Post-pandemic comeback? Not yet! The dive industry is still crashing.

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Actually, they do.

They are not supposed to, the incidents are (allegedly) infrequent.

 

[lexvil]

Blue ice (aviation) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Centrals]

Two of the largest group of tourists visiting SE Asia pre-Covid were chinese and russian. And they are more or less no where to be seen particularly the chinese.

First direct IKAR flight from Moscow lands in Phuket

PHUKET: The inaugural flight of IKAR Airlines from Moscow touched down in Phuket today (Oct 30), marking the resumption of direct charter flights from the Russian capital.

www.thephuketnews.com

Were they real tourists or draft dodgers?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Two of the largest group of tourists visiting SE Asia pre-Covid were chinese and russian. And they are more or less no where to be seen particularly the chinese.

First direct IKAR flight from Moscow lands in Phuket

PHUKET: The inaugural flight of IKAR Airlines from Moscow touched down in Phuket today (Oct 30), marking the resumption of direct charter flights from the Russian capital.

www.thephuketnews.com

Were they real tourists or refusing to be cannon fodder?

FIFY

 

[Kimela]

Has the dive industry investigated why the drop off? We have discussed this ad nauseum, but our collective opinions don't matter as we are the ones who continue to dive. The question is, why do people stop/not start? (and no, I'm not looking/interested in hearing people's opinions. Only actual studies done. If they have been done, I'd be interested then).

I'm guessing PADI/NAUI would be the only people with enough skin in the game to do the research.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'm guessing PADI/NAUI would be the only people with enough skin in the game to do the research.

I'd throw in there SSI (#2 I believe in worldwide marketshare) and possibly TDI/SDI.

Maybe I have to wait for RAID to grow enough to do it.

 

[Beau Holden]

It's too easy to blame the cost of scuba diving when we are actually lacking vision and leadership.

After I moved from Indiana, I visited four dive shops in my area. Three of them, honestly seemed not to care if I was there or not and like I was a nuisance for wanting to hang out and talk about diving. Just to check them out, I asked them to get me couple of hoses, for spares an I am yet to here back from them. The one I am doing business with is OK and they have stepped up to get things I wanted they did not stock, and used my order to get back into good standing with Dive Rite. This is the only one that in time I will help and will send others to.

So in my opinion, it's not only lack of leadership and vision. It's also a lack of honest good customer service and building a long term buisness that will grow divers and grow with the divers. Some of these shops its like walking into a used car dealership.

 

[Beau Holden]

If you have a dive shop that supports local diving and buddies to do it with, you’re more likely to do local diving.

You are correct and it will grow the business. But like here in SE Louisiana the only local diving, other than black water diving, is a three to four hour drive to hop on a $150 boat ride. Caves are five hours. In an area like this the business model changes a bit.

 

[Beau Holden]

On that note, if you are so inclined... I currently have 3 open surveys. Please take part if you can spare a few minutes:

Scuba Diving Industry Market Research, Reports & Surveys - Business of Diving Institute

The Dive Industry Compass. Dive Industry Surveys, Scuba Diving Market Research, Reports & Statistics. A better understanding of the dive industry.

www.businessofdiving.com

I did two and there.

 

[Beau Holden]

I look around and see good, ethical, and thorough instructors getting laughed at and pushed out by cut-rate, quick-buck operations that do the bare minimum in the pool and classroom.

Jim, I have also seen this with dive shops. I was basically one of them. I don't think there is an industry out there that has as much back biting and bad mouthing within the ranks as the dive industry. I could go on and on about this and let me have a couple of beers, sitting around the fire and trust me, it would be on.

But what do I know? I'm just an old grouchy bast turd that likes to dive.