The Business of Diving

The Business
of Diving
A Guide to Success in the
Recreational Dive Industry
The Business of Diving
A Guide to Success in the Recreational Dive Industry
© PADI 1995-2008
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without
written permission of the publisher.
It is not the intent of either the authors or PADI to dictate to or otherwise inter-
fere with the operation of any privately owned business through the publication
of this book. The intent is educational only, and neither the authors nor PADI
assume any liability as pertains to the use of the material.
Throughout this publication, trademarks may be used. We have not printed a

trademark symbol in every occurrence of a trademark. We have used the marks
only in a journalistic fashion without affecting trademark rights.
Published by PADI Americas, Inc.

30151 Tomas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2125 USA
Library of Congress Card Number 95-071022

ISBN 978-1-878663-18-4
Printed in the United States of America
PRODUCT NO. 70166 (Rev 5/08) Version 1.02
102PDE8
ii
Acknowledgements
Editor
Drew Richardson
Technical Writers
Karl Shreeves, Riad Yakzan
Contributing Writers
Al Hornsby, JoAnn Kison, Debbie Logan, John Nesbit,
Mary Kaye Nesbit, Pam Regan, Budd Riker
Design and Typography

Jeanne Jenkins, Dail Schroeder
iii
Table of Contents
vi Introduction
1 One
Dive Industry Overview
2 The Three Es
4 Dive Customers and the Industry
7 Dive Industry Statistics
11 Problems Facing the Dive Industry
14 Opportunities Facing the Dive Industry
17 Two
Business Planning
17 The Business Plan
26 Borrowing Money
28 Computerization
29 Budgets
35 Taxes
37 Outside Influences
iv
41 Three
Retail Sales
44 Sales Training
46 Customer Finance Options
51 Four
Diver Education
51 The Role of Diver Education in the Dive Center
53 Scheduling Diver Training
61 Pricing Diver Education
69 Five
Dive Travel
70 Dive Travel’s Role in the Dive Center
73 Attracting New Customers
74 Planning a Dive Travel Program
76 Running Dive Trips
77 Group Tour Conducting Skills
80 Catering to Snorkelers
81 Offering Custom Travel Services
85 Six
Advertising, Public Relations and Marketing
88 Mainstream Advertising
91 Public Relations
92 Special Events
95 Seven
Dive Center Physical Operations
96 Day-to-Day Dive Center Maintenance
97 The Compressor System
105 Merchandising
107 Pools
108 Boats
v
111 Eight
Personnel
111 Hiring
116 Training the Staff
118 Salaries and Compensation
129 Nine
Risk Management for the Dive Center and Dive Resort
130 Negligence
130 Liability
130 Instructional Liability
134 Supervisory Liability
136 Product Liability
138 Air Fill Liability
138 Repaired Products Liability
139 Rental Products Liability
140 Trips and Events Liability
141 “Slip & Fall”
142 Personal Injury
143 Property
143 Theft, Robbery and Burglary
146 Responding to Incidents
149 Ten
Instructor/Retailer Relationship
150 Characteristics of the Professional Dive Instructor
152 Instructor as Employee/Exclusive Contractor
152 Affiliated Instructor
154 Unaffiliated Instructor
159 Eleven
DiveResort Operations
159 Overview
160 Physical Operations
178 Index
vi
Introduction
Today’s business climate requires professionalism and competence
in any enterprise, otherwise, it’s doomed to mediocrity or failure.
The scuba industry is full of dive center and resort success
stories, and many of these businesses thrive in highly competitive
markets. Unfortunately, there are also businesses that fail in ideal
demographic and geographic areas. The reasons for these successes
and failures aren’t mysterious — businesses that are professionally
run ultimately succeed; those that aren’t, fail.
The Business of Diving — A Guide to Success in the Recreational
Dive Industry shows the reader effective strategies for specific suc-
cess in our industry. It’s not a “how-to” book per se, since markets
and business environments vary greatly from one region to the next,
but it’s not a general business book either. This book is industry spe-
cific, with special emphasis on applying modern business skills and
knowledge to a dive center or resort.
Scuba enthusiasts have historically started dive businesses, but
as discussed in the Business Planning chapter, enthusiasm is helpful
when running a business, but not enough. It takes realistic business
skills to succeed, especially in today’s market, which encompasses
far more sophisticated competition and customers than ever before.
Each chapter of this book explains some of the important skills that
help business owners decide what’s best for their particular endeav-
or.
vii
In some instances, tangible examples illustrate proven methods
that may be adapted for any given situation. Overall, there’s an even
mixture of information and example intended to teach the reader
something new in every page.
Because business isn’t an exact science, we don’t claim that
these are the only effectual techniques to run a business. Our goal
was to condense a vast business knowledge into this book without
being unduly dogmatic or inflexible. After all, a primary business skill
is getting good advice and adapting it to any particular endeavor.
This book also includes a bibliography in each chapter, which
gives additional reference information for every particular subject.
We believe you won’t find a book like this in any library or bookstore.
The Business of Diving — A Guide to Success in the Recreational Dive
Industry is a unique document for our industry, and no other book
has treated the same subject and encompassed so much business
information specifically for the dive center and resort.
As you’ll see in the first chapter, the dive industry has grown
tremendously in recent years, and will continue to grow and prosper.
Whether you’re new to this industry, or a seasoned professional, we
hope this book will help you become a better business person.
Drew Richardson, MBA, Ed.D.

President, PADI Worldwide Corporation
viii
DIVE INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
One
The Dive Industry Today
As one wit put it, the dive industry consists of “filling tanks with air
and teaching people to let it out.” Though grossly oversimplified, this
quip highlights the aspect of diving that sets it among only a handful
of other recreations: Largely, it must train customers before they can
be customers.
This fact has shaped the dive industry since the late 1950s, when
safety concerns began the trend that eventually made proof of train-
ing a prerequisite to having cylinders filled. Today, diver certification
has become so well established that even nondivers know that before
they can scuba dive, they need instruction. Diver training has become
the primary customer acquisition and retention tool for the major-
ity of dive centers -- something we’ll look at more closely in Chapter
Four.
Yet, education alone cannot support the dive industry, much
less a dive center. Diver customers also need a means to dive (equip-
ment), and a reason to dive (experience, i.e., travel and local op-
portunities). Together, these “Three Es” form the dive industry’s
three-legged foundation.
1
ONE
The Three Es
The need for education, equipment and experience has made the
dive center and the dive resort, where divers find all three, the focus
of the dive industry. That’s why the dive industry’s infrastructure
supports dive centers and dive resorts.
Education
PADI and other training organizations support the dive center and
instructors in teaching diving. As most people in the industry realize,
the typical dive center relies on diver training for customer acquisi-
tion. The training process calls for an initial investment, assuring
income for the dive center. More importantly, it affords the skilled
dive operator the chance to develop customer relationships and
customer loyalty from the start.
PADI’s educational support consists of developing educational
programs and products for PADI Dive Centers, PADI Resorts and
PADI Instructors to implement; issuing certifications and maintaining
certification records; maintaining and monitoring instructor/profes-
sional standards; consulting with instructors and dive centers; and
promoting recreational diving to the public at large.
Because a customer’s first contacts with scuba involve train-
ing, the educational materials, the instructor and the entire training
process must be fun, credible and professional. These may deter-
mine whether or not the customer stays with diving or seeks another
hobby, much less whether he stays with a particular store. The pru-
dent dive center or resort owner, even if he doesn’t personally teach
diving, chooses a training organization and instructor staff with this
in mind.
Besides creating new customers, education plays a role in
entertaining customers through advanced and specialty training.
Additional diver courses are fun; plus they provide incentives for
dive travel, local diving opportunities, and equipment investment.
Thus, education creates a direct link between the diver and the other
services the dive center offers.
Equipment
Whereas a dive center or resort has a relationship with primarily
one diver training organization, most dive retailers deal with several
equipment manufacturers to supply its inventory. This commonly
2
includes a few “major” manufacturers that provide full lines of scuba

equipment and several specialized manufacturers such as those that
supply accessories, unique items or exposure suits.
The relationships between the retail dive center and its supply-
ing manufacturers are among the most important in the industry.
Essentially, the dive center and each manufacturer create a partner-
ship that supports not only each other, but the diver who purchases
the equipment. This relationship comes into play as soon as the
customer decides to invest in equipment -- whether it’s a complete
tank-regulator-gauges-BCD package, or just a pair of reef gloves.
The customer, especially a newer diver, relies on the dive center
and the instructor to recommend equipment suited to his needs and
desires. After the purchase, the customer relies on the dive center
for fitting and adjustment, annual servicing and warranty repair if
needed.
Experience
A common industry myth used to be that money spent on dive travel
was “wasted” because it wasn’t spent on dive equipment. This, of
course, makes little sense because without a reason to dive, cus-
tomers need neither equipment nor education. The successful dive
center keeps its customers active and investing in equipment and
education primarily by providing opportunities to dive.
Dive travel stands out as the most visible form of dive experi-
ence. Dive centers away from prime dive destinations capitalize on
dive travel by organizing and leading group dive trips, and by coordi-
nating trips for individuals or small groups. Dive centers and resorts
at prime dive destinations handle the other end -- welcoming travel-
ing divers, taking them diving and seeing to a fun time. Dive travel
has risen to the point that, according to some surveys, it makes up
over half the dive industry’s total gross annual sales (not all of it
through dive centers).
Most dive centers also offer local diving opportunities. These
include led local dives that require minimal time or money investment,
yet allow divers to have fun and remain active. Diver training in wreck
diving, underwater photography and other activities also comprise
entertainment. When a diver invests in specialized equipment, such as
an underwater camera or a dive light, it affords new underwater activi-
ties, such as photography or night diving. Thus, both education and
equipment tie into and bolster the entertainment leg of diving.
3
ONE
Dive Customers and the Industry

Like every other industry, the dive industry survives by catering to
the wants, needs and desires of its customers. In an industry with
safety issues and self-regulation, it’s easy to mistakenly believe that
someone other than the customer can decide what the customer
should have. However, that’s not the case. The customer decides and
has the power to back his decision: If he doesn’t get what he wants,
he goes and finds something else on which to spend his money.
Although the dive center is the dive industry focus, then, the dive
industry prospers by meeting the customer’s needs. Safety cannot be
compromised, but the customer doesn’t want safety to be ignored.
Rather, the customer wants the dive center and the dive industry to
creatively meet his expectations and desires within the framework of
safety. Those who do so will succeed, those who don’t may fail.
Dive Industry Players

Like any industry, the dive industry has a gamut of players, each ful-
filling particular roles. For those new to the dive industry (or explain-
ing the dive industry to someone not familiar with it), here is a list
of primary dive industry entities. Bear in mind that more than one
of the following definitions will apply to many industry companies,
because many fill more than one role. The most commonly accepted
term is listed, followed by other common references.
Charter dive (also “dive boat”): A commercially operated boat
boat that specializes in taking customers diving.
Dive center (also “dive store, dive shop, dive retailer”): Full-line,
full-service retail business that offers dive training,
equipment and entertainment (travel). The “typical”
dive center offers a wide range of diver education
programs, equipment service as well as sales, and a
broad selection of travel opportunities. However, the
mix and emphasis of what the center offers varies
with local needs.
4
Divemaster In a resort setting or on a charter dive boat, the

individual who supervises diving activities. Within the
structure of diver education, the certification level that
denotes qualification to supervise diving activities and
assist with diver training; this rating is usually a prereq-
uisite to becoming an instructor.
Dive resort (also “resort operation”): A business at a dive location
that emphasizes taking customers diving. The “typi-
cal” dive resort arranges or owns dive boats, rental dive
equipment, completion of training programs, accom-
modations and other services vacationing divers need.
Many dive resorts are also full-service dive centers.
Independent Salesperson who represents multiple manufacturer
representative lines to the dive retailer. As a rule, such an individual
doesn’t represent competing lines.
Instructor (also “scuba instructor, dive instructor”): An individual
qualified to teach and certify divers. These individu-
als follow the programs and standards set forth by
the international training organizations that monitor
training and issue certification credentials. An “assis-
tant instructor” is an individual qualified to assist an
instructor, usually as a way to gain experience prior to
becoming an instructor.
Live-aboard A dive boat designed to take divers on multiday trips.
Live-aboards offer divers sleeping quarters, food, and
dive support for the duration of the dive trip.
Manufacturer (also “equipment manufacturer,” “dive manufactur-
er”): A business that develops, makes and wholesales
dive equipment.
.
Media Dive community publications, consisting primarily of

consumer magazines, but also including a few trade
magazines, scuba video producers and book publishers.
Resort An association for dive resorts, including live-aboard,

association boat, or hotel resorts. Just as retail associations provide
support for retailers, a resort association provides spe-
cific support for resorts. The PADI International Resort
Association is an example of a modern resort associa-
tion.
5
ONE
Retail An association of/for dive centers that provides

association business support services, and group representation
as needed before governments, at trade/consumer
dive shows, industry groups and other bodies.
Trade An association that markets the scuba industry

association through trade shows, promotions, and special studies
and projects. Examples include the Diving Equipment
and Marketing Association (DEMA), Dive Travel Indus-
try Association (DTIA), Dive Australia, etc.
Training (also “training agency,” “certifying agency,”
organization “agency”): An entity that does some or all of the fol-
lowing: Develops diver training standards, programs
and materials; monitors diver training activities; issues
diver training credentials; qualifies dive instructors
and monitors their activities. Some training organiza-
tions call themselves “federations” or “clubs.” Inter-
nationally, there are dozens of training organizations.
However, the vast majority of training falls under PADI
sanction.
Travel An entity that sells travel packages for the resorts it
wholesaler represents to retail travel agents, or to dive retailers.
This allows the dive retailer to offer an assortment of
dive travel destinations and options without having
to personally handle the travel arrangements for his
customers. The PADI Travel Network is a travel whole-
saler for PADI Members.
6
Dive Industry Statistics

Dive Industry Size
Because of its diversified nature and informal reporting structure, it’s
difficult to estimate the size of the international dive industry. As of
1994, DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) estimates
that in U.S. dollars, the dive industry, worldwide is a $3.5 billion
industry. For international comparisons, estimates in the U.S. place
gross retail sales at about $1 billion, with dive travel (including dive
travel not booked through a dive center) adding about another $1.6
billion in U.S. wholesale dollars; estimates suggest diving is a $20 mil-
lion industry in Germany; $20 million in Italy; $15 million in France; $5
to $6 million in Switzerland; and $3 to $4 million in Austria.
According to industry estimates, there are approximately 1700 to
2200 dive centers in the U.S. (of those, approximately 60-65% are PADI
International Resort and Retailer Associations Members). Estimates
vary, in part, due to differing definitions of “dive center.” For compari-
son with some other countries, estimates put the number at approxi-
mately 1540 in Japan, 320 in Australia, and 70 in Switzerland.
According to worldwide estimates, there are approximately 4000
to 4500 dive centers in the world (approximately 55 to 60% are PADI
Members).
The number of divers worldwide is estimated to be between 6 and
7 million, with the U.S. accounting for approximately 3 to 3.5 million
of these active divers (3.2 million in 1993, according to the Human
Powered Outdoor Recreation Report). The U.S.-based National Sports
Goods Association defines active divers as those who dive at least
once a year. Approximately one million divers are certified annually,
nearly half of these in the U.S. alone.
Globally, PADI enjoys the dominate market share, with regional
variations. At this writing, for a few examples, PADI’s approximate
market share in the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand is 65% to 75%, about
45% in Europe and more than 90% in Canada. Among other benefits
from their affiliation with PADI, PADI Dive Centers and Resorts enjoy
the largest international and regional bases of customer recognition.
7
ONE
Dive Center Size

There have been various surveys in recent years that try to estimate
dive center size. Depending upon the survey, U.S. dive centers aver-
age approximately $320,000 to $460,000 in gross sales (1992-1993).
Although there’s little international data of this type, the 1993 Market
Research Study sponsored by DEMA shows correlating data that can
be expected to apply to many locations outside the U.S. The survey
didn’t study dive resorts in particular; they were included, but the
report emphasizes the mainland dive center.
In the DEMA study, income was divided roughly as 52% equip-
ment sales, 20% instruction, 12% travel with the balance from various
small income sources (note that this is gross income, and doesn’t
reflect percents of gross profit). (See table 1-1.)
Not surprisingly, the study found a direct relationship between
the number of divers trained annually and store gross income; the
more divers trained, the more income, regardless of region. Dive cen-
ters with income above the study median ($210,000) averaged more
than twice as many certifications, and averaged about twice as much
income per certification than did stores below the median.
The “typical” dive center had three full-time (or equivalent)
employees, and approximately 144 square metres/1556 square feet of
retail area. (Note: Other surveys have found average U.S. dive center
Table 1-1
Dive Center Income
Source: DEMA Study 1994
Other 16%
Travel 12%
Equipment Sales 52%
Instruction 20%
8
size to be 60% larger.) About one in six dive centers had an on-site
pool, and about 13% of dive centers were part of a multistore chain.
The Diver
In 1993, the PIRN (PADI Industry Resource Network) released the
“New Diver Benchmark Report” in three editions of The Undersea
Journal (Third Quarter ’93, Fourth Quarter ’93, First Quarter ’94). The
report highlights information based on the Phase II Survey of PADI
Open Water Divers in the U.S. who were certified in 1991. A parallel
survey of PADI Divers certified in the United Kingdom showed that
internationally, similar findings to the U.S. survey can be expected, at
least in areas with maturing dive markets.
Both the U.S. and U.K. surveys found respondents 65% male and
35% female, with 66%-70% aged 18 to 34. The U.S. survey found that
the most prevalent reason for taking up diving (81%) was “seeking
adventure,” followed by “to be with nature” (71% -- multiple respons-
es were permitted). Socializing was listed as a motivation for just
over half the respondents. The U.K. survey found similar figures for
motivation to learn to dive.
The 1993 Market Research Study sponsored by DEMA found the
median income for divers was $30,000 (U.S.), with an average equip-
ment investment of $1251. The study found little correlation between
income and investment in scuba equipment.
The PADI New Diver Benchmark Report did find several correla-
tions between investment in equipment and other factors: Divers
who belong to a dive club were found almost twice as likely (65%
versus 37%) to own major equipment components (BCD and regula-
tor). Divers with certification levels beyond entry level were nearly
three times as likely to own major equipment components (65% ver-
sus 24%), and more than twice as likely to be frequent divers (57%
versus 24%), frequent being defined as making more than 10 dives
annually. Females were somewhat less inclined to be frequent divers.
Again, U.K. survey figures were similar.
The Diver Dropout Myth

The dive industry currently does not have substantiated and up-
dated figures on the diver dropout rate. Some in our industry, how-
ever, have quoted totally unsubstantiated figures that don’t reflect
the truth, including a ridiculously high 80% rate. PADI investigated
the genesis of the 80% dropout rumor in the late 1980s and found out
9
ONE
that it was based on a college student’s study conducted in the early

1970s. The 80% rate resulted from counting every unanswered survey
as a dropout!
As a result of our investigation into the 80% myth, PADI conducted

an internal study of PADI Divers in 1988. The results of this survey
showed a 14% inactive rate in the first year after certification; an addi-
tional 10% became inactive after two years (for a cumulative of 24%);
10% out in the third year (a cumulative of 34%); and 11% in the fourth
year (a cumulative of 45%).
Concurrently, PADI participated (along with NASDS and NAUI) in a

diver erosion study conducted by Diagnostic Research for DEMA. The
preliminary results of that survey were very similar to PADI’s study
for the first three years (15, 8 and 10% respectively). DEMA’s study
indicated a 20% dropout rate for the fourth year for a cumulative 54%
over four years.
The 1988 PADI and DEMA studies show that the dropout rate for
diving is between 14-15% for the first year, and approximately 50%
after four years.
The thing to remember is that divers are technically certified for
life, and those who drop out, even for a few years, may just as easily
come back and resume diving, especially if the industry in general
provides new opportunities and reasons to dive. Also, with today’s
certification numbers, there are considerably more divers “dropping
in” than “dropping out.”
Safety
One reason for the growth of recreational diving has been a move
away from the public perception that it is dangerous (the majority of
divers, however, who are young individuals in their mid-20s still view
diving as a fun and adventurous activity). This perceptual change has
followed the real trend in diver safety, and has actually lagged behind
diving’s improving safety record.
The 1992 Report on Diving Accidents & Fatalities published by
DAN (Divers Alert Network) tabulates data on U.S. diving accidents
and fatalities. Existing data from DAN supports a continuing trend
toward safer diving. The estimated per-diver incidence of decompres-
sion illness, based on DAN cases and dive industry estimate or 3 to
10
3.5 million U.S. divers falls at .033% to .025%, or in 1 in 3400 to 1 in

4000. The number of cases has, of course, risen each year as more
people take up diving, but the decompression illness incidence rate
has been relatively stable since the mid-1980s.
DAN statistics cannot address a per-dive incidence rate for de-
compression illness, but the 1992 report cites estimates from other
sources. German Sport Divers Association has estimated the risk as 1
in 52,600 dives (.0019%); the British Sub Aqua Club estimates decom-
pression illness incidence at between 1 in 10,000 and 20,000 dives
(.01% to .005%).
Table 1-2
Dive fatalities have been tracked longer than decompression ill-

ness cases; these statistics clearly demonstrate the rise in dive safety.
The 1990 report from DAN estimated the 1976 fatality rate at 8.62
per 100,000 divers or .0086%. There were 147 U.S. fatalities recorded
that year. The 1992 figures put the estimate at 2.74 to 3.2 per 100,000
divers; 96 fatalities were recorded.
Besides a declining fatality rate, the actual number of annual
fatalities has declined since the mid-1970s, despite a booming dive
population and better fatality reporting. From 1970-1979, the average
was 123 fatalities annually; from 1980-1990, the average was 90 annu-
ally. These data unquestionably show that dive safety has improved;
annual fatalities have declined even as the number of divers, and the
industry growth rate, have increased dramatically. (See Table 1-2.)
11
ONE
Problems Facing the Dive Industry

Industry figures show diving on a global growth curve. Diving has
even fared well during recessions compared to many other leisure
industries. The signs are positive, but like most industries, the dive
industry faces challenges in the coming years.
Adapting to complex international markets -- One challenge fac-
ing the dive industry is accommodating the wide variety of customer
types coming into diving. As diving expands internationally, it faces
ever greater diversity in customer attributes: age, gender, race, in-
terests, language and so on. No longer a U.S.-dominated industry, the
needs of an international market have come to the forefront.
The key to meeting this challenge is the dive center, which
interacts with local divers face to face. In tailoring its services to its
market, each dive center necessarily communicates its needs to the
manufacturers, training organizations and other entities, which will,
necessarily, tailor their products and services to fill these needs.
Today’s customers are more sophisticated and tend to expect
more service; they’re better informed, and more selective. Regional
demographics change more rapidly than they used to, so that, for ex-
ample, a dive center frequented by unmarried college students today
may find itself catering to mid-age families tomorrow. To remain suc-
cessful, the dive center must be able to track, anticipate and adapt to
these changes.
This means that successful dive retailing will call for more so-
phisticated retailers. The scuba instructor who opens a store with
little retail background isn’t likely to succeed in most market areas.
By contrast, the person versed in retail business principles is likely
to find opportunity as the international dive community expands.
More than ever, people entering the dive industry need to be able to
do more than teach divers or drive a boat. Business and marketing
skills, more than diving skills, make or break today’s dive retailers.
Government Regulation
Thanks to its commitment to safety, the recreational dive industry
has largely remained self-regulated and free of government in many
parts of the world. This is fortunate for those areas, because histori-
cally industries -- particularly leisure industries -- suffer economic
setback, slowed growth and declining innovation when government
regulated.
12
Nonetheless, there are concerns. In many areas, retailers are

facing regulatory issues not really specific to diving, such as whether
governing bodies classify the instructors that work for them employ-
ees or independent contractors. This has far reaching ramifications
that include having to pay workers compensation insurance, employ-
ment taxes, or even back taxes for misclassified employees. Dive
retailers need to consult local tax, legal and employment experts to
be sure they comply with local laws, just as any other retailer would.
In resort areas, the dive community faces the threat of govern-
ment control due to misplaced zeal. In trying to protect the local
environment, governments may target the highly visible dive commu-
nity instead of going after the real causes of reef destruction. Some
members of the dive community may aggravate the problem by over-
stating the damage divers cause. Not only are divers not a primary
threat to the environment, but divers overall are significantly more
environmentally aware than most other consumer groups.
The dive industry can only remain self-regulated under two con-
ditions:
First, the dive industry must continue to be responsible, par-
ticularly with regard to safety and the environment. Any sign that
the dive community no longer regulates itself effectively could
invite government intervention to protect the public interest. The
dive industry has fared well in regulating itself, especially since the
establishment of the RSTC in the U.S. and equivalent organizations
in Europe, Japan, Canada and Australia. As diving grows and more
people take up diving, the total number of diving incidents may rise,
even though the rate declines. To the uninformed, this can look like
a safety decline, when in fact, it only reflects the rising popularity of
diving.
Everyone in the dive industry, therefore, has a significant obliga-
tion and interest in maintaining a positive safety record. Fortunately,
most people in the dive industry dive make safety a personal issue
and commitment that transcends mere business concerns.
Likewise, the dive industry must continue to promote and teach
environmentally responsible diving, but avoid setting itself up as
the “environmental bad guy” in doing so. This would not only cause
unjust, unnecessary regulation, but would undermine diving’s ability
to act as the underwater world’s ambassador and champion.
The dive industry must keep the public as informed as possible.
Local dive centers play an important part, first in their interactions
13
ONE
with local government and media, and second in alerting larger

industry-wide organizations when widespread misperceptions arise.
These larger entities can usually bring more resources to bear and
clear up public misunderstanding.
Pricing
In many areas, particularly within the U.S. and Japan, competing dive
centers find themselves competing on a price basis, sometimes with
a dive center advertising course prices below what it costs to run
the program.
The problem is two fold: First, poorly considered discounting
can weaken retailers by impairing their financial ability to provide
the necessary service level to dive customers. This can in turn
undermine the industry’s support structure. Second, customers who
enroll in some very low-cost programs get turned off to diving when
they find they have to pay for unexpected expenses that weren’t
included.
The solution (see Chapter Four) lies in marketing that better
separates stores from the competition. By showing added value and
distinction, price becomes only one of several considerations cus-
tomers make when they select a dive center. This isn’t to say price
discounts have no place in marketing -- often they do -- but discount-
ing strategies must be planned intelligently to ultimately increase the
dive center’s net profit, not decrease it.
Opportunities Facing the Dive Industry

Along with the challenges the industry faces, several opportunities
exist that can cause diving to grow even faster. Coupled with this,
even in its most established markets, diving has barely scratched the
surface of its potential customer base. All these indicate that diving
has all the ingredients for a bright future.
Media Attention
The oceans and diving have become increasingly popular with main-
stream media, so that television shows, advertisements and maga-
zine articles frequently feature or highlight divers. The media more
commonly portrays recreational diving in a casual sense, as some-
thing people normally do. This not only raises public awareness, but
14
further dispels the old myth that diving is a “daredevil” sport for
young males, and shows that it can be a safe, yet adventurous activ-
ity.
As cable, video tapes and disks, CD-ROM and other media con-
tinue to expand, so will diving’s exposure. Widening media calls for
more diversity in what’s offered, creating ample opportunity for div-
ing in the media, both on a local and a national level. Maintaining this
positive image in the public eye can only help recreational diving
prosper.
Environmental Awareness
With growing public awareness in the environment, divers are
increasingly stepping forward as ambassadors of the sea. Through
underwater photography and videography, diving helps inform the
world what’s at stake, and what damage has been done. Diver envi-
ronmental efforts, such as beach cleanups, position diving as a posi-
tive influence.
The caveat with regard to the environment is that divers must
continue to set a good example and minimize their own effect on the
environment. During the 1980s and 1990s, the diver community has
moved increasingly away from the diver-as-hunter philosophy to the
diver-as-benign-observer philosophy. Positive interaction with the
environment now goes hand-in-hand with diver education; as public
environmental awareness grows, this will be increasingly important.
Accelerating Technology
Dive equipment technology is beginning to advance at a dizzying
pace. New technology promises to enhance safety, broaden the
environments divers can visit and streamline diving procedures, all
of which can broaden diving’s appeal. Also, strides in technology
bolster equipment sales as divers upgrade to take advantage of the
latest advances.
Snorkeling
Among the opportunities open to the dive industry, none seem so
immediate or as large as snorkeling. Snorkeling is a huge leisure mar-
ket -- larger in number than the present scuba market -- that attracts
families and people of all ages. The dive industry has only just begun
to tap into this new customer base.
15
ONE
Historically, snorkelers have gone primarily to sporting goods

stores and mass merchandisers for snorkeling gear rather than to
dive centers. Although many theories have been proposed as to why
this is, probably the most prevalent is that for a long time, the dive
industry didn’t take this market seriously. Snorkelers weren’t con-
sidered “real” divers, and hence, weren’t made to feel truly welcome
in dive centers, at dive resorts or on dive boats.
As this has begun to change, snorkelers have begun to visit dive
centers. Sophisticated dive retailers have learned to make them feel
welcome and to treat them different from scuba customers. While
most snorkelers won’t take up scuba -- and shouldn’t be “pushed” to
do so -- many will, returning to the dive center that helped them with
snorkeling to learn scuba. Tapping the existing snorkeling market
could be the next major growth opportunity for the dive industry.
References
Divers Alert Network (DAN). Report on Diving Accidents and Fatalities, (annual
report: editions 1988-1992).
Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association (DEMA). 1993 Research Report -- A
Market Research Study of the Scuba Diving Industry.
PADI Industry Resource Network (PIRN). “New Diver Benchmark Report.” The
Undersea Journal, Third, Fourth Quarter 1993, First Quarter 1994.
PADI. Career Tracking Tips for the Dive Professional (videotape), copyright 1994.
Richardson, Drew. “Coral Reef Destruction -- Is Scuba Diving Destined to be the
Scapegoat?” The Undersea Journal, Third Quarter 1994.
Shreeves, Karl. “Increasing Equipment Sales through Education.” The Undersea
Journal, Third Quarter 1994.
“Snorkeling -- The Dive Industry’s Untapped Market.” The Undersea Journal,
Second Quarter 1994.
Stewart, CK. “Strategy for Success.” The Undersea Journal, Third Quarter 1993.
William Cline Group Inc. 1993 WCG Diving Industry Research Report: completed
October 1993.
16
BUSINESS PLANNING
Two
Business Planning
The Business Plan
Starting any business requires a good understanding of the business’
nature and its marketing/sales potential. The potential dive business
owner and current owner must not only understand the scuba in-
dustry, but should also have a strong business plan to meet personal
and professional goals and expectations. This requires a great deal
of enthusiasm, studying and information gathering. Taking the time
to research the market and forming a business plan before making a
monetary investment is well worth it in the long run.
The business plan details the starting point, direction and des-
tination of the business. It allows business owners and managers to
work with foresight rather than hindsight. A business plan can also
be used to procure financial assistance through private investors or
government agencies.
17
TWO
Preparation
The first step in preparing a business plan is deciding who will coor-
dinate it if there is more than one individual involved. The primary
duties of the coordinator are establishing a planning timetable,
providing active leadership during the planning process, coordinat-
ing any outside help, (i.e., consultants, advisors, accountants), and
pulling the pieces of the plan together.
Next, the coordinator should ask himself the following questions to
analyze the business situation:
1) Who are my competitors?
This could mean other dive businesses or any recreation business,
such as golf, tennis, skiing, etc. Understanding the competition and
its potential is an important starting point for the business.
2) What are their strengths and weaknesses?
This entails an analysis of the competition and how the proposed
dive business can compete -- what to do and what to avoid.
3) What is the market and is it demographically conducive for a dive
business?
This is an analysis of the market demographics to measure the busi-
ness’ customer acquisition potential and staying power.
4) What business trends do current data establish for the future?
These include business, economic and population growth in the
area, and whether it indicates future growth.
5) What market position does the business currently hold?
If purchasing an existing dive center or resort, what is the estimated
value of goodwill for this business? Is it worth it?
Answering these questions requires researching both the demo-
graphics of your planned marketplace and the dive industry statis-
tics. The background materials gained can be supplemented with
current data from a local Chamber of Commerce or similar organiza-
tion, census reports, government reports and dive industry data.
Projecting economic and business conditions is important in estab-
lishing long-range goals. The situational analysis should result in
a performance statement that states goals for the first three to five
years.
18
BUSINESS PLANNING
Writing the Plan

Once the initial preparation and research have been completed, the
information is drafted into a written document, which becomes the
formal business plan. Each business plan will vary depending on
scope, requirements and size, but should include the following top-
ics:
Company Objectives
A clear statement of measurable goals and objectives should pre-
cede any other elements of the formal plan. It is here that a descrip-
tion of the nature and purpose of the business should be given. The
reader should be prepared to easily absorb subsequent material by
this section. A brief discussion of the following topics should be
included:
• market potential of the business
• current market situation
• special skills, talent or expertise available
• track record of individuals involved (if applicable)
• abbreviated financial forecasts
• desired financing (if applicable)
Emphasis on competitive advantages and future objectives should
be part of this introduction as well.
Market Analysis
A detailed analysis of the market potential of the business is crucial
to the plan. It should describe the marketplace, including size, com-
petitors, and customer identification. The analysis should contain
reasonable and obtainable projections and include the following
categories.
• anticipated market share
• advertising strategies
• present and future competitor analysis
• market niche sought (what market need is being met)
• program and product pricing (vs. competitors)
19
TWO
If available, market industry surveys should support this analysis to

lend credibility and accuracy to the plan, and provide insight into
future growth potential.
Operations
This section details the operational plans of the business. This
includes what services will be offered, the instruction and continuing
education programs, product lines, subcontract agreements, product
turnover rates and sales margins. The planner should consider the
following discussions:
• analysis of available work force (PADI can provide lists of available
PADI Members for specific areas.)
• a description of required equipment (e.g., compressor)
• product line availability and desirability
• physical plant layout
• operating and staffing plan (hours, manpower, etc.)
Company Organization
This includes a discussion of the company’s management structure
and overall personnel organization. Information on key members of
the team should be presented, including their track record, back-
ground, accomplishments, how they will function, their duties, and
how they will contribute to the company’s goals (the appendix
section should include resumes and an organizational chart). The
company organization section should include:
• identification of principals and managers
• future employment plans
• employee training and development
• incentive programs
• names of outside advisors, consultants (e.g., accountants, attor-
neys, investors)
The plan should make it clear as to the business ownership and how
the key principals will be compensated. This is crucial when outside
sources of capital are sought.
20
BUSINESS PLANNING
Financial Plan
Most individuals involved, including principals, lenders, and inves-
tors consider this part of the plan as one of the most important. It
provides the bottom-line requirements for starting and operating the
business. It should contain, in addition to financial projections, cash
flow forecasts, balance sheets and income statements. The preparer
should include the following reports:
• annual balance sheet forecast for the first 2-3 years
• inventory lead time and turnover
• effects of income taxes
• profit and loss cash flow forecast by month for the first year
• proposed financing and repayment plan
• analysis of profit margins for instruction, merchandise sales and
other income items
• loan usage plan (if applicable)
These detailed reports should be as accurate and as reasonable as
possible. This is essential for determining the profitability of the
business.
The Future
A summary of future plans (usually 2-5 years) should be included.
Identify any new markets, product lines or services, Including:
• how future growth will effect current programs, physical location,
product sales, instruction programs, etc.
• percentage of budget spent on future goals, and how it affects op-
erations
• what are the competition’s future plans
• how will anticipated changes in the market effect the business
This is an important section because it shows the reader that growth
and development are key issues in the plan.
Conclusion
Once the plan is written, it becomes not only a essential document
for gaining financial support for new business and ongoing busi-
nesses, but also a tool for managing the business through reasonable
21
TWO
objectives and the steps and resources required to reach those ob-
jectives. The plan should be available to all individuals involved in
the business, and should be updated periodically to reflect changes
in the market, objectives and resources available.
The following sample documents show some of the information
that may be included in a dive center’s business plans. These are
intended as samples only, and not as recommendations. Business
plans vary depending on local markets, demographics, economics,
financing, etc.
NOTE: Tables 2.1-2.6 are samples only. Actual business plan figures dif-
fer greatly from one situation to another.
Table 2.1
Organizational Chart
(sample only)
Owner/Manager
Financial planning
Admin. Asst.* Personnel management
Purchasing
Sells to customers
Advertising and promo
Record keeping
Asst. Mgr. Store Asst. Mgr.

