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Scuba Forum > Diverguy1
 
#2760
 What do you look for in a dive club?
Diverguy1 - 8/18/2008 3:23 PM
Category: General
Replies: 3


I’ve been asked by a friend to put together what he calls the "Ultimate" dive club.


What kinds of things do you like to see in a dive club?
What don’t you like?


Anything you can add is appreciated!
#328
Spearo - 8/18/2008 11:09 PM


I would be looking for :


1. Spearfishing frendly


2. Meatings close to home or at diffrent locations so everyone can benefit.


3. Low yearly membership fees


4. Yearly "change in the guard" by vote!


5. Diffrent divin locations close to home


6. A close fresh water divin location for new divers and checkout dives for the others.


7. Ones a year get together BBQ/dive site.


8. DO NOT PUSH dive trips to others so you can get yours free! 


9. Most important of all..be open to all sugestions (you will be surprice)and have a box so members can write in the good and the bad as they see it and improve the hole experience.


10. A website and T-shirts does not hurt.
#622
Matt65 - 8/19/2008 3:26 AM


It would have to be diver friendly to ALL levels of training and experience, and not be a (even in appearance) an exclusive club geared mostly towards those dive masters / instructors with better than 300 dives loged. And those who do have the higher levels of training / experience would have to be willing to help along and encourage those new up and comers to diving.


 Have a very user friendly web page! Something easilly navigated and not too confusing. Per haps have a (monthly?) social gahering at a local dive site, BBQ, diving / training, and possibly even some kind of "An introduction to diving" class / seminar geared towards those who are not yet divers, but would be interested in learning about it with some hands on (supervised) usage of gear to really peak their interest.


 Also, for the more experienced divers have some kind of competition every so often, say photo contests, scavenger hunt, etc.. with prizes, mabey that will encourage the rookies to want to learn more and become better divers.


 I’m sure alot will think my ideas hee are not practicle or even stupid, it’s just what sprang into my mind when I read this post.
#2566
Subscribed
jreitz1 - 8/19/2008 2:04 PM
I think it depends on just what kind of club you want it to be. I belong to 2 clubs myself and they are both different. One is a traditional club that meets at a restraunt each month for meetings and they have speakers or presentations and such. They also put together boat trips throughout the year and also do one tropical trip. I am one of two beach dive coordinators for the club also and I lead dives each weekend to get people out diving. The problem I have seen with this club though is that a good portion of the divers in the club are more warm-water divers that don’t care to dive in SoCal, there are also those that are just interested in gathering with people but they seem to do more wine and dine then I have seen them dive. The other club I am in is sponsored by a dive shop. It’s a 35mile drive for me to go up to the shop for the meetings, but I have a good time with the group. They also seem to dive more often, even if it is just boat diving. This just means that I don’t always get to dive with them. But a good thing we have is that when the store has volunteer opportunities we can help out and earn a free day of boat diving, so I get out with them that way and have fun in the process. This group is also a drinking group too, but most of the members seem to be younger and also enjoy local diving and not just drinking. We even have a hangout at the shop where we can gather to watch tv and have a drink and such, a plus from the shop. For dues, the first club that is sponsored by different shops charges $35 the 1st year and $25 to renew, where the 2nd club charges $125 (I believe) for the year. 1st club gets you a 10-fill air card to one shop and 10% discount from a few stores, where the 2nd club you get free air for the year and 10% discount from the shop. So both of the clubs have their hi’s and low’s, you just need to figure out what it is that you want out of your club and then work with others to get that. That also means talking to local shops to work out some kind of sponsorship for air fills, discounts, or even raffle prizes. No matter what, just have fun, and enjoy yourselfs and the diving you have up there. Once it stops being fun you won’t want to be part of it and others may not either. Good Luck!!!