This is an interesting thread. I've certainly noticed the lack of activity on the Western Canada boards too, but I personally think it's a Vancouver thing. In defense of our divers, I've met some of the nicest people since I started diving. Prior to that I was into horses. Now there is a circle of ultimate snobs! When I was single in this city (before I met my DIVER boyfriend
it was horrible. Talk about the most pretentious, egotistical, shallow, boring, self-centred (ok, I could go on and on with the adjectives, but I'll stop... you get the point) bunch of people I came across (and no, I'm not saying just the men are like that). I've done a little bit of traveling, and what a huge difference. I couldn't believe how much friendlier the Aussies are, for example. So I think that divers just fall into the trap of this city and don't always network, meet and mingle that well. It's our nature. I think ScubaBoard does help us a little.
Also, I think our activity levels are low because let's face it, we are not the ultimate dive destination some of us think we are. I don't want to argue the "one of the best places to dive in the World" theory. That is all a matter of personal opinion. Fact is that yes, divers do come here to dive, but our industry is small compared to all the big tropical dive destination hot spots around the world. Most divers here are local and it's either a part-time job gig and/or a much loved but hard to find time for hobby. Check out the boards in those other locations (the Hawaii crowd are fabulous btw... and I met/dove with a couple of them) and they get a constant stream of inquiries about where to stay, which dive op to use, which liveaboard is recommended, etc. They're like travel advisors. I know as I hang out on those boards often... then come back to ours and it's like a ghost town. Sometimes we get an inquiry such as where to dive in Nanaimo for example... and I think ohhh I can answer that... but someone else has already said Divers Choice... lol. Think of all those who learn how to dive here just so they can dive on their tropical vacations, or take the course and never continue (kinda like sky-diving ...gotta try everything once thinking). In fact... those of us who dive regularly are a relatively small, hard-core group... we should all know each other!?! You know... we've probably passed at Whytecliff before, nodded and made a comment about the viz. de jour... but haven't a clue we're both on SB. It's not internet dating people... we can admit we're here!
LOL