Sells to customers Training
Manages inventory Manages instr. staff
Manages rentals Class scheduling
Performs service Sells to customers
Teaches diving Keeps records
Teaches diving
Salesperson* Repair Tech.*

Sells to customers Performs service on
Maintains rentals customer and store-
Maintains store owned equipment
Assist classes
Instructor* Instructor*
Teaches diving Teaches diving
Sells to customers Sells to customers
* May be part- or full-time employee.
22
BUSINESS PLANNING
Table 2.2
Table 2-3
Action Dive Center
Loan Usage Plan (sample only)
I. Start-Up Costs
Compressor system $15,050
Opening inventory (first quarter projection) 12,738
Rental equipment (see attached) 18,375
Store and office equipment 13,500
Lease deposit 2,500
Legal fees 1,250
Tax deposits 2,250
Advertising 1,950
Office materials (includes letterhead) 400
Licensing fees 450
PADI Dive Center membership 315
TOTAL $68,788
II. First Quarter Expenses $16,404
III. Sub-total (I and II) $85,192
IV. Cash Reserves $14,638
TOTAL Venture Capital Required $99,830
23
TWO
Table 2-4
Action Dive Center

Projected Annual Income (sample only)
1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year

Equipment sales $208,208 $224,224 $272,272
Diver training 48,799 52,533 63,814
Equipment rentals 32,533 35,085 42,543
Travel 26,026 28,028 34,034
Equipment service 6,507 7,007 8,509
Miscellaneous 3,253 3,504 4,254
TOTAL $325,326 $350,381 $425,426
Projected Annual Direct Costs (sample only)

Equipment sales $124,925 $134,534 $163,363
Diver training 29,279 31,532 38,288
Equipment sales 13,013 14,014 17,017
Travel 20,821 22,422 27,227
Equipment service 3,253 3,504 4,254
Miscellaneous
x
1,789 1,927 2,340
TOTAL $193,080 $207,933 $252,489
Projected Gross Profit

TOTAL $132,246 $142,398 $173,137
Projected Overhead Expense

TOTAL $104,686 $112,738 $136,896
Projected Net Profit

TOTAL $27,560 $29,660 $36,241
24
BUSINESS PLANNING
Table 2-5
Rental Equipment Purchases

(sample only)
Annual
Number Units Price Total Planned Depreciation
Purchased Each Purchase Life Span Price
Wet suit w/hood 30 210 6,300 2 3,150

Regulator system 15 275 4,125 3 1,375
Tank w/valve 30 110 3,300 7 471
BCDs 15 220 3,300 3 1,100
Weight belts 30 45 1,350 7 193
TOTAL 18,375 6,289
Table 2-6
Action Dive Center Overhead Expenses

(sample only)
1st Quarter Annual

Payroll 5,826 46,286
Licenses & taxes 166 1,322
Advertising 832 6,612
Assn. memberships 166 1,322
Rent 6,501 26,000
Maintenance/repair 333 2,645
Utilities 499 3,967
Auto/delivery 250 1,984
Office supplies 333 2,645
Postage 125 992
Telephone 499 3,967
Travel/entertainment 83 661
Dues/subscriptions 42 331
Insurance 583 4,629
Miscellaneous 166 1,322
TOTAL 16,404 104,685
25
TWO
Borrowing Money
There are several sources and venues to borrow money for starting
or expanding a dive business. The sources include banks, friends and
relatives, savings, equity, and venture capital. All these lenders have
one common denominator: They want the return of their investment
and profit from their investment. This means the lender must be
convinced that he’ll make money before he loans it. Even the clos-
est relatives may not lend money if the potential financial risk is too
great.
A business plan and financial statement is essential to borrowing
money for a business. The details and mechanics of obtaining a loan
may vary from one institution to another (banks, savings, etc.). How-
ever, many of the prerequisites and guidelines are similar (qualifying
criteria, loan terms, collateral, etc.)
Finance Sources
Banks
Any lender needs to study a business plan and a financial statement
detailing the applicant’s liabilities, assets and net worth. Banks are
especially cautious and require collateral and a partial cash invest-
ment in the business by the borrower. On the other hand, they usu-
ally charge less interest than mortgage loan brokers and some other
sources.
Just as lending institutions differ, so do the terms they offer.
Many terms hinge on the borrower’s relationship and value to the
bank. A loan officer who is impressed with the client’s business plan
and collateral may offer custom-tailored payment plans to help the
business get started.
Banks may, for example, tailor payments by extending the loan
duration, or even increasing the amount if they feel this helps the
business succeed. So if a dive center needs more funds or special
terms to help it through the slow season, a bank loan may be custom
tailored for this purpose. The key to acquiring bank loans is hav-
ing sufficient collateral, good credit and a sound business plan that
increases the bank’s trust in the borrower.
Savings
Many businesses are started partly with the entrepreneur’s personal
savings, which helps acquire loans, especially from banks.
26
BUSINESS PLANNING
An old English adage states “Don’t put all your eggs in one bas-
ket.” This translates into not using all the savings to start a business
venture. A contingency plan with cash reserves can help overcome
unforeseen circumstances, such as prolonged bad weather that hin-
ders diving activities. Using personal savings, however, is required
in most cases, and always adds leverage to a borrower’s position. In
fact, some banks prefer that the borrower “risk” or invest as much as
they do in the new venture.
Friends and Relatives

An individual may be able to secure a loan from close relatives or
friends. These type of loans don’t usually have set criteria such as
bank loans and will differ according to the circumstance. Some of
these, for example, have an interest and payment structure that
resembles bank loan structures, while others are interest-free “pay
back when you can” loans. In either case, the loan recipient has to
keep a professional business perspective and return the money to
retain the lender’s friendship and trust.
Even when borrowing from close friends or relatives, it is best to
write a sound business plan and show it to the lender before borrow-
ing. He will appreciate it and feel more secure about his investment.
Securing money from relatives and friends isn’t uncommon in small
business, including dive centers and resorts.
Although the terms of such loans can be easier than those from
financial institutions, the payment structure could be the same. For
example, the lender may charge minimal or no interest, but expect
monthly payments for a set time. Also, ensure all these terms are put
in writing to avoid misunderstandings.
Equity
Equity is defined as the difference between the market value of a
property, and the money owed on it. If a house has an equity of
$75,000, the owner can sell it to make that amount (minus any selling
expenses), or borrow against that equity. Banks and other financial
institutions routinely make such loans, but usually for less than the
actual equity on the property.
Venture Capital
Venture capital doesn’t necessarily mean the traditional capitalists
who invest in large enterprises to make huge amounts of money.
27
TWO
These investors rarely look at small businesses, such as retail dive

centers, as potential investments. Smaller investors, however, may
be interested in financing a dive center. These may include individu-
als who may be interested in investing in a dive business for reasons
other than pure financial gain. These reasons may include travel,
equipment purchases and seeking new life-styles.
Networking in dive circles and clubs is one way to find such
investors; classified advertising is another. It’s important that any
investor have clearly defined and agreed upon roles within the busi-
ness. Written agreements and contracts can prevent misunderstand-
ings, confusion and strife.
Computerization
Many modern dive businesses have efficient point-of-purchase
computers/cash registers to help with the day-to-day financial opera-
tions. There are several software programs available on the market
today, with slightly different features. These offer daily tracking of
sales, receipts, inventory, deposits, commissions, etc.
Due to their speed and accuracy, these computers save the busi-
ness time and money and should be considered a worthwhile invest-
ment. It is also possible to customize certain software packages to
any specific needs, or even write new programs from scratch.
Computers are tools, not decision-makers, and they don’t re-
place good planning and customer service. They will, however do
many things faster than humans, especially point-of-sale inventory
and accounting, in addition to mailings and other basic computer
functions.
Even the smallest dive centers will find tracking their inventory
and sales easier with point-of-purchase computers. The sooner a
dive center computerizes, the better it controls data and inventory.
Point-of-purchase computers can do much more than providing
a sales receipt. They can track inventory, service and repair orders,
rentals, customers and students, certifications, events and even pub-
lish reports. Some packages can provide detailed customized reports
on any section of the business. These computers pay for themselves
expediently since they save the business an inordinate amount of
hours and data.
Dive centers should have a well-planned system of financial
operations. Each department should be smoothly run and staffed,
28
BUSINESS PLANNING
making it a profit center. This includes the sales, rentals, travel,

education and maintenance departments. Acquiring the right com-
puter and software helps organize and track the daily transactions
and inventory of each area. There are several software programs
specifically designed for scuba retailing, and today’s dive centers,
especially those with lots of volume, should have computers to help
run the business.
Budgets
Before a budget is prepared, some basic factors in budgetary con-
trols must be understood:
First, the business owner must predetermine what the normal
performance standards are (profit margins, cost of services, etc.)
prior to establishing performance standards for his business. Sec-
ond, prompt reporting of actual results versus budgeted results and
the variations between them is vital. Third, investigating variances
and removing causes of unfavorable performance.
It helps to have key employees involved in preparing a budget.
This allows them to feel it’s their budget rather than one forced upon
them. A budget must get the full support of the management staff;
otherwise it’s doomed to failure. Likewise, all changes must be com-
municated to everyone affected by the budget.
Budget preparations begin with sales forecasting. This can be
done by market analysis, and a detailed study of the preceding year’s
sales figures with an established store. Factors to analyze include
market trends (are people buying or traveling more?), hot new
products (any technological breakthroughs?), economy (perceived
as strong or weak?), environmental conditions (rain or shine?) and
competition (is it getting stronger or weaker?).
Market trends, such as consumer spending, new fads, or new
products may influence planning and budgeting. If a new product,
such as a new underwater video system, enters the dive market, it’s
wise to plan accordingly. It’s also prudent to watch the economic
trends very closely when budgeting.
The next step in budget preparation is cost of sales, which can
be established in each sales category by multiplying the projected
sales figure by the cost percentage. For example, if the projected
sales for merchandise for June is $30,000, and the profit margin is 35
percent (making the cost percentage 65 percent). The direct cost of
29
TWO
these sales, then, is $19,500 ($30,000 x 65 percent = $19,500).

Sales forecasting relies primarily on last year’s figures and a
market analysis. Analyzing spreadsheets of last year’s sales, includ-
ing product categories and month-by-month figures provides a good
basis for an initial forecast. Coupling that with a realistic growth
analysis (based on increasing customer base, referrals, advertising,
etc.) achieves a realistic sales forecast.
Keeping accurate product-by-product spreadsheets helps obtain
the profit margin for each product category. Since typically each
sales category has its own profit margin percentage, it’s critical to es-
tablish those percentages prior to preparing the cost of sales budget.
This phase of budgeting culminates in monthly statements of cost
of goods and services sold. These figures are essential in purchase
planning and tracking.
Pricing depends on many factors, mainly determining what mar-
gin is needed to stay in business and making a profit. Competition
may influence pricing certain items, but a dive center may make up
the difference on items and services with less competitive pressure.
Another important area affecting pricing is market demand. Goods
and services that attract a lot of buyers and are always in demand
may be priced higher than goods and services with less demand.
Subtracting the cost of sales from the projected sales figures
obtains the gross profit. It is from this figure that overhead expenses
are subtracted, resulting in either a net profit or a net loss. The
expense budget covers rent, salaries, advertising, utilities and so on,
and must be reviewed carefully and planned to realize a profit from
the business. This is the area where many businesses fail. Sales can
go up and cost of sales down, but if overhead expenses go out of con-
trol, the bottom line can suffer (see next section on Profit and Loss
statements).
Most monthly expenses, including overhead expenses, can be
determined in advance (rent, payroll, insurance, advertising, etc.),
so it’s possible to start from scratch and list these expenses on a
budget forecast sheet. (See Table 2-7.) A previous year comparison
can also provide valuable assistance in forecasting any additional
expenses.
30
Table 2-7
Budget Forecast
DEPARTMENT
EXPENSES (sample Only)
2008 BUDGET
SUBMITTED BY:
ACCOUNT NAME Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TOTAL
Salaries and Wages
Payroll Taxes
Bank Charges
Contract Services
Commissions Paid
Telephone
Utilities
Rent (Facilities)
Rent (Equipment)
Small Tools and Equipment
Store Supplies
Auto and Truck Expenses
Postage
Advertising
Promotions
Miscellaneous
Travel and Meetings
Dues and Subscriptions
Depreciation
Insurance
Professional Fees
Licenses and Taxes
Interest Paid
Goods
TOTALS _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ ___________
31
P & L Worksheet
Table 2-8 Dec. 31, 2007
For the twelve months ended _____________________
32
(Sample only. Figures are fictitious and are for illustration only.)
TWO
TOTAL
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec FOR YEAR
Sales 20,750 24,810 25,000 31,000 36,000 40,000 43,000 55,000 45,000 35,000 30,000 24,000 409,560
Direct Cost of Sales 12,000 13,000 13,000 16,300 17,500 20,000 24,000 29,000 24,000 19,000 16,000 14,000 217,800
Gross Profit 8750 11,810 12,000 14,700 18,500 20,000 19,000 26,000 21,000 16,000 14,000 10,000 191,760
Overhead Expenses:
Salaries and Wages 6515 6800 6800 7200 8000 8500 8500 9500 8600 8400 7500 7000 93,315*
Payroll Taxes 520 545 545 575 480 680 680 760 690 670 600 560 7305
Bank Charges 65 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 835
Contract Services 240 250 300 450 600 775 800 1250 1100 900 700 500 7865
Commissions Paid 270 300 300 425 700 900 950 1200 1000 700 500 400 7645
Telephone 135 150 150 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 2235
Utilities 150 150 150 160 175 145 195 220 220 200 200 200 2165
Rent (Facilities) 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 14,400
Rent (Equipment) 140 140 140 150 200 225 200 200 200 150 150 100 1995
Small Tools and Equipment 90 25 20 30 25 20 25 25 25 20 20 20 345
Store Supplies 320 300 200 300 250 350 200 350 250 200 300 250 3270
Auto and Truck Expenses 195 200 200 200 250 400 200 250 250 200 200 200 2695
Postage 30 30 30 160 200 150 150 125 125 250 100 300 1650
Advertising 550 550 550 700 1000 1000 1000 1250 1000 750 600 900 9850
Promotions 150 150 150 200 400 500 500 500 500 400 300 300 4050
Miscellaneous 30 30 30 50 100 200 150 200 200 200 200 200 1590
Travel and Meetings 1260 200 100 150 125 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 2535
Dues and Subscriptions 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 420
Depreciation 640 640 640 700 700 800 800 900 900 900 600 600 8820
Insurance 4000 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 5100
Professional Fees 200 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 1300
Licenses and Taxes 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 660
Interest Paid 190 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 2390
Total Overhead Expenses: 16980 12,220 12,065 13,410 15,165 16,705 16,410 18,740 17,120 16,000 14,030 13,590 182,435
Profit Before Taxes (8230) (410) (65) (1290) (3335) (3295) (2590) (7260) (3880) 0 (30) (3590) 9,325
Income Taxes Paid
Net Profit (Loss) (8230) (410) (65) (1290) (3335) (3295) (2590) (7260) (3880) 0 (30) (3590)
*Includes the owner’s salary

BUSINESS PLANNING
Profit and Loss Statements

A profit and loss (P&L) worksheet is the most important tool in
implementing and tracking a budget. When used accurately, the P&L
worksheet tracks gross sales, profits and expenses, and should be
used to project them as well.
For example, a dive center manager uses a 1993 P&L worksheet
to project 1994 sales and profits. (See Table 2-8.) This is done by
considering factors such as market growth and competition. The key
to financial management and P&L projections is accuracy -- the finan-
cial manager must use real figures from the previous year, then use
projections that account for changes in sales, advertising, inventory
and other income and expenses. These projections are again based
on a market analysis that includes buying trends, environmental and
economic conditions.
An item-by-item analysis guarantees accuracy and ensures the
completion of the P&L statement. When finished, the dive center has
a financial road map that highlights variances and points out suc-
cessful or unsuccessful periods or areas.
Buying
Buying merchandise is one of the dive center’s most important
day-to-day financial transactions. How the store buys affects both
cash flow and gross profit. For example, although buying in volume
has some advantages, volume is only part of the buying equation.
The “width” of the line (having many lines and models in smaller
quantities) may be as much or more important to a customer- ser-
vice oriented store than having too much product “depth” (having
a lot of a few products). A store that carries 50 pairs each of only a
couple of fins may make more money per fin, but may sell to fewer
customers who are interested in variety and comparison.
A dive center may carry several equipment lines and have
enough inventory of each item to help sales and service. Either way,
buying is often a cash flow issue to many small businesses. The
buyer has to decide what equipment to carry based on salability, and
when to order this equipment so it doesn’t sit for long before getting
sold. The buyer also must determine which lines to carry, and what
manufacturers give the best terms.
The solution to buying is a dynamic one -- dive centers should
stock products that sell as fast as possible and help them make
money and provide good customer service. This may mean a wide
33
TWO
selection of products, or a whole lot of easily salable equipment. The

sales and instructional staff’s knowledge and attitude strongly affects
this decision. New students in particular tend to buy equipment that
their instructors recommend. Therefore, the type and variety of in-
ventory partly depends on what instructors and salespeople will sell.
Since this may not necessarily agree with a dive center’s mer-
chandising strategy, managers should coordinate with their staff
before finalizing the merchandising strategy.
A dive center can assess the market based on customer needs
and competition, and reach a balanced approach to the question of
inventory width or depth. The staff needs to listen to customer re-
quests, and try to beat the competition by offering the best product
for its customers.
Manufacturers sometimes influence the buying process by their
level and type of service. Many manufacturers don’t sell their line
to new dive centers within a given territory. Others may have less
customer service and slow delivery to some areas.
A buyer should study the market closely before buying. A loca-
tion a few miles away may make all the difference when it comes to
acquiring certain manufacturers, and a little research with manufac-
turers can help tremendously (researching the brand’s availability,
demand and distribution in that particular area).
As in any other business, dive centers should work with the
manufacturers that provide the best support and customer satisfac-
tion.
Inventory Control
Taming an inventory is more important than having a few or many
manufacturer lines. With efficient inventory control, a dive center
can buy enough merchandise, have enough available, and have little
or none unsold in time for the new models. As in any other aspect of
a dive business, planning and managing inventory can be done scien-
tifically and accurately.
There are a few proven merchandising equations that can be
used or adapted to any dive center. This one, by Richard F. Outcall,
CMC, appeared in the First Quarter 1989 issue of PADI’s Dive Industry
News.
Sales + Ending Inventory - Beginning Inventory = Purchases
34
BUSINESS PLANNING
The equation is based on a number of givens in a dive center. For

example:
If it is estimated that 60 customers (sales) will walk in to buy masks
in the next week, and there are only 20 masks (beginning inventory)
in stock, then one more factor still needs to be determined: ending
inventory.
If it’s determined that the ending inventory should be 30 masks, then

we can figure out the purchases:
60 + 30 - 20 = 70 masks.
To apply any form of inventory control, it helps to have accurate
counts and projections, and to take inventory counts periodically.
As mentioned earlier, point-of-purchase computers are probably
the most effective tools for keeping track of inventory. Sales trends
(sales per item) and market analysis (competition, economy, envi-
ronment) provide the best forecasting.
Taxes
Taxation is an issue that businesses around the world have to deal
with according to the law of the land. Each country and state has
different tax laws that are subject to changes and revisions, which is
beyond the scope of this book. For these reasons it’s recommended
that a business secure expert advice for its tax strategy and obliga-
tions. This may be any qualified accountant or tax attorney.
In the U.S., for example, a business can take different legal forms,
such as sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. While there
are other considerations, taxes are the main factors considered
when selecting or changing a business structure. It’s best to ask a
qualified accountant or tax lawyer to help a business choose the best
structure for its needs.
Paying Taxes
In most countries, a business may deduct certain expenses from its
income before computing its taxes. These costs include the cost of
doing business, such as rent, payroll, equipment depreciation, costs
of materials and inventory and some taxes. In addition, there are
special tax credits for participating in certain hiring programs.
35
TWO
Deductible business expenses usually include advertising, amor-

tization of business loans, bad debts incurred by patrons, car and
truck expenses, commissions, compensation (wages), compensa-
tion to social security wages and workers’ compensation, etc., cost
recovery, depletion, membership dues in professional associations,
employee benefit programs (wages and fringe benefits), entertain-
ment, insurance, interest on business-related loans, legal and pro-
fessional fees, miscellaneous expenses, pension and profit-sharing,
publications, rent, repairs, taxes, and travel.
No one likes to pay more taxes than necessary, and every busi-
ness owner should keep track and receipts of all the above expenses
and claim them when the time comes. Tax laws change constantly,
and some of the above expenses may not be deducted at all times
and in all states and countries (since tax laws differ internationally,
check with a tax expert).
Collecting Taxes
In addition to paying taxes, in many countries a business is required
to collect taxes. In many countries, an employer has to collect and
pay social security taxes and witholdings based on the employee’s
income and tax rate. Employees must fill out a government form
when they’re hired and whenever their tax status changes.
Social security taxes in the U.S. (FICA) are paid jointly by the
employer and the employee. The employer is required to withhold a
portion of the employee’s wages and contribute a matching percent-
age. For smaller businesses, these taxes must be submitted with a
quarterly return to the federal government. The size of the business
determines the frequency of these payments -- an accountant can
determine the right schedule for a business.
Smart Tax Strategies

Since taxes are inevitable in most countries, a business owner has to
find ways to reduce them. Money paid on taxes is divested from the
business and cannot be used to grow it. Each country and state has
its own tax codes and tax shelters. The following are some examples
of U.S. tax strategies. These may apply in other countries, but a dive
center should consult with a qualified tax expert.
• Incorporating -- For most small businesses, the simplicity of a part-
nership arrangement with the protection of a corporation makes
36
BUSINESS PLANNING
good management sense. Although many states don’t recognize

this type of organization, it can be a smart tax arrangement.
• Using good advice -- This goes beyond the initial advice of a
knowledgeable accountant to continuous consultation and plan-
ning before making any tax changes or moves. This also includes
reviewing policies to ensure that the procedures followed are still
legal and haven’t recently changed. Also, a good strategy for a new
business may need to change as the business grows.
• Hiring family members -- This could reduce the joint tax liability
and create other tax benefits in some countries, such as contribu-
tions to Individual Retirement Accounts (in the U.S.; may be differ-
ent in some states).
• Limiting income -- If the business nears the ceiling for a certain tax
bracket, the owner may want to consider deferring some of the tax-
able income to the next year to avoid paying higher taxes.
Getting good advice and planning correctly are the keys to smart tax
strategies. This includes planning personal taxes, which are invari-
ably tied to the business. A dive center owner should get the advice
of a knowledgeable accountant to plan his personal taxes.
Outside Influences
Disasters
A business may be run and managed perfectly for many years, but
come to a sudden halt due to uncontrollable circumstances or acts
of God. These may include natural disasters such as earthquakes,
hurricanes, fires, floods and tornadoes, or other causes such as
wars, vandalism and riots.
Although a business cannot avoid most of these disasters, it can
prepare for them with the right insurance coverage and planning.
Insurance, such as the PADI-sponsored dive store and resort policies,
is an excellent way to cover most contingencies. Generally speaking,
the dive businesses should insure contents, loss of business income
(i.e., business interruption due to outside influences), fire, customer
equipment, rental equipment, burglary, glass, inside cash robbery
and employee dishonesty. Optional coverages on this policy include
water damage and air compressors.
37
TWO
Dive businesses may purchase additional insurance to suit the

areas they live in. Dive stores in seismically active areas, for ex-
ample, should consider purchasing earthquake insurance. Likewise,
those in flood-prone areas should consider buying flood insurance.
Special circumstances such as political instability and war may
also affect a business. Different markets worldwide may have some
sort of insurance to cover businesses in war. The general rule is if
there are enough businesses willing to buy insurance to cover acts of
war, there may be an insurance company willing to offer it.
A business owner who spends so much time planning and
building a business should give some extra thought to protecting
his investment. Universally, there are many examples of cities and
countries rising from the ashes of war and disaster to regain their
business base.
The Economy
Turns in the economy will invariably affect a dive business. With a
strong economy, customers flock to stores and indulge in recreation-
al activities; with a weak economy, the opposite is true. Dive center
owners should keep a watchful eye on the economy as they plan.
There are a number of indicators and publications on the econo-
mies of different regions and countries. These provide a reference
for the general state of the economy in different regions and are well
worth the subscription rate. Some international economy magazines
are Forbes and Business Week (U.S.), The Economist (U.K.), Nikkei
Business (Japan), and L’Expansion (France). Newspapers, such as
the Wall Street Journal in the U.S., Asian Wall Street Journal, and the
Financial Times (Great Britain) keep track of the daily economic fluc-
tuations and pulse.
Finally, a business can only succeed with a positive attitude and
outlook for the future. Survival instincts are -- or should be -- strong
enough to withstand adversity and troubled times. These instincts
should be at their best when it comes to protecting the things that
are dearest, which should include one’s source of income and pride.
38
BUSINESS PLANNING
What is the Value of Goodwill?

Potential dive business owners need to understand a common
concept in business -- the value of goodwill. When purchas-
ing a business, such as a dive center, the asking price usually
includes a certain monitory amount over and beyond the value
of the business’ physical assets. This extra cost is typically
referred to as “the value of goodwill.”
These figures may seem arbitrary and inflated to the poten-
tial buyer, and are often a point of negotiation when finalizing
the purchase. Therefore, the potential buyer should try to esti-
mate the value of goodwill as close as possible when purchasing
a business.
Simply put, a dive center with higher earnings than the
normal rate of return on net identifiable assets, can demand a
higher value of goodwill than one with a lesser rate of return.
For example, a business with identifiable assets total-
ing $1,000,000 and an estimated rate of return of $200,000 (20
percent), will have a higher value of goodwill if the rate of return
was consistently higher than 20 percent. Consequently, the
owner can ask for more than $1,000,000 when selling this busi-
ness, which is the added value of goodwill.
How much should a potential buyer pay for such a busi-
ness is subjective, and will depend on the length of time this
level of return can be expected to continue. In addition, the
earning power of a business will change because of new policies
and practices, so it’s wise to consider all the facts before agree-
ing on a price.
Since goodwill is an intangible asset that is usually sug-
gested by the seller, the potential buyer should be careful to pay
only what is appropriate for the goodwill value of the business.
Although this is a negotiable price, the buyer should accept it
after researching and making an informed decision.
39
TWO
References
McKeever. How to Write a Business Plan. Nolo Press, 1988.
The Friedman Group. Retail Management. 1990.
The Hume Company. Successful Business Management. 1989.
International PADI. The Law and the Diving Professional. 1986.
International PADI. The Retail Dive Store: Management and Operations. 1981.
Leza & Placencia. Develop Your Business Plan. The Oasis Press, 1988.
Stokan. Who’s Minding the Store? Sttodart Publishing, 1989.
Day. Small Business in Hard Times. Pfeifer & Company, 1993.
Ingram, Tom. Estimating The Value of Goodwill When Purchasing

A Dive Center. Undersea Journal, Second Quarter 1995.
40
RETAIL SALES
Three
Retail Sales
The modern retail dive center must do business at the same quality
level as any progressive retail business in its community. Today’s
customers expect service and selection from the retailer, and a
knowledgeable sales staff to help with products and services. For ef-
fective sales, the store’s instructional and managerial staff, and even
repair and service staff should be trained to sell and have a profes-
sional sales attitudes.
Anyone with a good sales attitude and sales training can effec-
tively sell at a dive center. Whether someone is a full-time salesper-
son or not, he should follow a well-defined sales policy for an effec-
tive store sales strategy.
The Sales Manager

The sales manager oversees the sales staff, while often acting as a
salesperson himself. He is responsible for determining the direction
of sales, identifying featured sales items and developing strategies
for moving specific product. The sales manager is responsible for
the results of those strategies and must be able to adjust them and
put new ones into action quickly.
41
THREE
The sales manager makes decisions regarding what products to

feature or put on sale during special promotions or sales. For that
reason, he should track the sales of different products in the store.
The sales manager may be the owner or general manager, or reports
directly to either one. His responsibilities usually include training
the rest of the sales staff and tracking their success by monitoring
their sales, and helping them set individual goals. Training is a con-
tinuous process, as the staff puts new skills to use; the sales manager
has to help each salesperson do the best job possible. In a nutshell,
the sales manager is at the heart of retail sales and is accountable for
sales performance.
Salespeople
Good salespeople are not born; they are trained. Customer expecta-
tions of what constitutes a good salesperson are higher than ever. No
one likes to feel he has wasted his time in a retail dive center, or in
any other store for that matter. Customers become frustrated when
dealing with a salesperson who doesn’t know the goods and services
offered. Therefore it’s imperative that salespeople familiarize them-
selves thoroughly with all the products at their facility.
Sales training is covered later in this chapter, but once there is
a sales training program in place, keeping the sales staff informed
is the greatest challenge. The sales staff’s role is to move prod-
ucts, which is how the bills are paid, so it’s important that they are
well-trained, well-informed and that they feel good about their jobs.
Weekly sales meetings are an excellent means to keep the com-
munication channels open between all the staff. Depending on the
size of the store and staff, this may be a 30-minute weekly meeting
before the store opens, or it may need to be a longer meeting and
away from the store. These meetings serve a variety of purposes,
such as learning about new products or services, feature/benefit
presentations, and the latest dive travel destinations.
A weekly sales meeting also provides the staff with an opportu-
nity for team interaction. It’s important that everyone on the staff
knows about new policies, pricing and decisions. A staff that is better
informed is more effective on the sales floor.
Instructors
In a modern dive center, instructors can be very effective salespeo-
ple. According to the PADI 1993 New Diver Survey, instructors were
42
RETAIL SALES
the greatest influence on a new diver’s buying decision (64.9 percent.

