see the cycle.

Has anyone had any luck using the internet forums to fill tech trips? I'm thinking that something like a RB-only-weekend charter to the Bow Mariner, for example (240fsw), would be of interest for people outside of our immediate area. Combined with the local RB divers, that could be a venue with possibilities. It would be one way to give our club's RB divers more bottom time, for example.

We've got the Billy Mitchell fleet of German ships from Scappa off our shores, with some great wrecks in the 300- to 400-foot range. We just don't have enough divers around here anymore who can or who want to do those dives. You think building a weekend around that fleet would draw divers?

Maybe we have to augment our trips by making them of interest to tech divers from outside our area. I'm thinking "Momentum breeds momentum." The more tech trips running, the more interest generated for our local divers.

I still think money plays a big role in this picture. Still, it's nice to be able to think out loud with you guys.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

[TSandM]

How weather-sensitive are your trips?

I have wanted to dive off North Carolina for several years, but I'm really hesitant to book a trip and commit a bunch of money, only to arrive and find out I'm totally blown out of diving. Especially with the costs of tech charters, you might run into the same issue with recruiting from out of area.

 

[TSandM]

How weather-sensitive are your trips?

I have wanted to dive off North Carolina for several years, but I'm really hesitant to book a trip and commit a bunch of money, only to arrive and find out I'm totally blown out of diving. Especially with the costs of tech charters, you might run into the same issue with recruiting from out of area.

 

[AndyNZ]

I still think money plays a big role in this picture. Still, it's nice to be able to think out loud with you guys.

Take a look at how BSAC clubs structure membership and training - a BSAC style club would certainly enable you to lower the cost of training to help you address the cost issues.

The basic premise of BSAC is "you get cheap instructor level training but are expected to teach afterwards" (OK, that's a very loose interpretation!).

You club could pitch in to cover the costs of training up an instructor in the club who then offers club members reduced cost training.

The only risk is that person you train up leaves, dies of old age or just gets annoyed at never having their own dives any more.

The only way you can mitigate that is to get a rolling schedule of continuously training instructors at the same time you are training divers.

It may or may not work for you, but it's an idea.