pfeiffer@uwvax.UUCP (Phil Pfeiffer) (09/23/85)
Just in case any of you netters don't subscribe to "UnderwaterUSA" [ O ) ],
the Diving Equipment Manufacturer's Association sent a letter to the editor
expressing its disgust with the oceanQuest series -
"We at DEMA all anxiously awaited the premier of 'oceanQuest'. Five
one-hour specials on worldwide diving. How exciting. What wonderful
publicity for our favorite activity, we thought. Such excellent promotion
for our industry, we anticipated. Instead, the first two episodes may well
have set scuba diving back 10 years.
"DEMA has been intimately involved in nationwide research of the potential
American diving market. We have discovered that there are many people who
would like to learn to dive - but are hesitant. The causes for their
hesitation are complex, but the first episode of 'oceanQuest' managed to hit
on almost all of them.
"Fear of sharks; fear of 'drill sergeant' instructor techniques and
mentality; fear of required 'super-human' skills - like 100-foot free ascents;
fear that divers need extraordinary athletic ability and conditioning -
that jogging and weight training are required; belief that one must be a
superb swimmer - like Shawn Weatherly; from women - potentially half of our
public - the assumption that they will encounter arrogant and unsupportive
men.
"These attitudes were born more than 25 years ago. Perhaps they were
valid then. Today, such myths are not only valid, but harmful to the
growth of scuba diving."
-- Robert Grey
Executive Director
Diving Equipment Manufacturer's Assn.
Tustin, CA.
-- Phil Pfeiffer
"... we've got to move these color tv's ..."