Project AWARE Special Offers with your PADI Member Renewal

Project AWARE are calling for all PADI Professionals to show their support for aquatic conservation in 2010 with these exciting offers.

1. Free Project AWARE Divers Turtle Mask Strap

Receive a free Project AWARE Turtle Mask Strap with a donation of £25 or more when renewing your PADI Membership*. Donors of £25 or more become Patrons and receive a year’s subscription to the Foundation’s email bulletin and action alerts. Patrons will receive the unique Project AWARE turtle mask strap as a token of appreciation for their support. Visit the PADI Pros’ Site today to renew online or contact the PADI Member Services Department.

2. New – 2010 Turtle AWARE Certification Card.

Replace your member level card with the new 2010 Project AWARE Turtle card. Order this limited edition certification card by completing the replacement card section on your renewal application, or by contacting the Member Services Department.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE SUPPORT!

* Whilst stocks last. Renew your PADI Membership today to avoid disappointment (contact the Member Services department on memberservices@padi.co.uk or +44 117 300 7280).

PADI Delivers Business of Diving Training Directly to Retailers

PADI Delivers Business of Diving Training Directly to Retailers

New webcasts make it easy for retailers to continue their business education.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – 29 October 2009 -- PADI Americas will launch the first in a series of nine new Business of Diving program webcasts shortly after DEMA Show 2009. Available exclusively to PADI International Resort and Retailer Associations (IRRA) Members, these programs - which will continue into the first quarter of 2010 - are designed to maximize business knowledge while respecting the time and costs involved in attending a traditional business seminar.

“The membership is understandably focused on their businesses right now," says Bob Coleman, Vice President of Sales and the International Resort and Retailer Associations for PADI Americas. "They don’t have time to sit through days of seminars or the need to spend precious capital on travel, meals and accommodations to receive quality business training. Plus, in the past, this training was limited to only the owner or manager because someone had to stay home and mind the store. Now, it’s convenient and accessible for all.”

Once online, renewed IRRA Members can access the one-hour webcasts via the PADI Pros' Site free of charge. Plus, members who have viewed a webcast will be invited to attend a follow-up, PADI-moderated web conference along with other like-minded IRRA Members.

“Over the years, participant surveys following Business of Diving programs have indicated that interaction with other PADI Members is one of the most important parts of the program,” said Jeff Nadler, International Resort and Retailer Associations Manager at PADI Americas. “The follow-up programs built into the new webcast structure are fantastic because members can interact with each other to develop new ideas and ways to implement them. This is all based on the training they receive and something they can do without leaving their businesses. Even better, they can also include their instructional and sales staff, so the information isn't limited to just one person.”
 

Initial series topics includes:

• Building Your Business (Business and Marketing Plans)
• Business of Instructor Development
• PADI eLearning®
• The Internet and eCommerce
• Managing Your Business (Core Management Principles)
• Point of Sales Systems (EVE)
• Sales 101
• Sales 102
• PADI Survival Training

Others promise … PADI delivers.

New PADI Instructor Manual, Revised Divemaster Crewpak

  Streamlined and Simplified 2010 PADI Instructor Manual

- Available from PIL January 2010 -

PADI’s Instructor Manual in 1972 was under 100 pages. Over the next thirty-seven years, the manual swelled to nearly 1,000 pages.

Our 2010 Instructor Manual has been simplified, alphabetised and binder-ised to make key standard easier to find. For a more extensive explanation of each course, instructors can refer to the 2009 manual* and/or the new Guide to Teaching.

*and subsequent Training Bulletins.

 

All renewed instructors and divemasters will receive an email with a link to download the new manual in the first quarter 2010.

The produce (number 70120 comes with the binder and instructor manual pages only.  It does not come with the other items shown in the photo above.

The fourth quarter training bulletin has some information on familiarising yourself with the new manual (pages 2-3).  If additional hints and tips become available, I’ll publish them to this blog.