(See Table 3-1.) Magazine articles and advertising accounted for far
less influence than instructors. If there are instructors teaching for
the dive center who aren’t also sales staff members, it’s crucial that
they clearly understand their roles in helping their students choose
equipment.
Based on their influence upon their students, instructors have
a responsibility to advise their students and help them choose the
best equipment for themselves. Experience shows that equipment
sales and scuba education best meet individual needs when they go
hand-in-hand, not when they’re disconnected responsibilities.
Ideally, instructors should receive the same sales training that
other staff members will, so that they are aware of the store’s sales
philosophy. Programs such as PADI’s Positive Approach Selling do
an excellent job of helping anyone become a better salesperson, with
a sensitivity to instructors who don’t want to appear pushy. While
diving is the customers’ hobby, and teaching may be a hobby for
Table 3-1
Influences on Equipment Purchases
Purchase Decision and Brand Selection
Percentage of Respondents
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Article in diving magazine Instructor Advertising in divine magazine
Decision to Buy Brand Decision
What Influences Your Decision What Influenced Your Diving

Influences on Equipment to Purchase Diving Equipment Equipment Brand Choice
and Brand Purchases Number of Percentage of Number of Percentage of
Respondents Respondents Respondents Respondents
Article in diving magazine 110 31.5% 84 24.1%

Instructor 226 64.9% 195 56.2%
Advertising in diving magazine 62 17.8% 66 19.0%
Source: “The 1992 PADI New Diver Benchmark Report”
43
THREE
many instructors, it is still a business and one that must earn a profit.
The way to assure this is to sell equipment, and everyone associated
with the dive center needs to understand his role in this process.
Good salesmanship is very much appreciated by customers, who
depend on the sales staff to provide them with professional advice,
instruction and products.
Sales Attitude
Many people still think of a stereotypical, obnoxious, manipulative
person when they hear the word salesman -- no one wants to be that
person. The truth is, however, a salesperson who is helpful, knowl-
edgeable and attentive is very much appreciated. Customers don’t
want to leave with a new item and realize that they didn’t purchase
everything needed to use it immediately.
The best salespeople don’t have a “line;” they have the skill to talk
with a customer, listen to a customer and determine on the spot what
the customer needs and wants.
Considering the limited time some customers have for shopping,
a missed sales opportunity is not only costly, it is also poor customer
service. Recognizing those opportunities and knowing how to make
the most of them with each customer is a skill that can be learned
with appropriate sales training. Effective sales techniques benefit not
only the store’s profits and the salesperson’s commissions, they also
benefit the customer.
Sales Training
Without good sales, a dive center is doomed to mediocrity or failure.
Sales pay the bills and payroll, and ensure the growth and success of
the business. These are strong reasons to ensure everyone involved
in sales is well-qualified and trained for successful selling.
Training salespeople professionally requires using a tested and
valid program. There are a number of excellent programs on the mar-
ket, including Harry Friedman’s highly touted Successful Retail Selling,
and PADI’s Positive Approach Selling, which is specifically catered for
dive center operations and professionals. The two programs have a
slightly different approach to selling and training, yet the end result is
the same: better salespeople who can sell equipment and services.
Combining the philosophical approach and elements of both
aforementioned programs can produce a strong and effective sales
44
RETAIL SALES
training course. Friedman’s book, for example, uses simple per-

son-to-person language and techniques with to establish rapport,
gain trust and eventually close the sale.
Positive Approach Selling is customer-service based, using the as-
sumption that a salesperson can sell more by thinking first and fore-
most about the customer’s needs and best interests. This win-win
approach guides salespeople to understand customer- oriented sales
and how different customers express their needs.
The trainer can show the trainees the following Positive Approach
Selling role-playing techniques and steps:
• Establishing rapport with the customer -- This “breaking the ice” is
essential to establish a relationship and eventually make the sale.
Asking the customer about his last dive, or sharing a dive experi-
ence may be a perfect way to accomplish this with divers. Nondiv-
ers may relate to other topics just as well.
• Probing -- probing is essential to determining the customer’s wants,
needs and desires and establishing rapport and trust. Sample prob-
ing questions include, “How long have you been diving?” “Where
do you plan to do most of your diving?” “Have you ever used a
dive computer?” Any open-ended questions (i.e., who what, where,
when, how and why) that encourage conversation and reveal infor-
mation about the customer’s needs and desires are good probing
questions.
• Product presentation or demonstration -- Presentations show the
product’s features and benefits, establishing value and creating a
desire to own it. With a little creativity, most dive equipment can
be demonstrated dry (it’s easy to hook a regulator to a tank for
a breathing demonstration). Pool or confined water demonstra-
tions may also be arranged to help the sales process, especially for
items like dry suits and BCDs.
• Overcoming objections – Friedman defines objections as “the result
of a lack of trust or value.” This step discusses ways to overcome
objections. Sales training teaches salespeople how to eliminate
objections by providing value through features and benefits and
maintaining trust with the customer.
• Closing the sale – this implies the successful completion of a sale,
which is the responsibility of the salesperson not the customer.
Positive Approach Selling teaches 10 closing techniques to maxi-
mize the closing process.
45
THREE
• Cementing the sale – this includes teaching the salespeople to con-

gratulate the customers on making the right decision and recon-
firming the value of the purchase.
• Follow-up – Salespeople should understand the value of retaining
customers and building long-term relationships based on knowl-
edge and trust. This can be accomplished through simple custom-
er-service skills, such as greeting customers by name and making
point of knowing their special needs or requests.
Other means of keeping in touch are personalized greeting cards and
thank you notes. Most people appreciate kind thoughts and personal
notes.
Implementing the Sales Training Program

A professional dive center should arrange sales training for all its
sales staff. Ideally, anyone who works in a dive center must be able
to sell, and the training should be offered to all employees. The two
programs discussed in this section compliment each other nicely,
and either one is an excellent start to the sales training process.
This should be an ongoing process that doesn’t end with the
initial training. For maximum efficiency, employers should encourage
employees to view training materials and attend additional training
at regular intervals.
After viewing the video and answering the knowledge reviews
in Positive Approach Selling, for example, the sales staff can practice
using sales scenarios that are similar to the ones in the video. With
enough practice and follow-up, the employees’ sales and customer
service skills improve tremendously. The mutual benefits to the dive
center and its customers are tremendous.
Customer Finance Options

Scuba diving requires a certain commitment of time and money on
the customer’s part. In the ideal situation, dive centers generate
enthusiastic participants who not only dive often, but also own their
own equipment. The purchase of scuba equipment is perhaps the
greatest commitment of all on the customer’s part.
With the quality of equipment and manufacturers’ warranties
now available, it’s not likely a customer will replace his equipment
often, but the initial investment requires a financial barrier for some
46
RETAIL SALES
divers. They wonder whether it’s worth the investment, and if they’ll
get their money’s worth.
Sales training can help dive center staff overcome these objec-
tions through presentation, and through meeting the customers’
needs, but when it comes to closing the sale, the fewer obstacles the
better. When the customer says, “I want it,” he may need a variety of
options before he can say, “I’ll take it.”
These days, most customers are likely to have a credit card, so
the most popular method of financing can be available by simply ac-
cepting most major credit cards. However, depending on the market
and customer demand, there are some other customer financing
options to consider:
1. Finance Companies
Offered through a finance company, an in-store financing program
allows customers to apply for credit in the store and receive it
while they wait, if they qualify. When customers are approved,
they may charge their purchases to an account, the finance com-
pany pays the store immediately, and the customers repays the fi-
nance company, much like they would with a credit card company.
2. Layaway
A layaway program can be simple to set up and should be easy
to administrate. Layaway involves payment of a portion of the
total purchase to secure the merchandise, and paying the balance
within a given time before taking the items from the store. For
example, the customer pays 20 percent of his total to layaway his
purchase, with the balance due within 90 days. The customer can
pay any amount against his balance at any time, but must make a
payment at least every 30 days. If he changes his mind, he forfeits
the 20 percent.
Layaway is a contractual agreement between the store and
the customer; terms of the agreement should be stated on a stan-
dard layaway form and signed by the customer when the layaway
term begins. The form should include the customer’s name and
contact information, the amount of the down payment, the pay-
ment schedule and a statement of understanding for forfeiture of
deposit should the customer change his mind.
The total of his purchase, less the down payment, along with
the amount and due date of his next payment should be included
and a copy of the agreement should go with the customer. Then
the dive center should monitor the payment due dates to get
47
THREE
layaway customers back in the store on time. A layaway program

is much easier to maintain with a retail computer program. Lay-
away customers can be some of a dive center’s most loyal -- their
repeated visits to the store while making payments often result in
additional add-on sales.
The biggest advantage of layaway to the customer is being
able to pay over time without incurring finance charges. The dis-
advantage is that the merchandise stays at the store until it’s paid
for. The dive center staff should be careful not to qualify layaway
customers as unable to afford the best. Often, the use of layaway
programs is exactly what allows them to afford the best. Since
they pay as they have funds available, layaway customers often
pay in cash. Layaway can be a powerful sales close, and can open
the door for substantial add-ons since the customer comes back
to the business several times.
3. In-house Credit
With the large number of financing options readily available to
today’s diving customers, offering financing through the store
may not be necessary. In this option, the store acts as the finance
company, extending credit to the customer and sending him home
with his purchases. Unless the dive center has the staff and the
expertise required to monitor and collect on past due payments,
this option is time consuming and risky. It is left to the dive center
to collect unpaid funds, and, since the merchandise has already
left the store, there is little or no recourse for the dive center.
One form of in-store credit that may be an exception is credit
given for returned merchandise and kept on a store account for
the customer. This accomplishes several goals. The dive center
avoids costly cash refunds while giving the customer an incentive
for returning to the store. Since many dive center customers are
repeat customers, a store credit is usually an agreeable option. If it
isn’t, dive centers should be prepared to offer a cash refund when
the customer states that preference. Again, customer accounts are
more easily tracked on a computer.
48
RETAIL SALES
References
PADI International. The CEO Quarterly Report. Second Quarter 1995.
PADI International. Positive Approach Selling. 1994.
PADI International. The Retail Dive Store: Management and Operations. 1981.
Stewart, John. “Game Plan for the Nineties.” The Undersea Journal. Second Quar-
ter 1994.
The Friedman Group. Successful Retail Selling. 1990.
49
THREE
50
DIVER EDUCATION
Four
Diver Education
As discussed earlier in The Dive Industry Overview chapter, the
DEMA 1993 Market Research Study shows a direct correlation be-
tween dive center gross income and divers certified, and the highest
income dive centers not only have more certifications, but average
more income per certification. Success in business overall goes
hand-in-hand with success in diver education.
While any dive center or resort owner/manager would recognize
the need to include diver training in what he offers, he still faces the
harder part: determining what training, when and for how much. To
answer these, it helps to begin by looking at exactly what roles diver
education plays in the dive center.
The Role of Diver Education

in the Dive Center
In the typical dive center setting, the vast majority of new customers
(approximately 70 percent) come through entry-level diver training.
Though dive resorts get most of their business from already certified
divers and trips led by mainland dive centers, completing entry-level
training for students referred by other instructors accounts for sig-
51
FOUR
nificant customer traffic. Flexible scheduling, innovative “packaging”

and effective pricing improve the number of new customers a dive
center attracts this way.
Because training new divers generates so much new business,
most dive centers focus on entry-level training (the PADI Open Water
Diver course) in both their training schedule and in advertising.
Certainly this is appropriate, though statistics show that entry-level
training alone won’t carry an operation to its full potential; continu-
ing education -- Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Leader-
ship, Specialty Diver courses -- plays an important part.
For one, continuing education also brings in new customers: cer-
tified divers new to an area, or seeking training not available at other
diver centers. The ability to train professional levels, especially
instructors, can draw significant business from certified divers.
Secondly, and more importantly, diver education keeps custom-
ers active. The PADI Phase II Survey of U.S. PADI Open Water Divers
(1994) shows a clear link between continuing education and activity
in diving. In the survey, about 20 percent of respondents said they
make 10 or more dive outings (“outing” defined as “going diving,”
whether making one or several dives) annually. The rest averaged 3.7
outings annually.
Among divers certified as PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or
higher, however, 36 percent said they make 10 or more annual dive
outings, with the balance averaging 4.6 annually. Divers who held spe-
cialty ratings were similar -- 33 percent said they make 10 plus outings
annually, but the balance average was higher: 5.3 outings per year.
Someone who runs a successful dive center would hardly find
these data surprising, because continuing education creates an
incentive to dive in several ways. Divers will go diving as part of a
continuing education course, and/or they will go diving to apply
what they’ve learned in a course. For example, an underwater vid-
eography class may entail not only the class itself, but traveling to
a clear water dive destination where video skills can be practiced.
Those who complete the program have a new skill and a new reason
to dive, which stimulates further travel and diving.
Beyond that, in this example, the students would also have an
interest in investing in underwater video equipment. This points to a
trend supported by the Phase II Survey that divers who reach higher
training levels not only dive more, but purchase more equipment.
Among survey respondents over all, 31 percent said they own a
52
DIVER EDUCATION
BCD, regulator and wet suit (which indicates a commitment to major

equipment purchases). Among those certified Advanced Open Water
Diver and above, 59 percent own all three, with the figure 79 percent
for those certified Rescue Diver and above. Perhaps not surprisingly,
activity is also linked to equipment ownership by the Phase II Survey.
It showed that 31 percent of those who own a BCD, regulator and
wet suit make 10 or more diving outings annually; the remaining 69
percent averages 5.3 outings annually.
All this leads to the unmistakable conclusion that diver educa-
tion links with customer activity (i.e., experience as in the Three
Es) and equipment sales. They interact continuously, creating new
reasons to dive, learn about diving, and invest in dive equipment.
It’s no wonder that dive centers that certify more students also earn
more income per student -- they’re fulfilling customer desires more
effectively. Both the centers and their customers win.
Scheduling Diver Training

While advertising and promoting diver training (see Chapter Six)
play an important part in filling a dive center’s classes, an often
underestimated influence is scheduling. Effective scheduling requires
more than the obvious need to set course times for customer con-
venience. A schedule must also mesh with other course schedules,
the dive center’s travel program and other activities in a manner that
maximizes what the instructional staff can offer.
Effective scheduling begins with a few scheduling principles.
Generally, the PADI Open Water Diver course, which tends to be the
most popular and time-consuming program in most dive centers,
takes priority in the schedule.
As the previous discussion shows, dive centers cannot ignore
continuing education, so it must be scheduled to offer the most
diversity possible. Among stores that offer instructor training, for
example, the Instructor Development Course is also time consuming,
and though not as high a draw, it’s usually an important high income
program.
Instructional staff size influences the schedule, though even
a very small staff can offer a wide choice of courses and times to
its customers. Finally, dive centers and resorts shouldn’t overlook
snorkeling and Discover Scuba Diving experiences. This growing
market fits effectively in the store’s training schedule, but only if it’s
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FOUR
not treated as an afterthought. For that reason, we will have more on

snorkeling and Discover Scuba Diving later in this chapter.
Scheduling Principles
There’s no set way to schedule training; in fact, each store develops
its own method based on staff needs, facility availability and custom-
er desires. Nonetheless, effective schedules share several traits:
• Customer convenience. Successful dive centers and resorts make
training available when customers want it, no matter how odd. For
instance, dive centers have run classes starting at 2:00 a.m. in an
indoor pool to accommodate night shift workers.
• Close integration with diving opportunities. Ideally, programs should
end close to an appropriate opportunity for the open water train-
ing dives; in mainland dive centers, this usually means a few days
before a dive trip or outing. In the resort environment, it usually
means in time to catch a scheduled dive boat. Continuing educa-
tion courses can integrate with appropriate experiences, such as
wreck diving courses with dive outings to appropriate wrecks.
• Efficient use of staff and resources. Where feasible, multiple courses
run at the same location, so that the instructional staff can conduct
more than one program at the same time (more about this later).
• Attention to outside influences. A class scheduled on a holiday or
at the same time as a major sporting event, for example, may have
poor enrollment. Or, at a dive resort, a holiday may mean to expect
higher enrollment than usual.
• Ample notice and kept updated. Dive centers usually post their cal-
endars conspicuously, and schedule courses three or four months
in advance so customers can plan their own time for the programs
that interest them.
• Scheduling the PADI Open Water Diver Course. In most dive centers,
scheduling usually focuses on the PADI Open Water Diver course,
which generates new customers. More often than not, this course
attracts more students than any other, and is offered with the
greatest frequency. Historically, it has dominated dive center train-
ing schedules, particularly those with small instructional staffs.
The two “traditional” approaches to scheduling have been to offer
group classes or private instruction.
54
DIVER EDUCATION
With a group class, the dive center advertises the program and
schedule with five or six classroom/confined water (pool) sessions,
each three or four hours long. Students attend these sessions, of-
fered most commonly, weekly or biweekly in the evenings after work
hours, or on weekends. In the classroom portion, they watch the
training video, listen to an academic presentation, submit Knowledge
Reviews and take a quiz. During the pool session, they learn and
practice dive skills. After the classroom/confined water sessions, the
students make four open water training dives during a store-spon-
sored dive trip or outing.
Hence, most dive centers coordinate their travel schedule so
that group classes finish their classroom/pool sessions immediately
before an appropriate trip or outing. The center or instructor enrolls
the students into the trip or outing at the start of the class; the trip
or outing may even be priced and scheduled in the course promo-
tion.
While the group class approach has been the mainstay of the
dive industry for years, it has some significant disadvantages in
today’s markets. First, it’s the least time-efficient way to conduct the
program, for both the student and the staff. It offers the least flex-
ibility in scheduling, which immediately bars potential customers
with awkward personal schedules. Customers who are anxious to get
started into diving have to wait two weeks or longer before their first
class starts.
Second, the idea of sitting in a classroom doesn’t appeal to many
people who seek something adventurous and fun. This reduces the
appeal of learning to dive.
Third, because they’re time inefficient, group classes usually
have to be large to make them as cost effective as possible. Ironi-
cally, making classes larger also makes them more time-consuming
and beyond a point, even less efficient. Further, as class size grows
students have less individualized attention, which reduces the per-
ceived value. In some competitive markets, it has become difficult to
earn a reasonable return on group classes.
To offset these problems, the other traditional schedule option
has been the private class. With a private class, the instructor teach-
es a small group (usually one to four people) on a custom schedule
determined between them. Because private classes afford maximum
individual attention, students usually progress quickly and a more
informal setting replaces a traditional classroom. Private classes
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FOUR
command top dollar, which may be good news for the dive center,
but only to a point.
First, relatively few people can afford the typical high cost of pri-
vate instruction. Even if a customer can afford it, the price difference
is often sufficient incentive to put up with the relative inconvenience
of a group class.
Second, because a dive center’s new customer base relies pri-
marily on the Open Water Diver course, the typical private class size
means fewer new customers per class. In other words, the center
earns more on the class, but may sell less in related products and
services. For this reason, most dive centers arrange private classes
so they don’t replace any of their regular classes.
Fortunately, Start Today class scheduling provides a comfort-
able alternative to group classes and private classes. Also known
as the “executive” class, the Start Today class employs educational
tools and instructional design to eliminate the drawbacks of group
class scheduling and private class scheduling. Start Today schedul-
ing effects this by minimizing a traditional classroom setting, which,
thanks to modern instructional methodology, is no longer necessary
to handle academic training for entry-level divers.
With Start Today scheduling, students enroll in the PADI Open
Water Diver course and complete the majority of academic training
independently using the PADI Open Water Diver Manual and the PADI
Open Water Diver Video, both of which were designed for indepen-
dent student learning. They attend regularly scheduled small, fairly
informal group sessions (usually four to eight students) in which
they review the academic material and take a short quiz. This is fol-
lowed by skill development and practice in a confined water (pool)
session. Students complete open water training by choosing from a
selection of suitable dive trips/outings.
Start Today scheduling helps eliminate the unappealing class-
room setting, and reduces session times. This makes it easier to
schedule sessions, affording more flexibility and options for stu-
dents. It also makes it easier to integrate other training programs and
travel schedules with the entry-level course schedule.
An important point is that the student doesn’t have to wait for
class to start; he starts immediately by studying independently.
Today’s busy consumer doesn’t want to wait; Start Today gets the
customer involved immediately. This has the added benefit that once
he starts, the customer will usually stop shopping for a dive class.
56
DIVER EDUCATION
With small groups, Start Today classes provide adequate per-

sonal attention for each student. Start Today classes tend therefore
to progress quickly, adding to their efficiency.
Finally, Start Today classes have strong perceived value, espe-
cially when marketed next to group classes and private classes. The
dive center can charge more than for traditional group classes, yet
doesn’t need to charge as much as a private class to earn a reason-
able return. Therefore, most customers willingly pay the difference
for the added benefits Start Today scheduling offers.
Scheduling Continuing Education Courses

Like the PADI Open Water Diver course, scheduling other continu-
ing education for higher diver training levels has both a traditional
and a newer, more innovative approach. Regardless, scheduling and
promoting continuing education deserves high priority -- surveys
have shown repeatedly that customer demand for continuing educa-
tion isn’t being met. The dive center that meets this demand stands
to profit from it.
Traditionally, continuing education courses have been scheduled
much like PADI Open Water Diver group classes, with a classroom
and pool sessions followed by open water training. Aside from shar-
ing many of the disadvantages of entry-level group classes, the tra-
ditional group class has proven more cumbersome than necessary
with continuing education courses intended to de-emphasize pool
and classroom learning in favor of actual open water diving experi-
ence. The application of student independent study opens even more
schedule flexibility and efficiency than it does with the PADI Open
Water Diver course. Those upper-level courses that do require class-
room and pool sessions also benefit from independent study, and
all continuing education program scheduling benefits from course
integration.
Course integration is simply meshing the schedule and conduct
of courses so that students can choose the courses that interest
each of them from a single framework. The allows the dive center to
offer multiple options without the instructional staff having to handle
the logistics of multiple programs running simultaneously. Course
integration also affords multiple pricing options.
The PADI Rescue Diver course and Emergency First Response
program illustrate basic course integration. To be certified as PADI
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FOUR
Rescue Divers, students must complete training in CPR, so dive

centers commonly schedule the Emergency First Response Primary
Care (CRP) course within the Rescue Diver program. Set up prop-
erly, this provides some options: 1) A student can take the whole
program, Rescue Diver and Emergency First Response. 2) A student
already has CPR training, so he doesn’t come to the Emergency First
Response sessions. 3) A student who wants CPR training only (per-
haps not a diver) takes only the Emergency First Response Primary
Care (CPR) course. Although various students make three different
choices, perhaps with three pricing options, the instructional staff
only has to carry through a single schedule.
The PADI Divemaster and Assistant Instructor programs par-
tially integrate with other programs. Both programs include (or have
the option of) an internship in supervising/teaching students. An
instructor conducting a PADI Open Water Diver class, for example,
may have a PADI Divemaster candidate supervising the students as
part of his training.
Of the courses within the PADI System, the greatest integra-
tion potential is with the Adventures in Diving program and PADI
Specialty Diver courses. Each dive in the PADI Adventures in Diving
program is a specialty dive (night dive, deep dive, etc.), and actu-
ally the first dive of the corresponding PADI Specialty Diver course.
The instructor may credit each Adventure Dive as the first dive of
the appropriate specialty, and the student needs only to complete
the remaining course dives (one to three). Alternatively, a diver who
completes several of the appropriate Specialty Diver programs can
automatically qualify for the Adventure Diver or the Advanced Open
Water Diver certification.
This means that a dive center can accommodate many customer
interests in specialties and the Adventures in Diving program with
a single master schedule of the individual specialty course dives.
Students simply choose the dives they need to qualify for the cer-
tifications that interest them; students complete academic training
through independent study and predive briefings. The professional
editions of the PADI Night Diving, Deep Diving, Wreck Diving and Un-
derwater Navigation videos include Adventures in Diving and Special-
ties Integration, a booklet that details this form of scheduling.
The other method for meshing courses is multiple-level training.
With multiple-level training, the dive center schedules more than
58
DIVER EDUCATION
one class at a particular training site so that the instructional staff

alternates training between classes. For example, the center sched-
ules open water training for a PADI Open Water Diver class and an
Advanced Open Water Diver class at the same site.
The instructor briefs the Advanced Open Water Diver class and
conducts their first training dive while a staff member supervises
the Open Water Diver class and assists them in getting set up. After
the Advanced Open Water training dive, the instructor briefs the
ready-to-go Open Water Diver class and takes them on their first
training dive. Meanwhile, a staff member helps the Advanced Open
Water class get set for its second dive. After the Open Water Diver
class training dive, the instructor takes down the Advanced Open
Water class on its second dive, and so on over two or more days
until training is complete.
With only two instructors and a few assistants, a dive center
can offer four or more separate diver courses at a single site at the
same time. By scheduling with both course integration and multiple-
level training, two instructors can run as many as six courses at the
same time. Thus, a small instructional staff doesn’t have to limit the
course variety a dive center advertises.
Scheduling Snorkeling
As mentioned in Chapter One, snorkeling represents one of the dive
industry’s greatest opportunities, with a few astute dive centers
already catering to this huge market. Since teaching snorkeling is a
short and straightforward, scheduling isn’t complicated. There are,
however, a few points that dive centers successful with snorkeling
bear in mind:
• Snorkeling can’t be treated as an afterthought. Snorkeling outings
need deliberate thought, scheduling and promotion.
• Because snorkeling can be taught by PADI Divemasters and As-
sistant Instructors, snorkeling programs can be arranged without
taking an instructor away from scuba courses.
• Scheduled outings, whether for training or just for fun, need to be
set up with snorkeling in mind. Scuba outings often don’t work well
for snorkelers.
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Scheduling Diver Education in the Resort Environment

Scheduling in the dive resort environment contains the same pri-
mary elements as scheduling in the typical nonresort dive center.
Nevertheless, dive resort scheduling has distinct considerations.
• Available time. Customers visiting a resort typically stay one week
or less, making it impossible to schedule courses over a long term.
• Referrals. Resorts often receive customers on referral who want or
need only to complete their final open water training dives. These
customers often show up unexpectedly; having an open schedule
that accommodates same-day training is an advantage in competi-
tive resort markets.
• Conflicting customer interests. While the nonresort dive center has
to schedule around normal student routines (such as going to
work), the resort must schedule around distractions with no regu-
lar intervals, such as other activities, socializing or just relaxing.
• Pace and staff availability. The nonresort dive center instructional
staff typically teaches during week evenings, with open water
training on the weekends. In the typical resort setting, diving is
nonstop and the instructional staff goes from teaching, to taking
out a boat, to filling tanks, to compressor maintenance and so on.
To a greater degree, then, resort operation daily training sched-
ules need to consider staff availability, other duties, boat sched-
ules and equipment availability.
• One day programs. Customers expect to complete the Discover
Scuba Diving experience program in a short period, usually sev-
eral hours. Discover Scuba Diving participants sometimes enroll
impulsively, so schedules need to accommodate flexible start
times, short class/pool sessions and, when necessary, mesh with
boat schedules.
Scheduling Discover Scuba Diving Experiences

Just as snorkeling, Discover Scuba Diving pool experiences represent
great opportunities for the dive industry. It’s very easy to schedule
weekend Discover Scuba Diving experiences at the same pool used
for Open Water Diver training. When doing so, dive centers can con-
sider the following:
60
DIVER EDUCATION
• Designate an instructor to conduct the experience. It may be logis-

tically difficult to have one instructor teach a scuba course and
conduct a Discover Scuba Diving experience.
• The Discover Scuba Diving Cue Card and Discover Scuba Diving
Flip Chart. These products are ideal for use at the pool just before
entering the water. They eliminate the need to show the Scuba:
Experience Your First Breath Video or the Discover Scuba/Discover
Scuba Diving Skills Presentation Video before the pool session.
Pricing Diver Education

While pricing products and most services is fairly straightforward,
pricing diver courses poses difficulty for many dive centers. Compe-
tition, a wide variety of fixed costs, instructional staff payment, and
other variables often complicate the issue to the degree that some
dive centers don’t know how much they earn with their courses -- or
even if they earn anything. In some areas, entry-level diver training
in particular may be forced by market pressure to a price lower than
what it costs the store to conduct the program.
Regardless of variables and the effects of competition, the dive
center owner/manager needs to price diver training realistically.
Even if competition forces a price lower than desired (more about
this later), there should be no question as to what the return is.
Course pricing relies on accounting for all costs, determining a re-
turn on investment, and accommodating market value.
Course Cost Variables

The primary reason some dive centers inadvertently underprice
a course, or don’t really know what they earn from it, is failure to
account for all costs going into each class. These can be broadly
defined as long-term costs, which are spread over many courses, and
short-term costs, which concern a particular class. Long-term costs
can include:
• Student equipment depreciation and maintenance
• Staff equipment depreciation and maintenance
• Rent/mortgage/upkeep on facilities such as classroom, or on prem-
ises pool.
• Instructional equipment depreciation (instructor manuals, cue
cards, video tapes, VCR & television, etc.)
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FOUR
• Insurance. In setting a course price, the dive center determines the

number of classes and students each of these applies to, and then
distributes the cost on a per student basis. (An example of course
pricing appears at the end of this chapter.)
Short-term costs apply per individual class, or per student. These
include:
• Consumable training materials (Student Record Files, answer
sheets, etc.)
• Air fills
• Instructor/staff fees (usually based on hours worked, per student,
or per class basis, depending on the dive center’s relationship with
the staff -- contractor, employee, etc.)
• Pool and/or classroom fees (if off premises)
• Mileage
• Certification fee (PIC cost)
• Boat fees
• Refreshments, if provided
• Advertising for the class
As with long-term fees, these are accounted on a per student basis.
Those items that apply to the entire class are distributed per student
based on a typical class size. Short-term expenses are usually easier
to estimate because if there’s no class, there are no expenses.
Return on Investment. Once the cost per student has been estab-
lished, the dive center needs to consider its return on investment.
The most common recommended markup on retail hard goods is 50
percent (double the store’s wholesale cost), and many dive centers
consider that reasonable for training services, however, higher and
lower markups are common. Some dive centers figure profit as a
cost-per-hour times the typical number of hours in the course, and
for calculation purposes, treat it as a short-term cost. The important
point is that store profit must be calculated and added in.
Market Value. Whereas determining costs and return on invest-
ment is straightforward, competition and other market forces influ-
ence what a dive center can charge for training (or any other product
or service for that matter) with little regard for the center’s costs or
desired profit. It’s a phenomenon that works both the dive center’s
advantage and disadvantage.
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DIVER EDUCATION
For example, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, when
taught as a single class over a single weekend typically has fewer
costs than a comparable PADI Open Water Diver course (no pool, no
classroom, students own more personal equipment, two days open
water training versus five pool/class sessions and two days, etc.)
From an accounting point of view, the PADI Advanced Open Water
Diver course should be priced substantially less than the Open Wa-
ter Diver course. Yet, thanks to the way the market affects regions,
the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course may be priced higher,
about the same or lower than the Open Water Diver course.
The reason is that both course have price influences outside
their respective cost-plus-profit. Dive centers advertise their en-
try-level courses conspicuously, often competing on price to some
degree, which tends to drive entry-level course prices down a bit.
Entry-level courses may be priced all-inclusive (higher) or a-la-carte
(lower, plus lots of necessary add ons).
The Advanced Open Water Diver course, on the other hand,
tends to have less interstore competition, plus established custom-
ers tend to be more loyal and less inclined to switch to another
instructor/dive center just to save a small amount. These variables
tend to raise the course value. As a rule of thumb, higher diver edu-
cation levels tend to be less affected by competition; professional
levels, especially the instructor level training, commands the highest
price because the student expects to earn a return.
The reality is that the dive center can’t ignore market value in
setting prices. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to
match a competition’s price and conduct classes at a loss. Particu-
larly with entry-level programs, retailers can apply several methods
to offset the affect of low price competition:
• A-la-carte pricing. The course is broken away from other compo-
nents -- travel costs for open water training, rental equipment
costs, etc. -- and priced separately. Advantage: Easy to quote a very
low price. Disadvantages: Difficult to show added value; can cause
ill-will with customers who feel like they’re making lots of unantici-
pated purchases; difficult to charge higher prices later; promotes
cut-throat pricing in the local market.
• Package pricing. The course is packaged to include as much as pos-
sible. Advantages: Customer convenience because one price covers
everything; easy to show added value. Disadvantages: Price quote
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FOUR
is high; must take time to get customer to compare course values,

not just price.
• Value packaging. Something unique is added to the course pack-
age to give substantially more market value and command a higher
price. (Start Today scheduling is the most common form of value
packaging.) Advantages: Easy to demonstrate significant value to
customer; generally better profit margins; makes dive center’s
courses stand out from competitors’; usually easy to sell. Disadvan-
tages: High price quote; must take time to get customer to compare
course values, not just price.
Sample Course Pricing

The following is a simplified example of how a dive center might
set the price for a group PADI Open Water Diver course. It should
be noted that this is an example only; the U.S. dollar prices, figures,
depreciation rates and other numbers shown are entirely fictional
for illustration only, nor do they account for market variables. The
prices shown shouldn’t be considered a recommendation by PADI.
Obviously, a real store will have more costs and expenses than in
this example.
The manager of XYZ Dive Center is establishing its group
PADI Open Water Diver course price. The course will be
package priced, with everything except personal mask, fins
and snorkel. (Note: The PADI Crew-Pak is also a separate
product that the student buys.) Based on its previous year
in training, the manager estimates that for the upcoming
year, XYZ will:
• Train 600 students (all levels)
• Train 450 Open Water Diver students (of the 600)
• Hold 45 Open Water Diver courses, for an average of 10
students per class.
To get the per student long term costs, the manager deter-
mines that:
• The store has 12 sets of student class equipment, which
will be used almost exclusively by Open Water Diver stu-
dents. Each cost $600 and will last one year, after which
it will be worth $200 after $20 worth of maintenance.
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DIVER EDUCATION
Therefore, the cost per student is

$600 original cost
- 200 less value at end of year
+ 20 plus overhaul cost
$420 cost per set per year
$420 x 12 sets = $5040 total equipment costs
$5040 ⳰ 450 OW students = $11.20 per student.
• The store has $1500 in instructional materials, including
a VCR, television, tapes, etc. The manager expects these
to last two years and for simplicity, to be considered in
equal use by all students.
$1500 ⳰ 2 years = $750
$750 ⳰ 600 students = $1.25 per student
• The store has eight sets of staff equipment at $1800 each,
plus $20 annual maintenance. The manager expects each
set to last two years and have little or no value after that.
These are used with all classes, so the cost will be dis-
tributed over all students.
$1800 ⳰ 2 years = $900
$900 + $20 annual maintenance = $920
$920 x 8 sets = $7360
7360 ⳰ 600 students = $12.27 per student
The manager determines the short term costs as:

• Each tank fill costs the store $3.50.
9 fills (5 pool and 4 open water sessions) x $3.50 = $31.50
per student
• XYZ classes are taught by an independent contractor in-
structor who covers his own insurance, compensates his
staff, and covers his expenses out of his contracted fee of
$500 per class.
$500 ⳰ 10 students per class = $50 per student
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FOUR
• The pool costs $20 per hour, with each session requiring
three hours.
$20 x 3 hours = $60
$60 x 5 sessions = $300
$300 ⳰ 10 students per class = $30 per student
• The boat used for open water training charges $50 per
student per day.
$50 x 2 days = $100 per student.
• Various consumables -- answer sheets, file folders, maps,
etc. -- average approximately $10 per student.
• The certification fee (PIC) costs $11.00 per student.
This brings the cost per student to:
$ 11.20 student equipment cost
1.25 instructional materials
12.27 staff equipment
31.50 air fills
50.00 instructor fees
30.00 pool fees
100.00 boat fees
10.00 misc. consumables
11.00 certification fee
$257.22 Total cost per student
To this, the manager now adds the return on investment
XYZ Dive Center needs to make per student to get the
advertised course price. This varies depending on the
store, the course and other factors. For example, if XYZ
expected a 20 percent net return:
$257.22 x 20% = $51.44; $257.22 + $51.44 = $308.66 course
price
A similar approach would be used with Start Today and
private instruction, and continuing education courses.
The primary point is to account for all expenses when
setting course prices.
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DIVER EDUCATION
References
Adventures in Diving and Specialties Integration. Booklet included with PADI
Underwater Navigation, Night Diving, Deep Diving and other specialty videos,
professional edition.
Jones, Scott. “Catering to the Weekend Warrior.” Undersea Journal, Third Quarter
1992.
PADI International. Positive Approach Selling. Video course.
Roth, Barry. “The Future of Discounting.” Undersea Journal, First Quarter 1994.
Shreeves, Karl. “Increasing Equipment Sales through Education.” Undersea Jour-
nal, Third Quarter 1992.
Slutsky, Jeff. Streetfighting: Low Cost Advertising and Promotions. Video seminar.
PADI International.
Stewart, John. “Game Plan for the Nineties.” Undersea Journal, Second Quarter
1994.
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68
DIVE TRAVEL
Five
Dive Travel
Dive travel is a service that has impressive potential for all dive
businesses. A 1993 study showed that dive travel is a $1.6 billion in-
dustry, involving more than three million divers in the United States
alone, and several million divers from Europe and Asia.
According to the PADI New Diver Survey, only 36.9 percent of
traveling divers book their trips with a dive center, and nearly 50
percent book their trips independently. These figures demonstrate
the opportunity for major dive travel income for dive centers. A
properly constructed travel program offers divers the opportunity
to purchase trips from the experts they already trust for training and
equipment needs.
Many dive centers hesitate to create travel programs because of
a lack of expertise, which creates a lack of confidence. However, in-
formation is available from a variety of sources to help dive centers
enter this lucrative market. Dive travel services are a big-ticket item
for sale in the dive center. They require product knowledge, sales
techniques and merchandising efforts to sell effectively. This chapter
identifies the elements of a successful dive center travel program
and suggests ways to bring them all together for the best results.
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FIVE
Dive Travel’s Role in the Dive Center

PADI Dive Centers that have the most success selling dive travel
have a clear understanding of the interdependence of the three Es
of the dive industry as they were defined in the first chapter of this
book. While dive travel is primarily an experience, selling equip-
ment and education in tandem with travel is crucial to making a dive
center’s travel program profitable. A dive travel program should be
directed to both potential divers and current diving customers. The
key to success is attracting people to diving, and then keeping them
diving; a well-planned travel program contributes to both.
When developing a plan for group dive trips, a dive center can
benefit itself and its customers by offering local and distant desti-
nations to provide a variety of trip prices and duration. Time and
money are valuable commodities for everyone, and determining how
much customers will spend is a challenge.
Once a trip is scheduled and a group is assembled, good tour
conducting skills are essential to making the trip a positive and
memorable experience for customers. Developing repeat travelers
and customer referrals can make an ongoing group travel program
very successful. Offering individual travel services that cater to
divers planning vacations on their own requires different skills for
success, but the potential for profit in some cases can match that of
group travel.
Group travel includes trips arranged by the dive center with the
intent of escorting a group of divers to the destination. “Escorted
travel” might be a better description -- the dive center sets the dates,
sets the price, sells the trip and handles all the arrangements. Cus-
tomers sign up to go on the trip much as they sign up for a class.
Custom travel, on the other hand, is completely driven by the in-
dividual customer and requires meeting individual needs and sched-
uling. The success of both programs depends largely upon the dive
center’s ability to tie them to the three Es.
Experience
Going on a dive trip is the ultimate dive experience for many divers.
One reason people are attracted to diving in the first place is the
prospect of traveling and participating in an exotic, exciting, adven-
turous activity. Perhaps more so than with any other product, the
dive center that sells travel sells an adventure experience. There is
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DIVE TRAVEL
a great deal of satisfaction in making customers’ dreams come true,

and it can be profitable as well.
Dive travel already has a natural appeal. To sell the experience,
dive centers need to enhance that appeal with a personal touch.
Customers should know that travel services are available at the dive
center -- travel posters on the wall, a prominently displayed group
travel schedule and flyers serve this purpose. The dive center should
assign a group leader for group tours as soon as the trip is booked so
he can personally invite customers to come along on the trip. Photos
of previous trips depicting customers enjoying themselves help sell
the group experience.
Slide or video presentations from previous trips can also help
sell future trips at dive club meetings. They’re also useful in promot-
ing diving to the general public at civic meetings or schools. Travel
can be used to sell diving, and learning to dive can sell travel.
Divers who have been on the store’s group tours in the past of-
ten make the best salespeople for future trips. Using trip evaluation
forms after each trip and including a request to use the responses
customers provide as advertising can provide very effective testimo-
nials. Feature the best remarks in flyers or newsletters promoting the
current trip schedule.
If custom travel services are offered, many of these same sales
techniques apply. The product for sale is still the experience of dive
travel; it’s just not a group experience. Many divers interested in dive
travel like to do their own thing and view a group trip as too confin-
ing. Others have schedules that prevent them from traveling with the
store’s groups. Offering custom dive travel meets the needs of these
customers who otherwise would book independently through some-
one else or not go at all.
Equipment
One of the best reasons for divers to purchase equipment is to go
on a dive trip. Dive centers with an active travel program can make
the most of every opportunity to take advantage of this relationship
between the dive travel experience, and equipment needed for dive
travel.
Giving equipment packages special names ties equipment own-
ership and travel together in the customer’s mind (e.g., Cayman
package, Red Sea special). Island names conjure up exotic images
of divers using the equipment more effectively than the “Economy
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Package” or “Top-of-the-Line.” Poster displays should portray divers

with modern equipment, preferably brands sold in the dive center.
The group leader can sell both the trip and the equipment to go
with it. His availability on the trip to assist with any new equipment
adjustments is another selling point.
The staff can help customers with the equipment they’ll need
as part of the trip registration process. Equipment they don’t own
will have to be rented, and this may produce an incentive to buy.
Conversely, asking customers about travel plans is also be a part of
the equipment sales process -- going on a dive trip is a great way to
break in new gear.
Cross promoting these two products produces good results, but
the best results are achieved by adding the third E: Education.
Education
The opportunity to learn something new and earn a new certification
is an excellent reason to offer scuba courses on a dive trip. Depend-
ing on the destination, a dive center can build a trip around training,
with the primary purpose of the journey defined as completing par-
ticular courses. Some destinations are more appropriate for a less
structured, optional training schedules. Some dive travelers want to
rest and relax on vacation, with as little activity as possible, others
want to be on the move every minute. Offering a flexible menu of
courses on dive trips is one way to meet customer needs and add to
the profit margin of the trip.
Selling education works hand-in-hand with experience and equip-
ment. The staff can promote educational opportunities whenever
and wherever promoting a trip, using the availability of training
produces an additional incentive. For example, the ability to take the
Advanced Open Water Diver course on a trip may be just the incen-
tive a diver needs to purchase his own equipment, before he goes on
the trip. Pricing incentives have been successfully used to tie travel
to equipment and training, but should be applied carefully. Offering a
reduced course fee or special equipment package pricing for divers
on a trip is effective as long as margins are maintained. The goal of
cross promoting the three Es is to increase net income, not simply
cash flow. The previous chapter discussed diver education income.
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DIVE TRAVEL
Attracting New Customers

