Rodale's

[Stogie1020]

Hi all. I'm not sure if anyone has had the chance to look at the new issue of Rodale's, but when I did, I was VERY disappointed! I guess I shouldn't ever have a lot of faith in an AD based magazine for objective reviews, but the section on Key Largo dive shops was terrible. I think they had THREE dive shops that they rated!! There are something like 50 operators on that key alone, and all they looked at were three... Having dived with Horizon, I have to agree to with the review, but this review seems like a VERY small sample. This is kind of like saying you are going to review mid-sized sedans, and then only provide info on the Taurus and the Accord!! No one can make a better decision on whom to dive with in Key Largo based on this report. I would love to have seen info on any of the other 15 large outfits in the area, like Blue Water, Amoray's, etc... Rodale's seem to do to do the same with their gear reviews, leaving MAJOR brands and popular choices out of their tests for reasons other than availability. Oh well, I guess the magazine DOES have some pretty pictures in it. Maybe that's all it is really good for... Ok, I am done venting. Carry on.....

 

[DandyDon]

It's a good magazine, but it's for selling ads. Cheap, too. Consider the source, the price, and take the good parts.

But then, I don't think Undercurrent sells ads, and I don't trust them, either. I think our best source in here on the SBoard, running searches, then asking questions!

don

 

[ScubaRon]

...to expect Rodale's (or any other magazine/e-zine) to review all dive shops in Key Largo. And what about the rest of the Key's, US, America's, World...

Given the size and cost of the publication they can only review a few at a time and it is logical that they pick from their own advertisers.

I have found Rodale's gear reviews quite helpful in eliminating the "mediocre" (there is very little crap on the market these days). But I always balance their opinion with others.
ScubaRon

 

[Stogie1020]

All I am saying is that if you look at a magazine like Consumer Reports, I think you will see how a true comparison includes a realistic SAMPLE of products or services. Rodales does not seem to take a good sample, or omits brands/shops for unknown reasons. They did include about one dive shop per major Key for the Keys... By no means did they do any service to the person objectively looking for a dive operator in the Keys. Thank goodness there is the Scuba Board!!

 

[deepstops]

dandydon once bubbled...
It's a good magazine, but it's for selling ads. Cheap, too. Consider the source, the price, and take the good parts.

But then, I don't think Undercurrent sells ads, and I don't trust them, either. I think our best source in here on the SBoard, running searches, then asking questions!

don

First of all, it's fairly well known in the dive biz if you advertise in Rodale's, eventually they write an article about you. Same thing with other industries too, not just diving.

Secondly, you need to watch who is doing the recommending, even here on Scuba Board. Many of the operators are on this list and I doubt the list owners are logging all the IP addresses to catch all the sock puppets out there promoting their own operations. I see people suggest using shops that charge $65 for a 2-tank trip in Key Largo while other ops charge $45 or $50 and provide the same level of service. Maybe they just have more money than me because I have "dove around" and the $65 operators aren't doing anything extra for me.....

The only fault I find in Undercurrent is not enough about what is good, as it seems only the bad gets published there. It might keep you from making a bad choice but it might not help you make the BEST choice.

 

[blawler1]

Rodale's relies on the feedback forms provided by their readers to rate dive operators and resorts. As they only include the ones that receive a certain minimum number of responses, this results in their review being limited to those operators most frequently visited by their readers, and may exclude smaller operators that may offer the best value or service.

 

[BILLB]

Dandydon,

What makes the Undercurrent untrustworthy?

 

[docmartin]

blawler is right. although reviewing only 3 operators is disappointing it shows that rodale's is actually more trustworthy and less influeneced by advertisements than many people want to believe. they did not blow up the review by including a large number of operators and advertisers that they did not have sufficient data on. rather they limited the review to those operators that received a sufficient number of feedback reports. if it bothers you that your favorite operator was left out then you should submit a report to rodale's.
of course, for the best uncensored reviews there is undercurrent.

 

[DandyDon]

BILLB once bubbled...
Dandydon,

What makes the Undercurrent untrustworthy?

Yeah, I shouldn't have said that. (I say a lot of things I shouldn't, but I'm working on this problem!! :wacko: )

Sorry, don

 

[nessum]

Can I add a grievance?
I am seriously annoyed at the narrow scope of Sport Diver's articles.
It's typically carribbean or U.S. diving. Recently a letter was published in the rag about the lack of coverage on European diving. I believe they claimed that they did cover European diving.
They don't cover Canadian diving, however! I mean, look at what British Columbia has to offer. And it is completely neglected. There isn't even much info on Washington State diving.
I'm sick of everything within the diving community supporting the myth that there is no such thing as cold water diving.
*end rant*