Translations to the new PADI's Guide to Teaching will be considered for translation in the following languages, Arabic, Polish, Czech, Hungarian and Turkish in late 2010 for production in 2011.

PADI’s Guide to Teaching replaces the IDC Candidate Workbook and can be used as a companion reference to the 2010 Instructor Manual.  It includes the teaching techniques and recommendations that were previously found in the Instructor Manual.

Translations to the new PADI’s Guide to Teaching  will be available in Arabic, Greek and Polish during the third quarter of 2010. Translations into Czech, Hungarian and Turkish are under consideration in 2010  but not confirmed.

 Changes to the PADI Divemaster Crewpak

Product number 60020

The new manual is part of the revised PADI Divemaster crewpak – which will be available from PIL late December / early January 2010.  The product number stays the same (60020).  Please see chart below with a list of what’s in the revised PADI Divemaster crewpak (available in English only, for now).

If you have Divemaster kits in stock – don’t worry.  The previous version of our Divemaster crewpak is still valid for use through 31 May 2010 (ref. Pages 4 and 6 in the 4th Quarter Training Bulletin).  After that date, Divemasters must purchase the new instructor manual if they’re buying a “2009” Divemaster kit.

What’s in the PADI Divemaster crewpak?

What’s in the NEW PADI IDC crewpak

New Materials for the 2010 IDC Evolution

The 2010 Course Director update just wrapped up at DEMA, and our new IDC crewpacks with be available from PIL in January 2010. I have made a chart of what's in the new IDC crewpak versus the old one (please see below).

The big changes are: 

• PADI's Guide to Teaching replaces the IDC Candidate workbook. The new product also include teaching techniques and recommendations previously found in the instructor manual.

• Three books are now on a CD (Best of the UJ, Children & Scuba and the Business of Diving).
• We now include the entire digital 2009 PADI Specialty Instructor Manual instead of just the Project AWARE and PPB outlines.

If you have some of the old IDC crewpaks in stock (60033 or 60034): they're valid for use up until June 30^th 2010. Course Directors have until 1^st July to complete their CD update.

After that date, or if the Course Director is teaching the new "IDC Evolution," the student will need to purchase PADI's Guide to Teaching ala carte. The student may need to purchase a 2010 Instructor manual if they didn't receive it as part of their 2010 Divemaster renewal.

What's in the PADI IDC crewpak?

(click image below to view a larger version)

 

In order to teach the new IDC and utilise the new materials, Course Directors must attend an update. Read about the Course Director and IDC Staff Updates scheduled throughout PIL's territory 2010. The key products of the new program are included as part of the update program cost.

Diver Acquisition Tip #1 - Discover Scuba Diving

Discover Scuba Diving - Bring a Friend Program

What is the Bring a Friend Program? The program encourages current PADI Open Water Diver course student divers to bring friends for a Discover Scuba Diving experience during their last confined water session.


How can you market Bring a Friend?

Build this "requirement" into your store's Open Water Diver course information sheets.  

• Have your divemasters or instructors conducting the next open water class available to conduct these Discover Scuba Diving experiences.

• Distribute customisable Bring a Friend (Divers Bring Divers) cards during open water diver courses and remind students to invite friends or family to join their last confined water session and discover scuba diving.
• Throw in some digital underwater cameras and let friends have some fun with them. Make sure to send divers the photos after the class or invite them back into the store to collect them, giving you an additional face to face contact with them to close additional sales.
• Sign up the Discover Scuba Diving participants for the next class as soon as they get out of the pool!

Why is the Bring a Friend Program beneficial?

• Friends can become dive buddies
• Motivates friends to sign up for the PADI Open Water Diver course
• It's a fun and exciting activity for the whole family.
• Promotes the PADI Adventures in Diving Program and related courses such as the Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty course.
• Increases equipment sales.
  Tips to convert Discover Scuba Diving participants into PADI Open Water Divers

• Encourage PADI Open Water Diver course student divers to "Bring a Friend" for a Discover Scuba Diving experience during their last confined water session.
  
