something not adding up

[Qix]

Or maybe it does add up....

...Many shop owners aren't just business owners they are avid, extremely experienced divers. And many shop owners don't just dive locally, they travel on their own and run trips. And many shop owners are also instructors.

Think about their typical year. They might run 8+ open water training sessions each typically requiring 4 dives. Thats 32+ dives right there. And many of these people run local fun dives, often on days that business is slower (ie Wednesdays) so throw in about 20 fundives and you're over 50 dives. And many shops will run one or two dedicated dive weekends to the Mine Pits or Lake Superior, etc. So add in another 10+ dives there.  Then throw in a few more local dives here and there for their own pleasure and a shop owner (that dives locally) might easily dive 80+ diver per year (locally). If they dive dry, the number can be even higher.

Then look at travel related diving. Many shops offer 2-5 dive trips per year. Some shops run the typical week in Cozumel where the owner/host might get in 10+ dives per trip. Even more if they are run Part-II & Advanced certifications. Thats another 20-50 dives per year (minimum).

And some shops run dive trips with far more diving. This includes live-aboards and lengthier vactions (2+ weeks) where they might come back with 30+ dives from a single trip.

Consider this too, many of these people started into diving just like you are - they jumped in head first and still love it. During those initial years many people do a lot of travel and log LOTS of dives.

My guess is that the person you are referring to probably did a lot of diving prior to opening their own business. And once they opened a business their actual diving rate probably fell.

How about this, next time you visit her shop just ask her about her diving experiences.  I have a feeling a number like 2000 will seem much more realistic when you hear about the remote location trips, liveaboards, FAM-Trips, training, local events, etc.