How to Engage Younger People in Diving?

[Ben_3]

As a 30 year old, new to diving in the last two years (that doesn't own a TV so no video games here...), one of the big things that took so long to get me into diving and still makes me hesitant is cost. I am affluent in many expensive outdoor sports (rock climbing, backcountry skiing, ice climbing) and this one is hands down the biggest financial burden. Just getting OW certified can push $1000 ($700 if you are lucky)-that does not include buying any of your own gear. Sure, you can rent but that makes a day diving cost around $150 where I am at just for the day. I can spend that same amount of money on ice climbing gear and not have to spend another cent on gear for years. Even if I own all my own gear, there is still the price of gas every time.

And then if you like it, it's more and more money for various certifications so you can do the different specialties. Want to dive local in Alaska where I am at? Gotta get that drysuit cert so you can even rent one which is pretty much mandatory to dive here. Wanna check out that awesome wreak at 80 feet on vacation? better get deep diver or AOW too. Not to mention you have to actually go dive to get your buoyancy and trim under control, which as mentioned costs every time you want to dive.

To be fair, I just don't think that many people in my generation have the money to support diving and do much else that we are interested in (travel, maybe have a family, other sports, etc.) when there are many other outdoor outlets that maybe have a high initial cost but are relatively free after. I can go on a week long climbing trip and just pay for gas and food vs a week long diving trip that will cost in the thousands of dollars. While I personally am lucky enough to have the financial means to actually support diving, many of my peers are either just completely priced out of the sport or in order to actually be a diver would have to give up all other fun things that require less financial commitment.

And, to be honest, it is intimidating walking into a dive shop as a young noob. I got lucky and got connected to the right people in my area right away. A lot of the time with other sports like climbing or skiing you know someone who does it and your buddy teaches you the basics. Scuba diving is not as out on the open these days-I know very few (active) fellow divers other than who I know through the LDS. A lot of divers I know got certified years ago and have not dove since-often for reasons stated above.

$1000 bucks to get OW certified?? That seems steep.. But yes the costs do add quite fast!

 

[Marie13]

On the local diving front, perhaps there's something we could do. We have regional forums; what if we had a sticky in each on how to get into local diving as a beginner? Like a lot of new divers, I had a hard time figuring out where to go and who to go with, even though I talked 3 friends into getting certified with me. It took me a while to find the clubs and shops that actually do fun dives where I Iive. Part of it is they're not always advertised well, so a Google search won't necessarily turn them up; part of it is there's a lot of defunct pages still up that look active and it takes a while to sift through those, part of it is just that even when you find something, it's hard to know what to expect in terms of all-in cost, parking and other logistics, whether you need to show up with a buddy, the extent to which someone there will be looking out for you if the dive turns out to be at the edge of your comfort envelope, etc. We could gather that information, update it over time, and tag people who can answer questions and are willing to buddy up with someone new.

I did one a little more than a year ago on Great Lakes diving for beginners.

Great Lakes diving for beginners

 

[Esprise Me]

$1000 bucks to get OW certified?? That seems steep.. But yes the costs do add quite fast!

That's about what I ended up spending. I've heard it can be cheaper in some tropical destinations, but of course you have to get there first.

 

[Ben_3]

That's about what I ended up spending. I've heard it can be cheaper in some tropical destinations, but of course you have to get there first.

I paid approximately 400$. I had to buy mask and fins, they lent the rest. I can see how 1000$ would not appeal to some. I’m far north of the tropics though.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

As a 30 year old, new to diving in the last two years (that doesn't own a TV so no video games here...), one of the big things that took so long to get me into diving and still makes me hesitant is cost. I am affluent in many expensive outdoor sports (rock climbing, backcountry skiing, ice climbing) and this one is hands down the biggest financial burden. Just getting OW certified can push $1000 ($700 if you are lucky)-that does not include buying any of your own gear. Sure, you can rent but that makes a day diving cost around $150 where I am at just for the day. I can spend that same amount of money on ice climbing gear and not have to spend another cent on gear for years. Even if I own all my own gear, there is still the price of gas every time.