• Instructors distribute customised "Bring a Friend" (Divers Bring Divers) cards during open water diver courses.
• Friends can become dive buddies
• Throw in some digital underwater cameras and let friends have some fun with them.
• Have a staff member at the Discover Scuba Diving session whose sole purpose is to close the deal and convert participants.
• The closer approaches participants and encourages them to enrol in an open water diver course.
• The closer's goal should be to sign up new divers immediately – right after they're finished and are excited about diving.
• Consider an incentive for staff members signing up a certain number of Discover Scuba Diving participants for their open water diver courses.
• Invite previous customers to a Scuba Tune-Up session and encourage them to bring a friend for a Discover Scuba Diving experience.
• Have instructors personally call Discover Scuba Diving participants after their experience and personally invite them to join the next open water diver course.
• Host a social event after a Discover Scuba Diving experience or make the event a social day with a braai (barbeque).
• Have a fun video playing in the background during the Discover Scuba Diving session and have photos and testimonials from previous participants available or on display.
• Distribute PADI Scuba Connect™ cards to Discover Scuba Diving participants encouraging them to sign-up for eLearning right away. 

2010 Professional Instructor Renewal Benefits

New for 2010

• We’re making the 2010 digital PADI Instructor manual available to all members for download – we’ll send you a notification when your copy is ready for download.

• Digital Undersea Journal – reduce your carbon footprint by opting out of the printed version.  If you would like to do your bit for the environment, please send us an email and we’ll ensure that future editions are delivered digitally.

• Win back your renewal fee and other great prizes – don’t miss the 2010 Renewal Competition.  You can also receive a free Lanyard with online orders over £10 - Renewal Competition Prizes  Offer ends 28/02/2010.

• This year Project AWARE offers you a limited edition Turtle Mask Strap in appreciation for your support - Click here for more information.

• A special message to all PADI Professionals – Click here to view video message

• PADI Professionals have unlimited access to exclusive membership benefits and services

Tec Instructor Crossovers in the UK

Earlier in 2009 PADI rolled out the newly restructured and revised TecRec program. TecRec now includes five diver level certifications – Tec 40, Tec 45, Tec 50, Tec Trimix 65 and Tec Trimix Diver. The numbers in the course names correspond with the maximum depth limit in metres for that certification.

Tec Trimix 65 is a new intermediate certification between Tec 50 and Tec Trimix Diver. This course will be for tec divers who are interested getting started with trimix (depth is limited to 65 metres/210 feet). Tec Trimix Instructors may teach the Tec Trimix 65 course.

PADI is also unveiling a new instructor opportunity, bringing the number of TecRec Instructor levels to three. The newest credential is Tec Instructor, a rating that allows you to teach Tec 40.

If you’re already an instructor with another technical training organization and would like to certify TecRec divers, a free crossover is available through 2009. With this in mind, the dates for three Instructor Crossovers in the UK have been announced. These will be similar to the event being offered at the DEMA show and will take place in Bristol on the following dates:

• 16th November 2009

• 14th December 2009

Attendance at these Crossovers is free, although registration in advance is compulsory. If you meet the requirements for the crossover and would like to attend, download the registration form now, or contact Rich Somerset for a registration form at rich.somerset@padi.co.uk. Details of the requirements for attendance are provided on the registration form.

PADI Branded Clothing from Team Purple

Customised PADI Team Clothing

Your company image and brand is what allows customers to associate the service and quality they receive with the name of your business.  Regardless of the size of your company, customer focused branding provide a strong sense of quality and identity to those people seeking your services.

Therefore PADI International Ltd has aligned with Team Purple to bring bespoke PADI branded clothing to PADI Professionals.

Team Purple, the official exclusive manufacturer of PADI Clothing, offers a customised one stop clothing solution for all PADI Professionals seeking a smart and recognisable team image.