Dive travel in the retail dive center can both recruit people into div-
ing and keep certified divers active. The image of diving created by
television usually includes the adventure and excitement of travel-
ing to exotic places to dive. When a television viewer steps from the
armchair into the dive center, he becomes a customer. It’s important
to be prepared to meet the expectations of scuba diving created by
that image. Customers usually expect excitement, adventure, new
experiences and travel.
The staff can funnel several courses into each trip, including the
Open Water Diver course. Once the trip is set up, the staff can sell it
to potential divers and use it to attract people who want to learn to
dive, and have an adventure. Offering open water training dives on a
store-sponsored trip allows the customer to choose where to go and
when to take training.
Another effective method to market dive travel is promoting
open water referrals. Sending customers to a resort destination to
complete their training is a very marketable concept. Of course, the
customer has to know about referrals to take advantage of them,
which benefits both the customer and the retailer who arranges the
travel.
Keeping Customers Active

Divers seek and need new experiences to stay active, and dive travel
is a great way to keep them involved. A successful travel program
motivates divers and makes them loyal, repeat customers.
One method for promoting travel is starting a “tickler” file of
divers who are interested in travel. The retailer can notify these
divers of any upcoming trips and generate travel activity with per-
sonal phone calls and follow-up. These customers can also provide
valuable opinions and information regarding future destinations
and trip selection. The retailer can use any database program or a
point-of-purchase system to start the tickler file.
Repeat travelers are often the best candidates for training on a
trip. If they’ve been to a specific location a few times, training activi-
ties provide them with something new. Repeat travelers are also the
best means of attracting other divers to the travel program. They
often encourage friends to join them and help promote the next trip.
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Planning a Dive Travel Program

Establishing a travel program differs little from adding any other
product to the dive center’s mix, except dive travel requires no
beginning inventory. Some dive centers successfully conduct group
tours to the same destinations year after year. In addition, they offer
a larger variety of destinations with their custom travel services.
This specialization in certain destinations, coupled with custom op-
tions ensures customer satisfaction and travel program success.
Resources
Retailers can obtain group travel information and advice from dive
travel wholesalers, such as the PADI Travel Network (PTN). Dive
travel wholesalers represent a number of destinations and specialize
in the areas they represent. There are a number of benefits to using
a wholesaler rather than booking directly. The PADI Travel Network,
for example, represents more than 100 resorts and live-aboard dive
boats in more than 50 destinations, giving the dive center a wide
variety to choose from and with one phone call. Like other wholesal-
ers, PTN rates are the same or sometimes better than those avail-
able directly from the resort, and with its services free to PADI Dive
Centers and their customers.
Dive travel wholesalers pay commissions to dive centers on hotel
and dive packages, and some, like PADI Travel Network, pay commis-
sions on airfares booked through it as well. Wholesalers can provide
dive centers with trip and destination brochures for in-store use.
Usually, wholesalers visit the resorts they sell and consequently, can
advise their customers as to which ones best meet their travel inter-
ests. Dive centers can use a prebooking survey to ascertain the needs
of their customers (see suggested survey at the end of this chapter).
While some customers may request specific resorts for their dive
vacation, the deciding factor is often the price (including airfare).
Therefore, complete rate information is an important part of the
information gathering process.
Surveys show that the quality of diving is the most important
factor in choosing a dive travel destination. That’s why it’s important
to obtain as much first-hand destination information as possible.
Video is the next option if nobody on the staff is familiar with the
destination. If no video footage is available, the travel wholesaler’s
color brochures are the third best option.
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DIVE TRAVEL
Selecting Destinations
Most dive centers have a variety of destinations to choose from in a
given calendar year. This provides good opportunities for attracting
as many divers as possible into the travel program. Every destination
offers unique diving opportunities, and any diver can enjoy any one
of these. It’s not uncommon for dive centers to publish exotic dive
travel schedules up to two years ahead of departure dates. This helps
interested divers plan and budget ahead of time.
Local Travel Considerations

Obviously, destinations closer to home usually require less time and
money to visit. Offering nearby travel options can draw a large num-
ber of divers into dive travel gradually, while keeping them active.
Local trips require less time and money, making them attractive to
many divers.
With a little creativity, a local lake, quarry or river can become
a dive travel destination. Building a holiday weekend around local
specialty training, and integrating cookouts and picnics can create a
positive group travel experience. What constitutes a dive travel desti-
nation will vary according to a store’s location, but in any case, divers
want new dive experiences regardless of location, and the dive center
benefits by providing them.
Distant Travel Considerations

While local options may require a little creative marketing, more
exotic locales have ready-made appeal. For new divers and first-time
dive travelers, an exotic dive vacation may mean taking their first
trip out of the country, making their first dives in the ocean, or mak-
ing their open water training dives. Group travel may comfort these
travelers, especially if someone they know and trust leads the group
and makes sure everything goes smoothly. Even experienced travel-
ers may prefer to go with a group to avoid the hassles of making their
own arrangements.
Exotic locales have unique features that lend themselves to
training, which may be an optional add-on for the trip. A recent PADI
survey shows the most attractive specialty courses are Wreck Diver,
Underwater Photographer, and Night Diver -- three easy specialties to
teach in a variety of destinations.
Since distant travel requires more time and money, it’s important
to schedule well in advance. For many customers, time is more valu-
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able than money, thus they need plenty of notice to make travel ar-
rangements. Often those who have the time to travel don’t have the
money and those who have the money don’t have the time. With the
right combination of destinations and options, dive centers can find
a reasonable middle ground for everyone. Once divers register for a
particular trip, it’s easy to sell their friends and buddies, which helps
sell the destination, no matter how exotic.
Running Dive Trips

Dive centers must establish pricing and payment policies before
selling group trips effectively. Individual resorts or travel wholesal-
ers can provide rate information, and many wholesalers will handle
airfares for many destinations. A dive travel wholesaler is the most
efficient source of information, and could conceivably provide every-
thing a travel planner needs to book a year’s group travel. If using a
wholesaler to purchase flights, the specialists handling the booking
can advise dive centers on the best connections and arrangements
for particular group or custom travel needs.
Usually, booking space for a group trip involves paying a deposit
to the resort, and possibly to the airline, to hold the space. Deposit
and balance due dates determine the payment schedule. The same is
true of individual bookings, which usually require a deposit for each
person. Deposits are usually due within a few days after the booking
date, while balances are due within a few days before the departure
date. Many deposits aren’t refundable in the event of cancellation, or
only a portion may be refunded.
For group tours, selecting dates and booking space as far from
departure as feasible guarantees the arrangements. Dive centers,
however, should avoid making nonrefundable deposits to airlines
or resorts until they receive customers’ deposits for the trip. With
enough lead time, it’s possible to sell a trip and take customers’ de-
posits before the store is required to pay a deposit to hold the space.
The trickiest times of the year for group bookings are around
holidays, when travel demand is high. These are very popular times
to travel and unless a group commits and deposits far in advance,
the chances of space availability are minimal. Picking dates and be-
ginning the selling process early on are crucial to make early depos-
its. For holiday travel, it’s a good idea to work as much as one year
in advance to get customer commitment since it’s harder to reserve
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DIVE TRAVEL
airline seats.
Wholesalers and resorts sometimes have set terms and con-
ditions, including deposit requirements, payment schedules and
assorted charges for late fees and changes to trip itineraries. Both
group and individual travelers need to be aware of these terms and
conditions, which apply to them should they cancel or change their
plans after making a payment.
Several wholesalers have waivers and statements of understand-
ing that dive centers must provide to their customers when they
book a trip. Some dive centers adopt a close-language version of the
statement of understanding to ensure their customers understand
and sign on all the terms and conditions. This helps protect the dive
center in the event of a customer’s cancellation or injury, and clari-
fies customer responsibilities.
A dive center can assure its customers by offering trip cancella-
tion insurance. For example, PADI Travel Network offers insurance
to divers on trips booked through PTN. This insurance covers a
number of emergency situations, including cancellation, interruption
and baggage loss or delay. It is reasonably priced, and in the event
of an unforeseen problem, takes the responsibility for refunding the
customer’s money away from the dive center and places it with the
insurance company. If the dive center has its own waiver, it’s a good
idea to require a signature that indicates the customer is aware of
trip insurance and has chosen to purchase it or to waive it.
Group Tour Conducting Skills

Once divers sign up for a group dive trip, they want to feel like part
of a group. The responsibility to meet, and hopefully exceed their ex-
pectations, falls on the group leader long before the departure date.
Preparing a staff member to be a group leader is a little like train-
ing a recreational diver to become a divemaster; the role requires
going beyond concerns for personal diving enjoyment to assuring the
safety and enjoyment of customers on the trip. Instructors are often
the best qualified individuals to be group leaders because they pos-
sess the required supervisory and observation skills. Group leaders
aren’t just instructors who go on a free trip; they’re dive center staff
delivering a product that customers have purchased. Assuring cus-
tomer satisfaction with the product is the group leader’s primary role.
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A group leader gathers good information whenever possible.

Anticipating customer questions and providing early answers gives
the group leader credibility. Most dive travelers, especially new ones,
want to know as much about what to expect as possible. If a group
leader can’t answer a question immediately, he should do some re-
search and get back to the customer promptly.
While a dive trip usually focuses on diving, some travelers are
interested in topside activities as well. A group leader can find out
from wholesalers and other sources what other activities besides
diving might be available at a resort, and pass that information on
to the group. Much of what it takes to be a good group leader is a
charismatic personality and experience. However, for a new group
leader, the best training is obtaining information and communicating
with the group as much as possible. The group expects the leader to
be an expert, and when he doesn’t know the answer to a question, he
should say so, and find the answer.
Group leaders should be assigned as soon as a trip is marketed.
Several dive centers have had success using personal invitations for
customers to join, usually in the form of a phone call. For store staff
who are also instructors, the divers they’ve certified in the past year
or so and their current students are excellent candidates.
If it’s a safe assumption that divers want to go on dive vacations,
then the dive center has to discover the right incentive to bring a
customer on board. Personal invitations go a long way, especially
from influential individuals, such as instructors. The group leader
needs to do as much to sell the trip as possible, along with the equip-
ment and education to accompany it.
Dive centers use a variety of methods to pay group leaders
-- sending the leader on a trip and covering all his expenses is one
option. This, however, may not always be possible, and the group
leader may have to pay some expenses. Most resorts offer a free
space with group packages, which can be used for the group leader.
Airfare can be a trickier issue since not many airlines offer free
spaces (though some do). If the group leader has to pay his own
airfare, he can reduce his expenses by selling training on the trip. A
dive center may pay the group leader’s airfare and make him respon-
sible for the rest of his expenses.
The arrangement may vary on each trip depending on the com-
mission rate or numbers required to earn free space. Whatever the
arrangement, it’s advisable to contract with group leaders much as
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DIVE TRAVEL
the dive center may with instructors, defining the terms of the agree-
ment and putting them on paper. If the group leader is also a dive
center employee, both parties should agree on wages and whether
the group leader is paid or not during the trip.
It’s a good idea to have a pretrip meeting at the dive center a
couple of weeks before departure. This ensures everyone in the
group has the proper information and equipment for the trip. An-
other good idea is offering a group pool session for skill reviews and
equipment tryouts.
It’s important to call the airline a day or two before the depar-
ture date to confirm flight times and reservations. When deciding
what time to meet, it’s wise to allow enough time for tardiness and
unexpected delays by meeting early (a minimum of two hours before
departure). The group can use this time for meetings and introduc-
tions.
The group leader also solves problems as they arise at every
step of the trip. These may arise at airport and custom terminals,
ground transportation terminals, hotels/resorts, dive boats and even
restaurants/bars. Unexpected problems are usually solved with a
combination of social skills and good communications. Respecting
cultural traditions and adapting to the surroundings and available
amenities is part of a dive trip’s realities.
A dive leader can help himself by researching the destination
beforehand and preparing travelers to expect certain conditions,
such as reduced telephone and hot water services. Tour conduct-
ing is something of an art, balancing supervision with observation.
The goal is to help things go smoothly, not to fret about entertaining
the group every minute. It’s perhaps best for the group leader not to
worry much about group members who refuse to participate with
the group’s activities. It’s better to give them their freedom, while
keeping them informed — after all, they’re on vacation, and they can
do what they want if it’s within reason.
When the diving starts, the group leader can coordinate with
the dive boat crew on the first day to ensure a smooth transition
for everyone. It’s usually best to leave the predate briefing and area
orientation to the local divemasters/experts, while informing them of
the group’s experience and requests.
The group leader can make leading easier by leading by example.
He should ask the group to be considerate of other divers on the
boat, and after the dive, he is the group “cheerleader,” talking with
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individual buddy teams about the dive, discovering any problems

and sharing the experience.
When it’s time to head for home, the group leader should call to
confirm flights 72 hours from departure. This is especially important
for international flights where flight times and numbers can change
regularly. Group leaders should take airline regulations regarding
what time to be at the airport very seriously. It’s one thing to be
stranded with a single traveling companion, and another to have a
flight canceled when accompanied by 10 or more divers ready to go
home. Most potential airline problems may be solved in plenty of
time to make the flight if the group arrives at the airport well ahead
of departure.
It’s a lot of fun to reunite the group a week or two after returning
home to share pictures and reminisce. Dive centers with an active
travel program may consider scheduling post-trip meetings with one
group at the same time as a pretrip meeting with another. This gener-
ates a lot of excitement and if done on a regular basis, can evolve
into a dive travel club.
When combining two groups, it’s best to start the pretrip meet-
ing first. Inviting those who were on the previous trip to come later
allows the pretrip group to enjoy the post-trip party and promotes
upcoming trips and group travel in general.
The most recent group travelers need to be added to the phone
tickler file mentioned earlier so the dive center can help them start
planning their next dive travel adventure. The group dive travel
experience is the product; that experience stays with the customer
long after he returns home. The dive center needs to give him an-
other one to look forward to.
Catering to Snorkelers
Snorkeling has always been a favorite warm water and travel activ-
ity. The dive center is the perfect place for snorkeling customers to
come for professional advice, quality equipment, and travel services.
Some dive centers miss out on the growing snorkeling market be-
cause they treat snorkelers with less attention, unless the snorkelers
are interested in learning to scuba dive. While some snorkelers may
be potential scuba divers, dive center staff should not try to push
snorkelers into scuba. However, if a dive center is already catering to
snorkelers and advertising to them for training and equipment buy-
ing, then travel is a natural step.
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DIVE TRAVEL
Offering a snorkeling trip that includes an optional Discover

Scuba Diving experience is a great way to introduce the interested
customers to scuba without alienating the ones who aren’t. Local
snorkeling possibilities are easy to overlook; the shallow areas of a
nearby quarry or jetty can provide some great opportunities for intro-
ducing the underwater world to beginners.
Marketing snorkeling trips to families is a good idea since young-
er children can also snorkel. Parents who are scuba divers may have
children who aren’t, and a snorkeling trip allows them to take the
kids and participate together. Many locations that have good snor-
keling sites also provide excellent scuba diving. While it’s not out of
the question to combine scuba divers and snorkelers on one trip,
snorkelers as a separate group represent a very lucrative market that
deserves careful consideration by the dive center.
Whether or not a dive center offers trips specifically for snorkel-
ers, they will continue to travel, and people will still learn to snorkel
while on vacation. Local travel agencies can be great places to pro-
mote snorkeling classes and equipment with fliers, brochures and
business cards. Associating the dive center with quality snorkeling
services in the traveler’s mind can bring in more business. Agencies
are understandably hesitant to provide customers with competing
travel services, so travel agencies may be used to promote snorkeling
to travelers. Dive centers can also include snorkelers in the planning,
keeping in mind that they’re travelers, too.
Offering Custom Travel Services

Offering custom vacations to individual dive travelers can be lucra-
tive without being overly time consuming. With individual travel
services, the dive center has an excellent opportunity to provide
a needed service to its customers and generating more profit from
these services. Offering custom dive travel services is possible on a
couple of different levels, so dive centers need to decide how much
effort is needed and whether there is staff available to handle the
demand. Whichever level is selected, the key to success is making the
custom travel planning process as efficient as possible.
The least demanding way is to offer the services of a wholesaler
directly to the customer. The dive center makes money on commis-
sions when its customers book with the wholesaler. PADI Dive Center
customers can call the wholesaler directly and the wholesaler sends
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the dive center a commission check. This arrangement allows the

dive center to offer custom travel just by providing customers with
the wholesaler’s brochures. The wholesaler will confirm the trip with
customers and encourage them to visit their dive center with re-
minders printed on the invoice.
The only drawback to this option is that it leaves a lot of room
for the customer to book with another wholesaler, or directly with a
resort he might have seen in a magazine. Therefore, before working
with potential dive travelers, planners arm themselves with as much
information as they can gather. It’s best to pick several of the more
popular spots and a couple of resorts in different price ranges and
concentrate on those.
The planner can provide the brochures, and go over them with
the customer, and gather information about where he might like to
go and when. The travel planner calls the wholesaler, obtaining the
information requested by the customer and books his trip for him.
Travel wholsalers’ brochures are very useful in educating and
informing shoppers who don’t know much about dive travel. PADI
Travel Network’s Dive Traveler, for example, describes the resorts,
the rate structure, and the special features for each destination.
Spending a few minutes with the uninitiated to show them how to
read the brochure and make two, or at most, three strong recommen-
dations may be all it takes for the travel planner to get a booking.
This doesn’t mean that the dive center cannot also meet the
needs of customers who request destinations not on the list. With
a little research and good information from travel wholesalers, dive
centers can provide all of its customers’ travel requests.
Travel arrangements include providing dive travel insurance
information, which may be provided by the wholesaler. Wholesaler’s
errors and omissions insurance, as well as dive center and resort
insurance, can double insurance requirements when booking travel.
Taking on customized dive travel duties at this level requires
commitment, and travel planners can use every resource available to
them. The rewards of a successful custom travel program are worth
it, and loyal dive travel customers represent a significant source of
dive center income.
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Tell us about your trip!

Thank you for traveling with PADI Travel Network. We welcome your comments and
will use them to evaluate and improve our services. We will also share this informa-
tion for improvement with the resorts and dive operators we represent.
Fax: (949) 267-1256
Dates of travel: ______________________________________ Name of Airline: _____________________________________
Name of hotel/resort /liveaboard: ____________________________________________________________________________

Name of dive operation: ___________________________________________________________________________________
1. How did you find out about PADI Travel Network? (Choose all that apply)
Friend/Family Member padi.com website
Brochure Dive Traveler Instructor or Divemaster
Traveled with us before – number of times _______________

Dive Store/Resort – name & location __________________________________________________________________
Other Website – name ____________________________________________________________________________
Advertisement – where ____________________________________________________________________________
Other – please specify _____________________________________________________________________________
2. What influenced your decision to choose PADI Travel Network? (Choose all that apply)
Price PADI Affiliation Past Experience
Reputation Staff Expertise Word of Mouth Recommendation
Destination/Resort/Diving Selection
3. Please let us know about our services. (5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Fair, 1=Poor, N/A=Not Applicable or Not Used)
5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Telephone calls and emails answered promptly
Consultant’s knowledge
Consultant’s professionalism
Information provided
Response time to your questions or needs
Overall value we added to this trip
4. Would you book a trip with us again?

Yes No, why not? __________________________________________________________________________
5. Would you recommend PADI Travel Network to others?

Yes No, why not? __________________________________________________________________________
6. PADI Travel Network consultant’s name ________________________________________________________
7. Please let us know about the dive operator or liveaboard boat & staff.
(5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Fair, 1=Poor, N/A=Not Applicable or Not Used) 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Friendliness / helpfulness of dive staff
Staff’s skill and knowledge
Attention to safety & environment
Condition of dive boat
Adequacy of boat for diving conditions
Adequacy of onshore facilities
Value for your diving dollar
Would you recommend this operator to others? Yes No
Liveaboard only: 5 4 3 2 1 n/a

Quality of food
Quality of accommodations
8. Please tell us what you liked or didn’t like about this dive operation or liveaboard:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Please let us know about the hotel or resort.
Friendliness /helpfulness staff
Non-dive facilities (pool, gym, etc)
Cleanliness
Comfort of room
Suitable for your needs
Quality of restaurant
Value for your dollar
Would you recommend this hotel/resort to others? Yes No
10. Please tell us what you liked or didn’t like about this hotel/resort:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. Please let us know about the airline service.
Flight availability & scheduling
Value for your dollar
Safety
Comfort
Food & drink
Service
Would you recommend this airline to others? Yes No
Did PADI Travel Network book your flights? Yes No
13. What is your age? ___________ 14. Number of dive vacations you take per year? _______________
14 a. If applicable, where have you taken dive vacations in the past year? __________________________________________
15. Number of dive vacations planned in the next 12 months? ____________________________________

15 a. If applicable, where will you take your dive vacations in the next year? _________________________________________
16. Dive gear?
Own Rent Own some/rent some
17. What is your diving skill level?

Beginner Lower intermediate Upper intermediate
Advanced Professional
Optional
Name: ____________________________________________ email address _______________________________________
City ____________________________________ State/Province _______________ phone number ______________________
May we contact you for permission to use your comments? Yes No
83
(sample only)
PADI TRAVEL NETWORK TOUR EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE

Thank you for traveling with PADI Travel Network. Please take the time to reflect back on your dive vacation to answer the following questions. Your
response to these questions will enable us to monitor the service you received and continue to provide the dive travel vacations that PADI Travel
Network travelers expect. By completing and returning this questionnaire, you become eligible in the PADI Travel Network annual drawing for a free
five-day/four-night trip for two, including air, hotel and diving.
Please evaluate Dive Traveler. Was it easy or difficult to read? How many other people read your copy of Dive Traveler? _______________
Comments ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Was the resort description and diving accurately portrayed?
Yes No If not please explain _______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please rate the following aspects of your tour: Excellent Good Fair Poor
Overall enjoyment of your vacation
Domestic Airline (please specify name)
Delta Eastern Other ______________________________________________________________ Date of Departure ________________
International Airline (please specify name)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Date of Departure ________________
Please comment on overall airline service ____________________________________________________________________________________
Hotel/Condo/Live-aboard name ________________________________________
Hotel/Condo/Live-aboard name ________________________________________
Service provided by hotel/condo/live-aboard
Cleanliness of accommodations
Was staff courteous? Yes No
Service provided by dive operation
Quality of rental dive equipment
Appearance and cleanliness of dive operation
Quality/cleanliness of dive boat(s)
Professionalism of dive staff
Quality of dive sites
Would you recommend this dive operation to others? Yes No Why? _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Service of transfer companies/local hosts

Where did you hear about PADI Travel Network? Why did you select a PADI Travel Network vacation?
Check as many as apply. Check as many as apply.
Dive store recommendation __________________________________________ Price
Instructor’s, Assistant Instructor’s or Divemaster’s recommendation The Resort is affiliated with PADI
Friend’s recommendation Type of diving available
Dive Traveler Amenities available (kitchens, tennis courts, golf, etc.)
Advertisement: where? _______________________________________________ Location of hotel/condo/live-aboard
Traveled with PADI Travel Network before Other, please specify ___________________________
Did this trip meet your expections? Yes No If not, please explain ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is my _______ dive vacation with PADI Travel Network. Will you travel with PADI Travel Network again? Yes No
Comments ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please specify your age category. 18 or under 19-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 or over.
Please indicate your approximate yearly household income.
$15,000 or less $15,000-$30,000 $30,000-$50,000 $50,000-75,000 $75,000+
You may may not publish this evaluation. You may may not use my name.
Telephone Number (______) __________________________________ Signature ___________________
_______________________________
FORM NO. 0197T
© International PADI, Inc. 1990
84
ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING
Six
Advertising, Public Relations
and Marketing
“If the circus comes to town and you paint a sign to announce it,
that’s advertising.
If you hang the sign on an elephant and parade it through town,
that’s promotion.
If the elephant tramples the Mayor’s flower garden, that’s publicity.
If you can get the Mayor to laugh about it, that’s public relations!”
This humorous advertising adage provides a good explanation of the
relationship between the various elements of promotions, advertis-
ing and public relations. This chapter looks at why store image is
important, and what that image means to the bottom line.
New customer acquisition

The lifeblood of any successful dive center is its customers. Where
do customers come from? The answer to this is the sum of the parts
of the dive center’s image.
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To acquire new customers, and establish a customer base, the

dive center’s management should decide who the store wants as cus-
tomers. If the image is “lowest prices in town,” the sales staff should
be prepared for customers who look for a deal. In this case, the dive
center must have a very good grasp of fixed and flexible business
costs, or the lowest prices in town can be disastrous.
Realistically, it often takes hours to find out exactly what prod-
ucts or services are best-suited for a customer, and discount centers
cannot afford this level of service. The price of goods and services
must cover the time involved to make the sale and provide the gross
profit margin the dive center needs to prosper.
If the image is “best service in town,” there will still be those cus-
tomers looking for a deal, but the expectation of what is a “deal” will
differ. This type of image also brings in those customers who aren’t
price-driven, but who are interested in all the things that make being
a dive center customer a pleasant experience.
These are customers who are excited about their hobby, and the
dive center should thrive to reinforce their enthusiasm. They expect
to walk into a clean, well-maintained and well-merchandised envi-
ronment. They also expect a sincere and knowledgeable sales staff
who are truly interested in meeting their needs. They become repeat
customers, and tell their friends about the great service at the dive
center, which helps acquire new business.
Maintaining Existing Customers

Once a dive center establishes its image, consistency is the key to
maintaining existing customers. While one advantage to a small busi-
ness is the ability to respond quickly to change, repeat customers
appreciate knowing what to expect when they do business with any
store. A lot of hard work goes into creating an image, and as much
goes into maintaining it. Customers are comfortable when they can
predict actions and events, and comfortable customers are happy
customers. Happy customers spend money and return with their
friends and family. The wise dive center manager considers these
facts when making decisions that can affect the store’s image.
Choosing a Market
One of the most common miscalculations made by new dive center
owners is not deciding what market segment to target. The idea of
“everyone” being in the customer base is simply not feasible. A dive
86
center cannot carry all lines of equipment, offer travel to every pos-
sible destination, and provide every type of training and do it well.
Looking at how nondive businesses select a market to target illus-
trates the principle.
In most cases, a jeweler who offers custom design doesn’t offer
watch repair. Likewise, an art gallery doesn’t sell paint-by-number
kits. These may seem like extreme examples, but the point is a retail
dive center is a specialized business; to succeed, it must identify and
define its customer base, then aggressively pursue that base with its
programs, products and services.
An “identity check” every year or so is a good idea because the
staff should reevaluate the dive center’s image, direction and goals
periodically. For example, if the business plan was created on a
customer base that came from large manufacturers in the area, and
that customer base declines because of economic factors, then a
management should reevaluate the future of the dive center.
If the existing customer base becomes unstable and unable
to support the dive center, management has to adapt to the these
changes as well. These adaptations can range from a shift in the
products offered, to relocating the dive center. The dive center
has to operate as a dynamic entity in a dynamic environment. The
only constant in business is change, and the only way a business
survives is to change. The dive center cannot control many of the
factors that cause change, but it can control its response to these
changes.
Deciding Which Customer Types to Cater to

How does one decide which customer types to cater to? The answer
requires a little research, but it’s not very complicated. For example,
are there any special populations in the market? Suppose there is a
significant academic community based at a local college or univer-
sity. This type of customer base is transient, and there are seasons
when there are significantly fewer students on campus than others.
The typical college or university population doesn’t have as much
disposable income as some other nonstudent customer bases.
To serve this type of customer, the dive center would recognize
the limited resources of this base and merchandise accordingly.
There would probably be more equipment rented than purchased
in this market, so the dive center may need to put more energy and
resources into a well-stocked rental program than into equipment for
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sale inventory. This type of customer base may also support a stron-
ger continuing education program and local diving opportunities.
The travel program would consider school breaks and market
low to moderately priced “spring break getaway dive vacations.”
The dive center would make sure all college or university customer’s
home addresses are on the database for trip and sale flyers, so
parents and other family members are aware of what the dive center
offers.
A dive center located in a high technology industry area would
develop programs to suit a different type of customer base. The
considerations may include a more extensive travel and continuing
education program, Including some of the more exotic dive travel
locations. The continuing education program might include more of
the hands-on specialties, and these specialties would be available on
group travel programs. Establishing a travel videotape library could
help promote the travel program; it could also be used for presenta-
tions at dive club meetings, or when setting up individual or special
small group travel.
The product mix in the dive center should also reflect the differ-
ence in clientele. The interests and needs of a “high-tech” customer
base differ from those of the college or university group. The former
group probably requires a higher level of service and equipment, and
is less price conscious than the latter.
Identifying the Customer

How does a dive center go about identifying the target customer?
Dive center sales staff may wrongly judge a customer by appearance.
The prudent dive center salesperson will meet the customer’s needs,
not by making assumptions about what the customer can afford, but
by asking about the customer’s needs and suggesting products and
services that meet them.
Mainstream Advertising
After defining the dive center’s image, the next step is getting the
word out to those people defined as the target customer base. Cus-
tomers derive their image of a dive center from what they read, see
and hear.
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Print
In most areas, advertising the dive center starts with the telephone
book, not because it’s the most important, but because every other
dive center will have an ad in it, and many customers will call all the
dive centers listed. The task is to determine how much of the adver-
tising budget to dedicate to this form of advertising.
Which dive center a customer chooses to visit will not likely be
based on the size of the ad, but the impression of the dive centers
called. Telephone book advertising should inspire shoppers to call,
rather than try to tell them everything they need to know about the
store. The ad should include contact information, but be simple and
easy-to-read. Devote more of your advertising budget to other, more
targeted media that give the store’s name and image market recogni-
tion.
Other forms of print advertising are newspapers and periodicals.
How much of this type advertising you choose to do depends upon
the market and available publications. Print ads in local daily news-
papers may be the best mediums to feature price-and-item advertis-
ing, as well as special sales events. While daily newspapers reach
large numbers of people, the dive center has to determine whether
this market includes a significant portion of target customers. If not,
there may be smaller periodicals distributed to a certain geographic
or demographic market segment that would reach more of the right
people for less cost. Becoming familiar with the different publica-
tions available in the area is important to making the right decisions.
A third form of print advertising is a sure thing for dive centers:
a monthly newsletter mailed directly to store customers and handed
out in the store. The store’s newsletter is a form of direct mail ad-
vertising and should be treated as such, with special attention to
timeliness, content and budget. It is the most dependable advertising
outlet the dive center has because the dive center controls exactly
who it goes to. A dive center may have regular customers who visit
the store every week, but many more who don’t get by as often.
Communicating with the existing customer base on a regular basis
reminds frequent shoppers about diving and your dive center.
Television and Radio

When a dive center starts a radio or television campaign, it’s impor-
tant to remember that the audience may be hearing or seeing the
dive center’s name for the first time, so it may be wise to use these
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media for image promotions rather than to announce sales. An image

campaign should sell the fun and excitement of diving, while identify-
ing the dive center as the place to call or visit for details.
The process of advertising on radio or television begins with
contacting the sales representative at the stations in the dive cen-
ter’s area. Often, these reps will already have solicited the dive
center, so finding them won’t be hard. The best resource in planning
a successful advertising campaign is information, beginning with
researching a variety of stations before the buying starts. Having a
budget and target audience helps when gathering information from
media reps.
The first thing to do in researching what stations to consider is
asking customers what stations they listen to or watch and when. It’s
easy to insert a few questions into existing customer surveys to get
the information needed. Remember not to pick stations because of
personal choice, or the ones that are most popular, pick the stations
your customers listen to.
After selecting stations, their sales representatives assist the
dive center’s media buyer by helping him plan a successful schedule.
Reps can provide good ideas for getting maximum exposure for the
store’s advertising dollars. In this relationship, the dive center is the
customer and should expect the same customer service level as it
provides its customers. The media planner should ask questions to
ensure the media purchase meets the dive center’s needs and reach-
es its target market.
Cross Promotions
A cross promotion provides dive centers with a low or no-cost op-
portunity to tap into another business’ customer base. Some of the
most successful cross promotions used by dive centers are with fit-
ness centers or swim clubs. Generally, the people who frequent these
facilities are prequalified dive center customers -- they lead active
lifestyles, enjoy the social aspect of the club atmosphere and have
the discretionary income to participate in recreational activities.
By providing a Discover Scuba Diving experience to health club
members, for example, the dive center can usually round up a group
of ready-made student divers. In return, the health club might be
allowed to place coupons in the dive center, offering a special trial
memberships to dive center customers. This type of cross promo-
tion can have long-term benefits, especially when dive center staff
90
are health club members who are seen there regularly. Offering the
health club staff scuba certification can further solidify the relation-
ship.
Cross promotions with any number of businesses and organiza-
tions can be effective, but teaming up with other recreation or travel
groups offers the best chances for mutual success. Dive centers
should only embark on cross promotions that are mutually benefi-
cial, and decline those that are of no use for it from a practical or
public relations point of view.
In any case, cross promotions should be kept simple, and all
agreements concerning services provided by each facility should be
in writing. Once the commitment is made, the dive center staff needs
to familiarize themselves with the promotion and to prepare for the
response. Given time, cross promotions can be the dive center’s best
means of new customer acquisition at minimal expense.
Public Relations
Public relations (PR) is not only how a business handles customer
problems or complaints; it’s also how that business is perceived by
others.
Good PR takes many forms. It may not seem that talking at local
elementary schools does much for the dive center’s business, and it
may not — over the short term. However, this type of program gener-
ates tremendous goodwill that lasts for years. Elementary age chil-
dren are fascinated by diving; they grow up into potential customers;
their parents and teachers are already grown up and are potential
customers, and the cost for reaching this group is just a little time.
All kinds of local clubs and organizations need speakers and
programs, and there’s no reason the topic can’t be scuba diving or
related topics, such as local aquatic life, shipwrecks, etc. Chambers
of commerce list these groups with contact names. It’s easy for the
dive center to take the show on the road and get some good word-
of-mouth going in the community. After obtaining a few speaking
engagements, the groups may start calling the dive center to request
a speaker. After that, it’s easy as the dive center becomes known as
a source for anyone looking for dive information. Accepting local
speaking engagements is good PR, but it’s also very effective adver-
tising. Giving the dive center a name and a face goes a long way in
getting new customers in the door to try scuba.
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Besides speaking to groups, public relations also includes commu-

nity involvement. If the dive center ties itself to a charity organization
and gets involved in its activities, then there can be a lot of opportu-
nities to contribute to a good cause and to the public perception of
the business. In a coastal area, beach cleanups and coastal preserva-
tion groups are natural choices. Inland, the dive center may choose a
group completely unrelated to diving. Here dive centers can make a
difference in their community, adopting a charity group and provid-
ing support, while gaining attention for both the charity and the dive
center. The goal is to enhance the dive center’s image throughout
the community, so that when anyone thinks of scuba, the dive center
comes to mind first.
Special Events
Special events don’t have to be sales events, but a sales event could
be held at the same time as a special event to enhance the effect of
both. A special event sponsored by the dive center can be anything
from a Project AWARE cleanup, to a film festival, to an underwater Mo-
nopoly game for charity. It’s easy to see how advertising, promotion
and public relations can combine in the same effort; successful events
contain elements of all three. Dive centers can either create their own
events or look for ways to tie into events that already exist and get
into a cross promotion. Staging a well-promoted event at the dive cen-
ter can generate more business in the long run than a traditional sales
event.
Dive Clubs and Others

