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

[deepblueme]

Cost is #1 reason people dont dive at all with time being #2 If my memory serves me right.

Time then no one to dive with then no were to dive local for reasons why people stop diving.

The numbers at the shop I ran were for about 10 OW 5-6 took AOW then 2-3 took rescue and about 1 in 30 went to DM. Most of the DM's helped for a class or 2 then stopped after they got their discount gear.
The store was aabout 3 hours from a few good local lakes that had good vis year round.

We taught ALOT of people that never dove again I am sure A few were like that friend (learning to dive for their honeymoon only)

 

[jaybombs25]

I think many people get certified on vacations just to "do it" and from there dont get chances to dive or have no interest in spending for another dive vacation

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

That's sad... Man, I live for it. If I lived closer to the ocean, I'd be gone every weekend!

I'm working towards Dive Master, right now. I've got CPR and First Aid re-certified, and I've taken AOW, Nitrox, Rescue, Search & Recovery, Underwater Airbag Operations, and Dry Suit. Any and all training I can get, I want. If I can afford it and if I can get the time off, I'm there.

 

[fisherdvm]

I would say less than 10%.

I would say more than 1/2 do not dive more than 20 dives beyond OW.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

That's sad... Man, I live for it. If I lived closer to the ocean, I'd be gone every weekend!

Move to Seattle ... then you don't even have to wait for the week-end ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[NJdiverTony]

I believe that the people who pursue further training past their OW, do so because they dive local to where they live where diving can be much more challenging than it is in the tropics. Here in the Northeast at least, that seems to be the case. Most dive boats that go out on wreck dives off the coast of NJ or NY will not allow you to dive unless you have at least an AOW cert.

I also believe that most divers that get their OW cert, don't go any further in their training, because they just want to be able to dive when they go on vacation in the tropics. They are only interested in doing easy dives above 60', in warm clear water.

It would be cool to see some real concrete numbers or statistics though.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Move to Seattle ... then you don't even have to wait for the week-end ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Tempting... Or else become a dive bum in Cozumel or Key Largo... Heh..

 

[Alex777]

Well, I live on Grand Cayman, where you can dive in clear warm water all year round (I LOVE pointing that out ). I would guess that something like half (yup, 1/2) of the North Americans & Europeans working here get their OWD certification. Of those who do, probably 2/3 do less than 20 dives, lifetime. Of the rest, only about 10% become hard core, committed divers and eagerly pursue advanced training. So, it's not lack of opportunity to dive which accounts for this. Also, I do not believe it is lack of money, as most of these foreigners are very well paid. What is it about diving which discourages people from continuing? A (false) perception of the degree of risk? Or a lack of variety? (the feeling that you are doing the same dive over & over?) I don't know, and I find it a bit strange.

 

[ClayJar]

Well, I live on Grand Cayman, where you can dive in clear warm water all year round (I LOVE pointing that out ).

You mean people *like* diving warm, clear water? I guess that explains why I haven't been seeing many people from the Carribbean up here at the quarries and springs.

(Out of my "buddy-family" and myself, there are six of us. Two are avid divers who spend lots of time in springs, quarries, lakes, or whatever presents itself (myself and my primary buddy). Two are vacation divers (the parents). One is a broke high-school student who would like to dive again someday, and the last is the most lovely, beautiful, and intelligent dive buddy I love, but she's 7000+ miles away in Japan. I can only imagine what the breakdown would look like if not all six of us were certified.)

 

[Guba]

Just thought I'd mention...

A poll (here) would provide skewed data. If we're here on SB, then obviously we stuck with diving, and it makes sense that a large proportion of us would want to extend our training and dive education. The real eye-opener for me, I think, would be to know how many people who get their OW certification are diving, say, five years later. I think I heard that stat once and it was incredibly low (percentage-wise). Then, it would be another interesting stat to know how many OF THOSE WHO STAYED WTH IT went on to continue with courses.
I'm sure that most of these stats exist. I just don't know how to find them.