Team Purple specialise in supplying your team clothing and adding your logo or branding using different techniques including embroidery, vinyl printing and screen printing. They have more than 35 years experience of applying these methods to technical clothing.

Staff names, certification levels and even membership numbers can be added to branded clothing alongside the PADI logo and your store name / logo.


For further information and to view the PADI Branded range of clothing please click here or contact Emma Fuller at emma@teampurple.co.uk.

Your very own (and powerful) marketing department

"A good cus­to­mer base is the best mar­ke­ting depart­ment there is."


I need to make a confession, I've become part of the 'big machine' know as 'Marketing'.  Now let me give a little detail on my confession...

As I've matured from my acne ridden teen years, I've come to appreciate such musical greats as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Queen.  In my younger days, music wasn't music to me unless it involved an electric guitar, men with long hair, and lots of teenage angst.

How did I come to find such great songs as 'Paint It Black' or 'Let It Be'?  They were recommended to me by people I trusted and respected, those people that most of us refer to as friends.

Just as with the music industry, there are many aspiring artists (dive centres) who want members of the public to sample their latest tracks (equipment, education and travel), but may struggle to get word out about the latest groove.

Take a leaf out of the music industry marketing book and get people talking about your dive centre, your customer service and your offers by having customers give you testimonials, link to your Facebook/Myspace/Bebo group and share their experiences by word of mouth.

Once your customers know the great experience they've received by visiting your store, sampling your courses and service, they'll not be able to resist telling their friends. Let's face it, we all probably remember the first time someone played Bohemian Rhapsody, and we probably asked 'who is this?' and 'where did you get the album?'.

Divers Bring Divers

Customising a student business card – Divers bring Divers initiative.

1. A sheet of business cards (10 cards per sheet) with the dive centres details on them are printed out by the centre with the Students name on them.
2. At the end of each OW course, each student receives 10 cards with his or her name on them.
3. They are then told that for every card that is returned to the centre by a friend or family member who in turn signs up and completes an OW course at the centre. They are entitled to receive 10 pounds in credit to be used at the centre.
4. This Gives them the opportunity with 10 cards to earn 100 pounds that can be spent on equipment or courses.
5. Nothing is written on the cards to indicate that they will benefit, the reason being, it was found that people are less likely to hand out cards in case it is percieved as a marketing campaign in which they profit.
6. So the cards are kept as simple as possible, and all benefits are explained by the centre to the student at the end of the course when the cards are issued.

Here is an example of the customised cards, there is a place for your dive centre logo, and contact details.

Click the picture above to download the template and get started with your customised cards.

Are you aware of the changes to DSD?

Read here to see how close your intro dive is to an ISO approved programme and find out how to become a leader in your market 

Follow these simplified DSD guidelines and reap the rewards

Missing a trick?

Do you have enough Open Water Divers? Our most successful centres at diver acquisition are those that have a proactive Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) programme, targeted at securing entry level divers. Thought it was too difficult to run the operation and market the centre at the same time? With two simple options it's actually easier than you think. Time to give it a go! Remember, as occupancy in hotels is lower than usual, the experience you give these precious guests is paramount in developing an entry level certification, so give them the best!

 

Discover Scuba Diving made easy

DSD's can be conducted in a Pool, Confined Open Water and Open Water. The aim is to give the participant an experience they will not forget and hopefully encourage them to complete a PADI entry level course. Review the DSD Instructor Guide in the PADI Instructor Manual for further detailed information if required.

DSD in a pool or confined open water

Are you a Divemaster holding the DSD Leader rating, an Assistant Instructor or above? If so, you can do this.