Every dive center should sponsor a dive club as an integral part of the
dive center’s offerings. If the club is run by the dive center’s staff and
management, it’s a good idea to ensure that the club’s main officers
are store staff members, and not elected at large from the member-
ship. This keeps the dive club from becoming a source of competition
for the dive center.
The club gives the dive center an excellent opportunity to high-
light upcoming dive travel and continuing education, and also gives
club members a forum for showing slide or video presentations. Some
dive clubs also invite speakers from the community, such as the po-
lice or rescue squad dive team, or a local physician to speak on diving
fitness.
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The dive club’s goal is to provide a social atmosphere to pro-

mote the dive center’s activities, and provide club members with
useful information. It also serves as a promotional tool for the dive
center and should be given the same attention as other promotional
efforts. At the same time, it provides valuable information and enjoy-
able social activities for the club’s members.
The PADI 1992 New Diver Benchmark Report showed that dive
club members own more equipment, pursue higher diver education,
and are more active that nonmembers. (See Table 6-1.)
Developing a dive center’s advertising, public relations image,
and marketing strategy is an exciting part of owning or operating
a business. The creativity of the person or people involved is what
makes promotional campaigns successful or not. There are no wrong
or right answers, there are only the ideas that work or don’t work for
the dive center or resort. These ideas will do more to establish the
identity of the dive center or resort, and set it apart from its competi-
tion than selling different manufacturer’s equipment lines.
Table 6-1
Dive Club Members vs. Nonmembers

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Own BCD & Regulator Advanced Made No Dives
Open Water in 12 Months
Diver or Higher
Members Nonmembers
Source: "The PADI 1992 New Diver Benchmark Report"
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94
DIVE CENTER PHYSICAL OPERATIONS
Seven
Dive Center Physical
Operations*
Operating a dive center involves much planning and expenditure,
and once the doors open and business is under way, it’s important
for store managers to plan for tasks that make the operation run
more smoothly. First, the staff should keep the sales floor in good
order and the displays fresh. Behind the scenes, the staff should
maintain the compressors and rental department and ensure its
smooth operation. A dive center that has an on-site pool and boat
has an even larger maintenance burden.
Defining the duties and setting up a schedule for each job helps
keep the dive center staff on track and the dive center’s business up
and running. Clean carpets and clean air are equally important to
the dive center’s ability to meet customers’ needs. In short, the staff
should have a plan for day-to-day operations, and should implement
this plan.
* The resort chapter of this book addresses resort physical operations.
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SEVEN
Day-to-Day Dive Center Maintenance

The store’s appearance requires the most daily maintenance of any
aspect of the dive center. Each day should begin with the staff enter-
ing the dive center through the same door the customers use and
looking at what customers see. It’s a popular adage that a person has
only one chance to make a first impression; the same is true for the
dive center.
Store managers should devote some free time for research and
shopping in different areas. Shopping malls, specialty shops and
even grocery stores create consumer appeal in a variety of ways that
dive centers can emulate. When visiting a shopping mall, managers
should ask themselves what’s attractive about a particular store;
once identified, those features may be adapted to the dive center.
All the classy advertising and media coverage can’t help a busi-
ness that disappoints the customer at the point of sale. Often, main-
taining an image is as easy as keeping the store’s environment clean
and appealing, and it doesn’t necessarily require a lot of money.
While most dive center staff members don’t need step-by-step
instructions on how to run a vacuum cleaner, some may act as if
they’ve never seen one if no one directs them to use it. The manager
should list the store’s cleaning chores. If there are doubts about
frequency, then daily is a safe assumption. It’s important to maintain
the outside appearance as well, since image begins as soon as cus-
tomers pull into the parking lot. This may require sweeping the front
walk and picking up trash every morning.
“Out of sight, out of mind” applies to dressing rooms, bathrooms
and any other areas of the store that customers don’t see until they
enter it from the sales floor. These areas also require special atten-
tion on the chore list. The stock room, rental room, repair center and
offices need to be neat and clean. While customers may not enter
these areas on a regular basis, it is important that the staff can locate
items easily to provide good customer service. A dirty restroom is
offensive, and can offset the good impression of a neat sales floor.
Therefore, the staff should clean it daily at least.
Trash cans need emptying daily, glass windows, cases and mir-
rors need constant attention, and the staff should keep the displays
dusted and tidy. If the staff eats anywhere in the store, they should
clean the area immediately. Scent plays a significant role in buyers’
impressions and greasy food smells don’t work in the dive center’s
favor.
96
The manager should schedule daily chores and rotate the duties
so that everyone participates. The schedule should be posted in a
prominent place, and the manager should ensure that the staff follow
it before the store opens, or before everyone leaves for the night.
It’s important for everyone on the staff to remember that every
time a customer walks through the door, he gets an impression of
the dive center and whom he’s dealing with, all before anyone on the
staff is visible. How customers react to the store’s appearance affects
everyone, and the whole staff should contribute to making a good
first impression.
Throughout the work day, tidiness goes a long way toward
achieving a favorable impression. The staff should return merchan-
dise to its display immediately after sales presentations. They should
also unpack product shipments daily and put them away. Keeping
displays full and neat contributes to the overall impression upon
customers.
Likewise, the staff needs to maintain its personal appearance.
Some dive centers require staff uniforms or dive center shirts that
identify employees quickly. A dress code in the employee handbook
ensures that the store staff clearly understands how to dress for
work. The staff appearance is just as important as the store appear-
ance.
The Compressor System

Most dive centers have a compressor system, and although some
may think of it as both a blessing and a curse, there is no denying its
important role. The ability to fill tanks on demand is a necessity for
many dive centers, especially those in areas where no other fill facili-
ties exist. For dive centers that depend on their own compressor
system, the compressor is the heart of the operation, and the store
should maintain it diligently.
Regular compressor system maintenance generally includes
changing filters and oil, and looking for trouble areas, much like
other machines. Servicing a compressor system may be time con-
suming and expensive -- the store may need to purchase parts and
it may take hours to perform the necessary service. However, it is a
necessary job, and one that must be performed on a regular basis.
Failure to do so can have serious implications for a dive center,
since the compressor not only has to run dependably, but also to
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SEVEN
produce quality air fills that won’t endanger the lives of customers.
Therefore, compressor maintenance is one job that the staff can’t
put off or postpone from its regular schedule.
The most efficient way to get the job done is to hire a profes-
sional compressor service technician to perform scheduled main-
tenance and assure quality air fills. When a dive center contracts
for compressor service, generally the technician keeps up with the
maintenance schedule, provides all the parts and filters, and may
also provide an air quality check and certificate. This leaves the dive
center with a single task: paying the bill. This outside service may be
more expensive than having the staff perform compressor mainte-
nance, but it takes the worry and time consuming aspects out of the
equation.
Having a store technician service the compressor is the other
and more economical alternative. This may be risky, however, if
there is a tendency to let the compressor service run overdue, espe-
cially during busy times when the business needs the compressor
the most. A staff technician keeps up with how often the compres-
sor needs service, usually once for a number of hours of use. So, the
more it’s being used, the more often it needs service, and the busy
season will require the most attention. Changing the oil and filters is
fairly simple, routine maintenance. A complete overhaul and check-
up of all moving parts may be something a professional technician
should do.
Dive centers can obtain air quality analysis from a number of
sources. There are effective services that ship test cylinders directly
to the dive centers, where the cylinder is filled and returned for
analysis. A certificate of air quality is then issued to the dive center,
making the whole process easy and convenient. Regardless of the
method, compressor maintenance is an extremely important aspect
of dive center operation.
Enriched Air Systems

The growth in enriched air (nitrox) diving adds to the complexities
of a compressor system. To many retailers, enriched air appears
attractive because they can charge substantially more for a fill over
normal compressed air. However, due to the higher oxygen content
of enriched air, compressor systems need a higher degree of cleanli-
ness, special filtration, special materials, and special support equip-
ment. Thus, while the income is higher, so is the initial investment
and the cost of operation.
98
Many of the considerations for an enriched air system arise from

the store’s desired involvement in enriched air and the methods by
which the store will blend enriched air.
For example, a store that plans to supply only EANx32 and
EANx36 may be able to purchase the enriched air premixed from an
industrial gas supplier, eliminating the need to deal with pure oxy-
gen. By using an oxygen-clean booster (Haskel), the store can readily
fill enriched air tanks using its normal air supply to drive the booster.
Systems like this can be operated simply with a moderate invest-
ment. The drawback is that it limits the variety of blends the store
can offer, and the profit on fills may be lower.
On the other hand, a store that wants to make custom blends
may need more complex equipment and an enriched air system
cleaned and maintained to oxygen compatible standards, espe-
cially if blending will require handling pure oxygen. Such a system
may require an oil-free compressor, special filtration and an oxygen
compatible booster pump. Safely running such a system requires a
higher investment and more extensive training for the operator. The
advantage is the ability to offer customers the exact blend they want,
and more gross profit per fill since the dive operation is the “manu-
facturer.”
There are several methods for blending enriched air, with the
technologies in flux at this writing. The simplest involves putting
pure oxygen into dedicated oxygen compatible scuba or storage cyl-
inders and then adding oxygen compatible air. Other systems use dif-
ferential membranes and continuous flow mixing to create enriched
air. These require more investment, but are preferred for safety and
operational simplicity. They’re also better suited for blending en-
riched air in signficant volumes.
In considering whether to invest in an enriched air system, be-
sides the local demand, the dive operator must keep these points in
mind:
• Enriched air demands proper handling and analysis.
• Cylinders must be properly marked and dedicated to enriched
air, and filling protocols must be followed exactly. These cylinders
must be kept separate from normal air cylinders.
• Divers purchasing enriched air must analyze the fill and the store
must document and maintain records of this.
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• Enriched air systems require the specialized equipment already

mentioned, plus oxygen analyzers, content stickers, and other
items.
• Filling enriched air cylinders, and working on enriched air scuba
equipment and enriched air fill systems all require special train-
ing beyond that required for conventional air stations. Those not
trained and qualified must not be allowed to operate the system.
Finally, it’s absolutely imperative that the dive operator realize that
enriched air should be done properly, or not at all. Attempting to
“get into” enriched air by blending oxygen with a conventional air
system is very hazardous, and can result in fire or explosion. Improp-
er blending can also be hazardous to the diver if there’s a question
about oxygen content in a fill.
The operator who believes enriched air is viable in the local
market should make the investment for the proper equipment and
training. Done properly, handling enriched air is safe, but done im-
properly it can be very hazardous.
Selecting a Compressor
To select the right compressor for a business, the owner or manager
should ask these questions:
Q How many tanks will be filled per day?
Let’s begin by using the following calculations – if there’s a need to fill
11.15-litre/80-cubic foot (cf) tanks (11.15-litre tanks hold 2265 litres
of compressed air), for example, and an estimated 10 tank fills per day,
the compressor must pump approximately 22650 litres/800 cf of air
per day (assuming these are near-empty tanks). Using a 141-litre/5-cf
per minute (cfm) compressor without storage banks, it would take
about 16 minutes to completely fill one 11.15-litre/80-cf tank. To fill
10 tanks or 22650 litres/800 cf, it would take approximately 160 min-
utes. A large 1132 litres per minute/40 cfm compressor, for example,
would take 20 minutes to fill 10 11.15-litre/80-cf near-empty tanks.
283 litre per minute/10 cfm-compressor = 8 minutes per
11.15-litre/80-cf air fill (80 minutes for 10 tanks).
566 litre per minute/20 cfm compressor = 4 minutes per
11.15-litre/80-cf air fill. (40 minutes for 10 tanks).
1132 litre per minute/40 cfm compressor = 2 minutes per
11.15-litre/80 cf air fill (20 minutes for 10 tanks).
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By using a cascading storage banks system, the 10 tanks may be filled

in a fraction of the time needed to fill them using the compressor
alone. While the compressor still needs to run to replenish the 22653
litres/800 cf of air depleted from the banks, you can run the compres-
sor at more favorable times. Even if the banks can’t fill the tanks all the
way, you won’t have to run the compressor as long.
Having a storage bank capacity equal to one day’s air-fill needs is
generally adequate. As demands increase, additional storage bottles
may be added to the system to increase the capacity.
When deciding what kind of compressor to choose for a dive cen-
ter, the buyer should consider the following questions:
Q What is the budget?
A good compressor system is expensive. Prior to figuring the cost of
a compressor into a projected budget, it is a good idea to do some
homework. Spending some time in determining compressor needs,
availability and costs can pay off in the long run. A good compressor
system can prove the most economical through less breakdown and
upgrade costs.
Q What are the filtration costs?
A smart shopper will compare the different filtration systems and costs
as well. Although small compressors and filtration systems are less
expensive initially, the costs per air fills are actually much higher per air
fill than the larger more expensive systems. Upon inquiry, maufactur-
ers and distributors can tabulate the different costs and advantages of
each size and system.
As in any business, competition drives compressor quality and
pricing. Potential buyers can obtain prices and other information by
contacting compressor manufacturers or their local dealers. Regardless
of the purchase, it’s important to seek good compressor training for all
the dive center employees, and to ensure that the system is always safe
and well-maintained.
Q Will I use this system for enriched air, either immediately
or in the near future?
If “yes,” then it makes sense to consider an oil free compressor. Such
a compressor is significantly more of an investment, but is much more
suited for blending enriched air.
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Rental Equipment
Most dive centers rental departments are in constant use, and it’s
a rarity to find every item in the rental inventory in the store at the
same time. Some dive centers use their rental equipment almost ex-
clusively for teaching classes, others rent it out to any certified diver,
but most dive centers count on the rental room to supply training
needs and meet customers’ rental needs.
How many regulators, BCDs, wet suits and other items should a
dive center have in the rental department? Unfortunately, there’s no
magic formula. Most dive centers start off with the minimum and add
to the rental inventory as the need arises. For an inland dive center
that uses rentals primarily for teaching, the minimum may be the av-
erage number of students in an open water class; for a resort, it may
be the average number the dive boats carry on a given day.
No matter how extensive the rental inventory, organization and
access are the key concerns. The staff should clearly mark wet suits
and BCDs as to size, sex, and identifying number. Many retailers use
indelible ink markers and stamps to mark the inventory as well as
iron-on patches. The patches look better, but can wear off quickly,
so this may require some experimentation. Some manufacturers will
sew colored patches onto BCDs and wet suits specifically for rental
programs. The staff should also mark regulators, fins and any other
rental items for clear identification. Marking the equipment in some
way makes the rental process more efficient for customers, by sav-
ing employees time and effort.
As discussed in the Business Planning chapter, a point-of- pur-
chase computer program may be the best system to keep track of
the rental inventory. If one isn’t available, the dive center should use
some system to track its rental inventory.
Keeping the rental equipment in good working order is a never-
ending job. Dive centers should keep this up to avoid an equipment
shortage and a lapse in a crucial area of the dive center’s services.
Regulators require the most time-consuming maintenance be-
cause each unit usually needs an overhaul at least once a year, or
every six months if the equipment is used year-round. It’s tempting
to put this off, waiting for a slow time and service everything at once.
Busy dive centers (hopefully) rarely have slow times, and they need
an efficient system for servicing equipment regularly.
Putting rental regulators into the repair system along with
customers’ regulators keeps them from being out of service for
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very long. While servicing rental regulators is hardly a direct money

maker, neglecting service can have serious consequences for instruc-
tors teaching classes and customers on dive trips. Regular rental
regulator service is like insurance.
Buoyancy compensators also require regular service to function
properly. If the staff teaches students to properly rinse BCDs and
requires them to do so at the end of each training session, they will
develop good habits and help minimize chlorine damage to the BCD.
However, not all divers practice what they learn in class, and many
people tend to treat rental equipment more roughly than they would
their own. Therefore, the dive center staff should regularly rinse and
empty the BCDs, and check them for leaks and proper operation.
Dive centers should have a procedure for instructors to report
malfunctioning or broken equipment they discover during classes,
as well as a procedure for checking in rental equipment that includes
damage inspection. Ideally, when customers pick up rental equip-
ment, they should connect regulators and BCDs to a tank, test them
together, then sign a rental agreement stating that the equipment is
in good order. Upon their return, the dive center staff should check
the equipment to ensure it’s still in working order.
Just as regulators, tanks should come up for visual inspection in
small groups so that the dive center doesn’t run out of rental tanks.
This also applies to hydrostatic tests, where there is a larger finan-
cial commitment when sending every tank in the house for testing.
Sending a few tanks at a time every month avoids financial burden
and tank shortages. Keep in mind that rental tanks may require more
frequent inspections than customer tanks due to heavier use. It’s rec-
ommended to properly train the staff as qualified visual tank inspec-
tors by an accredited agency.
When renting tanks, procedures should include checking hydro-
static test and visual inspection dates on the tank before it leaves the
dive center, to avoid the chance of a customer not being able to refill
the tank at his destination, which may create an inconvenient and
embarrassing situation for the customer, not to mention both dive
centers involved.
When customers return tanks, the staff should check them for re-
maining pressure, since completely empty tanks need visual inspec-
tions before refills. Making sure customers are aware of that helps
avoid problems; some dive centers charge the customer for a visual
inspection when rental tanks come back completely drained.
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Dive centers that offer enriched air will probably offer enriched
air rentals. Enriched air cylinders and/or regulators must be clearly
marked and segregated from conventional equipment. When some-
one rents an enriched air cylinder, the diver must show proof of En-
riched Air Diver certification and then analyze the blend. The store
must keep records of the analysis.
Enriched air cylinder rental can create complexities if the renting
diver takes the cylinder somewhere other than the renter’s operation
for enriched air fills. Although certified Enriched Air Divers know
that enriched air cylinders shouldn’t be filled from conventional
air sources, there’s sometimes a concern that this could happen
when the cylinder is out of the operation’s control. Some operations
analyze the contents of returned enriched air cylinders; if it contains
air, the operation assumes it needs to be cleaned before returning
it to enriched air service. Other operations only permit divers to fill
enriched air cylinders at their dive center or resort.
It’s important to keep service records on all rental equipment
(conventional and enriched air), especially regulators, BCDs and
tanks. If there’s ever a maintenance question, records can demon-
strate that the equipment was serviced at regular intervals.
Wet suits often take the most abuse of any rental equipment, so
it’s important that customers understand wet suit care when they
rent one. While ideally every wet suit should come back clean, this
doesn’t happen often. Some cleaning instructions at the time of
rental help, but good customer service may mean the staff, not the
customers, clean the wet suits.
In addition to cleanliness, the staff should inspect wet suits
closely for damage upon return, especially in the knee area and at
the zippers. Most damage is unintentional and requires minor main-
tenance due to normal wear and tear.
Major damage is best handled on a case-by-case basis. It’s a good
idea to have a damage statement in the rental agreement, the word-
ing of which may be determined by the type of diving most rental
customers do. In any event, when someone discovers a split seam or
damaged zipper, it should be repaired before the suit goes out again.
Customers are less likely to take care of rental equipment if the dive
center doesn’t keep it in good shape.
To that end, rental equipment should not remain in service until
it falls apart. If the staff maintains the equipment properly, the dive
center should be able to sell it after a year or two of use.
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Purchasing used rental equipment is a great way for divers on

tight budgets to get into their first set of equipment. While most dive
centers prefer customers to purchase new equipment, some custom-
ers won’t, or can’t afford it. The opportunity to purchase used equip-
ment from a source they trust often gets customers to own equip-
ment with mutual benefits to the dive center and customer. Once
they purchase one or two used items, customers are more likely to
buy new equipment to complete their equipment needs.
Some dive centers have successfully turned used equipment
sales into full-blown events, including specials on new equipment
as well. Once they own their own equipment, divers are likely to
dive more, and eventually want new equipment. Dive centers may
also consider taking the old equipment back as a trade to get these
customers into new equipment. Handled carefully, selling used
equipment increases new equipment sales, customer traffic and dive
center income.
Merchandising
One of the best ways to make a positive first impression on custom-
ers is through the appearance of a dive center. Visual merchandising
and displays convey a strong message to the customer, so it’s very
important to make sure they send the proper message.
Visual merchandising and store layout are essential to business success.

Photo courtesy of Aaron’s Dive Shop, Oahu, Hawaii.
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The basics of store layout is a good place to start -- there should

be an easily recognizable flow to the merchandise on display. All
similar items, such as wet suits, dive skins, hoods and gloves should
ideally be in the same display area. These items don’t need to be on
the same rack, but it’s effective to place them in proximity to each
other so the customer sees what goes together, and salespeople can
easily recommend add-ons.
Displaying defog solutions near the masks, for example, along
with replacement straps and mask storage cases prompts customers
to buy these add-on items.
Once there is a basic store layout, the dive center can focus on
individual displays. An effective merchandise method is displaying
the merchandise the way customers will use it. Regulators, for ex-
ample, may be attached to tanks and BCDs, just as they would in real
life. This method provides customers with a realistic display, and
prompts them to consider buying the whole setup.
Likewise, dive skins should make the customer think of a great
diving vacation; plastic bags over them distracts customers with
thoughts of dry cleaning. Hanging exposure suits by size or color
(keeping the legs off the floor) creates a more comfortable and re-
alistic shopping environment. Hanging two-piece wet suits together
on the same hanger, layered in the same fashion as they’ll be worn,
makes it easy for the customer to see how the suit will look when he
tries it on.
An effective mask, fins and snorkel display. Photo courtesy of Aaron’s Dive Shop, Oahu, Hawaii.
106
A dive center that stocks dive wear needs a dressing room com-
plete with a full-length mirror, sturdy hooks and seating. Suggesting
a matching dive skin to every customer trying on a wet suit to make
donning the wet suit easier also sells more dive skins.
One of the focal points for any well-merchandised dive center
is the mask and snorkel display. Displaying masks next to matching
snorkels creates an image that suggests using the products together.
If space limitations prevent displaying every available color, display
the most popular colors with signs indicating other colors available.
Depending on customer traffic, the staff can change the displays
every month. Customers from one month’s Open Water Diver course
are prime candidates for the next Adventures in Diving program.
Once certified, customers still stop by the store just to see what’s
new, so changing the displays helps keep customer interest.
If a display window faces the street or parking lot, the staff
should pay special attention to its design. Display windows can be
great “silent salesmen” for the dive center, especially when the store
is closed. These displays can include colorful travel posters, manne-
quins with brightly colored equipment and accessories, and atten-
tion-grabbing products that put the store’s image right out front.
Pools
Pools for dive training are central to a dive center’s operation. There
are many options for finding or building pools, but there’s one con-
stant: training pools need sufficient depth for scuba training (for a
diver to submerge while standing). This leaves out shallow lap pools,
which may be available at some clubs and apartment complexes
(these, however, may be great locations for conducting Discover
Scuba Diving promotions).
When looking for a pool site, the dive center’s options include
on-site pools, city pools, health clubs, YMCAs, apartment complexes
and in some situations, private homes.
On-site pools are becoming quite popular with dive centers that
have the space and the money to build them. Pools are expensive to
build and maintain, but they add to a dive center’s image and ser-
vice, and eliminate dependency on other entities. Since they cost a
lot to build, dive centers should consider using their pools as much
as possible. The best use for them is many scuba courses, but other
uses include swimming lessons, birthday parties and special events,
such as underwater Monopoly or hockey.
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Commercial pools, such as city-owned pools, are in many cases

the largest, best-kept and deepest pools to use. Depending on the
city and/or park, dive centers may rent these pools for minimal, or
extremely high rates. Depending on needs and pool regulations, dive
centers may negotiate an hourly or monthly rate, per session or per
head rates are also available. YMCA and health club pools are also
considered commercial pools. These commercial pools are usually
regulated and kept to the highest cleanliness standards (chlorine,
acidity, decks, changing rooms, etc.).
Depending on the city the dive center is in, these types of pools
constitute the best options for conducting scuba lessons. Some small
towns may not offer the same amenities, however, and it may be nec-
essary to look for other options, such as residential pools. Although
these don’t portray the same professional image as on-site commer-
cial pools, they can serve as training pools if they’re deep and big
enough.
Regardless of the pool it chooses, the dive center must ensure
several things before using it. There’s nothing less professional and
frustrating than getting to a pool site and finding it closed. This isn’t
rare, due to the fact that many lifeguards are teenagers who may not
have dependable transportation, or take their part-time work lightly.
It’s wise to obtain a key if possible, and if not, always call in
advance to ensure the facility is open. Obtain a number to call on
weekends as well, since most city offices close on weekends. If the
dive center is satisfied with a pool facility, it should consider getting
a lease or a contract to keep the pool for some time, since without a
contract, it may lose the use of the pool.
Legal considerations also apply to using any pool. All the instruc-
tors using the pool must add the facility to their instructor liability
insurance as an additional insured. Dive centers should also add the
pool facility as an additional insured since the dive center’s product
liability covers scuba equipment used for teaching classes.
Boats
Depending on a dive business’ location, procuring boats may be
unessential, or very necessary for success. Warm water resorts, for
example, usually cannot exist without owned or rented boats. Inland
dive centers, on the other hand, may not worry about renting or
owning a boat, depending on geographic location.
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Dive businesses normally need boats for several reasons, in-

cluding day-to-day operation, periodical charters, and increasing
services and profits. While a dive business may make money char-
tering boats, this can be risky business at times, requiring weather
cooperation and outside services that may not be controlled by the
dive center. To offer this service to customers and profit from it, the
business owner has to use caution and good judgment.
Many resorts and dive centers use boats on a daily basis to
reach their favorite dive sites. Many such operations use at least
two boats since their livelihood depends on daily charters, and it’s
important to have an operational boat at all times.
There are many types of boats designed or ideal for diving; they
vary depending on the region and size, but all need to be comfort-
able and practical for the activity. Boats with large deck space for
suiting up, tank racks, gates/transoms for easy entries and exits are
recommended for dive sites that require some travel. Compressors
may not be essential on small boats or day boats, but are a necessity
for multiday and live-aboard boats.
With some common sense and the right budget, a dive business
operator can shop for a boat just as he would for any large item:
compare the features and benefits and decide which best suit the
job.
Evaluating the cost and efficiency of owning or renting a boat
varies greatly from one situation to the other. The dive center should
consider geographic location, competition, customer base, dive
charter profit, boat maintenance and purchasing costs. Traditionally,
dive centers in areas with large dive boat fleets find it more economi-
cal and efficient to rent, rather than owning a boat.
Chartering boats by dive centers is big business in many parts
of the world. Southern California, for example, has one of the largest
fleets of large dive boats in the world, and only a handful of these are
owned or associated with a dive center. Instead, these independently
owned boats are chartered by different dive centers, clubs and spe-
cial groups on a regular basis. Each area has unique conditions for
chartering dive boats.
As in dealing with any business, the level of service and profes-
sionalism differs from one charter operator to another. Some are
extremely organized, keep schedules and records, and have defined
deposit policies. Others are less organized and not as dependable,
which may cause last-minute cancellations or changes. Common
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business sense and caution is advisable when chartering dive boats

-- the smart thing to do may be to personally go on a boat and mea-
sure its service before committing money, resources and reputation.
If managed properly, with dependable boat operators, charter-
ing boats can be a profit center for a dive business. The rewards of
such service go beyond making money, though, since boat charters
keep divers active and happy, and boat diving is a lot of fun for most
divers.
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PERSONNEL
Eight
Personnel
A business’ most important asset is its staff, therefore, an owner
or manager must make the right decisions when hiring, training or
reducing staff. This chapter covers these issues, as well as contract
labor, salaries, benefits and personnel problems.
The information in this chapter is tailored for dive businesses
whenever possible. There are, however, several books and refer-
ences on the market that give excellent general guidelines for retail
and other business, and some of these are listed in this chapter’s
bibliography.
Hiring
Hiring the right staff is one of the most important steps in running
any business. The right staff can implement the business strategy
and goals, and the wrong one can potentially harm them. Except for
certain areas, such as bookkeeping, a dive business requires staff
members who not only have strong customer service and sales
skills, but diving knowledge as well.
This may narrow the field of applicants a little, but it’s possible
to hire and train the right individuals. To accomplish this, the dive
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center needs to take several steps, such as running the right type of
ads, having effective interviews, and setting a proper training pro-
gram.
Accomplishing these tasks requires some thought and planning.
These are some of the steps to consider when planning to hire new
staff:
Hiring the Instructional Staff

To find applicants, a business can advertise in scuba magazines and
trade journals. The Employment Board in the PADI Pros area of padi.
com is an effective resource for finding qualified candidates, espe-
cially for resorts. Newspaper “Help Wanted” ads need to be quite
specific and informative, otherwise the wrong people will call.
While all qualified candidates should be scuba instructors, a dive
business may recruit interested customers and train them to profes-
sional levels. There are also other criteria to consider, including:
• The instruction level at the facility -- Is the business an IDC facility
or does it plan to become one? Does it offer semiprivate classes?
Are the candidates qualified to teach the specialties offered at the
facility?
• Candidate versatility -- What kind of sales training do these can-
didates possess? What’s their attitude on selling equipment and
travel? What other skills do they possess? Are they computer- liter-
ate and can they produce newsletters?
• Can the candidates travel and work weekends if required? Are they
interested in relocating to the area? How long do they plan to stay
in their new position?
• Do the candidates have the necessary social and professional skills
to fit the business’ image and expectations? Do they have the nec-
essary experience for specific business projects?
These criteria may not fit every business or individual. Therefore,
an employer should define his own goals to successfully recruit and
hire the right individuals for the all-important instructional staff. It’s
a good idea to take the time to write these criteria down and incor-
porate them into the interview and hiring process.
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The following is a sample “Help Wanted” ad to hire instructors:
“Scuba Instructors --
Exciting opportunity for PADI-certified OWSI or higher. Specialty
ratings a plus. Great potential for growth; must be able to work
on weekends. Salary plus commissions. Contact XYZ Dive Re-
sort for details.”
Hiring the Sales Staff

Just as we explained in the Diver Education chapter, equipment sales
and diver training go hand in hand, potentially giving instructors an
edge on the sales floor. Having instructors as salespeople adds cred-
ibility to the sales process, and an employer should note this when
hiring the sales staff.
That’s not to say that all the sales staff must be instructors and
divemasters. A good salesman who doesn’t dive may be just as ef-
fective as one who dives; so a dive center shouldn’t pass up hiring a
good salesman just because he doesn’t dive. After all, the dive center
is in the business of teaching people to dive. The center’s instruc-
tional staff, however, should be able to recommend and sell equip-
ment, trips and continuing education.
In addition to using the same sources to hire instructors, the
dive business may also use “Help Wanted” ads that state “diving
experience necessary,” or “preferred.” This ensures the pool of ap-
plicants meets the job description. Other venues include actively
recruiting salespeople interested in a career change, or checking
with employment agencies for potential candidates.
Some of the criteria in selecting the right sales staff include:
• The applicants’ attitude on sales and customer service -- Anyone
can be trained in the appropriate skills and techniques, but a posi-
tive and flexible “I can do” attitude is essential.
• The applicants’ previous experience in sales and customer service.
While this may not be a prerequisite, it helps to find out what expe-
rience the candidates possess, if any.
• Ensure the candidates have basic skills, such as simple arithmetic,
writing and organizational abilities. These limitations may not be
obvious during an interview, unless there are certain questions or
quizzes that reveal them.
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The following is a sample “Help Wanted” ad to hire sales staff.

