JoeWR - 7/30/2019 9:00 PM
I’d like to raise several points to continue the discussion:
-The dive industry is just that: an industry. The goal is to make a profit. In reference to the "glossy mags" referenced above, the dive magazines sell ads to manufacturers and resorts, and so they’re going to run articles about top-of-the-line gear and exotic destinations to pull in advertisers and revenue. There’s no getting around it. In fairness, there are also articles about local dives in all 50 states, best low price gear options, and, most importantly, ways to be safe and have fun in many conditions.
So, I think we need to clarify some terms in this debate:
-Who is your idea of the average diver? How exactly are they not being served by the industry?
-What do we mean by the dive industry? Your local dive shop is also part of the industry. Are we talking about the certification agencies, the manufacturers, the trade publications, what?
-If the quarries Diver B mentioned are packed, then it seems like plenty of us know the value of inland diving. What more do you think needs to be done to promote this part of the sport?
-What gives us the idea that "the industry" is appealing just to someone who dives on vacation? (And you know what? They might be right. Most student divers I meet get certified because they have a trip coming up. They never want to return to the quarry where they got certified because it’s too cold and murky, no matter how many fun stories I tell or how often I invite them to go diving.)
-What are you doing to promote diving in your area?
I look forward to your replies.
Full disclosure: I am a dive professional. I dive Dutch Springs every weekend and take trips a few times a year.