• DSD participants complete and sign the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Brochure.
• Have participants complete and sign the Discover Scuba Diving Knowledge and Safety Review. Until incorporated in the revised DSD Brochure, you may download the DSD Knowledge and Safety Review (available as a free download from the PADI Pros site homepage).
• Conduct briefing
• Help new divers put on and adjust their scuba equipment.
• Skill performance requirements are conducted in shallow water before moving to water too deep in which to stand. You may not engage in any other activities, such as taking photographs or video, while supervising participants
• Demonstrate and have students master Inflation and deflation of a BCD at the surface
• Directly supervise new divers as they breathe underwater and swim around in shallow water. When comfortable, take them on tours in deeper water as appropriate.
• Debrief divers
• Promote your PADI Scuba Diver, PADI Open Water Diver Programme or Scuba Connect Programme
• Register your DSD participants online

In a nutshell! – Conduct a PADI DSD any time a customer wants to experience diving in a pool or confined body of water. The only required inwater skill relates to BCD use on the surface. There is no maximum or minimum time requirement; this is left to you. How simple is this!

DSD - Open Water Dive

Do this if your DSD's want to do more, or their first experience is conducted from a boat or surface support station.

• Participants complete and sign the DSD Brochure.
• Have participants complete and sign the Discover Scuba Diving Knowledge and Safety Review. Until incorporated in the revised DSD Brochure, you may download the DSD Knowledge and Safety Review (available as a free download from the PADI Pros site homepage).

Before the dive a PADI Instructor:

• Conducts briefing on equipment they'll be using; explain risks of diving, breathing and equalization rules, aquatic life, limits of the programme.

Practice the following skills in shallow water with a PADI Instructor:

• Inflation and deflation of the BCD at the surface
• Breathing underwater
• Regulator clearing and recovery
• Mask clearing
• Equalization techniques
• Hand signals/underwater communication
• Finally conduct the participants on a tour of the dive site.

Conducting Discover Scuba Diving first experience, from a boat or surface support station.

If conducting the Discover Scuba Diving program in a location where shallow water in not accessible (e.g. off a boat, dock or other surface support station), new divers may learn and practice skills by using a descent line, horizontal bar or platform that is within 2 metres/6 feet of the surface. If using a descent line, the ratio during skill practice is one participant to one PADI Instructor (1:1).

Credit for PADI Scuba Diver and PADI Open Water Diver courses

If your DSD participants have done the Open Water Dive, it can be credited towards the Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver course - A good incentive for your divers to do more! Additionally, you may decide to conduct Confined Water Dive One skills with the participants. In this case you can credit this additional learning towards Confined Water Dive One of the PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water Diver course.

Final Idea – If some of your DSD market have enough time, why not start you regular Open Water Diver Courses following the DSD's programme (Dive Today), and slip in the DSD participants. Conduct the DSD briefing, both Confined and Open Water Dives and let the DSD participants join Academic One. At the end of the day you can explain that after one more day they can become a Scuba Diver!

Review the DSD Instructor Guide in the PADI Instructor Manual for further detail and information. Please note changes incorporated in Training Bulletin Q1.09 and Q4.09.

DSD Facts – why you should use this programme

Want to earn $60 and get a DSD participant diving?

Conducting and registering DSD's also allows your PADI Dive Centre to benefit from the PADI Scuba Connect™, programme. Through Scuba Connect, PADI Dive Centres and Resorts can earn $60 US for each Discover Scuba Diving participant that enrols in the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online. Student divers may choose to complete their training with your facility or, as with a travelling consumer, may complete the inwater portion of the course with a facility closer to home. To get details of the Scuba Connect programme visit PADI Pros site homepage or feel free to visit my blog or contact me for further information.

While the conversion from the DSD Programme to PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water Diver may differ between domestic markets and resort markets, it has been proven (and it's still the case) that the proper conduct of a PADI DSD programme brings new customers.

With the introduction of the new DSD experience in 2002 the conversion has increased to 8.5% new divers in main European markets.

In the resort areas, the conversion is lower at between 2.9 and 5%. The difference being that the actual number of participants is much higher by far when compared to mainland Europe.

By conducting and registering your participants of PADI Discover Scuba Diving you will enable PADI to communicate to these participents and encourage them to take up a PADI certification programme.

