How has SB made a difference?

[TSandM]

I was just thinking about that the other day. I spend a ton of time on SB, and I've learned a lot, but I was having trouble putting my finger on SPECIFIC things I do differently, or specific things I've changed equipment-wise, as a result of it. I came up with a couple:

The Chuck Taylors I use with my wetsuit I wouldn't even have thought to buy without having asked the question on SB.

I got my X-shorts as a result of a special offer that was pointed out by Mo2vation, I think, on SB.

I chose the dive op we're using in Cozumel as a result of reading threads and corresponding with SB members.

I chose the regs I bought for my husband for Christmas as a result of research on SB and correspondence with SB members.

How about the rest of you?

 

[Cacia]

I have made many contacts.

Lamont and others have explained some great deco concepts. It is wonderful to get to bounce off dive planning questions.

Photography help abounds....even though I have been lazy lately. The tutorials and inspriration are priceless.

Boat help...nemrod, captain, Bill51, WC...really great to have that support.

legal issues discussed...Andy, Bruce...very informative

medical questions...all you docs and the medical anecdotes that always arise.

wow...where do I stop?

travel, I have liked hearing what others think about various places.

Humor.

 

[drbill]

SB has "helped" me do fewer dives each year and not get many of my video editing projects done as timely as I'd like. It's just too darned addictive.

Seriously, I think the best thing is meeting so many other divers from the Board.

 

[under water]

As a new diver I have learned probably MOST of what I know about diving through SB, directly or indirectly.
I read a lot of books and stuff on the web and I have found that integrating a lot of the opinions and discussions here have helped me make decisions about equipment that I have bought and training that I have taken.
One thread on being adrift caused me to get my wife & I more safety equipment.
I have read about technique here and practiced it when I could.
I have used recommendations on dive ops when I travel.
I have even used the board to help me figure out what some of the acronyms of diving mean (like SAC) and help apply them to my benefit.
All in all it has been a good match for my newly acquired passion for diving.
I have also saved $$ by learning about & using my 10% discount at the already awesome prices at Scubatoys.com.
I have also used it to get a good belly laugh at times!!

 

[almitywife]

its helped me understand more about rebreathers and breath easier about hubby having one.

some of the pm'd support i have recevied from the techies has been invaluable

 

[DiveMaven]

I think the educational benefit that SB has to offer is the best part. I've learned so much about everything from gear to travel and everything in between.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

- All of the people I regularly dive with I met through ScubaBoard.
- Absolutely every major gear choice I've made (bp/w, regulator, wetsuits, drysuit, tanks, lights, etc, etc) has been influenced by research I've done here.
- I've spent less on that gear because I've had SB folks point me to special deals I would not have found on my own
- The charter boats I'm using in Boynton Beach and Ventura were selected based upon SB advice.

 

[CrawfishDiver]

found some cool dive sites

Learned lots of new stuff

40 percent loss in production at work :shakehead

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Great idea for a tread!

I've hooked up with a couple of dive buddies, both locally and when I went to HI.

Got good hotel and dive op reviews for our upcoming trip to Coz.

Borrowed the idea for the pool noodle tank holder I built.

Learned what gas planning was all about.

Learned a lot about homebuilt can lights, though I haven't started mine yet.

Learned a lot about rebreathers, though owning one is still well off in the future.

And I’m sure a lot more that I can’t think of right now.

 

[fisherdvm]

I learned alot more here than I did 13 years ago in my OW and AOW classes. Partly because I didn't dive for over 10 years in between, and forgotten much of what I had learned earlier. This combined with a refresher course and more diving, I am much more comfortable now diving than I were 13 years ago.

Now that my son is older, I'll have more time, perhaps diving with him. You have a bunch of great DM, instructors, who are glad to help almost anyone... Once you get past the sarcasm and learn which ones to ignore!!

I really appreciate the well thought input of folks like DrVikingo, Dr.DECO, and others.... And learned much more about diving medicine because of these folks... Keep up the good work, you guys... and gals...