A worldwide hosting.. thing?

[alix.leclerc]

What does everyone thing about having random deeper blue members sleeping on their couches?

I was just thinking back over host events i've taken part in abroad, staying with another persons family and basically having a really good time. Wouldn't that work for diving?

I reckon it would be very interesting to have a deeper blue member staying round for a few days, showing them the diving and the sights? Or have the oppotuity to travel and have someone show you the diving that they do. I'd be equally happy to visit or have someone come visit me, although I don't live in the greatest diving spot, i'd certainally be up for it

Just an idea really, what do you guys think?

 

[fcallagy]

Alex I think goes on already to some extent when I was in spain this year Adrian give me the info how to get to him picked us up from the station brought us diving and dropped us back and gave us an open invitation to come back and visit for longer. He has had others camp out in his garden etc I would extend the same invite to anyone i know on here. Sanso has the konstance summer jam on at present and his house is full i am sure. I think you would need to have some kind of relationship built up with the person before staying with them even if only online as their stay may impact on family life etc.

 

[alix.leclerc]

I think you would need to have some kind of relationship built up with the person before staying with them .

Yeah I agree completely agree, it's good that it already goes on. It must have been a lot of fun?

Most of the people on this site seems so very helpful and, well, very ammusing , I would love to meet some of them... a lot of them! Luckily i've already had the chance to meet a few, but they are people from around my area.

I forgot knowedgeble nnd intelligent didn't I?

 

[shoutatthesky]

hey, that sounds like a brilliant idea. It might require a separate part of the site where members can register for the system. Payment might come in the form of paying for the family to eat out or just returning the favour when the host visits the visitor. Or a system in which you build up credits for hosting someone that can be used in exchange for accomodation with another member.

Anyone coming my way is welcome to stay. I have a huge paddock for tents and a garage that only leaks in torrential rain. Not to mention some beautiful diving 5 mins down the road.

 

[cdavis]

A bit tricky to implement, but I like the idea. I have had extremely good luck inviting DBers and being invited on dive trips when the only previous contact was through the internet. First time I met unirdna was stepping on my boat, 5 minutes before leaving for the Bahamas and after he had already flown a couple thousand miles to meet us. Love to meet some more.

Connor

 

[alix.leclerc]

It might require a separate part of the site where members can register for the system. Payment might come in the form of paying for the family to eat out or just returning the favour when the host visits the visitor. Or a system in which you build up credits for hosting someone that can be used in exchange for accomodation with another member.
quote]

Yeah that is pretty much exactly what I had in mind. If some people are already visiting others them it shouldn't be too hard to introduce the idea to the rest of deeperblue.

 

[sanso]

Hmmm.. I doubt that making it an "official" policy would help much there.
People are already doing this on their free will. Introducing methods of payment or credit and 'signing up' for the program and such would certainly make this much less appealing - at least to me.
I want people who stay at my house to be my guests and not that they have some kind of credit that entitles them to be here.
No one is entitled to be here, while almost everyone is invited.
I'd rather want this to remain a fully voluntary thing.

Not sure if I got across what I mean here, but I think You might get the idea.

 

[shoutatthesky]

You have a good point there Sanso. Formalising the existing informal arrangements has no point and may detract from the informal feeling of the way (I imagine) these meetings happening.

 

[deep thinker]

What phisically meet someone you only speak to over the net are you insane rofl rofl rofl .
Jokes aside I think its a very cool idea, I do agree with Sanso though that it should be a open invitation instead of having it formalized in a way that could make it difficult to obtain, you could then just as well book into a hotel and get organized touring facilities while you are there. Having it informal just makes it more enjoyable...
We have some very good wine cellars in the area and I know them all very well if anybody is interested o and the secret to a succesfull wine tour is swallowing what you taste and not spit it out like most people will have you beleive rofl . Diving wise well erm its winter at the moment and the sea hasnt been too freindly looking, damn I miss summer...

 

[deep thinker]

O and 2 thumbs up for starting this thread, this could allways be used to organise said meetings...

 

[alix.leclerc]

this could allways be used to organise said meetings...

Oh yush! I much aggree with the informal theme. And the whole point of having this thread is to get people talking about the idea, those who haven't already been introduced to it, and give a place for invites to be given.

As far as meeting someone on the internet, i've have a few very good experiences from doing it. I met my freediving partner/boyfriend on this site!

:inlove thank god for freedivers and deeperblue!

 

[Morg]

As far as meeting someone on the internet, i've have a few very good experiences from doing it. I met my freediving partner/boyfriend on this site!

:inlove thank god for freedivers and deeperblue!