What needs to be considered:

• A DSD experience is the most successful programme to generate new customers, especially if the centres are using freshly certified divers to share their experience at the end of the DSD. It's within PADI standards to have a PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water Diver helping with the logistics of organizing equipment and other materials used in the programme, motivation and registration at the end of the DSD experience. (They can't supervise, be used as a certified assistant or in any way conduct the experience or any of its elements.) The registration ratio is very often close to 80% if the emphasis is well positioned (end of the programme).
  
• A closer analysis of German Dive Centres in 2006 has confirmed that the DSD is crucial for the good health of a business. Centres who conducted the DSD experience and actively promoted the Open Water Diver course during the experience found a significant uplift in their business.
• In a resort environment, sometimes the programme is only conducted as a fast "benefit" and there is no follow-up being done at the end of the experience. In resorts where the conversion effort is made not only during the experience but also at the end of the programme, the registration into a PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water Diver course is close to 70%.

Have fun, and by using the programme correctly you will create new divers and potentially reaps great rewards. Please ensure you read the "Revised Discover Scuba Diving Materials" article to obtain information on the newly revised DSD materials.

Connecting Discover Scuba Divers with local Dive Centres

CUSTOMISE, PRODUCE, DELIVER, PROFIT

Produce your own Scuba Connect Cards with your centres details and reap the rewards.

By using the attached artwork you can now add your centres details to the Scuba Connect cards and either print them off yourself or take them to a local printer for mass production. Read about the benefits of Scuba Connect for your business below………

Did you know that 80 percent of Discover Scuba Divers intend on becoming certified, but only seven percent ever actually do?

PADI Scuba Connect™, a new worldwide program, is connecting Discover Scuba Diving participants with their local PADI Dive Centres to assist PADI Resorts and Retailers in converting these one-time participants into active customers.

All PADI Resort and Retail Members have the opportunity to earn $60 US per person by registering your Discover Scuba Divers and encouraging them to become certified. In addition, similar to a traditional open water diver referral, PADI Scuba Connect will act as a reverse referral by encouraging resort Discover Scuba Diving participants to affiliate with a local dive centre once they’re home to complete their inwater training.

How does PADI Scuba Connect work?

1. Your customers complete the Discover Scuba Diving experience
2. Register them using the current Discover Scuba Diving registration system
3. Give them a customised Scuba Connect card (click here, to download the artwork) with;
• Your PADI Dive Centre or Resort name
• A customised promo code – which is the same as your dive centre or resort numbe
• The promotional website
4. Encourage them to register for the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online using your customised promotional code.
5. When they register for the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online program, you receive $60 US from your PADI Office.
6. If they took their Discover Scuba Diving experience at a resort location, they will be treated as a reverse referral and prompted to affiliate and communicate with a local dive centre during their registration process to:
• Purchase equipment
• Purchase an Enhancement-Pak or a Crew-Pak
• Complete their confined and open water dives

Scuba Connect FAQ

How do you benefit? Here’s one example:

A couple takes a Discover Scuba Diving experience. The instructor registers them online through the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Registration system and encourages them to continue diving by taking the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online. They are not ready to register for the PADI Open Water Diver course that day, but want to continue diving at a later date. Their instructor provides them with a PADI Scuba Connect card and advises them to log on to the PADI Scuba Connect website as listed on the card when they get home.

The couple signs up for the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online using the promo code from their PADI Scuba Connect card. The dive centre or resort that initiated the conversion from Discover Scuba Diving to PADI Open Water Diver now earns $120 US ($60 US per person) just for registering the couple as Discover Scuba Diving participants and encouraging the couple to sign up with PADI eLearning. At the current rate of exchange this would be approximately £72.

Who benefits if the Discover Scuba Diving experience happened on holiday at a resort?

