Suggestion Hookah/SNUBA/Recreational Surface Supplied Air Subforum?

[high_order1]

I know how the majority of you feel about this topic.

The number of these systems is increasing every year.

Licensing or gatekeeping is non-existent, and the systems seem to be pointed towards people that don't desire the SCUBA OW experience.

There doesn't really seem to be a 'right' forum to ask questions and provide advice for these systems.

I haven't been here long, perhaps this already has a better answer, but seems like SB would want to be the go-to place for people trying to decide if this is right for them. Equipment reviews, tips and tricks, a lot of things someone who just wants to play in the pool with one of these and would be reticent to post in the deep end of the forum here for the truthful and blunt responses they would get. (shrugs)

I'd bet the manufacturers would want to advertise there as well...

Just a thought.


Edit: I had a thought. For years, most firearm forums have resisted 'airsoft' because it has a reputation of being childish, sub-par imitation toys that no Real Gun Guy would be caught dead around.
Recently, concessions have been made, as points that make airsoft attractive to people that like to train cause them to be more and more frequently discussed.

I can see a parallel with 'hookah' and people that want to make a living doing husbandry without the negatives of wearing a tank during manual labor. Or people doing aquaculture but concerned about tank filling. (shrugs)

 

[Cthippo]

I vote yes.

I'm interested in another option and see no use for gatekeeping.

 

[lowwall]

Why? But since there is no where else why not help out those seeking answers? The SNUBA/Hookah systems have been around since at least the mid 70's. Yes, they are unlicensed but so is SCUBA. The problem that I see with them, is that there is no real instruction. The systems are sold as being a cheap and no training required alternative to SCUBA diving. The little pump up tank systems aren't much better. So why not use your great expertise to help some of those unfortunate people who bought one of those systems but is smart enough to realize that they need help before they kill themselves? Why make them feel unwanted?

I've participated in a few of those threads. It seems the whole reason most people get interested in this topic is they want to do scuba, but want to skip the time and expense of actual scuba certification.

The people asking about them are rarely interested in anything we say that doesn't agree with their preconception that training and learning about the basics of breathing under pressure are not needed for this type of diving.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting we keep out the people who occasionally find their way here and post on the topic. They don't come that often and the few that are genuinely seeking information seem to get it. But I don't see why we would actively seek to become a destination for this. If we did I suspect the people who make money off of it would end up dominating the conversation.

 

[Waterwulf]

I've participated in a few of those threads. It seems the whole reason most people get interested in this topic is they want to do scuba, but want to skip the time and expense of actual scuba certification.

The people asking about them are rarely interested in anything we say that doesn't agree with their preconception that training and learning about the basics of breathing under pressure are not needed for this type of diving.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting we keep out the people who occasionally find their way here and post on the topic. They don't come that often and the few that are genuinely seeking information seem to get it. But I don't see why we would actively seek to become a destination for this. If we did I suspect the people who make money off of it would end up dominating the conversation.

Well then, why participate in those threads at all? Why not just skip over them? Besides, your response is kind of self conflicting. On the one hand, you don;t want to deal with them at all and actually want to discourage them from coming to this site. Then you say you don't want them to be kept out. You can't have both and who made you the Judge anyway? What gives you the right to discriminate against somebody just because they get their air from the surface versus carrying it with them? Why not actively seek to become a destination for it? Traffic is life to a web site. They breath compressed air too!

 

[rongoodman]

I'm in the process of converting my SCUBA gear over to SNUBA/Hookah. A dedicated sub forum would be a great resource for info.

Why do you want to do that?