Young divers VS Old divers

[Darnold9999]

What new technologies of the internet????

Really don't see much "new" as a result of the internet. I do see a different business strategy - a volume business vs a service business, but that is not new.

I see this strategy as hurting the dive industry more than helping as it is more difficult for my LDS to make a decent living as local dollars are pulled out of the local economy in favour of a business in another country that does little or nothing for the local dive community.

These wharehouse businesses offer no particular benefit that I am interested in. While the internet shops are great for price and selection they simply can't provide some things your local LDS can. Tank inspections and air come to mind. The ability to try something on to see if it fits is also a significant benefit. The opportunity for the owner to get to know you and understand your needs and your particular diving style when giving advice is another important benefit. Trading these service benefits for price is not new, this business model has been around forever.

Trading these benefits for price is just not worth it for me. I will continue to shop at my LDS and pay a bit more. But I am "old" and price is not anywhere near as important to me now as it was when I was "young" and broke. To me the distinction is the priority you put on service as opposed to price. Not a young old dichotomy which simply doesn't exist in the dive community I see.

 

[Nemrod]

What an interesting perspective ..

And, for the most part, older folks tend to have more disposable income ... which is an essential part of scuba diving. For example, I'll be 57 in a coupla weeks ... so that would put me in your "old" category I would guess. And I just purchased about $3,800 worth of underwater photography gear over the Internet (Amazon & Backscatter). I have good personal relationships (and some not-so-good ones) with several dive manufacturers, although we've never met except online.........

how old they are.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

What did you purchase????


As to relationships with manufacturers, I have a relationship with several and most of them hate me because I make fun of all the crap they make like fins with rubber bands on them so they have more "torque" or snorkels with balls in them or tank clackers or plastic second stages and poodle jackets that have 5 pounds of positive buoyancy and enough padding to use as a pillow, yeah, they love me. Yeah, I love laughing at the young people with all of their fru fru equipment. The "war" is on.

N

 

[Thalassamania]

FWIW, I don't consider golf to be a sport either.

Whether or not something is a sport goes a lot beyond needing to be in shape to participate.

My definition is simple. To be a sport, an activity must:

a). Involve a high degree of athleticism.
b). Involve competition (ideally, objectively scored).

In my view, SCUBA diving does not require either. While it may be true that for some dives, you must be "in shape" - that is not the same as athleticism. Think of it as the difference between going recreational jogging (not a sport) vs competing in the olympic marathon (sport).

Aside from all that - just because some people who participate in sub-types of a particular activity take it up a notch, doesn't mean that the general activity is a sport. For example, driving to and from work is not a sport. I don't think driving around in an oval at 150+ mph is a sport either, even if you package it up real nice and call it "NASCAR".

But hey, that's just my view. Others are free to disagree. They usually do

I understand what you are saying, but you should consider that in much of the English speaking world what you call "recreational diving" is commonly referred to as "sports diving."

 

[ScubaDuba723]

Its not really a war though. Old divers have been diving for years and have adapted to the ways they were taught and find it easier their way. We shouldn't pressure people into learning new ways.
" Originally Posted by NudeDiver View Post
FWIW, I don't consider golf to be a sport either.

Whether or not something is a sport goes a lot beyond needing to be in shape to participate.

My definition is simple. To be a sport, an activity must:

a). Involve a high degree of athleticism.
b). Involve competition (ideally, objectively scored).

In my view, SCUBA diving does not require either. While it may be true that for some dives, you must be "in shape" - that is not the same as athleticism. Think of it as the difference between going recreational jogging (not a sport) vs competing in the olympic marathon (sport).

Aside from all that - just because some people who participate in sub-types of a particular activity take it up a notch, doesn't mean that the general activity is a sport. For example, driving to and from work is not a sport. I don't think driving around in an oval at 150+ mph is a sport either, even if you package it up real nice and call it "NASCAR".

But hey, that's just my view. Others are free to disagree. They usually do "

Well a better definition of a sport like diving is an extreme sport because it involves risks. Example Motocross thats considered a sport you don't run in fact you could consider it a lazy sport because they are not doing anything else besides sitting on a motorized bike (it involves risks though) thats what scuba diving is.

 

[seaducer]

Well, I will be turning 35 in a month, so I am not sure where I fit in. I suppose I will take my seat on the S.S Misfit Diver, seeing as I am sure most "old" divers will consider me young, and most "young" divers will consider me old.

As for the line in the sand that the OP is referencing, I have to say I have never noticed it. I will also say that pretty much everything I know about diving I learned from some "old" divers, so if we are to segregate the boats, sign me up with the old timers. I will learn more, be safer, have more fun, and all around have a better experience.

I fail to understand where the technology arguement comes into play, most of the older divers who I guess are supposed to be avoiding this technology actually invented it, so I guess I am just confused as to why they would be thought of as not using it.

I think young folks in general would do well to check their egos, since most of them have done nothing to deserve the chip they carry around on their shoulders, being born is not a big deal. Also they need to realize the knowledge potential in the generations that passed before, and solved many of the problems we face already. Why duplicate the basics?

 

[Nemrod]

The older generation invented the internet, the younger generation filled it with porn and malware.

Some of them are OK but most need the tatoos scrubbed off, some sense knocked in their heads and hey, pull your pants up and go get a job or go to school, but, that is just me I guess.

Words are not opinions, they are defined in this book thing we call a dictionary.

N

 

[DennisS]

I see young divers with stab jackets and gauges, old divers with backplates and computers, middle aged divers with rebreathers and divers that have to have an H on everything no matter what their age.

"Then there are the old divers who stick to their brick and mortar dive shop with no interest whatsoever to adapt to the technology of the internet and the new ways of doing things."

If you look, it's the new diver buying $3000 worth of gear from the brick and mortar shop, to do some rec diving, not the cheap ol guy who buys from Leisurpro.

I've never noticed any animosity between young and old divers, except for maybe the music choiced

 

[BDSC]

The older generation invented the internet, the younger generation filled it with porn and malware.

N

I think it was Al Gore who invented the internet...........along with Global Warming.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

In thinking about it:

1. I am a reg tech and can service my own regs (although I usually don't until they are acting funny as a I am so busy servicing other people's regs)

2. I am certified to do VIP's

3. I own my own tank tumbler

4. I own my own compressor

5. I own enough gear to equip a small expedition.

So if anyone could survive a sudden mass extinction of dives shops it would be me so I am well insulated from the long term effects of internet buying.

Yet... I still spend money with 2 and sometimes 3 dive shops in the average month and cannot remember the last time I bought something large on line that was not highly specialized. (For example, I bought a reproduction vintage mask on line the other day.)

That is because there is, or should be, more to a brick and mortar dive shop than just retail sales - just like a family is more than just a group of people.

I agree that it is not ayoung versus old thing, but rather a combination of factors that may influence a particular diver to be swayed one way or the other in terms of either retail sales or technology, but any one of those factors may outweigh all the rest depending on the individual.

 

[rstofer]

(For example, I bought a reproduction vintage mask on line the other day.)

Which mask did you buy! I would very much like to find vintage Voit masks and fins. I had these as a kid and I would certainly consider diving them today. Maybe not the closed heel fins but certainly the mask!

Richard