Both the PADI Resort and Retailer. If the couple took their Discover Scuba Diving experience with a PADI Resort they are treated as reverse referrals. When they register for the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online, they are prompted to affiliate with a local dive centre so they can complete their confined and open water dives, as well as purchase equipment.

In this case, the local retailer receives two new customers and the resort receives a financial incentive ($120 US) for converting these Discover Scuba Diving participants to open water divers through PADI Scuba Connect.

The Scuba Connect Card Artwork can be downloaded directly here, you can customise and print as many of these as you need to supply to your Discover Scuba Diving Participants today, before they head home to continue their diving.

Are you getting your share?

PADI has paid more than $1.6 million to dive centers and resorts for their share of eLearning fees and by the end of the year, we anticipate that reaching more than $2 million.

By placing a PADI eLearning banner on your dive centres website you are taking the first step to insure you join other successful PADI members who are sharing the rewards attributed to embracing the PADI eLearning programmes.

The eLearning banners are available for download from the eLearning Toolbox in the PADI Pros Area, “IRRA Members” section; they are listed under the “Tools” heading by following the “Adding PADI eLearning Links to your website” link.

New PADI Tec Diving Materials - Tec 40, 45 and 50 - Now Available

Only the instructor-level products have been revised.

Any student-level materials you may have on-hand are still current.

NEW ITEMS

Tec Diver Course Instructor Guide
(includes newly-revised instructor guide and instructor appendix CD-ROM)
- replaces 70407 Tec Deep Inst. Guide
Product no 70605

Tec 40-45-50 Instructor Slates Set
Newly-revised 19 slate set, coil-bound and printed on "wet notes."
- replaces 60204 Tec Deep Inst. Cue Cards
Product no. 60420

Tec Diver Course Lesson Guides CD-ROM
This product is not available yet, ETA mid-October 2009.
- replaces 70838 Tec Deep Lesson Guides
Product no 70913

Tec Trimix Instructor Guide
(includes instructor guide and tec trimix 65 addendum)
If you already own the Tec Trimix Instructor Guide, please contact PADI Training regarding the revisions: +44 (0) 117 300 7234 ext. 7347.
Product no 70430

EXAMS
Tec 40 student exam (product no 71040)
Tec 45 student exam (product no 71045)
Tec 50 student exam (product no 71050)

Blank answer sheets and answer keys are in the Tec Diver Instructor Guide and will be available soon on the PADI Pros site.

Instructor-level exams have changed. If you are a TecRec Instructor Trainer (course director) please call PADI training for details. +44 (0)117 300 7234 ext. 7347.

UN-CHANGED ITEMS

None of the student materials have changed for any of the courses. In other words, whatever student materials you have in stock are current.

No changes to the Equipment Set-Up DVD.

Gas Blender

None of the Gas Blender materials have changed.We put the instructor guide in a new binder so it would match the other guides, but that's it.

Tec Trimix

There have been a few changes to the Tec Trimix instructor guide. Please contact PADI Training for details +44 (0)117 300 7234 ext. 7347.

Students use the Tec Trimix student exam for "Tec 65."

Instructors continue to use the same Trimix Lesson Guides.

If you have any questions about implementing these new course, the changes that have taken place, or becoming a PADI TecRec Instructor or diver, contact your PADI Regional Manager (Graham.owen@padi.co.uk / Richard.howes@padi.co.uk) or a PADI Training Consultant (training@padi.co.uk).

Get the latest PADI Regional News straight to your desktop

If like me, your life is hectic, you probably don't have time to read page after page of news, bulletins, updates, product profiles, reviews, ideas...blah blah blah.

RSS (Rich Site Summary) feeds are bite sized condensed chunks of information delivered to your desktop reader program.  The desktop reader (known as an aggregator) can be standalone, part of your existing web browser, or even integrated into your email programme.

This blog, along with the associated calendar (scroll to the bottom if you haven't spotted it yet!), has the ability to provide an RSS feed directly to your choosen reader programme.  Therefore if you don't have time to open your browser and navigate to this blog, you can receive bite sized chunks straight to your desktop, PDA, or even iPhone.

