Is diving getting old? Recently, I’ve heard influential folks say it is, and they paint a gloomy picture saying we’re “aging out” based on the “trees” they see. However, when we look at the actual data of the global “forest” of who divers are, this is mistaken. Diving has almost certainly become the world’s most demographically and age-inclusive sport and, practically speaking, there are divers of all ages in almost every country, culture and language. While this is amazing and positive, it raises questions about “who” a diver is – and there are some misconceptions. Supremely, participation in scuba diving has grown and evolved.

Let’s look at what the last five years of PADI Diver certification data tell us.

Male-Female Participation

Fact: Today, about 40 percent of divers globally are women in both entry level and continuing education. There is slightly higher female participation in the Asia-Pacific region compared to the rest of the world. There is a slightly higher female proportion at entry level than in continuing education. The long-term trend lines since 2019 for females being trained show a slow and steady incremental increase.

At professional levels, new PADI Divemaster certifications show a solid, albeit lower proportional participation by women. About 30 percent of new divemaster applications identify as female. The trend line is upward from a worldwide point-of-view.

Age Distribution

Fact: The age ranges for entering diving are stable. Worldwide since 2019, about 77 percent of all certifications, including entry level, come from people 39 years old and younger, and slightly more when looking at continuing education separately. Similarly, the age distribution for new diving professionals is also stable and has largely been so since 2015. About 40 percent of new PADI Divemasters are 20 to 29 years old, and about 30 percent in the 30- to 39-year-old age bracket. The 40- to 49-year-old range accounts for about 15 percent and, as with diver-level certifications, this pattern is mirrored across the planet.

These Data Tell Us

Diving is not aging out or “getting old,” as some say. It continues to attract the younger generations, and that trend is stable. Diving is effectively delivering a renewable personal journey across generational age buckets. It continues to attract, change and transform lives, and delivers on the desire and craving for underwater adventure and exploration in people of all ages across the planet as it renews.
Even with 70 percent of new professionals indicating they are men, trends show that diving is no longer male dominated and is becoming more gender balanced over time. Therefore, attuned PADI Dive Centers and Resorts routinely consider what their female customers want when planning services, equipment selection and marketing messages.
About 70 percent of new dive professionals are in the 20- to 39-year-old age range. This is not surprising in that the entry age range for most careers is 20 to 35, and suggests that go-pro messages are in most cases best aimed at this age set.
As I mentioned before, the good news is that diving – scuba diving, freediving and mermaid diving – has almost certainly become the world’s most demographically and age-inclusive sport. We see people of all ages engage in diving. Many divers continue to dive across the spectrum of their lives, well into their 70s and 80s. Many industry stakeholders, dive center owners and instructors do as well. So, it would be unwise to count out anyone as a potential customer.

Two Final Points

First, these data give a realistic picture of who divers are today, but this may differ by market, and the data may not relate to specific opportunities that are individual to you – for example, being invited to teach diving in a retirement community, or in a school, or at a kid’s camp, etc. So, message and take an age-appropriate approach to local demographics in your target marketing, your business, your training and practice.

Second, this is all good news. Diving remains popular across the age and demographic spectrum, and diving is being refreshed as we move forward. Diving accepts all ages while it embraces new age groups across the planet. 

Finally, new diver acquisition and participation are the lifeblood of the diving industry, and we should all continue to focus on it as a top priority together!

Sincerely,

Drew Richardson
President & CEO

The post Straight Talk from PADI CEO: Is Diving Getting Old? appeared first on PADI Pros.

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