Just an observation

[fjpatrum]

Diving is one of the most competitive non-competitive sports there is. It's not just about travel, it's about air consumption, gear snobbery, trim snobbery, expensive cameras and so on. Divers find so many areas to be the best in that it just boggles the mind.

[tongue in cheek] BTW, lest you're duped by some in this thread, the real serious divers come down to Key Largo where the pool is always open. [/tongue in cheek]

I go the opposite way with my snobbery. I always try to be the cheapest bastard out there that spent the least amount on gear and dives but have seen the "most". I usually succeed at the cheap part but so far not so much on the "seeing more" part. I need to dive more!

 

[Tigerman]

I go the opposite way with my snobbery. I always try to be the cheapest bastard out there that spent the least amount on gear and dives but have seen the "most". I usually succeed at the cheap part but so far not so much on the "seeing more" part. I need to dive more!

Trying to get the gear for cheap and the diving for cheap only is going to land you in a position where you do more dives and end up spending the same money in the end anyways

(OR, if you slum it enough when selecting a dive op it'll get you inserious doo doo)

 

[fjpatrum]

Trying to get the gear for cheap and the diving for cheap only is going to land you in a position where you do more dives and end up spending the same money in the end anyways

(OR, if you slum it enough when selecting a dive op it'll get you inserious doo doo)

I'm not quite so cheap as to get myself into trouble by being cheap. I'm going for your first line of thought. Less money on gear means more money available to dive different places seeing different things. So far, I'm getting about 10-15 dives per year (not counting pools). Hopefully next year I'll pass the 50 dive mark, but we'll have to see.

 

[RJP]

...come down to Key Largo where the pool is always open.

Been there twice. Got blown out twice. Both times it was claimed to be due to "rough seas" that were less rough than what we conduct "Discover Scuba" programs in here in NJ.

:d

 

[The Chairman]

Been there twice. Got blown out twice. Both times it was claimed to be due to "rough seas" that were less rough than what we conduct "Discover Scuba" programs in here in NJ.

:d

Yeah, people without shallow reefs don't realize that 6 ft seas in the Keys are dangerous because there are sharp corals close to the surface. The dive pros only make money when they go out. If they're not going out, then you don't want to be out there either.

 

[XS-NRG]

Diving is one of the most competitive non-competitive sports there is. It's not just about travel, it's about air consumption, gear snobbery, trim snobbery, expensive cameras and so on. Divers find so many areas to be the best in that it just boggles the mind.

Ya well I have a really low SAC LOL

 

[Tigerman]

Ya well I have a really low SAC LOL

Scuba diving, the only sport where we brag about how low our sac is..

 

[chillyinCanada]

"Chilly, none of your dive gear matches!" My response, "I came to dive, not to be in a fricken fashion show!" ←←←true story

But you see what I did there? I'm the "serious diver".

 

[Panama Jones]

When I have a thousand dives under my weight belt, I hope I am still not a "serious diver". Seriously.

 

[NuclearBuckshot]

There will always be elitist in whatever hobby you choose. Just know that while these guys may pop off a big expense here and there most dive shops understand that their true money is made off of us regulars. Whenever someone has to pop off at the mouth to prove what a big shot they are: It usually means that the rest of their life is a horrid mess. I.E. its a brick facade on a trailer park rental. Just know that most of us are in your boat and aren't ever going to dive the caymans twice in a year. I find that I'm grateful for this as I'll treasure whatever trip I take. I think it makes is more meaningful when you have to make sacrifices in order to do what you love. So in conclusion find a group who shares your passion and enjoy whatever type of diving you can get in.