State of the sport

[svs3]

I am curious about what people think of the state of the sport scuba. Is it growing in terms of new people joining sport? Is growing among young people ( < 25 years old)? Are the equipment manufactures, dive operators, cert agencies, LDS (on the whole) growing? Are the industry and sport in a state of decline or growth?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[TwoBitTxn]

I think its a tough thing to measure.

There are always open water courses being conducted, but its hard to know how many of those people continue diving or just do it once or twice and thats it. I do believe the majority of divers are once or twice a year divers on vacation and thats it.

There were four dive shops that closed in the Dallas area last year. I have only heard of one new one opening. Economic slow down? Bad customer relations? Bad location? Can't say. It will be interesting what some of the shop owners have to say.

Tom

 

[budgy]

I believe in the uk, the club numbers are static, and there is an average equivalent of 100% turnover every four years. I think there were a dozen with me in my novice class but only three of us have become regular divers.