98 replies to this topic

[Walter]

lebanon kansas is the geographic center of the U.S

Actually, it's 44°58' North, 103°46' West - West of Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota. You're thinking of the contiguous United States.

[WreckWench]

lebanon kansas is the geographic center of the U.S

Actually, it's 44°58' North, 103°46' West - West of Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota. You're thinking of the contiguous United States.

Oh Walter you are sooooooooooooooooooooo funny!

[steelemagnolia6]

I kinda had some place with beaches, and umm water yeah water in mind.. So that when we weren't all involved in "learning" or diving we could be partaking of the local attractions...

[Warthog]

I neglected to mention that Orlando and/or a cruise (as opposed to a liveaboard) also have non-diver attractions for the non-diving family members, 'significant others', etc.

Just something else to consider in terms of location.

[Walter]

Orlando better have nondiver activities, there's no diving there.

[WreckWench]

I think that combining this conference idea with diving is an excellent suggestion! Afterall...we are all really looking for yet another opportunity to meet one another and combine great diving with great friendship and in this case...some great knowledge! -ww

[REEF Diver]

I'll echo what a few others have suggested as to topics, and that is anything along the Naturalist/Critter ID and/or Equipment areas would be great. Maybe something on advanced photo/video techniques? Some kind of "professional issues" session for DM/Instructor types? Teaching/learning techniques? How about something on writing and/or getting published in the dive field?

Assuming my schedule/finances would even allow me to attend, I'm all for a cheap destination too, and Orlando meets that criteria. I did one spring dive in that area when I was a very new diver, and would love to do more. Also did the Disney Epcot dive then, and it was great fun.

Just shooting ideas out here...

[maxdvr]

lebanon kansas is the geographic center of the U.S

Actually, it's 44°58' North, 103°46' West - West of Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota. You're thinking of the contiguous United States.

yes... i stand corrected...

[nextariel]

Orlando better have nondiver activities, there's no diving there.

Walter you keep forgetting Epcot Living Seas. I know it doesn't interest you, but I think it's a great dive. And they wouldn't need to bring gear, except for a mask.


And if it is in Orlando, I think I'll be able to make it.

[drdiver]

I would vote for Orlando myself. If we do it in the spring, there's spring training baseball!!! LOL and we could always plan an excursion to the coast to dive for a couple of days. And I'm not ashamed to admit it--I love the Kingdom. Everything runs like clockwork, Switzerland without the cops.

[steelemagnolia6]

It is my thought to have this conference about mid April to the 1st of May. It's after spring break and before the summer rush. If we go late winter/early spring I that we migt still get in to high travel rates.... WW knows more about when the best time would be.

What does everyone think?

Great suggestion are coming in about what we are interested in having as classes and seminars... Keep them up. In the next couple of weeks I'll be getting bck to eveyone with what the gang is wanting to know and then we'll pare it down from t here... .

[Walter]

Jill,

The Living Seas is not open water. You might love it and so might others, but it's not a location you can use to teach any specialty that requires open water dives.

[REEF Diver]

The Living Seas is not open water.  You might love it and so might others, but it's not a location you can use to teach any specialty that requires open water dives.

Very true, it's not open water, but it is a fun experience, especially for any newer diver as I was when I did it (2001). 'Course, I didn't have an Rx in my mask then, so I couldn't see all that well, but it was still a lot of fun, and the Disney folks treat you like Royalty.

[WillDiveForBeer]

I have read about 75% of these posts and I see a large emphasis on wanting to do actual diving. How is this different than a dive trip that SD already does?

When I go to the NYC Auto Show, I expect to see cars on display, new technologies and little seminars to teach you proper methods of stopping on ice, wet roads, etc... I am not expecting to be driving cars on tracks in a Mario Andretti Driving Experience. When doing to a computer conference, I sit in seminars and learn about new technologies, interact and network with other professionals, sharing ideas and trading war stories.

If attending a dive conference, I wouldn't expect to go diving during the trip. I'd learn about new gear, different resorts in dive areas, dive/tour companies offering packages and things of that nature.

[bluedolphin]

It sounds to me like instead of calling it a "conference" maybe SD should sponser their own Scuba Show, like BTS, or the Long Beach Show, or whatever. Sell vendor booths, bring people in to present seminars, just like the others do, and it would be open to anyone who wants to go, and you could sell tickets just like the other shows do.

When Dale started the Long Beach show it was small, it grew year by year, ultimately they had to move it off the Queen Mary into the Long Beach Convention Center.

BlueD