And then if you like it, it's more and more money for various certifications so you can do the different specialties. Want to dive local in Alaska where I am at? Gotta get that drysuit cert so you can even rent one which is pretty much mandatory to dive here. Wanna check out that awesome wreak at 80 feet on vacation? better get deep diver or AOW too. Not to mention you have to actually go dive to get your buoyancy and trim under control, which as mentioned costs every time you want to dive.

To be fair, I just don't think that many people in my generation have the money to support diving and do much else that we are interested in (travel, maybe have a family, other sports, etc.) when there are many other outdoor outlets that maybe have a high initial cost but are relatively free after. I can go on a week long climbing trip and just pay for gas and food vs a week long diving trip that will cost in the thousands of dollars. While I personally am lucky enough to have the financial means to actually support diving, many of my peers are either just completely priced out of the sport or in order to actually be a diver would have to give up all other fun things that require less financial commitment.

And, to be honest, it is intimidating walking into a dive shop as a young noob. I got lucky and got connected to the right people in my area right away. A lot of the time with other sports like climbing or skiing you know someone who does it and your buddy teaches you the basics. Scuba diving is not as out on the open these days-I know very few (active) fellow divers other than who I know through the LDS. A lot of divers I know got certified years ago and have not dove since-often for reasons stated above.

There is somewhat of a “back door” to diving that a lot of younger people are doing.
This would be freediving, and I don’t mean warm water snorkeling for fun, I mean hard core cold water freediving with special suits, long fins, low volume masks, and all the rest of the pro gear. The freediving world is a separate world from scuba diving. Scuba is expensive and it’s a whole “thing” in itself. It used to be that scuba diving was an extension of skin diving (old term for freediving), but over the years the equipment became more and more specialized in both disciplines and now they have assumed their own identities and are very isolated from each other.
Most of the freediving world is populated by people under 40. Most of them are into spearfishing as the main activity. Some dive competitively but that is a very small percentage.
In Northern California the draw for freediving was abalone. Abalone diving attracted all types of people young and old. It seems like a large number of the divers were just normal people, mostly male, guys in trade type jobs, outdoorsy types, certainly not rich and not people who have money to go on trips.
There are all sorts of sanctioned spearfishing events from coast to coast and around the world. It’s a real recognized sport now.
I remember doing an abalone diving derby once and I remember seeing a surprising number of young very athletic women divers in their 20’s. They got some of the biggest abs. Most of the freediving youth in California are the surfer/water types.
The things that make freediving so attractive to young people is you can get outfitted at retail for around $1000 -$1200 total (pro gear) including a beginner gun or pole spear. There is no money going out for special certifications and there are no air fills. There is a lot of friendship and support within the freediving community which many of them really like, it’s a very tight knit group.
The fish and seafood doesn’t hurt either. It’s fresh, healthy, and free, great for get togethers, fish tacos, campouts, etc.

Southern California has seen an explosion in freediving participation in the last 10 - 15 years from people starting in their teens.
The reason I say this is a really great secret back door to scuba diving is because freedivers/skindivers make the best scuba divers. They already have experience managing the ocean and cold water, they’re in shape from freediving (legs and lungs), they have great form (freediving is impossible without it), they are seasoned and therefore calm (no freaking out from being underwater for the first time).

More than likely, someone in their freediving circle is also a scuba diver and can clue them in about what they need to add a SCUBA to what they already have, and can also lead them to great used gear. Everything used for freediving can be used for scuba, you just have to add a SCUBA unit and off you go. A freediver getting into scuba will understand that. A person getting into scuba as a first timer with no prior water experience will not understand that. What they will understand is what their scuba diving shop tells them to believe . That’s how far apart the two have become.

I just happen to be that diver who started as a skin diver and later got into scuba diving. I have personally mentored many young people about gear and helped them find great deals on really good top brand used Scuba stuff.

Yes, freediving is a great beginning way (the best way) to get involved in diving and begin to have fun in the ocean.
It gives not just young people but all people a great head start into the diving world, and it doesn’t cost a fortune.

 

[Esprise Me]

Almost as though cost really is a reason, not an "excuse." (As if young non-divers owed us one...)

