What is the BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO DIVING?

[BKP]

...
And maybe THAT is a reason for the high attrition rate. Are there a lot of people out there who Dive far from the sea where it becomes a HUGE effort to get out to Dive? And if so, maybe it is hard to maintain that connection to the sport far from any tropical waters (though I am sure there are a number of dry-suit Divers who might disagree). After all, in a comparable sport dynamic - skiing - you are rarely more than 4 or 5 hours away from a place to ski, right? (my apologies to Texans on this who might be a bit further than that..)

You may be right... However...

I *do* believe, where diving is concerned (at least for *me*), you're either smitten or not...

I will go to the Keys, or Lauderdale, Jupiter, Bahamas, Coz, etc. whenever the opportunity presents... But, if it doesn't, and I've only got a day or two, I have absolutely no problem heading down to the quarries, where it's colder, the viz sucks, and the sunken firetrucks, motorboats, and porcelain thrones are all there is to see... I don't care... If I'm not there, I'll read about, and plan the next trip... or kill a few hours on this board, almost always picking something valuable up I didn't know... I rarely pass my LDS without stopping in, and picking up a useless dangly...

Point is, there are obstacles. Always will be. More for some than others... But, if you're smitten -- doesn't really matter how often or what the conditions are... You'll stay connected...

 

[Thalassamania]

After we eliminate the ones who have no desire to swim, dive or have anything to do with the water and then we cull out those who could not afford much in the way of leisure activities you have the people who think about diving but fear the ear pain. They remember how much it hurt the first time they went to the deep end of the pool without equalizing. The others fear the claustrophobic factor, or breathing thought the mouth only. A very small percentage also fear the fish/wildlife.

Comments based solely on my own experiences and are not based on any facts or studies.

WHy on earth should anyone suffer from ear pain going to the deep end of the pool? If an instructor can't teach ear cleariing and assure that it is done what can he or she teach?

 

[WeekendDiver]

For me it's primarily time. Diving here takes all day and my main constraint is time..... it's all about allocation of scarce resources.
WeekendDiver

 

[WeekendDiver]

WHy on earth should anyone suffer from ear pain going to the deep end of the pool? If an instructor can't teach ear cleariing and assure that it is done what can he or she teach?

Believe me, for some people, for a variety of reasons (probably primarily task loading) clearing ears is hard and painful, even in a 13ft pool.
Try going up and down, somewhat uncontrolled, 30 times in 2 hours without clearing your ears and you will be in pain.
Somebody new to diving has often a lot of difficulty remembering all the things that need to be done in addition to being uncomfortable wearing (often an ill fitting rental) wetsuit, scuba gear, just having done skills like mask clearing and reg retrieval (so most likely got water up his/her nose). Then go up and down a bunch of times while trying to remember the inflate and deflate at the right time while losing control of one's buoyancy. No wonder the student forgets to clear, or clears too late.
It takes a fair amount of time for most people to get comfortable enough in the water to clear in a timely fashion.
WeekendDiver

 

[Papa_Bear]

I have read a lot of excuses and it still boils down to COMFORT!!! If you are comfortable the excuses fade away! Are you a Diver? Divers dive and not just talk about it! The only way to be a diver is to dive and guess what you become more comfortable!

 

[Teamcasa]

… you have the people who think about diving but fear the ear pain. They remember how much it hurt the first time they went to the deep end of the pool without equalizing.

Why on earth should anyone suffer from ear pain going to the deep end of the pool? If an instructor can't teach ear clearing and assure that it is done what can he or she teach?

In fairness, my comments were pointed to people not becoming divers in the first place, not already certified divers that just don’t dive.

They should not, but I said fear the ear pain. Many people experienced ear pain as a child and now have no desire (or an understanding of equalization) to even consider diving as a recreational activity.

 

[psychocabbage]

From talking to everyone I know, the ones that say claustrophobia is their main deterrant its the mask itself. Having the mask on their face is where they get the closed in feeling.

Cost is a factor to some but I know very wealthy people that do not own anything but personal gear.

We are average but have decent gear. Not top of the line but it is a little above middle of the road.

Its like our other sports. We race cars and BMX. All cost quite a bit. All involve logistics. All involve equipment, time and some dedication to persue the activity.

I for one, will never cold water dive. It just a preference. No desire to do anything in the cold. ever.

So for us, we have a somewhat local quarry we can dive (boring) or spend the $ and go to somewhere nice. Not cheap for a family of 5. (by boring I mean its low vis and not too deep at 28ft so it may as well be a dirty pool.)

I have had more fun in 20ft of water with great vis and the landscape looked like a desert.. That is fun.

 

[ScubaJeff123]

Time and money.

 

[ACR]

Time and money.

wife and kids

 

[james croft]

$$$. From a selfish standpoint I don't want to see a bunch of divers where I go. I find cool stuff when I dive and I want it all for me!