Wow, lucky guy

 

[alix.leclerc]

Wow, lucky guy

Shush Shouldn't you be working?

Love you xxxxx

 

[Lockedin]

I could be completely wrong (won't be the first time...:head), but wouldn't
http://forums.deeperblue.net/find-buddy-places-dive/
and
http://forums.deeperblue.net/spearo-network/
and
http://forums.deeperblue.net/travel-places-dive/
be able to serve that purpose? Of course, as others have said, having at least some form of relationship built up would help. In the past, I hosted a young UK surfer out on holiday for a couple days before he moved on. It was fun getting to show some of the better spots around (too bad there was no surf that month :hmm ), and sharing our love of all things ocean.

 

[alix.leclerc]

wouldn't
http://forums.deeperblue.net/find-buddy-places-dive/
and
http://forums.deeperblue.net/spearo-network/
and
http://forums.deeperblue.net/travel-places-dive/
be able to serve that purpose? .

Yes they would! Especially the first one, I hadn't actually looked to see what was already going on; Oh well.

How is the diving where you guys are at the moment? here it is awful, the sea is totally green, i wish i was back in the UK, aparently the sea isn't too bad at the mo.

 

[trux]

Yes, not a bad idea, Alix! Although it is certainly possible to find or look up a buddy or a potential host here on DB too, having a list of freedivers who welcome guests and their locations may help better. Some people have better possibilities for hosting than others, and some people welcome strangers (or even friends) at home more frequently or happily than others.

I have added an option to the User Profile at APNEA.cz, so registered users can now assign one of 5 hosting options there (not possible / occasionally / yes / yes, guests welcome / commercial). You can then look up user's profiles to check if they use to host freedivers, and contact them through a PM. You can also look up hosting members on the User Map or User List - simply change the drop-down box to "hosts" (since it is new, currently it is only my own account that has the option set). Please note that the User Map loads little slow, so keep patient before it loads fully - it is getting big and I'll probably need to split it by countries by default.

If I see that the option is frequently used, I can add more features for more complex hosting management. There are a lot of possibilities, but it costs time to code it, so unless it is really used I won't start with it. I could add visitor feedback ranking, accommodation details, adding freediving spots in the vicinity, etc. etc.

Already now the User Map can be used for exactly localizing the living place, so that visitors can easily found it. You can drag your own map marker within a meter or two of your desk where you just sit now. Users having privacy concerns, may set the location non-public, visible only to buddies they choose.

 

[shoutatthesky]

Alix, you are welcome at my place any time. We have both of your passions freely available withing easy reach. Skydiving approx. 1 hr by car and freediving 5-10 minutes. Bring your boyfriend too. Maybe he can give me some hints on how to find a lady of such calibre as yourselfrofl .
Seriously though you and anyone else who wants to make the trip to this part of the world I will gladly host and show you all the spots. You're more than welcome - I encourage you to come to beautiful little New Zealand.

 

[alix.leclerc]

Alix, you are welcome at my place any time. We have both of your passions freely available withing easy reach. Skydiving approx. 1 hr by car and freediving 5-10 minutes. Bring your boyfriend too. Maybe he can give me some hints on how to find a lady of such calibre as yourselfrofl .
Seriously though you and anyone else who wants to make the trip to this part of the world I will gladly host and show you all the spots. You're more than welcome - I encourage you to come to beautiful little New Zealand.

I'm taking you up on that when I have the money, hell I would even move over there, it seems wonderful! is skydiving into the sea possible over there by any chance? that is my idea of perfection.

I have added an option to the User Profile at APNEA.cz, so registered users can now assign one of 5 hosting options there (not possible / occasionally / yes / yes, guests welcome / commercial). You can then look up user's profiles to check if they use to host freedivers, and contact them through a PM. You can also look up hosting members on the User Map or User List - simply change the drop-down box to "hosts" (since it is new, currently it is only my own account that has the option set). .

Trux thanks so much! This seems like a pretty ideal way of achieving both the informal "voluntary " aspect whilst making the prospect of hosting available for everyone to share.

I hope it takes off big time.

 

[Adrian]

Alix, you ever thought of Ampuria Brava on the Costa Brava? Several of the skydiving instructors are also keen freedivers. It's not far from where you are and Girona airport has Ryanair. We just went to the Medes National Park on Sunday. Will post pics in the photography forum later today.

 

[alix.leclerc]

Really? Hmmm, that is extremely interesting, although I don't think I could use my french skydiving licence over there.

How was the national park? God I want to travel right now, if I had another 500 pounds I would be off to visit these places so fast... hell do you think I could swim to the Costa Brava? If you say it's not that far...

Post a link on here, I would love to see them.