I'm going to be running a new competition on the site in May - the barrier for entry will be fairly high, it's going to be an article writing competition, writing about your local scuba dive areas or experiences. However, I want the prize to be really cool.

I'd like some feedback on what you guys want to win! I've thought about scuba equipment: but I guess a lot guys here have their own stuff and there's a size/fitting issue.

My other thought was to have one of the new iPads as a prize, what do you guys want up for grabs?

sounds like a good incentive to me.

What sort of timescales are you looking at, open and close dates? Are you going to do multiple comps? You thought of how it is going to work with people in other countries?

Rather than a timescale, I'm thinking it will run on a minimum number of entries (say 50) and then a timescale if we go over that of perhaps a month.

Other countries shouldn't a problem, I can ship anywhere and I guess if there's some reason the prize is not relevant to them, a cash alternative can be offered.

I never win anything so the price is almost irrelevent for me

My writing skills are not the best either, although I do write often. When I was at school my English teacher was surprised I passed.

You do, however, have more experience to draw on than most!

thetafferboy wrote:


I do have some experience

Lost count how many dives but did over 400 hours underwater last year. I count in hours ever since I was in Egypt talking to an instructor who had logged 900+ dives on their D9. I told them I was on my 4th battery, they asked me how long a battery lasted as theirs was the original battery. I told them about 200 hours underwater. The moral of this story is quality not quantity.

Judging by your forum comments, I think you will do a grate job and have a good chance at winning the prize.

Komodo wrote:


hahaha

Until all the prize piggies from the compo sites turn up!

thetafferboy wrote:

Ah! But if it's about local diving, prize piggies won't know what to put. They may just nick articles from around the net.

And who was Komodo talking about?

I think he's talkin bout you!

thetafferboy wrote:

Me! I might now a bit about diving but it doesn't mean I can write a good article. I've sent some into Diver Mag before but never been published

Had some pics in Sport Diver Mag and video on the BBC, where the BBC filmed above water stuff and never showed any footage of me. All the other divers were featured but not me. So I'm only good behind the camera, not in front or on a keypad.

I've been thinking about what to write, no doubt it will become more evident once the competition has started.

My local area - Cornwall?
More specific North Coast/South Coast?
Even more specific - Falmouth/Newquay?
Even even more specific - Shore Dives in Newquay or Boat Dives in Falmouth?
Even more specific - <18m dives in Falmouth or <30m dives in Newquay?
Even more specific - Englands deepest quarry? It's not as deep as Dorothea but that's in Wales It's 15 minutes from me and has only been dived a few times, it has been a source of incidents & a fatality.

I have thought about a new article for the magazines but it'll take a while to do the dives to photograph them, then write about them. 4 specific ships in Cornwall 14m/20m/45m/55m. Got a snappy title and have dived 2 out of the 4 but need to re-visit with my new camera, lense & strobes.

I could just write the lot, except the 4 ships article, and send in multiple entries

Can I have the winning lottery numbers? LOL! How crazy are you willing to go with prizes?

Problem with the Ipad, that I can see is, international they might not be able to plug it in the wall, so might not be able to charge it. However, I'm not sure how the Ipad works, so that could be irrelevant!

I imagine like most apple products, they will charge via USB. I'm open to other suggestions though!

I'm talking about you Atlantic Scuba

I always enjoy and appreciate your quality comments just as much as thetafferboy, among others. Great forum, I'm learning so much.

Komodo wrote:


I'm glad to hear it - tell your dive friends We're finally getting enough people in one place at one time to some meaningful dive rambling!

Thanks, I like to be helpful.