undercurrent magazine??

[Doc]

Undercurrent has indeed actively solicited advertising in the past.

It sensationalizes and is in the business of selling subscriptions. You'll get your best information right here on ScubaBoard

 

[Jupiter31]

This was a reply to a previous post about Undercurrent (ignore the name of the publication; that was a mistake):

Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonX5
Okay, I got this discreet package in the mail yesterday from a company called underwater current magazine. The magazine claims to not take advertisements and gives you a no BS assesment on dive operations good and bad, best places to dive, best equipment not based on advertising etc.. They supposedly travel all over the world "paying their own way" and are not swayed by advertisers. This sounds like a good theory an unbiased dive magazine but smells kind of fishy. Does anyone here subscribe to this thing or is it a load of bull?

I am very suspicious of this. If anyone knows anything about them I would be curious to hear some feeback. Thanks

I think its a great publication, and really informative - I just renewed for another 2 years, and have been a subscriber for over 15 years.

Many of their dive reviews are to "exotic" sites and I sometimes wish they would report more on sites closer to the US (Carib, Bahamas, FL etc) - but you can't please everyone!

They are "unbiased" in that they don't accept advertising, but its still someone's opinion, and truly, "Your mileage may vary" - but they do try to present fairly in their articles. And point out obvious problems and issues. They have done a great job pointing out problems with dive travel providers, for example.

When the old "Skindiver" magazine was published there was a real need for another voice because the articles were shameless - you never heard about ANY bad resorts, bad operators, nor bad equipment. I recall owners (or owners wives on at least one occasion) - writing an article on the spouses dive operation - how unbiased could that be - if you wanted a favorable review, from travel to equipment, all you had to do was buy advertising; it was truly that bad.

Undercurrent was started in part as a response; however you can also learn a heck of a lot from this board.

 

[Jupiter31]

Undercurrent has indeed actively solicited advertising in the past.

It sensationalizes and is in the business of selling subscriptions. You'll get your best information right here on ScubaBoard

Really - say it ain't so - when did they solicit advertising - for resorts; product? - I really hope that's not the case because agree or disagree (and lets face it when you report trips, travel, food accomodations, its someone's opinion and yours could differ) they make a great show of being totally independent.

That said I agree with you about the board; really excellent and very helpful.

 

[mdb]

Scubaboard is a far better source for real time info on various dive resorts/areas.

 

[Doc]

Really - say it ain't so - when did they solicit advertising - for resorts; product? - I really hope that's not the case because.....they make a great show of being totally independent.

Here's what they sent out previously.... 20 April, 2002

Fellow dive operator,
> >Want to reach more than 9,000 of Undercurrent's traveling
> >divers? Now more than ever you need to get your message to those
> >divers most likely to give you their business, and reach them
> >inexpensively. These offerings from Undercurrent can give you
> >that needed boost, and at a cost that won't dent your wallet.

> >You can be featured in our regular monthly email to more than nine
> >thousand subscribers and others who have signed up on our web site
> >to receive our free informative email. You can fill last minute
> >openings, announce new programs, or otherwise seek business from
> >our readers. Boats like the Reina Silvia and the Pelagian have
> >successfully used our email service and you can too.

> >Or, you can purchase a link to your website on one of our dive
> >destination pages on our website. Thousands of divers hold
> >monthly memberships to research dive destinations, and for a
> >small fee you can have a prominent position in their search.

> >Both offerings provide an inexpensive means for getting more
> >business from serious divers. For details on either possibility,
> >contact us at prom...@underXcurrent.org.


> >Dave S. Eagleray Undercurrent Webmaster
> >webmas...@underXcurrent.org http://www.underXcurrent.org/
> >Fax: (508) 437 0332


> > U N D E R C U R R E N T
> > Since 1975, THE consumer newsletter for sport divers

They have issued denials, admissions and everything in between. The best "explanation" they tried to float was that the money for internet advertising is just for internet operations. Apparently they proposed to put those $$ in their left pocket and pay for the "print" version with money from their right pocket.

I kid you not, that is what they said. But- then again, Clinton had only been out of office for 3 months when this came out- so we were still debating the deffinition of what "is" is. You can also find this with a Google search, just as I found the original letter.

Stick with ScubaBoard.

 

[drdiver1952]

I've subscribed for about five years now. I have found things on it that I do not find anywhere else (online or not) and enjoy both their reviews and their features on dive accidents and information. Can't speak to the commercial aspect of the online operation, but have always felt their positions were unbiased in the print publication.

 

[Jupiter31]

Thanks -

Its all about the disclosure, and they are splitting hairs; you either (like "Consumer Reports") accept advertising or you don't- and they make such a big deal of independence, etc.

I don't view what they are doing on line as immoral; just should state their position. Because what they are doing is a form of advertising; someone is paying to get - in this case divers - to their operation to sell them something.

Appreciate the post and response.

 

[vladimir]

That they solicited advertisers at some point in the past is not a concern to me. They probably saw an opportunity to make a lot of money, like the folks that converted DAN into a for-profit enterprise. Apparently it didn't work out as well.

If they were currently accepting advertising I would expect editorial bias; they are not, so one can reasonably expect objectivity.

 

[BKP]

Just recently subscribed... for the cost (and discounted online cost), it seems to be a great value.

Just read a very good article in regard to Dive Ops and roll-calls. One of SB's own, Don Janni, and his wife, were featured in an article a-la the misfortune of "Open Water." Happily, there was a much more gratifying ending to Don's story. Point being, that Don has established his own processes for ensuring a non-repeat of being left behind by the Dive Op...

Very enlightening... And glad to have you *still* with us, Don...

-Barry

 

[ArcticDiver]

I've been a subscriber for several years. It has been worthwhile for me. Recently I changed from the print edition to the online edition. It is cheaper and doesn't generate paper to take up space in my abode.