“Scuba Sales --
Expanding dive business looking for enthusiastic and expe-
rienced salespeople. Scuba experience not necessary, but
willingness to learn scuba a plus. Must have good customer
service skills. Salary plus commissions.”
Hiring the Operations Staff

The operations staff is responsible for various tasks such as main-
taining the books, payroll and other paperwork. Operations may
also include facility maintenance and cleaning. The responsible
individuals don’t have to have a diving background or credentials,
but instead, should be chosen based upon their bookkeeping or task
related qualifications. In many instances, the operational staff is com-
posed of the dive center’s or resort’s employees.
Standards to consider when hiring the bookkeeping staff include:
• Are the candidates up-to-date on the latest tax and payroll regula-
tions?
• Are they familiar with labor laws and regulations?
• Are they trustworthy? Do they have good references?
A business may also contract an outside vendor for some of the
operations tasks. Some operations staff members have little contact
with the public, but they’re an essential part of a business. “Help
Wanted” ads are one venue to advertise for these positions.
Hiring Independent Contractors

The question whether the relationship with a worker is one of em-
ployer and employee, or one of principal and independent contrac-
tor, and the terms of the relationship depends upon the particular
area and laws governing it. A dive business may sometimes hire in-
dependent contractors, such as scuba instructors who aren’t regular
employees of the facility, to supplement its educational staff.
Many dive businesses have adapted or developed specific con-
tracts for this occasion. Since labor laws differ from one country to
another, a dive center should consult with an attorney or other legal
counsel to draft a similar document. The sample in this chapter is
based on U.S. law, and may not be proper for every area. (Refer to
sample agreement at the end of this chapter.)
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This agreement (Independent Contractor Instructor store Agree-

ment) was developed by the PADI International Resort and Retailer
Associations and is available to PADI Dive Centers upon request.
Independent contractors and employers are expected to follow
the guidelines of the agreement, otherwise it’s voided. A training or
probational period may be useful to find out if these contractors fit
the program or not.
Hiring Practices and Laws

There are probably some laws governing hiring practices for any
state or country. Copies of such laws and regulations can be ob-
tained through local, state or federal labor and government agencies.
These laws help employers hire personnel without potential
legal or civil complications. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
laws, for example, prohibit discrimination based on race, color, reli-
gion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and over) and disability.
Other countries have their own criteria for interviewing and hiring
applicants.
When interviewing candidates, government guidelines may
list acceptable and unacceptable questions that may be asked of a
potential employee. For example, in California, it is acceptable to ask
the applicant for his place of residence, or the length of residence in
the city where the employer is located. It is, however, unacceptable
to ask the applicant for his birthplace or his parents’ birthplace. It’s
also unacceptable to require the applicant to submit a birth certifi-
cate, naturalization or baptismal records.
Federal law also prohibits asking the applicant for his race, color
of skin, eyes, hair, etc. It is, however, acceptable to ask the candidate
questions relating to the job performance, such as fluency in certain
languages, and educational and vocational background. When in-
quiring, the employer should not, for example, ask who paid for the
candidate’s education or what is his mother tongue.
Government and state agencies throughout the world regularly
publish employment laws and regulations. These usually update
businesses on the latest reforms and amendments to these laws.
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Training the Staff

A dive business may hire the most qualified personnel, and lose
them, or have them perform poorly because of lack of training or
guidance. Even the most qualified or experienced instructors or
salespeople need some form of introduction to the business’ opera-
tions and procedures.
A training manual ensures that all employees are trained in the
same manner. The manual can cover areas such as customer service,
sales, professional appearance and conduct, paperwork, conducting
and selling scuba courses, and course logistics. The training manual
can be part of the operations manual, which we’ll discuss later.
The training manual can also include pertinent information, such
as customer service, sales and rental procedures that an employee
must follow. A checklist for the employee to sign at the end of each
section or session is proof that the employee read and understood
the material.
There are some basic training guidelines that help employers
and employees alike maximize the training process. Some of these
are:
• Effective training requires small steps. This is much better than
overwhelming new employees with information they are vaguely
familiar with. The step-by-step approach gives new employees time
to absorb and apply what they have learned.
• Chronological training. For example, it is more effective to teach
new employees to finish tasks that they’ll encounter immediately,
and delay the training for tasks that will follow.
• Training should be continuous, but not boring. By adding variety and
a little creativity to the training process, the new employee won’t
lose interest and fall into a boring routine. Vary the training sched-
ule, sites and even methods for maximum effect.
• New employees should feel productive, even on the first day. New
hires should have a chance to succeed and finish tasks as early as
possible. This gives them early positive reinforcement and confi-
dence.
• Assess mastery at every phase of training. This can be done by
role-playing, or by actually accomplishing tasks properly.
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All employees should undergo customer service training to ensure

their effectiveness in a retail environment. This includes specialized
and consistent training in acknowledging and greeting all customers,
offering good advice and service, and finding solutions for customer
needs and problems. Without this training, there may be inconsistent
or weak customer service at the business, which would certainly
hurt it.
The training manual lends consistency, organization and cred-
ibility to the training process. Without such a document, new em-
ployees may be trained inconsistently and differently, which affects
performance or the communication process within the business. The
managerial staff and experienced staff members should be the ones
conducting or supervising the training process.
Professional Appearance and Conduct

It’s important for a successful business to have professional conduct
and dress codes. Cut-off jeans and T-shirts, for example, could proj-
ect an unprofessional and unreliable image in an upscale sophisticat-
ed market. Neat, casual clothes are recommended for a dive center
or resort, preferably with the business’ name or logo. Tidy personal
appearance, such as combed hair and clipped nails also project a
professional and reliable image. Today’s sophisticated customers
can be very discerning and critical when it comes to these matters.
Dive professionals must remember that competitive recreations,
such as golf, ski and tennis have long adapted a professional attitude
that customers like and expect. For scuba to compete with these suc-
cessful sports, industry employees must exhibit a professional and
dependable demeanor at all times.
PADI’s Career Tracking Tips for the Dive Professional video dis-
cusses the attributes of a dive professional as described by experi-
enced PADI Dive Center and Resort owners. Almost all the intervie-
wees in this video listed a “professional attitude” as a primary hiring
criterion for any potential employee. The video interviews expand
upon other criteria that potential employees consider when hiring
new employees (see sidebar at the end of the chapter).
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment has increasingly become an employment and so-
cietal issue in many countries. In the U.S., for example, sexual harass-
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ment is defined as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual

favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”
Some U.S. states expand the definition of sexual harassment to
include verbal harassment, such as epithets, derogatory comments
or slurs; physical harassment, such as assault or physical interfer-
ence with movement or work; and visual harassment, such as derog-
atory cartoons, drawings or posters.
A professional business cannot afford the liability, energy and
distractions that sexual harassment allegations can cause. The
prudent employer ensures that employees are aware and sensitive
to these issues, and that they behave within required social/legal
guidelines.
This issue has a particular twist for dive businesses, because
scuba diving requires pool and open water sessions. Employees
must obviously refrain from staring or making inappropriate com-
ments when students are changing or wearing swimsuits during a
course or trip. Instructors must also be sensitive to physical contact
that may be misconstrued as sexual harassment.
Deviation from these guidelines is viewed as unprofessional in
today’s society. The dive industry has come a long way to establish
itself as professional and responsible. The staff can enhance that im-
age by always acting professionally.
Salaries and Compensation

The myth that people get into the dive business simply for pleasure
is quickly dying. Economic and business realities dictate that dive
businesses only survive when run by professionals who earn money.
Likewise, the employees of this business need to earn a reasonable
income, too.
Market-driven salaries that compare favorably to other recre-
ational industry positions usually attract and keep good employees.
An exceptional employee may be rewarded with a higher salary or
bonus structure. There are many benefits other than high salaries
that can attract and keep good employees, including:
• Medical, dental and vision benefits. These are especially attrac-
tive to married employees with children, as well as any employee
who has no other medical coverage. This again may vary from one
country to the other depending on labor laws and medical cover-
age.
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PERSONNEL
• Instructor Liability Insurance. A dive center or resort may either pay

for this insurance, or reimburse the instructors who have served
the store for a predetermined time.
• Bonuses and Commissions. A strong commission program moti-
vates salespeople to sell more and earn more. Dive centers may
offer commissions on equipment sales, as well as dive courses and
trips. Any employee who signs up a student, books a trip, or sells
dive equipment may receive a commission. This can be a set sum,
or a percentage of the sale, depending on the type of service or
equipment. Each dive center can calculate this amount based on
its budget or pricing considerations.
Resorts may also offer their employees a commission program of
some sort. Instructors who recruit and teach Discover Scuba Diving
participants have traditionally done much better with commissions
than without, for example. Resorts that sell equipment can also have
an equipment sales commission similar to a dive center’s plan.
Other incentives for good employees to start and stay with
a dive business include profit sharing and career advancement.
Profit sharing is a plan established and managed by the employer
to provide participation in its profits by the employees and their ben-
eficiaries. Career advancement may include financial and logistic as-
sistance in earning higher professional ratings, such as Open Water
Scuba Instructor, Master Instructor and Course Director.
Combining all or some of these benefits not only attracts bet-
ter candidates, but keeps them as well. An old American saying is
“People measure wealth in different ways,” and a satisfied employee
who feels he’s well taken care of and respected at work is more apt
to work harder and stay, even if his starting salary isn’t the highest
on the market.
The bottom line, however, is significant on the long run, and em-
ployers should give their employees a chance to earn a reasonable
income through commissions and other incentives.
Payroll
Businesses today have the option of an outside payroll processing
vendor or the business’ staff to process the payroll. Using either
option, a business must pay its employees accurately and on time,
otherwise, there’s the chance of upsetting or losing good employees.
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An outside payroll processsing vendor may actually be more eco-

nomical than hiring a full- or part-time payroll specialist. Many banks
worldwide offer this service.
A dive business should consult with a qualified accountant in its
area of operation to decide how and who will process its employee
payroll.
Creating an Operations Manual

An operations manual is an essential document for training employ-
ees and running a dive business. Without this manual, a dive center
or resort may lose control, and employees may perform tasks incon-
sistently with the business goals or each other. Also, employees may
not be accountable for failing to follow procedures if no one explains
these to them in a document they can read, sign and refer to periodi-
cally.
Management should encourage employee contributions to the
operations manual, and this usually prompts the staff to understand
and follow the procedures within. Instructors, for example, may
write the dive center’s or resort’s scuba course procedures. Other
employees may contribute to the rental and sales guidelines.
Each employee should review and understand this document
when hired, and periodically after hire, especially after updates to
the manual. Management should also ensure support with samples
and backup materials, such as filled out rental and sales forms, and
explain the consequences of breaking any of the outlined proce-
dures.
Operation manuals differ from one business to another depend-
ing on the business size, personnel and goals. A typical operations
manual may include the following:
• Work rules, such as punctuality, dress codes, tasks and attitude.
• Sales, rental and education procedures, such as deposits, receipts,
rental procedures, etc.
• Time off and vacation procedures and request forms.
• A knowledge review section for employees to fill out and sign.
Dealing With Personnel Problems

Employees are a vital part of any business and management should
treat them as such. If, however, an employee breaks store discipline,
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PERSONNEL
doesn’t follow directions, fakes illness and injuries, cheats customers

and the business, what are the business’ options?
Terminating employees isn’t always the answer. In many cases,
an employee’s attitude can change and become more positive and
productive. That’s usually preferable since hiring new employees can
be expensive and time-consuming.
The first step is to identify the problem and its causes. There are
many situations that require fair warning and minor discipline, such
as tardiness, misuse of equipment, errors and inappropriate dress.
A good manager can communicate the reasons why the employee
needs to change, and ensure this happens. Good training and ensur-
ing employees understand all policies can accomplish this goal.
If, however, an employee breaks more serious rules, the business
manager should counsel him immediately. The employee’s reasons
may be as simple as a misunderstanding, or more serious, such as
dishonesty and lack of concern for safety.
Some problems warrant more severe penalties the first time they
occur. These include drinking or using drugs on the job, fighting,
stealing property, insubordination and consistent failure to observe
safety regulations. In some of these instances, on-the-spot firing may
be the easiest solution, but there may be other avenues to consider
for some cases and some employees.
Punitive actions before termination include written and verbal
reprimands, no raises, temporary loss of fringe benefits (e.g., free
boat trips), and temporary suspension. If the employee’s negative
attitude doesn’t change, then punitive discipline, including termina-
tion, is warranted.
Another serious problem is substance abuse, especially when
considering dive professionals supervise and teach customers and
students. Quite often, employers have more leverage than even
family and friends in aiding a substance-abuse victim. The employee
may determine that rather than losing his job, he should seek profes-
sional or medical help to rid himself of the problem.
An employer can monitor the employee’s progress and ensure
his recovery before making any termination or retaining decisions.
Managers should document all employee breaches, problems
and counseling sessions and keep them on file. This also includes
positive commendations and comments from staff members and
customers. These notes are necessary to evaluating and reviewing
an employee.
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Finally, just as scuba training is performance-based, so can job

training and performance. Managers can set up work performance
standards and coach their employees to meet them. Additionally,
managers can base employee reviews upon these performance stan-
dards and counsel employees appropriately if those haven’t been
met.
As stated earlier, employees are the most valuable assets of a
dive business, and without them, a business can struggle or fail.
Good employers foster good employees and ensure their effective-
ness and productivity. A business can accomplish this by having a
good training program, fair working conditions, and keeping the com-
munication lanes open between employers and employees.
References
California Chamber of Commerce. EEO Discrimination in Employment. 1994.
California Chamber of Commerce. Stopping Sexual Harassment: An Employer’s
Guide. 1994.
Friedman, Harry J. Retail Management Training Program. The Friedman Group,
1990.
Friedman, Harry J. Successful Retail Selling. The Friedman Group, 1990.
The Hume Company. Successful Business Management. 1989.
McCaffery, Robert. Employee Benefit Programs. P.W.S. Kent Publishing, 1988.
PADI International. Management, Organization and Development Committee.
Human Resources Update. 1992.
U.S. Department of Labor. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy. Small Busi-
ness Handbook: Laws Regulations and Technical Services. 1993
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PERSONNEL
Employment in the Dive Industry

The dive industry is constantly growing and in need of professionals to man it.
In 1994, there were nearly 300 new PADI Dive Centers worldwide, and nearly
400 resorts joined the PADI International Resort and Retailer Associations. In
addition to the 2275 existing dive centers, these businesses hire professionals
to sell and perform other tasks.
PADI produced the Career Tracking Tips For the Dive Professional video in
1994 specifically to educate job seekers in the industry. This video explains the
needs of the industry and its employers through interviews and narration by
randomly selected resort and dive center owners.
This video and other dive business data suggest the following trends when
it comes to hiring dive business professionals:
Professionalism – The term professional stands out in almost all the inter-
views. Resort and dive center owners are looking for individuals with profes-
sional attitudes. Dive business employees interact daily with customers and
must always project professionalism and courtesy.
Appearance – Employers are looking for tidy, neatly kempt individuals who’ll
represent themselves and the business well.
Attitude – A good attitude was defined in many different ways by dive busi-
ness owners. Some meant a pleasant attitude with customers and co-workers,
others wanted a ready-to-learn attitude, especially regarding performing differ-
ent tasks.
Sales attitude – The vast majority of business owners prefer individuals who
will sell the three Es, whether they already have sales skills, or the proper at-
titude for training to sell. Most agree that instructors who only want to teach
won’t be as effective as those who’ll sell equipment and travel as well.
Flexibility – Resort owners, in particular, and many dive center operators
reiterated the need for flexibility and realism on part of the employee. There
are busy times when dive professionals work every day, without set days off
and with little rest, and resorts are looking for individuals who can handle such
hectic schedules.
Special skills – Many businesses, including resorts, look for individuals with
special skills, such as boat, engine and compressor maintenance. These skills
add to a professional’s value to a resort or dive center.
Other individual characteristics that business owners look for in an employee
include maturity, energy, long-term commitment, fresh ideas and environmen-
tal awareness.
Some of the ideas outlined earlier in this chapter, such as health benefits
and bonuses, help retain good employees. Other ideas to keep employees
happy at dive centers and resorts include video and photography money-mak-
ing opportunities, which include selling underwater images to magazines and
guests. Whenever possible, most employees prefer set days off so they can
plan and take care of their personal business.
Resorts can assist their recruitment efforts by helping potential employees
obtain work permits and good living arrangements. The resort section of this
book discusses more ideas to recruit and retain successful employees.
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(sample only)
Independent Contractor Instructor
Store Agreement
Agreement made this ______ day of _________________. 20 _____, by and
between _____________________________________ hereinafter referred to
as “Dive Center” or “D.C.” and __________________________________ of
_______________________________ hereinafter referred to as “Instructor.”
Whereas, D.C. is in the business of selling, renting, and servicing scuba

diving related equipment; and Instructor is in the business of teaching div-
ing as a current Teaching status professional instructor of the Professional
Association of Diving Instructors (“PADI”) as defined by the most current
PADI Standards and Procedures manual and holds a current Teaching sta-
tus with PADI at the time of this Agreement.
Whereas, there is mutual benefit to D.C. and Instructor to form the Inde-
pendent Contractor relationship described herein pursuant to the terms
and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
1. Instructor Services and Qualifications.
a. Engagement. D.C. hereby retains the services of Instructor, and Instruc-
tor agrees to provide diving instruction and training for D.C. upon the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
b. Instructor Qualifications. Instructor warrants to D.C. that Instructor is a
current Teaching status professional instructor of PADI qualified to render
diving instruction. Instructor agrees that all diver instruction and training
provided by Instructor shall meet the current teaching standards set forth
by PADI. D.C. agrees not to require Instructor to teach under conditions
that would violate PADI’s current standards, including, but not limited to,
those relating to instructor-student ratios, equipment, exercises, records
maintenance, and confined- and open-water teaching requirements.
2. Instructor Responsibilities.
a. Class Recruitment. Both Instructor and D.C. shall recruit students for
scuba diving instruction classes.
b. Class Scheduling. Instructor shall be responsible for scheduling classes.
c. Class Location. D.C. shall try to make available classroom space, swim-
ming pools and open-water sites to enable Instructor to conduct scuba
diving classes. If D.C. is unable to provide such locations, instructor shall
obtain the use of the necessary locations, which must meet the require-
ments described by current PADI Standards.
d. Equipment. Instructor shall use the same type of equipment and dive
gear as is provided by the D.C. to the students enrolled in scuba diving
instruction classes. Instructor must purchase or lease his own equipment.
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PERSONNEL
e. Class Supplies. Instructor shall provide any supplies needed for instruc-
tional use. Instructor shall also provide any necessary support materials,
including, but not limited to, certification envelopes and forms, appropri-
ate postage, medical forms, waiver and release forms, textbooks, student
folders, quizzes, exams, and audiovisual aids.
f. Teaching Method. Instructor shall have sole control over the manner and
means of performing his professional teaching services; provided, how-
ever, that Instructor understands and agrees that all diving training and in-
struction provided must meet the current professional teaching standards
established by PADI.
g. Class Completion. Instructor understands that notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, Instructor must complete any class begun for
him for D.C. unless the Agreement is terminated by D.C.
h. Permits and Licenses. Instructor shall be responsible for securing and
maintaining any and all permits and licenses required to perform the ser-
vices described herein.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
a. Charges for Student Instruction. Charges for scuba diving instruction
provided by Instructor for D.C. shall be billed to students by D.C. at a
rate of $ __________ per student per class. This rate may be altered by an
agreement in writing between D.C. and Instructor. D.C. shall act as the
collecting agent for all monies paid by students and shall maintain accu-
rate books, records, and accounts concerning the income related to said
instruction.
b. Instructor Compensation. As compensation for the services to be ren-
dered hereunder, D.C. agrees to pay Instructor the sum of $ __________
per student per class. Payment of this compensation to Instructor is
contingent upon D.C. being paid in full pursuant to Paragraph 3.a. above.
The sum specified above shall be Instructor’s sole and total compensation
for services rendered pursuant to this Agreement. Instructor shall not be
entitled to any employment benefit provided by D.C. to its employees,
such as sick leave, vacation, holiday pay, or health insurance.
c. Expenses. D.C. shall not reimburse Instructor for any costs related to
travel, meals, lodging, telephone, postage, the purchase or lease of D.C.
dive gear, class supplies, equipment, materials or any other expenses
incurred by the Instructor in connection with his provision of services here-
under. All such costs and expenses are Instructor’s sole responsibility.
4. Status, Liability, Indemnity, Insurance.
a. Independent Contractor. Instructor is and at all times during the term of
this Agreement shall be an independent contractor providing professional
diving instruction for D.C. Nothing in this Agreement or in any Adden-
dum to this Agreement shall be construed to create any relationship of
principal/agent, employer/employee, master/servant, partnership or joint
venture. Instructor shall have no power to commit or bind D.C. in any
manner whatsoever.
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b. Tax Withholding. Since Instructor is and shall be considered an inde-

pendent contractor, D.C. will not make any federal or state withholding
payments.
c. Insurance. Instructor shall at all times maintain current professional com-
prehensive general liability insurance as required by PADI to hold Teaching
status. Instructor agrees that such insurance shall be maintained in force
at all times during this Agreement at Instructor’s expense. Such insurance
shall be provided by such companies as are acceptable to PADI, and D.C.
shall be named as an additional insured during the term of this Agree-
ment. Insurance and costs related to any subsequent additional insureds,
including, but not limited to, pool sites, charter buses, or other such
teaching facilities requiring additional insured status shall also be Instruc-
tor’s sole responsibility.
Instructor agrees that within fifteen (15) days of the date of this Agree-
ment, Instructor shall cause the insurance company or companies to
furnish D.C. with certificates of Instructor’s insurance policy or policies
detailing the coverage therein. Instructor also agrees that the required
insurance policy or policies shall be available for inspection by D.C. at all
times during this Agreement. Instructor also understands and agrees that
he must give notice to D.C. immediately concerning any termination,
alteration or other change in the status of his insurance policy or policies
or in his teaching status as a PADI Instructor.
d. Liability and Indemnity. Any an all liability associated with Instructor’s
provision of services under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility
of Instructor. Instructor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
D.C. from and against any and all claims, suits, costs, losses or damages,
including attorneys’ fees, arising from acts or omissions of Instructor,
including the Instructor’s unauthorized use of D.C.’s name, trade mark or
logo or any classes conducted by Instructor.
5. Termination.
a. Termination. This agreement shall continue in effect until terminated by
either party upon two weeks written notice to the other; provided, how-
ever, that notwithstanding any such notice, Instructor understands and
agrees that he must complete any class begun by him for D.C. in accor-
dance with Paragraph 2.d. above unless D.C. has terminated the Agree-
ment.
b. Compensation Upon Termination. In the event of termination, D.C.’s only
obligation under this Agreement shall be to pay any compensation due for
services already rendered pursuant to this Agreement. Any such compen-
sation will not be due and payable until and unless D.C. has bee paid in
full by the student pursuant to Paragraph 3.a. above.
6. Confidential Information, Non-Solicitation and Business Re-
cords.
a. Confidential Information. During the term of this Agreement, Instruc-
tor will have access to and become acquainted with confidential propri-
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PERSONNEL
etary and business information and trade secrets of D.C., including those
related to techniques, procedures or programs concerning rentals, sales,
merchandising, activities or other operations used by D.C. Instructor will
not disclose any such confidential business information or trade secrets,
directly or indirectly, or use the same in any manner whatsoever, except
as required in connection with the Instructor’s performance of his services
under this Agreement.
b. Non-Solicitation. In furtherance of protecting the confidential proprie-
tary information and trade secrets of D.C., Instructor shall not for a period
of two years from the date of termination of this Agreement, knowingly
or unknowingly, either directly or indirectly, for Instructor or for any other
entity, call on, solicit, or take away, or attempt to call on, solicit or take
away, any past or present customer of D.C. with respect to the same or
similar business services now or in the future provided by D.C. or, directly
or indirectly, hire or solicit the employment of any person from D.C.
c. Business Records. All records related to D.C.’s business shall remain the
sole property of D.C. Instructor shall have available from D.C. such records
of training as may be necessary for Instructor’s legal liability protection. In-
structor agrees that any information taken from class records may be used
only for legal purposes, such as lawsuits and quality assurance investiga-
tions. Such information and records, as the sole property of D.C., shall not
be used in any manner relating to Instructor’s personal, social or business
activities and shall not be used in any manner that could be interpreted as
being in competition with or detrimental to the interests of D.C.
Instructor shall be responsible for providing D.C. with all records of train-
ing as required by professional instructor liability insurance provisions and
as recommended by PADI Standards. These records include, but are not
limited to, exams, tests, quizzes, training completion forms, waiver and
release forms, medical history forms, and skill evaluation sheets.
7. Conflict of Interest.
The parties agree that during the term of this Agreement, Instructor may
engage in other business activities. Howev›er, Instructor may not incur
any obligations or commitments which would limit or prevent Instructor’s
rendering of services to D.C. within the scope of this Agreement, fully,
faithfully and without conflict of interest.
8. Miscellaneous.
a. Notices. Any notice required to be given by either party under the terms
of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered to have been
given when delivered personally or forty-eight (48) hours after being sent
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
to the addresses set forth immediately below the parties’ signatures or to
such other address as either party may designate in writing to the other
party.
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b. Applicable Law. This Agreement has been made and entered into in the
State of ____________________ and shall be construed and enforced in ac-
cordance with the laws of the State of ______________________.
c. Assignability. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the
parties shall assign, delegate or transfer this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the
other party.
d. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any Addenda attached
hereto, constitutes the sole and entire agreement and understanding of
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement super-
sedes and automatically cancels any and all prior discussions, negotiations,
commitments and understandings between the parties, whether oral or
otherwise, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
e. Amendments. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified,
changed, or supplemented in any way except by a written document that
expressly references this Agreement and is signed by both parties.
f. Waivers. The failure or delay of either party to exercise or enforce at any
time any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not constitute or be
deemed a waiver of that party’s right thereafter to enforce each and every
provision of this Agreement and shall not otherwise affect the validity of
this Agreement or an provisions hereof.
g. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any
part of it is found to be unenforceable, the other provisions shall remain
fully valid and enforceable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
day and in the year first above written.
INSTRUCTOR
By: ______________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
I acknowledge that D.C. has advised me to consult with an attorney be-
fore signing this Agreement and that D.C. has given me the opportunity
to do so.
By: ______________________________________________________________
OWNER DIVE CENTER

By: ______________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
DISCLAIMER
Use of this Agreement or any of its provisions is entirely optional. This Agreement should not be regarded as legal
advice, nor should it be treated a a substitute for th independent advice of counsel. Be advised that the Agreemen’s
validity and enforceability may vary depending on the parties involved and on applicable state and local laws. before
uing this Agreement or any of its provisions, consult with an attorney. PADI assumes no legal or other responsibility for
any obligations, liabilities, or claims arising from or in connection with the use of this Agreement.
FORM NO. 00505 (4/92) © International PADI, Inc. 1992
128
RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE DIVE CENTER AND DIVE RESORT
Nine
Risk Management for the
Dive Center and Dive Resort
Editor’s note: This chapter contains general legal information, which is
helpful in understanding the legal aspects of running a dive business.
Since laws may vary in different states and countries, this chapter is
not intended as a definitive statement of the law or liability within a
particular state or country. Dive business owners are encouraged to
seek the advice of an attorney, or contact the PADI office serving their
particular region for more information.
Risk management is an integral part of any business, especially a
dive business. Scuba diving customers learn or dive for pleasure
in circumstances that require specialized life-support equipment
and training. While the concept of “Risk Management” can carry a
number of technical definitions, in practice, it’s the simple concept
of operating a business in a manner designed to, 1) improve safety
for customers, and 2) reduce the liability or property loss risk for
the business. To understand this concept, one needs to understand
several key issues:
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1. A business has some level of duty of care to its customers.

2. If the business and/or staff cause or contribute to an incident that
injures a customer, the business can be held legally responsible
and may be forced to pay damages.
3. The business (and its owners, directors, and officers) can and may
be sued for allegedly causing an accident to a customer, even when
it was not at fault.
4. A business can operate in a manner that significantly reduces the
safety risks to customers and the liability and property risks to the
business.
This chapter of The Business of Diving discusses the various types of
liability and property risks commonly facing the dive center or dive
resort, how to guard against them, what to look for in insurance pro-
tection, and how to respond to incidents if they occur.
Negligence
As defined in PADI’s The Law and The Diving Professional, “negligence
is concerned with unintentional fault or carelessness resulting in
injury. In other words, negligence deals with avoidable accidents that
should have been anticipated and prevented by taking reasonable
precautions.” A person may act in a manner thought acceptable in
a given situation, yet the law may still find negligence if the conduct
doesn’t measure up to a minimum standard of reasonable or due
care.
Liability
Liability is the risk that the business may be held responsible for
damages to some third party (customer, competitor, landlord, etc.).
There are many types of liability that a dive center or resort face
every day in the conduct of its business. Some are specific to diving,
others are general to most retail businesses.
130
Instructional Liability
Instructional liability is the liability resulting from teaching divers. It
is also referred to as professional liability and is based on the general
premise that a professional, by nature of his expertise, has a duty
of care and a degree of responsibility for the students in his charge.
The most common allegations in a lawsuit involving instructional li-
ability will be that the instructor taught improperly (by either giving
incorrect or incomplete information), or inadequately supervised
during a dive (by allowing a student to become lost). In such a case,
typically both the instructor and his employer/contractor will be
sued.
Recommended Practices
1. Paperwork
a. Each instructor should be in active “Teaching” status with
his organization and qualified to teach the courses he’s to be
involved in (with documentation of status on file at the dive
center prior to any teaching activities).
b. Each instructor should carry current professional underwater
liability insurance, and if not automatically provided by his
policy, the business should be shown on the certificate of in-
surance (which should be kept on file) as an additional insured
(the business’ instructional liability protection originates from
the instructors’ Professional Underwater Liability insurance
policies). This documentation should be obtained prior to any
teaching activities. (See also: “Insurance Considerations,” this
section.)
c. Each student should fill out an Assumption of Risk/Release
of Liability Form for each class in which he participates, no
exceptions. This form notifies the student of the risks and
provides a contract through which the student assumes those
risks and releases the providers of the instruction from liabil-
ity. All parts of the form should be completed. If the business
designs its own form (rather than using PADI’s standard), the
form should specifically release the business and its employ-
ees, owners, officers and directors, the instructor and Interna-
tional PADI, Inc. from liability, including negligence. (Otherwise
the ability to have a suit thrown out completely is compro-
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mised – if only some parties are named, only those will be

released from liability and the others will still have to face the
suit.) It is far preferable to simply use the existing PADI form
– it has been the basis for many suits having been dismissed.
Conversely, a number of attempts to have suits dismissed have
failed simply because either a form had not been used at all,
was incompletely filled out, or did not contain all the required
elements.
d. Each student must fill out an appropriate Medical History
Form for each course in which he participates. This form
advises and warns the student of the medical risks and is
designed to discover any conditions that may predispose the
student to medical risk. If a student has items marked that re-
quire a doctor’s clearance, the student should not be allowed
to begin in-water training until the doctor’s signed clearance is
in hand.
e. All classroom rosters, attendance records, evaluation scores,
forms, etc., should be completed and all should be retained for
at least as long as required by the particular state’s or coun-
try’s statute of limitations, but a minimum of five years.
f. It is recommended that the business devise a specific manage-
ment system to ensure that all required paperwork is com-
pleted and on file. One effective method is to have instruc-
tor payment for any student tied to (1) all paperwork being
completed and in hand and (2) proper paperwork for student
certification having been completed.
g. There should be a contract between the business and the
instructor that clearly defines duties and responsibilities.
2. Instructional Recommendations
a. Instructors should use an instructional system that documents
1) the recognition and validity of the instruction being provid-
ed (unless the instructor can prove, in court, his qualifications
as an instructional designer, homemade courses will be very
difficult to defend); 2) that accepted national or international
standards are met; and 3) that all pertinent information has
been taught. The use of a standardized instructional system
employing book, audiovisuals, instructor presentation, and
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quizzes/exams is a very simple way to accomplish this.

b. Standards should be met exactly. Deviations from Standards
– even minor “technical” or administrative deviations – cre-
ate huge credibility problems in court (doing more dives or
increasing the repetitions of an exercise is not considered a
deviation).
Insurance Considerations
1. Insurance protection for the business for instructional liability
will typically originate from its instructors’ professional liability
policies. This means it is crucial for the business to:
a. Have each instructor provide a copy of his certificate of insur-
ance (which should be kept on file) prior to the beginning of
any instructional activities.
b. Unless the individual instructor’s policy automatically pro-
vides coverage to the business as an additional insured (pro-
viding the business insurance for any claims resulting from
that instructor’s activities), the business should obtain and
keep on file a copy of the instructor’s insurance certificate
showing the business as an additional insured.
2. Some insurance programs will allow the business to purchase
the professional liability policies for its instructors. In this case,
should the instructor leave the business’ employ, the policy can
be canceled for a refund and the business can purchase a replace-
ment policy for a new instructor at a prorata reduced rate. This
is an excellent benefit for the business as it keeps professional
liability insurance matters in its own control, and the program
provides a strong incentive for instructor loyalty to the business.
3. PADI’s dive store and resort insurance policy provides a unique
and exclusive benefit for the business, Contingent Professional
Liability. This coverage provides coverage if the business is sued
for an instructor’s actions after expiration of the instructor’s in-
surance. Since professional liability policies are on a claims-made
form (meaning the insurance must be in effect when the claim is
made), such a claim, coming after expiration of the instructor’s
insurance, would not be covered. The Contingent Professional
Liability coverage, on the business’ policy, would then provide
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the business the necessary protection. Since the business’ policy

is on an occurrence form, which means coverage is in effect for
incidents – such as alleged inadequate instruction – that occurred
during the coverage period, coverage is available regardless of
when the claim is made.
4. It is recommended that students carry the student accident insur-
ance program (as offered by PADI) or encouraged to purchase
diver accident insurance (as offered by PADI or DAN). (This
consideration also applies to any business customers who will be
diving, either under the business’ supervision or not.)
Dive accidents cost the victims and their families, both
monetarily and emotionally. Much of the financial burden and a
significant amount of emotional stress can be reduced through
obtaining of these inexpensive insurance programs. The busi-
ness does itself and its customers a disservice by not making this
insurance available and strongly encouraging its use.
Avoidable (uninsured) medical and transportation costs
incurred by a diving customer may very well come back to the
business in the form of a lawsuit – a suit that will undoubtedly be
far in excess of the original and actual expenses.
5. Personnel trained in diver rescue and first aid should be on-site
during training activities and should have the necessary emer-
gency response equipment on hand. Oxygen and a documented
emergency response plan are recommended.
Editor’s note: Legal and medical insurance requirements and condi-
tions may change from one country or state to another. Countries
with socialized medicine, for example, may have different services
and costs than countries with privatized medicine.
Supervisory Liability
Supervisory Liability, which also falls within the overall context of
professional liability, is risk resulting from organizing and leading
dive excursions for divers, in a noninstructional context. Although
the duty of care may be somewhat less than for students, dive lead-
ers may be held responsible for the divers they supervise. Common
allegations in suits claiming improper supervision are inadequate
briefing, taking divers on dives beyond their qualifications and/or
134
capabilities, failure to maintain adequate contact, and failure to prop-

erly respond to an emergency.
1. Paperwork
a. It is highly recommended that each person providing the
supervision of divers have documentation on file showing
current leadership credential and proof of professional under-
water liability insurance. If not automatically provided by the
policy, the business should make sure that it is shown on the
certificate of insurance (which should be kept on file) as an
additional insured (the business’ supervisory protection origi-
nates from the supervisors’ professional underwater liability
policies). This documentation should be obtained prior to the
beginning of any supervisory duties (See also “Insurance Con-
siderations” in this section.)
b. Each diver should sign an Assumption of Risk/Release of Li-
ability form for the activity “On the boat” roster-type releases
should be avoided, because they do not provide the required
elements of a proper release.
c. Each diver involved in a supervised activity should provide
proof of certification, and documentation that it was provided
should be retained. Log book review is also valuable.
d. Records should be retained as required by the particular state’s
or country’s statute of limitations, but for a minimum of five
years.
2. Supervisory Recommendations
a. Refresher and environmental orientation programs should be
available and recommended to divers whose dive experience
or certification level indicates need. However, since these
divers are completing an assumption of risk contract, they will
make their own choices as to whether or not to participate in
any given dive; the business is not obligated to prevent them
from diving even if a refresher or orientation has been recom-
mended. The practice of making the programs available and
recommending them to divers shows prudent behavior on the
business’ part. If a diver who may benefit from closer than
normal supervision is identified, if possible, recommend to the
diver that he accompany a dive supervisor (divemaster, etc.).
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If the supervisor assumes such a responsibility, he should meet

it and not allow the diver to become separated.
b. Supervisors should provide an adequate predive briefing and
warn against known unusual risks or dangers. The establish-
ment of clearly identified depth/time limits and the inclusion of
those in the briefing is a prudent practice. Post-dive briefings
should remind divers to ascertain their decompression status.
The “Insurance Considerations” for Supervisory Liability activities
are identical to those for Instructional Liability (see above).
Product Liability
Definition - Product liability is liability that results from the selling of
products to customers. In such lawsuits, typical allegations are that
the product was inherently defective, that improper or inadequate
instructions for use were provided, or that the product was sold for
an improper or unintended use.
1. Products should be sold in their original packaging with all accom-
panying “Instructions for Use” and warning documents included.
2. Products should not be displayed or described in a manner to
imply some unintended use.
3. Products should not be modified or altered.
4. Products requiring instructions for use should be sold in accor-
dance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and with such
recommendations made clear to the customer
5. Life-support products should be sold to certified divers providing
proof of certification.
6. The business should ascertain and document the various manu-
facturers’ positions regarding their providing defense for the busi-
ness in the case of a product liability suit involving one of their
products (some manufacturers will provide such defense for their
dealers).
136
1. Insurance policies available to dive businesses normally carry
adequate product liability coverage. Most do carry a separate ag-
gregate limit (the total amount that would be paid on behalf of an
insured for any policy year, regardless of the number of claims);
the business should be aware of this limit when purchasing insur-
ance.
2. Policies providing coverage for Products Liability available from
dive industry sources may be offered in “claims made” or “occur-
rence forms.” Claims made policies are the least expensive be-
cause they provide the least risk to the insurance company. Since
an incident must occur either within the policy period or within
a specified “prior acts” period and the claim must be brought
within the policy period or a short – usually 90 days –discovery
period after policy expiration, the insurance company’s risk is
limited.
For instructional policies (all of which are claims made), the added
risk to the business is slight – typically an accident occurs and it’s
reported (the claim was made). A gap in coverage could come about
if a previously trained student were to have an accident, unknown to
the business, sometime after the expiration of his instructor’s insur-
ance and a suit be filed for inadequate instruction. Because a claims
made form requires the claim to be made during the policy (or dis-
covery) period, no coverage would be in effect (this is when the pre-
viously mentioned Contingent Professional Liability coverage would
be so valuable). This situation, fortunately, is relatively uncommon.
In cases involving sold products (and, to a lesser degree, re-
paired products), however, the situation is very different. A claims
made policy leaves the business at increased risk – since both the
incident (the sale or repair) and the claim (which would occur after
some subsequent accident) must be within the policy/prior acts
period, the “tail” of coverage can be very short (this is what reduces
the insurance company’s risk). The far more valuable occurrence
policy provides coverage so long as the dive center’s act -- the sale/
repair of the product -- took place during an insured period, regard-
less of when a suit may be subsequently filed.
Businesses should be very aware of this important distinction
between policies, prior to purchase.
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Air Fill Liability