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

After reading over post #157 a few more times I’m pretty convinced that the scuba diving industry has pretty much over complicated and over priced themselves out of the market for the majority of potential new participants.
Scuba was never a “cheap” sport, after all there is “life support” equipment involved.
But I can’t help but think about how it used to be way back in it’s infancy when gear was dirt basic. I don’t know how relatively costly the gear was then as opposed to now, but there was a lot less of it. So much has been added that is considered “mandatory” now that didn’t even exist back then, and somehow people managed to dive and not kill themselves. Classes were longer but I don’t know how the pricing worked in an organization like the YMCA as opposed to the retail structure they have now through a dive shop.
Scuba diving has become way to politicized in my opinion. I wonder if this has become another huge turn off for someone who looks into diving then sees all that and says forget it.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

On the local diving front, perhaps there's something we could do. We have regional forums; what if we had a sticky in each on how to get into local diving as a beginner? Like a lot of new divers, I had a hard time figuring out where to go and who to go with, even though I talked 3 friends into getting certified with me. It took me a while to find the clubs and shops that actually do fun dives where I Iive. Part of it is they're not always advertised well, so a Google search won't necessarily turn them up; part of it is there's a lot of defunct pages still up that look active and it takes a while to sift through those, part of it is just that even when you find something, it's hard to know what to expect in terms of all-in cost, parking and other logistics, whether you need to show up with a buddy, the extent to which someone there will be looking out for you if the dive turns out to be at the edge of your comfort envelope, etc. We could gather that information, update it over time, and tag people who can answer questions and are willing to buddy up with someone new.

You guys actually have quite a few dive clubs in your end of the state. Up where I live there are not many clubs. I’ve started two clubs during my time as a diver. The first a U/W photo club which died from lack of participation, and the second was supposed to be a casual beach diving club modeled after the Sand Eaters in Socal, but turned into a monster.
I could see a successful dive club as a possible savior of diving. Dive clubs (where everyone gets along) are great. They give new divers a place to find buddies, glean info on gear for sale, and possibly connect with an independent dive club instructor.
Some clubs even have a compressor. Many members have extra gear/tanks to borrow or maybe to rent. I used to let all sorts of people use my extra tanks, they just payed for the fill.

 

[Esprise Me]

I think this happens in a lot of sports, though. When hang gliding took off (pardon the expression), the pilots were people making their own gliders out of materials they had lying around. A lot of them died. Now the idea of doing that seems insane. You need about 4 grand for an entry-level glider, plus the cost of lessons. Scuba seems cheap by comparison, and indeed, scuba has fared better in the popularity contest with younger generations.

A lot of people my age are into hiking. It's cheap, accessible, and contrary to the assumptions many here have made, it's an excuse to get away from the screens. Some of them are interested in the idea of diving; my underwater pics get more likes on social media than my cat, even though I'm no photographer and he's clearly adorable. But I get their hesitation, and shared it for many years.

I don't know if going back to the old way is the answer. Safety is not something to be taken lightly. I do like the idea of nonprofit diving clubs that run on volunteer labor and membership dues rather than shops selling courses and gear. Has the UK fared any better than the US in terms of attracting young divers?

 

[Kamaros]

I think in general, diving could use more exposure and perhaps a lower upfront cost.

Coming from a family of non-divers near Toronto, I never realized scuba diving was a thing people did outside of tropical vacations that we couldn't afford while I was growing up. Even though I was fortunate enough to have been exposed to a number of other outdoor activities through my local Scout troop (camping, hiking, skiing, swimming, kayaking, etc), it was only after I got certified that I learned that people actually dived locally. This was despite the fact that I lived less than 10 minutes away from two separate dive shops (Scuba 2000 and AquaSub Diving Centre, which some of you will recognize from Alec Peirce's YouTube channel). In the end, I was only exposed to diving after I graduated university and could afford a trip to the Caribbean.

Another big barrier to entry is the upfront cost. Between the OW course fees, textbook, rental equipment, and required personal gear (mask, fins, snorkel, gloves, and booties), my LDS charges about $800 USD for an OW course, which is a lot of money for a hobby people may not even be sure they'll enjoy, particularly if you're struggling with high costs of living and crushing student debt. Much more efficient to save that money and spend your recreational time watching cat videos instead of fish.