What % of OW Divers Take Further Training...?

[shadragon]

Is there any published data, either by % or by actual numbers, that shows how many people go beyond the basic OW training? I see lots of people getting OW qualified, but never see the majority of them again. I overheard someone say at a dive site that there are 2,000,000 new OW divers a year which sounded apocryphal to me. However, my Internet searches could not find any data...

I am curious to know how many go on to train as AOW, Rescue, DM, Instructor, etc. with the resulting percentage break-down.

Thanks!

 

[Carribeandiver]

hold on, as soon as I look up 'apocryphal' and figure out what you mean, I will try and get back to you.

 

[trtldvr]

I honestly don't know, but I would guesse much less than 50%. Which is why I feel it is very important that basic rescue skills be taught in open water.

 

[ClayJar]

Well, lets see. There were something like a dozen OW students certified at about the same time as I. I went through to NAUI Master Scuba Diver and Rescue so far, and two of the others have done through NAUI AOW and Rescue (with one of them waiting for the next NAUI MSD class at my LDS). I don't believe any of the other OW students went on to any more classes.

That puts it at 25% for our very small sample, but then again, if I hadn't been pressing forward like V-ger to know all that was knowable, my primary buddy (the one waiting for the MSD class) likely wouldn't have bothered. Who knows, then. It could be quite low.

 

[Scuba Do]

Do a poll on SB of the levels of additional training. While it would be far from scientific and there would be concerns about whether the SB members fairly accurately represent the universe of divers (or more importantly, whether that portion of the SB mebmers who chose to respond would accurately reflect the universe of divers), it could still be insightful.

 

[cerich]

according to a PADI presentation I attended ~20%

 

[eckybay]

An instructor I know was recently saying how he had 45 OW students in 2005, 44 of them came back for AOW. In 2006 he had 14 OW students with none returning for AOW.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

An even better question is what % of OW trained divers ever dive again. I was absolutely amazed at how low that number is. I can't remember the percentage, but it amazed me how many people take and complete an OW course and yet NEVER DIVE AGAIN.

Apocryphal means of questionable authenticity. A synonym would be spurious, but I think apocryphal sounds cooler.

I'd guess that the % of OW trained divers who go onto further training is in the 10-20% range.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

An even better question is what % of OW trained divers ever dive again. I was absolutely amazed at how low that number is. I can't remember the percentage, but it amazed me how many people take and complete an OW course and yet NEVER DIVE AGAIN.

I was having that discussion recently with a friend of mine who runs a shop. His theory is that we teach people just enough to let them terrify the hell out of themselves, and most of them stop diving altogether ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I was having that discussion recently with a friend of mine who runs a shop. His theory is that we teach people just enough to let them terrify the hell out of themselves, and most of them stop diving altogether ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

That may be part of it. I work with a guy who is OW trained but never dove. He and his we were certified just before they were married. That had planned to dive on their honeymoon but never go around to it. They must have been indisposed. Anyway, he just got busy with being newly married, work and then kids and just never got back to it. He didn't seem to be at all apprehensive of diving, just never found the time. I think there are a good number of folks who also fall into this category.