Air fill liability is the liability incurred through the filling of tanks to
be used by customers. Typical allegations address impurity of the
air or that injuries were caused by tank explosions, burst disk rup-
tures, etc.
1. Compressors and air systems should be installed and maintained
to the system manufacturer’s recommendations and a document-
ed maintenance record should be kept.
2. Air should be tested at least quarterly to CGA specifications and a
documented test record should be kept.
3. Any out-of-the-ordinary circumstance (a report of unusual air
smell, taste, etc.) should be investigated immediately, (prior to
further filling of tanks), and air should be retested before resump-
tion of tank filling. Documentation of such incidences and the
response procedures should be retained.
4. It is generally recommended that air fill stations be located away
from areas with direct access by customers. If the station is lo-
cated in customer areas, adequate blast barriers should be used
in case of explosion or burst disk rupture.
5. Only tanks within hydro date and with current visual inspection
should be filled.
6. It is recommended that personnel performing visual inspections
should be trained and certified.
Insurance policies available from dive industry sources typically
provide coverage for air fills and other “Completed Operations’”
risks (such as repairs and rentals) that are specific to dive business-
es needs. Policies available on the general market may not provide
coverage for these specific risks; the business should research this
carefully before buying a policy.
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Repaired Products Liability

Repaired products liability is the liability incurred through the repair,
assembly and maintenance of customers’ equipment. Typical al-
legations that may be made in a repaired products lawsuit are that
improper repair, the use of improper parts, repairs being made by
unqualified personnel or an unauthorized repair led to an accident.
1. Repair of life support equipment should be performed by facto-
ry-authorized technicians; their repair certificates should be on
file.
2. Only factory-authorized replacement parts should be used in the
repair of life support equipment.
3. A service record should be maintained that documents the
repairs done for customers. Any warnings of impending service
problems or recommendations for repairs or maintenance made
to customers should be documented.
4. Tools, spare parts, and service manuals should be maintained in
an accessible, orderly manner to protect against incorrect parts
or procedures being used.
5. All repairs should be done to manufacturers’ specifications.
(See Insurance Considerations for Air fill Liability section.)
Rental Products Liability

Rental products liability is the liability incurred from renting or
providing dive or other equipment to students and other customers.
Typical allegations in a lawsuit resulting from a rental could be that
equipment was rented to an unqualified person, that the equipment
had been inadequately maintained, that the equipment provided was
an incorrect size or that equipment was rented without adequate
instruction or for an improper purpose.
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1. For the rental of life support equipment, proof of certification
should be required, and that it was provided should be docu-
mented. Enriched air equipment rentals should similarly require
and document proof of Enriched Air Diver certification.
2. An assumption of risk/release of liability statement should be
signed as a part of the rental agreement.
3. Records of rental transactions should be kept (in a similar man-
ner as described previously).
4. The staff should be extremely cautious about renting multiple
sets of life support equipment to one person, to prevent equip-
ment being provided to nondivers.
5. Manufacturer recommendations regarding instructions for use
should be followed when renting equipment.
6. Rental equipment should be maintained and serviced to the
manufacturer’s specification, and repair/maintenance logs kept
on file.
(See Insurance Considerations in the Air fill Liability section.)
Trips and Events Liability

Liability from trips and events is created by the business organiz-
ing travel, dive outings, dive club meetings or other functions for its
customers. Typical allegations in a lawsuit regarding these activities
may be that the business did not adequately research a provider of
dive service to whom it sent customers (and that the provider was
improper, dangerous, etc.), that divers were sent to a dangerous lo-
cation, or that customers were exposed to some specific hazard as a
result of the trip or event. Various supervisory allegations may also
result from such litigation.
1. An assumption of risk/release of liability statement should be
signed by each participant of a dive event and kept on file.
140
2. Care should be taken that the dive center’s insurance policy pro-
vides adequate protection for dive travel arrangements. It’s highly
recommended that the dive travel wholesaler used add the dive
center on the agency’s travel agent’s errors and omissions policy
(automatic coverage when using PTN).
3. The business should evaluate any provider of dive services
to whom it plans to send or recommend its customers, either
through direct inspection or through reliance on a sanctioning
agency’s published standards (such as the PADI International
Resort and Retailer Associations).
4. Sites for planned, organized activities should be evaluated for
safety concerns. If concerns are noted, documentation of the
resolution should be retained, or, if necessary, a different site
chosen.
1. Insurance policies available from dive industry sources may
provide coverage for these activities while those available on the
general market may not.
2. Before serving alcohol at any sponsored activity, the business
should make sure that Host Liquor Liability is covered (it is often
excluded).
3. Employees who supervise store dive trips and outings should
carry professional liability insurance, which provides coverage
to the store as an additional insured (see “Insurance Consider-
ations”). Documentation of such coverage should be on file prior
to the beginning of activities.
“Slip & Fall”

Slip and fall is the general term used to describe a range of injuries
that may occur to customers while on the business’ property. These
may include such occurrences as slipping on a wet or icy step, run-
ning into an overhead display, or receiving a cut from a corner of a
broken display case.
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1. The business should receive a periodic risk analysis walk-
through to identify hazards. The most common such hazards are:
a. cluttered or icy parking lot, sidewalks and steps;
b. broken pavement, holes or cracks in parking lot or sidewalk;
c. loose tile or carpet;
d. wet flooring (especially at front door or near air fill and rental
stations;
e. cracked, broken or otherwise sharp-edged display cabinets or
shelves;
f. shelving units that may fall due to inadequate fixture to walls;
g. exposed electrical cords that could lead to a trip or shock;
h. refuse, merchandise, or rental equipment stored or left in
areas where customers may pass, especially near restrooms or
classrooms;
i. poor lighting over parking lots, sidewalks, and stairwells; and
j. pool chemicals stored in areas open to customer traffic.
2. Any hazards identified should be resolved immediately and the
action documented.
Insurance policies providing coverage for general comprehensive li-
ability will include this most common area of liability. It is important
that the policy include Premises Medical coverage. This provides
immediate money to allow the business to quickly take care of cus-
tomer’s medical bills in case of an on-site accident. This quick, cour-
teous response can help reduce the need for the customer to file suit
for damages, an action that will be far more costly for all involved.
Personal Injury
The Personal Injury category is liability from injuries to customers,
competitors or other members of the public that are other than
physical injury. Typically included in this category will be such
items as slander, libel and false arrest.
142
1. The business’ employees should not make remarks about compet-
itors that are negative and defamatory, nor should the business’
advertising include negative references to competitors.
2. Employees should be cautious when alleging wrongdoing against
others that may lead to arrest or negative publicity.
Most policies providing coverage for general comprehensive liability
will include personal injury coverage.
Property
The risk to property is the direct risk to what the business owns.
This includes inventory, cash, fixtures, signs, equipment, buildings,
and supplies, as well as equipment owned by others that is in the
possession of the business (such as a customer’s equipment in for
repair). A review of dive store property loss history shows that one
of every ten stores will suffer a burglary in a twelve month period.
The next most common property claim was glass breakage, followed
by water damage. Other typical losses included compressor fire,
lightning damage, and water damage by storms and fires.
Theft, Robbery and Burglary

This category includes merchandise, cash or other store property
stolen by employees or shoplifters (theft), by direct confrontation
(robbery), or by break-in (burglary).
1. Theft (customer)
a. An adequate number of employees and proper layout of the
business should be planned to allow for proper view of all
parts of the sales floor. Areas of the store -- especially near the
front door -- that are out of view invite pilfering by customers.
b. Merchandise taken out of display to be shown to customers
should be returned to the display after use. Merchandise left
laying out is more easily stolen.
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c. Displays that show clearly when an item has been removed

may quickly call attention to thefts and theft-attempts.
2. Theft (employee)
a. Careful inventory and register control is the strongest deter-
rent to employee theft. Nonconstant inventory control will
allow theft without it being noticed.
b. The business should be extremely careful in how it assigns
employee work schedules. Having lower-level employees
alone in the store invites small cash and merchandise pilfer-
ing.
c. If employees are not provided personal dive gear by the busi-
ness, an employee “equipment register” should be consid-
ered. Employees with items of gear that they did not pur-
chase from the store may raise a flag that employee theft may
be occurring.
3. Robbery
a. Clear signage indicating the presence of a security service or
central station alarm may be the best protection.
b. Cash amounts in the register should be kept to a low level,
and excess should be removed and deposited at least daily.
4. Burglary
a. The business exterior and interior should be well-lit at all
times.
b. Window displays should allow a clear view into the business
during off-hours.
c. Signage indicating the existence of a central station alarm
should be posted prominently at all entrances.
d. In high-crime areas, burglary bars should be considered to
inhibit “smash and grab” burglaries.
General Perils
These perils include such common causes of property damage as
fire, lightning, storm and flood.
1. Fire. The building should be periodically inspected for fire haz-
ards and any problems corrected. Of special note to dive busi-
144
nesses are oily rags, solvents, oil being stored near hot compres-
sors, and shipping boxes and packing being allowed to accumu-
late.
2. Storms and floods. Of course, many dive businesses are near
coasts and waterways where storms may be frequent. Construc-
tion of buildings, signs, displays and fixtures should be planned
accordingly.
1. Contents. Including merchandise, fixtures, and equipment, the
contents to be insured should be calculated carefully. Most poli-
cies available from dive industry sources carry a coinsurance
penalty, which means that if the full value of (or a specified per-
centage) of the business’ contents are not insured, then coverage
for any loss will be reduced by the percentage not insured. For
example, if the business has $100,000 worth of contents, but only
insures to $50,000 (50 percent of the value), then coverage for
any loss would be reduced by 50 percent – a $40,000 loss would
only receive $20,000 in payment. The business should carefully
study this aspect of any policy before buying it. Policies without a
coinsurance penalty give the business more ability to choose the
amount of coverage it wishes.
2. Theft, robbery and burglary. Most property insurance policies
include coverage for these losses, however, most will include
specific requirements, exemptions and sublimits. For example,
burglary coverage usually will require a central station alarm and
will cover only a percentage of total property insured; and cash
loss and loss from employee dishonesty will typically carry sub
-limits, as will coverage for equipment off-premises. The business
should understand these aspects of its insurance coverage.
3. General perils. Most policies will carry sublimits for glass, signs,
compressor and air systems, or the coverage for such losses may
need to be purchased separately. Many policies also exclude
flood or wave damage (coverage must be purchased separately)
and some policies exclude or limit wind and hail damage in coast-
al areas. The business should be very clear as to these coverages
prior to purchasing a policy.
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Responding to Incidents
A very important element of risk management involves what is done
once an incident Response occurs. Prior planning is necessary to
have an effective Emergency Plan (ERP).
1. The business should have an ERP in place, and all staff members
should be aware and trained in its use.
2. The ERP should contain at least: 1) emergency procedures; 2)
emergency telephone numbers; 3) first aid, oxygen and other emer-
gency equipment; and 4) designated (properly qualified) person-
nel.
3. Any incident, regardless of severity, should be reported to the
appropriate insurance company and/or diver training organiza-
tion (according to any specific guidelines they may provide). Even
apparently nonserious incidents can result in litigation – a denial
of coverage because of the nonreporting of a seemingly nonserious
incident would be very unfortunate.
4. Business employees involved in an incident should be responsive,
caring, and sympathetic to victims and families of victims. While
they should neither offer blame nor assume fault, they should not
act in a manner that appears callous or self-
protective.
5. Statements regarding an incident should be made with great care
and to only the proper officials. As mentioned previously, blame
should not be offered and fault should not be assumed. The busi-
ness’ attorney, the insurance company, or the training organization
(if it offers risk management assistance as does PADI) should be
asked for advice before making statements regarding serious inci-
dents.
6. Business staff should avoid making statements about incidents
suffered by other dive community members. Many a case has
worsened, both in court and in the press, because of careless,
competitive or otherwise stupid remarks made by dive industry
members. In that dive industry insurance comes from the same
narrow sources (and dive-oriented governmental regulations affect
the entire industry), situations worsened for a competitor or other
dive industry participants usually hurts the entire industry as well.
146
References
Peter Buckley. “Keeping Your Store Covered.” PADI Retail Association Guide to
Member Products and Services. 1991.
PADI International. The Law and the Diving Professional. 1985.
Coulter Consulting Group, Inc. “PADI Dive Center Audits.” 1994.
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148
INSTRUCTOR/RETAILER RELATIONSHIPS
Ten
The Dive Retailer and
Instructor Relationships
As has been made clear, diver education performs a pivotal role in
the success of the dive center or dive resort, which is carried out
by the operation’s dive instructors, assistant instructors and dive-
masters. The importance of a proper business relationship between
the dive center/resort and the instructional staff cannot be overesti-
mated.
For discussion purposes instructor-to-dive center relation-
ships can be divided into three basic types: the employee/exclusive
contractor instructor, the affiliated instructor and the unaffiliated
instructor. These general categories simplify analyzing how dive cen-
ters or resorts interact with their instructors, though in reality the
relationship may fall somewhere between these categories. Before
looking at the three relationship types, however, it’s best to begin
by looking at the characteristics successful retailers expect from a
professional instructor, regardless of the relationship.
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TEN
Characteristics of the
Professional Dive Instructor
One of the most important changes in the modern dive industry has
been in the individual who succeeds as a professional dive instruc-
tor. Whereas at one time almost anyone could become and succeed
as a dive instructor, several influences -- the industry’s rising so-
phistication, the dive center/resort demands, increasing customer
sophistication, more varied and higher performance requirements
in the instructor development process – have begun to weed out the
less-than-professional. Today, only those instructors who approach
their trade professionally (whether they instruct full time or part
time) have any real chance of long-term success.
This trend benefits both the dive center/resort and the student/
customer. Dive centers and resorts have better instructors to choose
from, and customers can expect more professional service from
those instructors.
In the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC), during the
opening session, the Course Director asks the instructor candidates
to identify the qualities of a professional instructor. The idea is to
have the candidates uncover those qualities so they can begin devel-
oping them in themselves.
As the instructor candidates analyze the different attributes of
a professional instructor, it becomes clear that the majority of the
attributes spring from a professional attitude. Today’s dive retailers
and resort operators look for this professional attitude, as manifest
by these characteristics (among others):
• Supports the dive retailer/resort. The professional instructor real-
izes that beyond instruction (education) diving requires equipment
and experience. No matter what the instructor’s relationship with
a dive center/resort, the professional instructor should ensure
that his students develop a definite bond with a dive center/resort,
where they have access to equipment and experience.
• Accepts the role of equipment counselor. Similarly, the professional
instructor realizes equipment advice is a natural part of diver edu-
cation, and that students – particularly entry level – turn to their
instructor for such advice. The professional instructor assesses
student needs, makes specific recommendations and does what-
ever is necessary to help students make wise equipment invest-
ments.
150
• Makes dive training fun. With safety the primary concern in diver
training, it’s sometimes easy to overlook that diving and learning to
dive are leisure activities. The successful instructor finds ways to
keep learning to dive light and fun, without compromising safety or
training. The professional instructor is a “people person.”
• Stays up-to-date and fit. The professional instructor keeps up with
current training, safety and equipment trends. Also, he keeps him-
self in the necessary physical condition to do his job.
• Ethical. The relationships between students and an instructor, and
between a dive center and an instructor sustain on trust. There’s
no place for anyone who’s less than completely honest. Likewise,
the professional instructor doesn’t repeat or spread rumors about
competitors.
• Has the tools for the job. The professional instructor has (or, de-
pending on the situation, makes sure the dive center/resort has)
the available educational components for each course taught. The
professional instructor realizes that by applying all the training
resources possible, students learn more effectively and teaching
becomes easier and more fun.
• Punctual. Dive centers and resorts live or die by their schedules,
thanks to the need to operate dive boats and thanks to sophisti-
cated customers who expect punctuality as a matter of course.
There’s no room for an instructor (or other employee) who can’t
show up on time or who takes a lackadaisical attitude toward
schedules.
Obviously, individuals differ in their degree of professionalism. New
instructors especially need time to grow into their career, counseled
as appropriate by the dive center or dive resort owner/manager.
Nonetheless, the dive instructor who doesn’t demonstrate at least
rudimentary inclination to the above characteristics isn’t likely to
succeed as a professional in today’s market.
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TEN
Instructor as Employee/Exclusive Contractor

The closest relationship between a dive center/resort and an instruc-
tor is when the instructor is either an employee who teaches the
center’s classes, or is independently contracted to teach the center’s
classes. (Note: The definition of employee versus independent con-
tractor varies significantly. What may be an independent contractor in
one country may be defined as an employee in another. Dive centers/
resorts should consult appropriate legal counsel and follow local em-
ployment and tax regulations/laws.)
The relationship may be full time or part time, but the key ben-
efit to the retailer is control. Because the dive center advertises and
fills the classes, sets the schedules and pays for a substantial portion
of the course expenses (such as providing scuba equipment for the
students), it has a great deal to say about how diver training is con-
ducted (within training standards, of course). If the instructor doesn’t
meet the retailer’s expectations, his employment can be terminated or
his contract can be not renewed. Generally speaking, student records
and mailing lists are considered store property, though the dive cen-
ter allows the instructor access.
For the instructor, the key benefit is security. The dive center/re-
sort fills the class and takes the risk; the instructor gets paid whether
the class is full or not. Often, the instructor is also a regular employee
for the dive center/resort, with teaching just one of many responsibili-
ties.
Team teaching is another important advantage for both the dive
center/resort and the instructor. With team teaching, several instruc-
tors work together, so that several classes and various personal
schedules may be accommodated. One class may be taught by several
instructors over several sessions. Team teaching also makes it easier
to handle personal emergencies, such as illnesses.
Dive centers usually pay instructors in this relationship a salary
or wage (employees) or a per class fee (contractor). Some dive cen-
ters pay a per student bonus or commission to give the instructor and
other staff an incentive to help fill the class.
Affiliated Instructor
The affiliated instructor is an instructor with a distinct relationship
with the dive center/resort, but who isn’t an employee or an indepen-
152
dent contractor. The instructor establishes a relationship between

class students and the dive center/resort; the dive center/resort re-
ciprocates with special rates on student equipment rental and other
support services the instructor needs. The affiliated instructor most
commonly has this relationship with a single store, though a few
alternate with more than one dive center. Many dive centers offer
added incentives to affiliates who deal only with them.
Although the dive center/resort doesn’t have as much control as
with an employee/exclusive contractor instructor, the affiliated in-
structor relationship has several advantages. For one, the instructor
takes the risk by advertising and filling classes; a class that doesn’t
fill isn’t a direct loss for the dive operation. Second, the affiliated in-
structor relationship is usually above and beyond the store’s regular
classes (taught by an employee/exclusive contractor instructor).
This means the affiliated instructor generates new customers beyond
the store’s direct resources. Third, affiliated instructors more easily
operate in areas outside the dive center/resort’s immediate market
area, giving the dive center/resort wider penetration and access to
more customers. Often, the affiliated instructor holds classes in the
dive center’s name and includes students in the center’s mailing list
and records.
For the instructor, the affiliated instructor relationship has sev-
eral benefits. The instructor has more control of the class schedule,
and can suit his own preferences as well as the students.’ The in-
structor may hold as many or as few classes as desired. The instruc-
tor gives up the security of a salary or wage, but earns more if the
class fills.
The relationship with the dive center/resort reduces the affili-
ated instructor’s overhead and some liability by eliminating the need
to purchase and maintain student equipment. During peak season,
when the dive center/resort fills its classes, it usually refers students
it can’t accommodate to loyal affiliated instructors. Because the
dive center/resort provides the services and equipment the instruc-
tor doesn’t, the instructor’s students aren’t left dangling -- the dive
center/resort creates access to all their diving needs. Often, the affili-
ated instructor even becomes a loose part of the dive center/resort’s
teaching team, and exchanges students on referral to complete open
water training.
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Unaffiliated Instructor
The unaffiliated instructor (sometimes referred to as “independent
instructor”) is an instructor who has no direct association with a
particular dive center/resort. Typically, the unaffiliated instructor
owns scuba equipment used for classes, or has access to such equip-
ment from a source other than a dive center/resort. Surveys show
that in developed markets, such as the U.S., less than 10 percent of
instructors are unaffiliated instructors. In new, undeveloped markets,
they are much more common.
Whereas unaffiliated instructors have the same benefits as affili-
ated instructors in terms of schedule, they face significant disadvan-
tages. First, if they own their own equipment they will have the li-
ability connected to its use; the investment and annual maintenance
can be considerable for someone who doesn’t have a full-time dive
business. Second, the students of unaffiliated instructors have no
connection with a dive center, and may feel at a loss to establish one.
Finally, the independent instructor lacks the backing that a dive cen-
ter usually provides – overflow students, travel assistance, repairs
-- as well as the center’s social and moral support.
Despite these drawbacks, unaffiliated instructors still operate,
though for a variety of reasons:
• Undeveloped market. In remote areas where there are too few div-
ers to support a dive center, the instructor is unaffiliated only be-
cause there’s no dive center with which to affiliate. Most often, one
or several unaffiliated instructors train divers until there’s enough
market to support a dive business. Then, a dive center or resort
opens – usually the unaffiliated instructor opens it. Worldwide, this
has been the primary means by which the dive industry enters
new markets.
• Specialization. Some instructors want to teach only highly specific
types of diving, such as cave diving. Because the market is small
for potential students, the instructor cannot affiliate with any one
store and expect to fill classes. Generally, such an instructor offers
something few, if any local dive centers/resorts offer, so the cen-
ters readily refer the few interested divers to him.
• Policy. A few schools by policy do not allow their faculty to pro-
mote any particular business. Faculty instructors who teach scuba
for such institutions may not affiliate with a dive center, even if
personally they would like to. (Happily, many such institutions are
154
learning the advantages of affiliating with a dive center, though the

affiliation may change with annual bidding.)
• Alienation. In some instances, the unaffiliated instructor wants to
work through a dive center, but doesn’t feel welcome (justly or
not) working through the local dive center/resort. Such instructors
cite alienation ranging from unreasonable terms for being affiliated
to being plainly told the store has no interest in the relationship.
• Lack of professionalism. Unfortunately, some unaffiliated instruc-
tors are so because they have a less-than-professional attitude.
Some such individuals are “dinosaurs” who have been teaching
diving the same way for decades, despite advances in diver educa-
tion, and who don’t wish to make the changes necessary to affiliate
with a store. Others actually see dive centers as somehow contrary
to the best interests of their students; a few are inexperienced
instructors who are simply oblivious to the compelling reasons to
be affiliated with a dive center.
Whereas a few retailers shun unaffiliated instructors as competition
for students, the astute retailer realizes that unaffiliated instructors
can be brought into the fold as affiliated instructors. Although, as
mentioned, unaffiliated instructors comprise less than 10 percent of
a mature market, converting one may penetrate a new market, and in
any case, open a new source of customers.
Retailers adept at “converting” unaffiliated instructors into
affiliated instructors do so by offering the instructor benefits and
incentives. Just as a sales manager realizes that not everyone on a
sales staff has the same motivations – some want money, others like
travel, for example – the retailer learns what the unaffiliated instruc-
tor wants from teaching diving and, in exchange for an affiliated
relationship, helps the instructor get it more effectively.
In the case of an “alienated” unaffiliated instructor, it’s simply a
matter of working with the individual to establish a mutually agree-
able relationship. In other cases, it may be a long process requiring
patience during which the instructor discovers the advantages of
affiliation, and during which the individual’s attitude matures and
becomes more professional.
For example, it may take until an inexperienced instructor gets
the bill and experiences the downtime of 15 regulator overhauls and
15 visual inspections to realize that obtaining equipment through a
dive center would avoid a lot of hassle. Or, the instructor motivated
155
TEN
by travel finds more travel opportunities and variety by plugging his

class into a dive center’s overall, larger dive travel program. In either
case, shortly the instructor wonders why he ever worked without a
dive center standing behind him.
During this process, and with those who remain unaffiliated, the
shrewd retailer realizes that new divers, whoever trains them, need
to get equipment and support services somewhere. By notifying
unaffiliated instructors that their students receive special consid-
eration (nominal discount, club membership, etc.), the instructor’s
more likely to recommend the particular dive center.
The typical dive center/resort ends up with several instructors
working through it, with relationships like those discussed and vary-
ing degrees in between. As mentioned in previous chapters, the dive
center/resort relies on diver education as a new customer source,
and to keep customers active. Instructors come in all ages, genders
and races, each with his own reason for teaching diving. From the
dive center’s point of view, his professionalism is the most important
characteristic.
References
PADI International. Career Tracking Tips for the Dive Professional. Video. 1994.
PADI International. Course Director Manual; Orientation.
Richardson, Drew. “Professionalism Starts With a Positive Attitude.” The Under-
sea Journal, Second Quarter 1992.
Richardson, Drew. “Retailer and Instructor Relationships.” The Undersea Journal,
Second Quarter 1994.
Shuster, Barry. “Employee Reclassification Can Be a Costly Problem.” The Under-
sea Journal, Fourth Quarter 1992.
156
The Waiver of Confidentiality Form

PADI developed the Waiver of Confidential Relationship and Consent
Regarding Release of Confidential Information form (see sample) to
facilitate the professional relationship between instructors and dive
centers/resorts. The optional form may be used by PADI facilities
and their instructors to ensure that all parties are fully aware, on an
ongoing basis, of any Quality Assurance-related correspondence
between PADI and the Instructor member.
This form heightens the facilities’ awareness of their responsibil-
ity to both PADI and the instructor in adhering to PADI Standards
and Procedures. In addition, the use of the agreement and disclosure
of the Quality Assurance process allows the instructor to
educate noninstructor personnel of the instructor’s duties, and the
facility to abide by PADI Standards and Procedures.
This form also informs the retail and resort facilities of the
services provided to their customers by instructors. Quite often,
PADI receives correspondence from students who provide positive
opinions regarding their PADI training, and this agreement ensures
the facility is informed of an instructor’s change of status, and any
administrative or standards breaches. PADI Members may request
this form from their local PADI office.
157
WAIVER AND CONSENT REGARDING
RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
This Agreement is entered into voluntarily this _____________ day of _________________________, 20_______, by and
between _______________________________________, hereinafter referred to as “Dive Professional” and ____________________
_______________, hereinafter referred to as “Facility.”
Whereas, the Facility is a member of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (aka PADI Americas, Inc., hereinafter referred
to as “PADI”) in the business of selling, renting and servicing scuba diving related equipment and providing dive educational and
experience opportunities for its customers.
Whereas, Dive Professional is in the business of teaching diving and/or conducting dive activities for certified divers or experiences for
novice divers, and is a member of PADI.
Whereas, there is a mutual benefit to Facility and Dive Professional to enter into this Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
Now, therefore, it is agreed as follows:
1. Dive Professional represents to Facility that Dive Professional is currently a trained and certified
professional member of PADI, is a member in good standing with PADI, and is qualified to render diving
instruction consistent with Dive Professional’s rating, pursuant to the most current PADI Standards and
Procedures, and PADI Instructor Manual and/or Course Director Manual.
2. Dive Professional hereby authorizes PADI to release to Facility (initial by each paragraph to indicate
information to be released):
______ Certification Counts – summary (student diver name, certification level and certification date)
of all certifications and registrations issued by Dive Professional for the period beginning
_______________________ and ending ___________________________.
______ Member History and Status information – Current and historical membership renewal information, date of
initial membership and initial certification at current rating (Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Instructor, IDC
Staff, etc.).
______ Information related to any Quality Assurance or Business Practices and Ethics inquiry conducted by PADI.
Specific information will be the number of Quality Assurance actions in the file for the preceding two years,
the dates of the inquiries and the resolution of each inquiry.
______ Verification that professional liability insurance is in effect at the time of the request.
3. Dive Professional hereby unconditionally releases PADI from any and all liability for any damages that
may result from releasing the above information to Facility.
4. This Agreement shall remain effective until 31 December of the calendar year in which the Agreement
went into effect, as noted above.
5. It is understood and agreed that Facility can make periodic requests for this information, with a
maximum of four (4) requests per year. All requests are to be in writing and directed to the
International Resort and Retailers Associations of the appropriate PADI Office.
6. Information is to be released to ______________________________, only, as a representative of Facility.
It is understood and agreed by all parties that nothing in this Agreement is meant to conflict with or override the terms of the Dive
Professional’s Membership Agreement with PADI.
This Agreement is duly executed by the parties on the dates set forth below.
Dive Professional: ___________________________________ ______________

(Print Name) Member No.
___________________________________ _______________
Signature Date
Facility: __________________________________
(Print Individual Name)
___________________________________ S/R___________
(Facility Name) Member No.
___________________________________ ________________
Signature Date
158
DIVE RESORT OPERATIONS
Eleven
Dive Resort Operations
Overview
White sandy beaches and brilliant blue waters lure divers from all
over the world to resort destinations. This provides dive resorts with
a steady stream of business and visitors year-round.
Many divers become dive professionals hoping to work at, or
start a resort business. To dive professionals seeking careers in the
dive resort business, success relies on careful planning, preparation,
and above all, a realistic view of dive resort operations.
Resort ownership, management or employment offers many
benefits, including interacting with interesting travelers and local cul-
tures, and diving the best reefs and areas. These benefits, however,
come with a price.
Most successful resort operators and owners warn newcom-
ers about the rigors and challenges of running a prosperous resort.
These experts describe resort operation as hard work, and the seren-
ity of the surroundings shouldn’t distract from this fact.
A well-run resort requires good diving conditions, a friendly staff,
comfortable accommodations, good meals, relaxation, and a wide va-
riety of activities and services. As dive resort operations are unique,
so are many aspects of resort management.
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ELEVEN
Resort operations cater to customers on vacation who wish to

maximize their options in a limited time. In addition to scuba excur-
sions and services, they also expect activities such as entertainment
programs, specialized shopping, local cultural tours, quality dining,
nonscuba water sports and general “fun in the sun.”
Besides services for experienced certified divers, noncertified
diver scuba experience programs, such as PADI’s Discover Scuba Div-
ing are popular, and often the customers’ first introduction to scuba.
Nondivers and divers alike also enjoy snorkeling, and resorts offering
snorkeling and activities specifically for children appeal to families on
vacation.
Time-efficient private and semiprivate scuba courses meet the
needs of those wishing to become certified. Referral certifications
are popular options for travelers, and provide an avenue for develop-
ing business relations with mainland dive centers. For resort person-
nel, the task of ensuring student skill mastery and providing optimum
customer satisfaction within a tight schedule requires careful logisti-
cal planning, especially during peak seasons.
Rapid customer turnover with a high demand for quality service
is a way of life at dive resorts. Repeat business and word-of-mouth
customer referrals rely on maintaining customer satisfaction. Resort
business is often seasonal, due to vacation schedules and climate.
While mainland retail businesses promote off-season educational
opportunities and creative merchandising programs to attract busi-
ness during slow seasons, resort businesses seldom have these same
options. Therefore, it’s vital to maximize peak season business, and
come up with off-season activities and promotions.
From a management viewpoint, attention to physical operations
and selecting and maintaining a qualified and reliable staff play key
roles in customer satisfaction and service, and ensuring maximum
business during peak season.
Physical Operations
The dive resort’s physical location, layout and support operations lay
the foundation for its success. Dive tour operations require access to
appropriate dive sites, a dependable air compressor, scuba and snor-
keling equipment for use or rent and, if scuba certification courses or
scuba experience programs are offered, confined water sites.
160
Resort operators must consider the following items for a success-

ful resort operation:
Boats
Most commonly, dive tours are conducted from dive boats (though in
many areas excellent dive sites are accessible from shore). Selecting
seaworthy vessels suitable for diving, employing qualified boat opera-
tors, and providing regular maintenance or repair are key manage-
ment concerns.
Researching the local availability of repair parts, logistical con-
siderations for transporting the boat to the resort location, typical
marine environment, fuel availability, applicable government regula-
tions, number of divers to accommodate, distance and duration of
travel required to reach dive destinations all figure into the equation
that determines the type of vessel suitable to a particular resort
situation. Resort managers may contact manufacturers, other resort
operators and attend boat shows to gain insights on vessels suitable
for resort operations.
Compressors
The air compressor is essential to the dive resort operation. If a
compressor fails, diving operations cease, resulting in unhappy
customers. The dive resort needs access to an air compressor large
enough to meet peak season demands. Compressor systems range
from small 56 litres per minute/2 cubic feet per minute (cfm) portable
units to those of 2831 litres/100 cfm or larger. 283-850 litres/10-30 cfm
compressors are usually adequate to meet the needs of most resort
operations, with 566 litres/20 cfm the average. An available second
compressor provides insurance that the resort can meet its air fill
demands. In this case, having two identical compressors reduces ad-
ditional spare parts and maintenance requirements.
It’s prudent to determine repair and parts availability, and deliv-
ery factors to a particular location prior to purchasing a compressor.
Available local electrical current may be an important factor in deter-
mining the type and size of a compressor for a resort location as well.
Another important consideration for operating a compressor in
a resort area is complying with local compressor regulations, if any
exist. Likewise, adhering to the manufacturer’s specifications for
maintenance and repair adds to the life and reliability of compressor
systems and ensures legal protection.
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ELEVEN
Enriched air offers a special consideration for the resort operator.

