Income Question

[lowwall]

This differs only in degree from asking whether polo players have a higher income than the average population. Of course the median income for divers is greater than non-divers. Diving is a very expensive hobby. The pros may not make much money, but they are a very small percentage of all divers.

 

[grazie42]

I also think that, since SB is a global community, that income in $ doesen´t say that much about peoples disposable income since the cost of living in different countries is very different. Even the cost of diving in different countries is different.

 

[Charlie99]

Dema did publish a study that included age, gender, household income, etc. for scuba divers. 1999 data, though. Page 13 is the most relevant one. http://www.dema.org/associations/1017/files/MarketResearch-SportsParticipation1999.pdf

$75K+ 37%
50-75k 24%
....
...
Under $15k 6%

 

[lowwall]

Sports participation by income is reported regularly in industry reports by folks like the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. None of this is freely available, but I did find this from a summary of an SGMA 2001 report.

"Among outdoor activities, the average household income is highest for snorkeling ($84,000) and scuba diving ($81,500)."

The median U.S. household income for 2001 was $44k.

Alex

P.S. As I write this, with 99 poll respondents, the median is in the $75-100k range, which is what we would expect from the SGMA numbers.

 

[Sasquatch]

I really think it's more a matter of priority than income. Though I'm not top tier income I dive a lot and actually find it very economical to dive now that I own my own gear. Granted it helps that I'm nearly surrounded by diveable saltwater!

Sea ya!

 

[scubadobadoo]

I really think it's more a matter of priority than income. Though I'm not top tier income I dive a lot and actually find it very economical to dive now that I own my own gear. Granted it helps that I'm nearly surrounded by diveable saltwater!

Sea ya!

Yep! Diving can be much cheaper if you LIVE in Bonaire, LOL!

 

[Warthaug]

I have heard that divers, on average, earn more $$ than non-divers. Has anyone else heard this?

Maybe so, but them I'm the exception to that rule. As a professional student I've lived below the poverty line for my whole life, and enjoyed a lot of SCUBA in that time. Of course, you're talking to a guy who frequently hollidays on less then $50 a day...

Bryan

 

[Diver0001]

It's the same with my other addiction, dressage (horses). Median income of members of the US Dressage Federation is something around $90K. I just think it reflects the fact that people with more disposable income are more likely to take up expensive sports.

I always thought dressage meant looking for clean underwear....

What's a dollar? If you ask me standard of living is the key. On paper I make enough money to survive and do the things I want but the government in Holland hangs you upside down and shakes you until you feel dizzy. If you have children then they shake you and beat you with a stick at the same time. Before my kids were in school I paid enough for day-care to literally buy a second house.

R..

 

[lowwall]

Let's not kid ourselves, any active (non-pro) diver is better off financially than 90% of the world's population. Instead of bitc*ing, we should be thankful we are so well off.

I apologize in advance to all those minimum wage recreational divers out there, eating rice and beans to afford their next air fill.

Alex

 

[Love diving]

I might have most of you beat. My wife and I are teachers! Let's talk about low incomes!
But seriously, if you enjoy something enough, money shouldn't be an issue.