Looking for a dive trip.... heard that one before?

[Doc]

I'm looking for a dive trip for.....

How many times does that post show up on SCUBA Board? A lot of would-be dive travelers are chomping at the bit to go soak in salt water and come to :sblogo: looking for advice.

A lot of responses are tossed back, but it usually hinges around some critical missing elements in the question. Filling out one's "personal profile" aside, we need to know a lot more about the diver wanting to leave home.

...............

What criteria would you like to see in an OP (original post) where the SB member is asking broadly about travel destinations?

- Origination City for flights? (Should FLIGHT COSTS be another discussion, thread or even a forum?)

- Time of year?

- How many dives per day they really want?

- Actual Dollar budget total, with/without air?

To help them make a choice......What would you add to that list of needed "pre-trip" info?

 

[--tom--]

You have an outstanding starting point. I usually wonder about the following:

What kind of diving they wish to do?
-cold or warm water?
-wrecks?
-photography?
-shore or boat dives?
-guided or unguided?
-instruction added?
-experience in the last 6 months
-diving capabilities (comfortable with night? deep? drift? wall? overhead? etc.)

In addition
-is it a purely dive trip, or are you catering to non-divers too
-family (esp small children), if applicable
-posh or spartan accomodations
-how many days do they have for vacation (i.e. 5 days off with 4 days of travel wouldn't make sense)

 

[jupitermermaid]

These are great questions! Is there any way a form can be made with these questions (and others that may be posted) on for a would-be traveller to fill out when asking for help deciding about a destination?

(I voted for the non-informative sales representatives being discouraged, but I think a template would be a good idea also, making it easier for people to help without having to ask a lot of questions.)

 

[Dive n00b]

Don't forget level of experience. That is a critical component to getting quality guidance from the good folk here at SB.

 

[PeCaRi]

not to forget, where they have already been.