While I agree with you on some points, I have found that your generalization really only applies to people who get certified at resort locations. Having been certified at an "inland dive shop" as well as worked at several over the past 10 years, I find that the majority of our customers actually become "divers". Anyone who has ever been excited to dive in Lake Travis in Austin, TX surely knows what I am speaking of.
As an instructor I always tell the story of how when I would travel the most frustrating part of my dive trips were that my last dive was always my best dive, meaning I would finally get back into the "swing" of diving at the end of my trip. It is because of this phenomenon that I make a huge push toward diving local. I now have a growing group of students who almost religiously come out to the lake with me whenever I go (at least twice a month). The funny thing is after a few dives they really enjoy that green pond we call a lake. In the winter time when the vis is a stunning 20 - 30 ft, instead of the normal 5 ft (HELP I CAN'T SEE MY FINS!) I actually have people lined up to get drysuit certified just so they can see the lake and the wildlife contained in the water in it's full glory without having to contend with open water students silting up the whole place and algae blooms killing the little bit of vis on the surface.
It all is really on how your instructor feels about diving and the passion he or she shows. Do I dream of being resort bound one day, of course, as my handle states I am actually in the planning process (if Mubarak ever resigns!) as we speak. In the meantime though I still go diving almost every weekend and any and all of my students are always invited to come along and blow some bubbles with me.
There is nothing more satisfying then when you fill out the questionnaire at a dive resort and they ask you when was the last time you went diving and you fill out last weekend!! Your gear is all tuned and tested and you are feeling confident as ever!!
As to the deep diving and overhead environment comments, how would you feel if you just busted your ass for a whole week to only go diving to 60 ft when the rest of the group gets to go to 80 ft? The open water certification is really a certification to learn under the guidance of a trained professional. Would I recommend that an new open water diver hire a boat and get a buddy and go to 100' NO WAY, but I would have no problem with taking them with me if the conditions and staffing were appropriate.
I personally got certified at Ginnie Springs in Florida and to this day one of the most awesome dives I ever did was my first open water dive as a certified diver into Ginnie Cavern. Being in that overhead environment (with several instructors supervising) ignited a passion in me that has led to me changing my whole life. In fact I think it is safe to say that I would be one of the people you are generalizing about had it not been for that one dive.
Not being critical just putting my two cents in.
As an instructor I always tell the story of how when I would travel the most frustrating part of my dive trips were that my last dive was always my best dive, meaning I would finally get back into the "swing" of diving at the end of my trip. It is because of this phenomenon that I make a huge push toward diving local. I now have a growing group of students who almost religiously come out to the lake with me whenever I go (at least twice a month). The funny thing is after a few dives they really enjoy that green pond we call a lake. In the winter time when the vis is a stunning 20 - 30 ft, instead of the normal 5 ft (HELP I CAN'T SEE MY FINS!) I actually have people lined up to get drysuit certified just so they can see the lake and the wildlife contained in the water in it's full glory without having to contend with open water students silting up the whole place and algae blooms killing the little bit of vis on the surface.
It all is really on how your instructor feels about diving and the passion he or she shows. Do I dream of being resort bound one day, of course, as my handle states I am actually in the planning process (if Mubarak ever resigns!) as we speak. In the meantime though I still go diving almost every weekend and any and all of my students are always invited to come along and blow some bubbles with me.
There is nothing more satisfying then when you fill out the questionnaire at a dive resort and they ask you when was the last time you went diving and you fill out last weekend!! Your gear is all tuned and tested and you are feeling confident as ever!!
As to the deep diving and overhead environment comments, how would you feel if you just busted your ass for a whole week to only go diving to 60 ft when the rest of the group gets to go to 80 ft? The open water certification is really a certification to learn under the guidance of a trained professional. Would I recommend that an new open water diver hire a boat and get a buddy and go to 100' NO WAY, but I would have no problem with taking them with me if the conditions and staffing were appropriate.
I personally got certified at Ginnie Springs in Florida and to this day one of the most awesome dives I ever did was my first open water dive as a certified diver into Ginnie Cavern. Being in that overhead environment (with several instructors supervising) ignited a passion in me that has led to me changing my whole life. In fact I think it is safe to say that I would be one of the people you are generalizing about had it not been for that one dive.
Not being critical just putting my two cents in.
