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| Maine Divers Scuba Center NewsletterFourth Quarter 2010 Edition This is such good information it is continued another edition
What is up (or down) with scuba diving?
As divers we are keenly aware of threats to our prefered environment in the water. We can discuss coral bleaching, over fishing or envasive species. But what about threats to your participation in our cherished sport? We all want healthy reefs and many of us make donations to the cause. What about the health of your local dive shop or favorite dive resort? Like the oceans, this industry is under stress and undergoing a slow decline. Not your problem? UPS will deliver that new BCD and maybe even save you money too. Where are you going to use it? GOT AIR? Here is insider information. Most dive shops sell compressed air at a loss as a service to their divers. The price of air fills has not increased since 1982 after adjusting for inflation. A new breathing air compressor costs about $15,000, plus filters, air quality testing, power and maintenance. Stores made up the loss with dive gear sales. As equipment sales move online stores will make up this revenue the only way they can through services like air. If you see it as an admission ticket for entertainment, perhaps $15 a fill is reasonable. According to DIVE TRAINING survey, the number of dive retail stores opened/closed in the past five years (2005-2009) nationally 379 opened and 515 closed. This is a net loss of 136 stores! In the Northeast 43 opened and 68 closed for a net loss of 25 sources of air. Recruitment for divers from 2004-2009 has been flat. There are 2.7-3.2 million divers in the US with the average diver age in the mid 40s. There is significant demographic inertia affecting these numbers. The highwater mark for the US dive industry came when training and equipment improvements met the baby boomers. That target market is aging out and being replaced by the baby busters. Fewer potential divers and more leasure choices is not a good combination. This is reflected in a Cline Group survey of Scuba Diving Participation Rate Trend from 2000 to 2008: 2000-1.7%, 2001 1.6%, 2002 1.9%, 2003 1.8%, 2004 1.9%, 2005 1.6%, 2006 1.1%, 2007 1.1%, 2008 1.2%. This is the percent of all divers to the population.
What can we do? All is not doom and gloom. We opened Maine Divers Scuba Center because the dive experience was important to us and we saw an opportunity to support the southern Maine dive community with a model dive shop run by divers for divers and grow the diving population. After three years in an ugly economic environment thanks to you we have met our measures of success. Nationally retail sales were up 4% for the first three quarters of 2010. Stores closing in 2009 = 1.8%, and improvement over a 3.7% loss in 2007. There was guarded optimism at DEMA this year, and improvement over 2008 and 2009.
Stores and suppliers will carry less inventory. Items on back order may take a month(s) to arrive. Selection and choices are being reduced, but not features. I think this is positive. Surveys indicate that divers shop online over their local dive shops by 2 to 1. When you are buying life support equipment, buyer beware. We encourage research on the internet and if you find the same product we carry, print the offer and we will match the price provided we don't lose money on the deal. Just remember , there is no free lunch. If you bring in gear purchased online and need assistance with assembly or fitting, we will charge a fee for our expertice in assisting you. Opinions and advice are still free.
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