At many resorts, the need for enriched air is minimal because multi-
level profiles and shallow water make dives limited by air supply, not
no decompression time. At other resorts, especially those with a lot
of moderately deep sites (18 to 30 metres/60 to 100 feet) with little
relief for a multilevel profile, enriched air offers significantly more
bottom time. More casual divers have, at this writing, relatively little
interest in enriched air diving, whereas many “hardcore” divers do.
Further complicating the decision as to whether to invest in a
resort-based enriched air system is the additional support such a
system needs. In many parts of the world, it’s difficult to get parts
and materials for a normal compressor system, much less parts and
materials for the more specialized and esoteric demands of enriched
air. So, a resort may find enriched air unfeasible and/or offering little
benefit for the operational complexities, or it may find that enriched
air gives it a competitive edge in the local market. The wise resort
operator looks at the variables closely, because the effects of a poor
decision may cost more in business and income than with a land-
based dive center.
Choosing the right compressor system is very important, but as
in any business decision, the buyer should base it on all the informa-
tion and data pertaining to a particular situation. The Dive Center
Physical Operations chapter has additional information on how to
choose the right compressor.
Resort Rental Equipment

Scuba rental equipment should be functional, durable and easy to
maintain. Parts are often difficult to obtain in many resort locations,
and availability may be limited. Rental equipment with a wide adjust-
ment range accommodates a wide variety of sizes. Having the same
type of equipment also aids maintenance and repair by limiting the
stock of service parts. Equipment storage requirements, repair and
maintenance areas, parts and tools figure into the resort rental equip-
ment plan. Likewise the resort must schedule regular visual inspec-
tion, hydrostatic test and valve servicing for scuba tanks.
The Dive Center Physical Operations chapter discussed rental
inventories in detail.
162
Customer Accommodations
Vacationing divers usually arrive at their chosen destination after
long hours of preparation and strenuous travel. Uncertainties and
complications upon arrival increase customer stress, so it’s impor-
tant to ensure that customers receive clean and comfortable accom-
modations. Weary vacationers should see fresh, cheerful resort staff
when they arrive at the airport. Many also look forward to rest in a
nice comfortable room as soon as possible.
Whether a dive resort operation uses its own accommodations,
or contracts the use of others, these should be cool, comfortable
and conveniently located. Accommodation requirements are not
usually extravagant, but must be well-kept and free of tropical pests.
Resorts should figure out the easiest logistics for their guests, espe-
cially if the lodging isn’t within walking distance from the boats.
In the end, visitors rate their resort experience in different ways,
and some spend more time in their rooms than others. They will
judge small items, such as housekeeping, cooling systems, electrical
and water services, and equipment rinsing areas in varying degrees
of care.
It’s a good idea to schedule dining and social events to form
bonds between the staff and guests. Positive social interactions pro-
vide yet another motivation for guests to repeat visits to a favorite
resort.
Personnel Considerations
Perhaps the single most important attribute of a successful resort di-
vemaster or instructor is attitude. Vacationers, as well as employers
and coworkers, are impressed with dive professionals with friendly,
outgoing and upbeat personalities. Combined with a neat, attractive
appearance, this meets the initial prerequisites for the ideal resort
employee.
While an upbeat personality is an important attribute for any
retail operation, it’s even more essential for resort personnel who
interact with continuously changing clientele. Each customer ex-
pects a fresh, enthusiastic response to his activities, and continuous
attention during his vacation.
Although personnel may soon lose their initial enchantment with
resort attractions and find them rather ordinary, to the customer
the experiences are new and charged with excitement and discov-
ery. Resort personnel who empathize with and foster customer
163
ELEVEN
excitement toward what may seem the most common and ordinary
attractions develop excellent customer relations. Personnel whose
demeanor presents an attitude of monotony detract from the cus-
tomers enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Successful resort operators advise potential job candidates not
to think of resort employment as an opportunity to “play in the sun.”
Resort employment, these experts say, is hard work with frequently
long days, and a grueling schedule that requires everyone at a resort
to be ready to work at any time.
PADI’s Career Tracking Tips for the Dive Professional video gives
some excellent insights regarding employment at resorts through
candid interviews with some of the world’s most successful resort
owners. These employers echoed the need for mature individuals
who can perform their duties without getting distracted by their sur-
roundings. Many resort/boat owners also stressed the advantage of
mechanically inclined or trained individuals who can work on ma-
chinery, especially boat engines and compressors.
Dealing with the continuous turnover of tourists can be po-
tentially frustrating for many dive professionals. The objective is
to entertain the guests, and while on the job, there is little time to
devote to personal diving interests. This could frustrate a resort staff
member whose objective in working at a resort is to pursue personal
interests, such as building an underwater photography portfolio.
Working on a continuous basis with resort divers, especially
newly certified divers, student divers and scuba experience par-
ticipants, requires patience, tolerance, and understanding. Besides
focusing on customer service, the successful dive professional needs
a realistic outlook on job-related duties and a sound work ethic.
Work is not a vacation, and a professional who thinks a resort job is
a working vacation is in for a disappointment.
While diving on a daily basis may appear attractive at first,
diving day after day, often three to four times daily, requires a high
degree of stamina and attention to personal hygiene. Continuous
exposure to wet and humid conditions predisposes a diver to health
conditions, which include ear and skin conditions. Careful attention
to personal hygiene and cleaning/drying wet suits and other equip-
ment is important for any dive professional. Colds and small cuts,
which are normally considered minor annoyances, may become
significant if a diver can’t recover out of the water.
164
Dive resort operators and employees should understand the lo-

cal culture they’re in if different from theirs. Religious beliefs, cus-
toms, language, attitude and way of life of local peoples often differ
dramatically from those of the resort personnel. Income levels for
local native residents often fall far below those of resort personnel
and may present a potential source of resentment. Blending in with
the local way of life and offering due respect to local customs en-
courages a comfortable coexistence between resorts and local popu-
lations. Longtime or local residents naturally know the local customs
and how to live with them.
Subsequently, when hiring resort professionals, owners usually
look for individuals who possess the above attributes, plus valid
instructional credentials, of course. While divemaster and instruc-
tor-level professionals certainly qualify to work in most resorts,
some operations hire Master Scuba Diver Trainers who possess
essential PADI Specialty Instructor credentials, such as Underwater
Photographer, Wreck Diver, Underwater Videographer, etc. For more
information on employment criteria, refer back to the Personnel
chapter of this book.
Captain’s License
Many resort locations require a captain’s license or an equivalent rat-
ing to operate dive boats. Different countries have different rules and
regulations pertaining to this important license. Dive boat captains
play a significant role in resort operations, as a captain’s responsibil-
ity includes the safety of his vessel and the people aboard.
In addition to his safety duties, a dive boat captain should also
be familiar with dive sites and local conditions. Resort owners can-
not afford deviation from the local licensing rules and regulations
and must ensure their staff follow these regulations faithfully.
Dive Boat Scheduling and Logistics

Management concerns regarding to dive boat operation, tour super-
vision and scheduling require careful planning to ensure customer
satisfaction. This involves staffing considerations, accounting
procedures, boat operations, emergency management and dive site
selection. Providing customer convenience items such as on-board
snacks and beverages, rinse tanks for camera equipment, spare
equipment, and freshwater showers helps customer satisfaction.
165
ELEVEN
When planning resort dive boat schedules, resort operators

should also consider diver supervision, depth and dive profile limita-
tions, flying after diving concerns, diver experience, certification
levels and number of dive days.
Selecting appropriate dive sites requires familiarity with the
sites themselves, which can be accomplished through research and
exploration.
Live-aboard boats can offer more “unlimited” diving schedules
as all support services are on the boat. Live-aboards usually travel
to and from dive sites at night after the diving is completed and cus-
tomers have retired for the evening.
Dive boat schedules should be tailored to meet diver needs.
Some considerations include the group’s experience, local condi-
tions and logistics. An operator may start groups with a day of easy
diving to ascertain their skills and comfort level, then take them to
more advanced sites on the following days if they so desire. Extend-
ed trips, up to a week or longer in duration, may be planned begin-
ning with shallow, less advanced dives on the first day, progressing
to deeper locations for subsequent days, and tapering off to shal-
lower, less advanced dives during the last days of diving.
Flying After Diving and Multiday Diving

Dive vacation plans usually include scheduled flights, so it’s a good
idea to remind vacationers of current flying after diving guidelines.
The same is true for those traveling to high altitudes after diving,
such as an afternoon tour of a local volcano.
Divers planning multidive profiles over several days should
maintain conservative dive profiles and consider snorkeling or
partaking in nondiving activities, especially on the day before depar-
ture.
Resort operators may offer dive tours and activities that pro-
mote conservative dive profile practices, such as visiting shallow
dive sites toward the end of the visitors’ stay, or scheduling optional
nondiving activities midweek and on the day prior to departure.
Diver Supervision
Diver supervision includes roll call and diver count procedures,
surface and in-water supervision and dive profile management. In
many instances, guided tours are advantageous for group control
166
and scheduling considerations. Group control provides dive profile,

depth and diver count management. Additionally, guided tours aid
in reef preservation efforts by carefully observing divers’ buoyancy
control and diving practices. Diving with a professional guide also
reduces diver anxiety, especially concerning navigation, dive profiles
and advanced skills.
While tours have many benefits, most divers prefer the option of
exploring the reefs with a dive buddy of choice. This usually calls for
surface supervision, with attention to maintaining surveillance of the
dive site and readiness to respond to an emergency.
Whether resort operations conduct guided tours, ask divers to
remain within stipulated guidelines or have divers monitor and plan
their own profile, supervisory personnel generally can track diver
profiles. Divers frequently ask divemasters to help them plan dives,
so it is useful to be familiar with a selection of dive tables. It is good
to consider dive computers when planning and monitoring resort
dive tours, and address their use in dive briefings.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling has always been an integral part of resort operation, espe-
cially in warm water areas around the world. Dive resorts are smart
to cater to this large market and ensure they service snorkelers and
schedule snorkeling excursions, whether these are exclusively for
snorkelers, or combined with scuba activities. With a little staff train-
ing, flexibility and ingenuity, resorts can cater to divers and snor-
kelers, and almost every area has dive sites that are conducive for
snorkelers and divers alike. Sting Ray City in the Cayman Islands is
one example; another is Molokini Crater in Hawaii. Both have shallow
areas for snorkelers, and deeper ones for divers.
Even certified divers may want a change of pace, or decide to
snorkel on the day before flying. The dive resort should be able to
provide snorkeling services in this case.
Tips and Gratuities

Many resort divemasters earn tips from customers by providing
exceptional customer service. A word of caution, however: No one
enjoys being “hustled” for tips. Customers and staff appreciate hav-
ing tipping policies explained in advance. Tips are tokens of appre-
ciation for good customer service, not expected payment.
167
ELEVEN
Special Considerations for Resort Personnel Management

Management policies that consider the health and well being of the
resort staff promote contentment and security among staff members.
A contented staff creates an atmosphere of friendly professionalism.
Scheduling time off allows employees to attend to personal mat-
ters, rest and relax. Seasonal fluctuation, unplanned guests and un-
foreseen circumstances often make unscheduled demands on resort
staff. Management attention to maintaining an adequate staff helps
reduce unscheduled demands. Although time off during holiday
seasons isn’t usually an option for resort employees, slow seasons of-
fer opportunities for scheduling employee vacations and completing
projects for which there is no time during the busy season.
Regular days off are usually scheduled on a rotational basis for
staff members and although taking weekends off is uncommon, it is
helpful for resort personnel to plan for regular days off on a consis-
tent schedule so that they may attend to personal matters. Addition-
ally, unplanned days off may occur when weather conditions restrict
diving activities.
Health care benefits encourage staff members to pay attention
to personal health concerns, perhaps avoiding major complications
and days away from work, while contributing to their security. Diver
Accident Insurance, available internationally through PADI, provides
medical and evacuation insurance coverage for in-water accidents.
Planning conservative employee dive profiles reduces the likeli-
hood of decompression illness, which could be devastating to a dive
professional’s career. Management policies that reduces the risk of
DCI may include monitoring and logging staff dive profiles with at-
tention to current safe profile guidelines. Rotating each day’s diving
duties so that staff members take turns attending to nondiving assign-
ments allows for extended surface intervals between dives. Likewise,
regular days off each week allow for recovery time out of water.
Outlining company policies regarding smoking, drinking and dat-
ing helps promote a professional attitude. Resort areas often don’t
offer a wide variety of staff entertainment options, leaving dating and
social drinking as attractive diversions to staff members. Policies
that outline recreational staff behavior and interaction with guests
are important considerations to maintain a professional demeanor.
For the expatriate (foreign citizen) resort employee, work per-
mits, visa regulations and accompanying logistics can be confusing.
Management responsibilities often include arranging for these per-
168
mits, which require familiarity with local government procedures.

Employers and employees alike should adhere to local laws and
regulations pertaining to hiring and business policies.
Room, board, laundry facilities and related benefits may play a
part when planning compensation for employees. Local accommo-
dations may be expensive or difficult to find, making resort-provided
accommodations attractive. These benefits allow employees to
focus their time and energies on other concerns, and reduce stress
due to housing uncertainties, especially for new arrivals.
Reef Preservation
The primary attraction to resort diving locations are the reefs them-
selves. Vibrant, healthy reefs, teeming with an abundant sea life
provide a natural wonderland that attracts vacationing divers year
after year. In the interest of preserving this spectacular, yet fragile
environment, it’s vital for resorts to focus on reef conservation.
Rotating dive sites, careful selection of sites with regard to diver
skill and experience levels, and responsible anchoring techniques,
all aid in reef preservation efforts. Coordinating dive site visita-
tion schedules with other resorts helps distribute diver traffic and
provides uncrowded dive sites for guests. United efforts to install
moorings and cooperate on conservation issues benefits everyone
frequenting the reefs.
Diver awareness and buoyancy control also play a role in reef
conservation. Most divers don’t intentionally set out to damage
reefs, but may inadvertently cause damage due to lack of awareness
or buoyancy control. To minimize this, resorts can orgnaize diver
awareness presentations including introductions to local marine life,
reef awareness programs and peak performance buoyancy clinics.
PADI Specialty Diver certifications courses such as PADI Underwater
Naturalist, and Peak Performance Buoyancy add to the emphasis on
diver awareness.
Responsible dive boat operation practices have a distinct effect
on preservation efforts. Minimizing reef damage resulting from boat
anchoring, bilge or garbage dumping, hull impact and fuel or oil spill-
age additionally reduces negative effects. Use of permanent mooring
buoys, anchoring only in wide sandy or barren areas if moorings are
not available, disposing of waste using appropriate on-shore loca-
tions and maintaining boat engines promote reef preservation.
169
ELEVEN
These practices ensure the industry’s continued adherence and

commitment to reef preservation efforts. Resort operators, however,
should be careful how to position this stance so not to imply that div-
ers are the primary cause of reef degradation.
The real culprits of reef degradation are pollution, dredging, over-
fishing and other nondiving endeavors. Some within these groups may
scapegoat divers as culprits by using out-of-context information, so
it’s important to acknowledge these facts, while continuing to teach
divers about reef protection.
Resort and Retailer Relations

Resort and retailer cooperation within the dive industry provides
many distinct advantages for the resort operator, retailer, instructor
and customer. Dive retailers often market dive travel packages to
provide excellent customer service and exotic dive experiences for
their customers. Many retail centers book dive travel with individual
resorts based on familiarity and assured customer satisfaction.
Incentives such as Fam Trips (complementary familiarization vis-
its offered to retail dive centers), commissions on dive travel booking
and complimentary trips for group leaders attract retail dive center
business. Promoting dive travel business through retail dive centers
requires promotional considerations that acquaint divers with the
benefits and services offered. Readily available detailed information
packets and brochures help promote resort services at retail centers.
Other promotional venues directed at retail dive centers include as-
sociation with dive travel agents, participation in dive industry trade
shows and direct contact with individual retail centers.
In addition to dive travel considerations, diver certification refer-
rals are a significant component of the resort/retailer relationship.
Student referrals offer many distinct advantages for customers who
choose to meet certification requirements at a variety of locations.
Communication between resort and retail centers regarding referred
students, certification requirements and other related issues builds
relationships through which all parties involved benefit. Cooperative
relationships will invariably increase business opportunities for both
parties.
Mutually beneficial relationships between resort and retail op-
erations require communications and trust. Generally, retail dive
centers rely primarily on equipment sales income, while resort busi-
ness income relies on vacation sales. Understanding and respecting
170
customer interactions within each respective business helps es-

tablish trust and long-term business relationships. Communicating
concerns regarding customer sales interactions aids in establishing
this understanding and reducing anxieties associated with the threat
of competition for customer business.
Dive travel wholesalers, such as the PADI Travel Network can
play a significant role in establishing resort/retail relationships. PADI
Travel Network continuously interacts with PADI International Resort
and Retailer Associations Members worldwide in areas where there
are high dive vacation travel demands. Booking travel to PADI In-
ternational Resort and Retailers Associations Members assures the
retailer that his customers will be accommodated at a resort that
lives up to PADI’s standards, thus eliminating some of the concerns
associated with booking customer travel to unfamiliar destinations.
The PADI International Resort and Retailers Associations

The PADI International Resort and Retailers Associations (IRRA) is a
trade association that provides the dive resort community with busi-
ness support, marketing assistance and advocacy to the dive indus-
try and government. IRRA represents the interests of dive retailers,
dive resort operators, live-aboard and charter boat operators, offer-
ing extensive services and benefits to its members.
IRRA membership benefits include marketing advantages since
the PADI name is recognized worldwide by dive vacationers and
professionals, networking with a large membership, access to PADI
products and member services, PADI-sponsored resort dive opera-
tor and dive boat liability insurance coverages, global trend updates,
business news and statistics, job placement information service and
environmental updates.
IRRA grew to more than 400 members in its first year of exis-
tence, and this number is steadily growing. This fact and the news
from the field indicate the good health of the worldwide resort
business. Studies show that divers from industrialized nations are
constantly looking for travel and adventure, which means well-run
resorts will have a steady stream of business for the years to come.
171
ELEVEN
Customer Service –
The Competitive Edge for the 90s
(Reproduced from the Resort Association News, Fourth Quarter 1994.)
There are old business adages that state, “The customer is always
right,” “Give the lady what she wants,” and “Service with a smile.”
While these represent the basic elements of customer service, many
feel that to gain a competitive edge in the 90s, customer service
needs to reach new, higher levels.
According to some experts, customer service is becoming the
make-or-break factor for most businesses in the 90s. Part of this is
competition – specialized products and services (in our industry: rental
equipment, dive boats, hotel accommodations, etc.) are widely avail-
able around the world. The other reason is customer sophistication
and ever-rising expectations.
In their book Total Customer Service, William Davidow and Bro Ut-
tal wrote: “Rising expectations of service are an economic and social
phenomenon . . . . Consumers are richer and better educated than
ever before, and thus more demanding about the service they receive.
For example, when U.S. semiconductor companies learned that Japa-
nese suppliers of chip making machines offered much more effective
maintenance than U.S. suppliers did, the U.S. chip makers drastically
increased their service expectations.”
We’ve witnessed this in the dive industry; when one dive opera-
tor began offering hotel shuttle service, it quickly became the norm in
most markets.
So what is “customer service”? We’ve all experienced being
“served” as customers, and we make a living by “serving” our cus-
tomers. Has anyone ever developed a definition of customer service
by which we can measure either our performance or our customer’s
satisfaction?
Davidow and Uttal again: “In the broadest sense, customer ser-
vice is whatever enhances customer satisfaction. Satisfaction, or lack of
it, is the difference between how a customer expects to be treated and
how he or she perceived being treated.”
This is why great customer service is challenging: expectations
differ from person to person, country to country and culture to cul-
ture. This is a challenge that resorts must face and resolve to achieve
excellent customer service. Many international resorts do this by hir-
ing a culturally diversified staff, and understanding and analyzing their
market and clientele.
Customers worldwide are becoming better informed about the
value of service and are more likely to take their business elsewhere if
their expectations aren’t met. We know that our customers evaluate
the quality of the entire experience, from the airline service, to the ho-
172
tel registration desk welcome, to the behavior of fellow divers – as well

as the attentiveness and perceived competence of the dive operation.
Each aspect is appraised and colored by the others. Research suggests
that divers of the 90s want a pleasant “total” experience; that boats
need not be the biggest or the dives the deepest with the biggest fish.
It’s rather the entire experience, including the service they receive,
that determines whether they will return or not. So how do we deter-
mine what their expectations are exactly?
A study on customer loyalty conducted by Learning International
concluded the following: “treating customers in ways that lead to
loyal, long-term relationships requires a total organizational response.
It’s not enough to develop a top-notch product, sell it at a fair price,
and provide adequate follow-up support. In many buyers’ minds, this
merely allows a supplier [dive operator] to play the game.”
Jan Carlzon, who turned around Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), be-
gan with the question, “Who is paying attention to the real needs of
the customer? . . . The world is changing, business is changing, and
the needs of our customers are changing. We must formulate a viable
concept for service.”
In their book Service America!, Karl Albrecht and Ron Zemke claim
that part of finding this “concept” is developing a service strategy that
includes finding out “what goes on in our customer’s minds when he
or she thinks about our kind of service.”
The ultimate questions seem to be “How can we determine what
our customers value most?” Also, “How do we satisfy their expecta-
tions, and how can our performance be measured?”
A total service concept that addresses these questions can be devel-
oped by including these elements:
1- Strategy
2- Leadership
3- Personnel
4- Design
5- Infrastructure
6- Measurements of service.
1- A service strategy can be developed in three steps: first, you must
invest the time and effort necessary to obtain reliable market research
to determine who your customer is – the varying market segments
and service segments. According to Davidow and Uttal, “Segmenting
by customer expectations, rather than by customer, often reveals that
it’s possible to give great service to a wide range of people who share
a narrowly defined set of expectations.”
Second, find out what customers expect so you can determine
how many of these expectations your operation can fulfill. Research
has shown that there is a vast gap between how an organization de-
fines “good service” and how the customer defines it. Carlzon’s most
173
ELEVEN
effective action was to realize that how SAS defined service for its own
purposes had little to do with customers’ perception of service. The
thing to remember is that the way a company views service may have little
to do with the views of its customers.
Besides capturing demographic and psychographic (likes and
dislikes) data, use open-ended questions on your questionnaires, and
ask your guests (minifocus groups): What do you expect from a dive
operation? What are the factors that make a difference to you? What
leads you to choose your dive operation over another?
Put yourself in your customers’ place when you develop your
questionnaire. Your research may indicate greater possible success by
concentrating only on certain market segments, such as Club Med has
done for several years.
The third step of developing your service strategy is setting the
customers’ expectations. This means deliver on your promises! Your
marketing should set realistic expectations for you and your customers.
In this way, your customers’ expectations are always met, and hopefully
surpassed.
2- Unless you, the leader of your company, view customer service seri-
ously, you probably won’t get the results you desire from your staff.
Management must be visibly and rigorously committed to customer
service to make it trickle down to frontline employees. If company
leaders espouse customer service as being all-important, but don’t treat
serving the customer seriously themselves, neither will the employees.
By providing leadership, you create the environment, or conditions,
that encourage your employees to go the extra mile for your custom-
ers.
3- Success relies on the training and development of personnel. As an
industry, we cannot afford to have unprofessional or unfriendly person-
nel. This problem, of course, isn’t exclusive to the dive industry, as
Albrecht and Zemke state in Service America!: “It is no exaggeration to
say that in the majority of service organizations, the care and training
of frontline people could be vastly improved.”
As resort operators, we should strive to hire the right people –
Ron Kipp of Bob Soto’s in Grand Cayman says that attitude is often
more important than experience when hiring employees. After hiring,
train, retrain and cross-train. Companies that headed up the “excel-
lent customer service” list such as AMEX, Delta Airlines and Singapore
Airlines extensively cross-train. Besides creating a more flexible work
force for the company, cross-training ensures that every employee has
the knowledge necessary to solve the customer’s problems. Motivate
employees with recognition programs, incentives and perks
4- Organizational systems’ design should permit easy, effective cus-
tomer service. Peter Hughes’ system became famous in the resort dive
industry for streamlining dive check-in procedures. The key is to keep
174
it simple. Pinpoint, from your customer’s point of view, likely points of

failure, and provide for a quick response. It may be vital in this step to
involve your frontline employees since they work with the system on a
daily basis under a variety of conditions. Let them participate as team
members to tell you how to improve your systems. Also, consider
allowing customers to do more of the work themselves. Customer ser-
vice may not necessarily mean doing everything for the customer, but
simply changing to the way the customer perceives the service.
5- The backbone of your service is your infrastructure. If you think
of yourself as a manufacturer (you manufacture an experience for
your customer), the infrastructure supports all functions necessary
to produce and deliver that experience, from your computer system
to the dive boats and rental equipment inventory. The more closely
you match the capabilities of your infrastructure to your customers
through market research, the more efficient and effective your “fac-
tory” will be in meeting the customer needs and expectations.
6- Measurement is the last step of this process. A valid measurement
system tells you what’s needed to improve customer service. An effec-
tive measurement system focuses on three different aspects of service:
product, process, and customer satisfaction.
To measure the product, ask yourself the following questions:
• Is the building/office clean, well-lighted and eye pleasing?
• Are the dive boats clean and in good repair?
• Is the dive inventory sufficient to handle customer requests?
• Do you have safety equipment at hand?
• Are your phone/fax/computer systems adequate for your needs?
To measure the process, examine how you and your staff deliver the
experience by asking these questions:
• Does your marketing promise reasonable expectations?
• Does your advertising deliver the image you want?
• Do you open on time, and do your boats leave on time?
• Is your staff friendly and professional?
• Do your customers have to wait in line for anything?
Measuring customer satisfaction is a lengthier process and may involve
a survey process, but it’s worth the effort. In a study conducted by
Texas A & M University, researchers identified several dimensions of
customer service that can be measured:
• Access
• Reliability
• Communication
• Competence
• Courtesy
• Responsiveness
• Understanding/knowing the customer
175
ELEVEN
• Security
Use these criteria to measure your customer satisfaction or to develop a
survey. It’s best to develop the questions from your customer’s point of
view, not yours.
Customer satisfaction is the true competitive edge for the 90s.
Resorts that offer little of that will lag behind, and those that do will
surge ahead and get repeat customers regularly. Fortunately, offering
good customer service may be one of the easiest and least expensive
things to do for a business – with the infrastructure in place, sometimes
all that’s needed is a new attitude and a staff training program, such as
PADI’s Positive Approach Selling, which was specifically designed for this
purpose.
Don’t lag behind, after all, the customer is always right, and you
should give the lady what she wants!
References
Maloney, Elbert S. Chapman Piloting. The Hearst Corporation, 1987.
Farley, M.B. and Royer, C. Scuba Equipment Care and Maintenance. Port Huen-
eme, CA: Marcor Publishing, 1988.
PADI International, Inc. The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving. Santa Ana, CA:
PADI, 1993.
PADI International, Inc. PADI Divemaster Manual. Santa Ana, CA: PADI, 1991.
PADI International, Inc. PADI Instructor Manual. Santa Ana, CA: PADI, 1993.
Richardson, Drew. “Avoiding a Future Dichotomy.” The Undersea Journal, Fourth
Quarter 1994.
Richardson, Drew. “Coral Reef Destruction -- Is Scuba Diving Destined to be the
Scapegoat.” The Undersea Journal, Third Quarter 1994.
International Organizations Associated With

Licensing Boat Captains
Australia
Northern Territory
Department of Transport & Works
GPO Box 2520
Darwin NT 0801
Tel: (089) 827 040 Fax: (089) 827 937
176
Tasmania
Navigation and Survey Authority of Tasmania
GPO Box 202B
Hobart TAS 7001
Tel: (002) 351 030 Fax: (002) 310 693
Western Australia
Maritime Division Department of Transportation
PO Box 402
Fremantle WA 6160
Tel: (09) 335 0888 Fax: (09) 335 0850
New South Wales

Office of Ports Policy & Marine Strategy
GPO Box 5280
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 372 8790 Fax: (02) 372 8799
South Australia
Marine & Harbors Agency Department of Transport
PO Box 19
Port Adelaide SA 5015
Tel: (08) 470 840 Fax: (08) 470 605
Victoria
Marine Board of Victoria
PO Box 4910
Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel: (03) 619 666 Fax: (03) 619 6700
Queensland
Marine & Ports
Queensland Department of Transport
GPO Box 1549
Brisbane QLD 4001
Tel: (07) 237 9801 Fax: (07) 237 9648
Canada United States

Canadian Coast Guard US Coast Guard
25 Huron St. USCG Marine Safety Office
Victoria, Canada 165 N. Pico Ave.
Victoria 8 VIV 4V9 Long Beach, CA 92802
Tel: (604) 480-2600 Tel: (310) 980-4435
Switzerland
Institut Fur Hochseenavigation
Sonnenberg 3
8634 Hombrechtikon
Switzerland
Tel/Fax: (41) 55-42 4387
177
INDEX
Index
A accommodations 83, 159, 163, 169
acquisition 85, 91
Advanced Open Water 52, 53, 58, 59, 63, 67, 72
Adventures in Diving program 58, 107
advertising 14, 19, 22, 23, 25, 28, 30, 33, 36, 43, 52, 53, 62,
67, 71, 81, 85, 88-90, 92, 93, 96, 153, 175
Assistant Instructor 5, 58, 59, 149
B banks 26, 27, 100, 101

BCD 3, 9, 25, 45, 53, 102, 103, 104, 106
boats 5, 16, 74, 79, 102, 108, 109, 110, 151,
161, 163, 165, 166, 172, 173, 175
borrowing 26, 27
budget 21, 29, 30, 33, 75, 89, 90, 101, 109
buying 29, 34, 38, 43, 81, 90, 106
C charter 4, 5, 171
closing (sales) 45, 47
clubs 6, 28, 90-93, 109
compressor 20, 23, 60, 97, 99-101, 160-162
continuing education 52-54, 57, 66, 88, 92
cost 14, 29, 30, 39, 55, 56, 61-63, 65-67, 89-91, 99, 101,
107, 109, 162
credit 26, 47, 48, 58
customer service 44, 45, 97, 160, 167, 170, 172, 174, 175
D DCI 168
Deep Diver 58
DEMA 6-10, 16, 51
destination 70, 72, 75, 76, 79, 82, 83, 87, 163
disasters 37, 38
Discover Scuba Diving 54, 60, 61, 81, 90, 107, 160
Divemaster course 58
divemasters 5, 163, 165
dropout rate 9, 10
E economy 29, 38
Education 2, 16, 20, 29, 51, 57, 60, 61, 67, 72
employment 13, 20, 152, 159, 164, 165
enriched air 98-101, 104, 162
Equipment 2, 6, 7, 16, 20, 22-29, 33, 34, 35, 37, 43, 67, 71,
72, 102, 162, 176
equity 26, 27
Experience 43
178
INDEX
F fatality statistics 11
finance 26, 46, 47, 48
flying after diving 166, 167
G goodwill 18, 39, 91

gratuities 167
group tours/travel 3, 70, 71, 74, 76, 77, 80, 88
H hiring 36, 37, 111-115, 117, 120, 121, 123, 165, 169, 172, 174
I independent instructor/contractor 13, 65, 114, 115, 124,

152, 154
instructor 2, 3, 5, 12, 22, 43, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63,
65, 66, 108, 115, 119, 124-127, 131, 132, 133, 149, 150,
151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 163, 165, 170, 176
insurance 13, 25, 30, 36, 37, 38, 62, 65, 77, 82, 103,
108, 119, 125, 126, 127, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135-143,
145, 146, 161, 168, 171
inventory 2, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 74, 88, 102,
143, 144, 175
investment 2, 3, 9, 47, 61, 62, 66, 99, 100, 101, 154
L layaway 47, 48
liability 37, 108, 118, 119, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133,
143, 153, 154, 171
logistics 58, 116, 163, 165, 166, 169
M maintenance 25, 29, 60, 61, 65, 95-98, 102, 104, 109, 114,
123, 124, 138, 139, 140, 154, 161, 162, 172, 176
manufacturer 3, 5, 34, 99, 140, 175
market share 7
marketing 6, 12, 14, 17, 75, 93, 171, 174, 175
media 5, 13, 14, 15, 89, 90, 96
merchandising 34, 69, 105, 127, 160
N negligence 130
Night Diver course/night diving 3, 54, 58, 67, 75, 83
nitrox (See enriched air) 98
O objections (sales) 45
Open Water Diver course/open water dives 52-58, 59, 60,
63, 64, 65, 67, 72, 73, 75, 102, 107, 118
operations 120
179
INDEX
P PADI International Resort and Retailer Associations 171

payroll 25, 30, 35, 44, 114, 119, 120
personnel 20, 22, 111, 115, 116, 120, 134, 138, 139, 146,
157, 160, 163, 164, 165, 167, 168, 173, 174
PIRN 9, 16
pools 107, 108, 124
preservation 92, 167, 169, 170
print media 89
probing (sales) 45
promotions 6, 42, 67, 85, 90, 91, 107, 160
public relations 85, 91, 92, 93
R radio 89, 90
referrals 30, 60, 70, 73, 160, 170
rentals 22, 24, 28, 29, 102, 104, 127, 138, 140
repairs 36, 138, 139, 154
Rescue Diver course 52, 53, 58
RSTC 13
S safety 1, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 77, 99, 121, 129, 130, 141,
151, 165, 175, 177
salary 113, 114, 118, 119, 152, 153
salespeople 42, 44, 45, 46, 71, 106, 113, 114, 116, 119
savings 26, 27
sexual harassment 117, 118, 122
snorkeling 15, 16, 54, 59, 60, 80, 81, 160, 166, 167
substance abuse 121
T taxes 13, 21, 25, 35, 36, 37

television 14, 62, 65, 73, 89, 90
The PADI System 58
The Three Es 1, 2, 53, 70, 72, 123
training 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 62, 63
Travel 6, 24, 25, 69, 71, 74, 75, 77, 81, 82, 83, 171
V venture capital 23, 26, 27
W Wreck Diver course/wreck diving 3, 54, 58, 75, 83, 165
180

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The Business of Diving

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What are the three main components of the recreational dive industry?

What are the three main components of the recreational dive industry?

What are some statistics about the dive industry?

What are some statistics about the dive industry?

The Business

Throughout this publication, trademarks may be used. We have not printed a

Published by PADI Americas, Inc.

Library of Congress Card Number 95-071022

Printed in the United States of America

PRODUCT NO. 70166 (Rev 5/08) Version 1.02

Design and Typography

Drew Richardson, MBA, Ed.D.

includes a few “major” manufacturers that provide full lines of scuba

Dive Customers and the Industry

Dive Industry Players

Divemaster In a resort setting or on a charter dive boat, the

Media Dive community publications, consisting primarily of

Resort An association for dive resorts, including live-aboard,

Retail An association of/for dive centers that provides

Trade An association that markets the scuba industry

Dive Industry Statistics

Dive Center Size

Equipment Sales 52%

The Diver Dropout Myth

that it was based on a college student’s study conducted in the early

As a result of our investigation into the 80% myth, PADI conducted

Concurrently, PADI participated (along with NASDS and NAUI) in a

3.5 million U.S. divers falls at .033% to .025%, or in 1 in 3400 to 1 in

Dive fatalities have been tracked longer than decompression ill-

Problems Facing the Dive Industry

Nonetheless, there are concerns. In many areas, retailers are

with local government and media, and second in alerting larger

Opportunities Facing the Dive Industry

Historically, snorkelers have gone primarily to sporting goods

Writing the Plan

If available, market industry surveys should support this analysis to

Asst. Mgr. Store Asst. Mgr.

Salesperson* Repair Tech.*

Action Dive Center

1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year

Projected Annual Direct Costs (sample only)

Projected Gross Profit

Projected Overhead Expense

Projected Net Profit

Rental Equipment Purchases

Wet suit w/hood 30 210 6,300 2 3,150

Action Dive Center Overhead Expenses

1st Quarter Annual

Friends and Relatives

These investors rarely look at small businesses, such as retail dive

making it a profit center. This includes the sales, rentals, travel,

these sales, then, is $19,500 ($30,000 x 65 percent = $19,500).

*Includes the owner’s salary

Profit and Loss Statements

selection of products, or a whole lot of easily salable equipment. The

The equation is based on a number of givens in a dive center. For

If it’s determined that the ending inventory should be 30 masks, then

Deductible business expenses usually include advertising, amor-

Smart Tax Strategies

good management sense. Although many states don’t recognize

Dates of travel: __ Name of Airline: _