SNAPSHOTS OF THE
CHANGING FACE OF DIVING
NIGEL EATON, EDITOR

Times change. It is now more than five years since we last asked Diver readers what they wanted from the magazine, and we would bet that diving habits have moved rapidly with the times.

So our 2003 Diver Reader Survey, which is included with this issue of the magazine, is designed for you to give us feedback on exactly what interests you in the diving world and, crucially, what you want to see more (or less) of in the magazine.

In 1997, for instance, we found that our typical reader (a married, professionally employed male aged between 25 and 34) took two or three diving holidays a year, mostly abroad, and most frequently to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

Have the Maldives and diving destinations in the Caribbean now moved nearer the top of the popularity ladder? Are more unusual or far-flung places such as South Africa and Sipadan, Cocos island and Galapagos, now more common on your overseas itineraries? Do you also find plenty of time to dive closer to home?

Do you nowadays base your choice of diving holiday on excellence of diving alone? Or are factors such as the quality of accommodation and availability of non-diving activities equally important?

According to the 1997 survey results, our typical diver was qualified to a level ranging from Rescue/Sports Diver to Master Scuba/Advanced Diver, with instructors making up a surprisingly high percentage of respondees. Has this pattern changed? We reckon that club diving is still common, but is it as prevalent as formerly? Are more of you learning to dive on holiday? Are more families diving together?

We would guess that equipment surveys and test reports in Diver magazine are as popular as ever - but we may be wrong. We know that more of you are using rebreathers and mixed gases, but precisely how many? Training interests you - but how often do you want to read about it?

To have your say regarding which bits of the magazine really give you the diving information you want and which tempt you to turn the page, simply fill in your answers and send the questionnaire back, using the Freepost address supplied. Once we know what you want from your Diver, we will, as always, do our very best to make sure that you get it.

Incidentally, every reader who sends in a completed questionnaire will be entered in a free prize draw to win a £2400 diving holiday for two to the Caribbean island of Curaçao, and 25 runners-up will each receive an exclusive Diver "Straight Down The Line" T-shirt. So you have an added incentive to make your views count.




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