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Inside Scuba Issue #20

Inside Scuba Issue #20

Byron Conroy, Andy Deitsch & Carmen Toanchina
November 03, 2024

Welcome to Issue #20 of Inside Scuba

Welcome to the 20th issue of Inside Scuba! This milestone edition brings fresh insights and perspectives, featuring an excellent article on mating hamlets from our newest guest author, Carmen Toanchina. With insights into the declining participation rates among younger divers, photography tips, and the wonders of mating hamlets, this issue is packed with valuable content for divers of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just starting your journey, we invite you to dive in and explore the depths of our latest articles. Don't forget to share this newsletter with fellow diving enthusiasts who would enjoy joining our community!

What’s happening in this edition?

Scuba Diving Is Dying – And The Industry Doesn’t Care
Dive News
Bluewater Backgrounds: A Fresh Approach to Underwater Macro Photography
Dusk Dives: A Diver’s Guide into the Fascinating World of Hamlets
Instagram Spotlight
Summary

Scuba Diving Is Dying – And The Industry Doesn’t Care

I recently turned 41, and over the last ten years, I’ve been fortunate to travel to some of the world’s most remote dive locations. I’ve seen incredible sights and met amazing people. Yet, one thing stands out: the lack of younger people on the boats. While it’s understandable that financial limitations might keep younger divers from the most exotic resorts, there’s a noticeable shortage of youth in the diving community as a whole. This led me to take a closer look at the dive industry—how well is it really doing? Is it in decline?

The answer is yes, the scuba diving industry is experiencing a noticeable decline in participation, even as outdoor activities grow in popularity. In recent years, activities like hiking, camping, and water sports have seen an increase, while scuba diving has struggled to maintain interest. Here’s an overview of the current challenges, future outlook, and strategies to reignite interest, especially among younger generations.

The dive industry is aging, but what is anyone doing about it?

Current State of the Diving Industry

According to 2021 data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the United States saw a 1.3% increase in overall sports and activities participation over 2020, with a 7.8% increase over the past five years. Water sports specifically saw a gain, rising from 13.6% pre-pandemic (2019) to 14.0% in 2021, representing an overall growth of nearly 3%. However, scuba diving diverged from this trend, with participation among Americans decreasing by 8.8% from 2019 to 2021. This decrease continues a downward trend: participation numbers in scuba diving shrank from 3.1 million in 2016 to 2.7 million in 2019 and further to 2.5 million by 2021. These are scary numbers, and it’s a trend we see worldwide.

Photo Tip of the Week - Bluewater Backgrounds: A Fresh Approach to Underwater Macro Photography

Traditionally, black backgrounds have dominated macro photography, creating a striking contrast that isolates the subject. However, once you have mastered black backgrounds it becomes very easy, and your portfolio all tends to look the same.

Mastering bluewater backgrounds adds a fresh perspective to your images and brings variety to your portfolio. Capturing subjects against the ocean’s natural blue hues not only highlights marine life—just as black backgrounds do—but also provides a sense of depth and context within the underwater environment, making the image feel more natural and realistic. Keep in mind that most viewers have likely never been diving or seen marine creatures in person. To them, a black background might suggest the photos were taken at night or seem artificial. Using natural blue backgrounds helps you connect with a broader audience.

In this article, we will explore the techniques and considerations needed to master bluewater background macro photography. We’ll discuss why photographers often opt for black backgrounds, the role of aperture and shutter speed in controlling ambient light, how to choose the right subjects, and essential camera settings to achieve that captivating blue backdrop. Additionally, we’ll delve into post-processing tips and the best locations to practice this technique.

A blue background macro shot opens up a whole new dynamic to traditional black backgrounds

Dusk Dives: A Diver’s Guide into the Fascinating World of Hamlets

By Carmen Toanchina

Some divers prefer dawn dives, while others prefer night dives. For me, dusk dives have always been my favorite. So much happens at dusk that I often have to decide on a specific goal for the dive: observing the beautiful courtship of hamlets mating, watching flounders spawn over sandy areas, or catching the peppermint basslets as they emerge for their cheek-to-cheek mating ritual as the sun sets. It’s all incredibly fascinating, but since these behaviors occur at different depths and in different parts of the reef, you need to choose which species to focus on for each dive.

A pair of mating Barred Hamlets (Hypoplectrus puella). Photo courtesy Adam Beard Photography

Believe me, I’ve tried to observe multiple species during a single dive, but I’ve found that only with extreme luck would I be able to witness more than one species mating…

Summary

As we wrap up this edition of Inside Scuba, we hope you feel inspired to engage with the underwater world in new ways, whether through diving, photography, or conservation efforts. The challenges faced by the diving community are real, but with awareness and action, we can nurture a new generation of divers eager to explore our oceans. Thank you for being part of our journey, and as always, we encourage you to share your experiences and feedback. Together, let’s keep the spirit of diving alive and thriving!

Andy & Byron

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