A list of popular feed readers can be found here: http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Internet/Clients/WWW/Feed_Readers/Windows/ and many popular internet portals (Yahoo!, Google, AOL) include free desktop reader programs (sometimes referred to as 'widgets'), which also provide the same functionality, but in a more compact and unobtrusive package.  My personal favourite being the 'NewStand' widget from Yahoo! Widgets (http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/newsstand)

The URL for this blog's feed is : http://padi-islands.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

The URL for this blog's PADI Calendar is: http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/richard.howes%40padi.co.uk/public/basic

Add these to your favourite RSS reader now, and get the latest PADI Information straight to your desktop, how much simpler could it be!

Business Quick Review - Customer Contact

The saying goes that you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.  With most customers that is a phone call to your business. When a customer calls for information, it's important to create a positive first impression. How do you and your staff answer the phone?

Here are a few things to consider when answering the phone:

1. Answer in the first two rings with a smile on your face.
The person on the other end of the phone can hear if you
are flustered, angry or busy.

2. Indentify your business and yourself by name.
The person calling can now identify you by name and can now begin the relationship.

3. Ask for the caller's name.
Write this down. Be sure to use it during the conversation.

4. Ask questions probing for the types of things they are looking for.
This is a great opportunity to ask if they have a group, like eLearning, have a time restriction.

5. Answer any questions they have enthusiastically.
Engage in the conversation and invite them into the store for a visit.

6. Ask for contact information and offer to send information to support the conversation.
Ask if email or snail mail is preferred, get the information, and follow up.

7. Thank the customer for calling.

It's a good idea to have a sheet to capture this information for future entry into EVE or a list of things to cover near the phone to ensure you capture what you need. If you store all of this information, you can use it for future communications and mailings.

About the Year Behind Us and the Year Ahead

Video from Drew Richardson
About the Year Behind Us and the Year Ahead

The video above is a message from Drew to the PADI Members worldwide. It runs about 9 minutes and features some familiar PADI faces.

Drew talks about PADI's promotional efforts over the last year, gives an overview of our new programs and talks about some new options for individual members.

PADI eLearning; Not just a time advantage for your business...

PADI eLearning

Back in the late 1990’s I was working for a company called GKN Westland (if this means nothing to you, try a Google search on 'Lynx Helicopter'), producing Computer Based Training programmes for flight engineers.

Computer Based Training at the time consisted of a software programme that would show students information via schematics and ask them a series of questions to test their knowledge retention. The training would assist the engineers to fault find aircraft, and carry out maintenance duties without ever setting foot near a real life aircraft. This would ensure that flight engineers has a good foundation understanding of the airframe on which they’d be working prior to being let loose in the hanger with a set of spanners!

At the time, we all thought this was cutting edge technology, and to an extent it was. However, as we’ve all witnessed, technology has moved on and innovations in the military field will ripple through to civilian life, (how many of us now have a digital camera or GPS system?).

So, history has taught us that eLearning is good enough for military application. Is it good enough for civilian application also?

In August 2009 the US Department of Education (http://www.ed.gov) concluded a study into Online Learning that has taken place between 1996 and July 2008. The study was verbosely titled: Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies (phew!).

Regardless of such a lengthy title, the results of this study are extremely interesting to us as Dive Centre Owners and Dive Educators. In particular, there are two specific conclusions that bear direct relation to our industry and those people who are taking instruction to participate in our sport.

“Students who took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

“Instruction combining online and face-to-face elements had a larger advantage relative to purely face-to-face instruction than did purely online instruction.”

In a nutshell, online learning results are better than traditional classroom sessions, and combining online learning with face-to-face beats all of them hands down.
 This has some significant effects for implementing PADI eLearning in our business, we already know of the several benefits:

• Increase overall diver acquisition? Yes
• Bring you new customers? Yes
• Increase your PADI buying level without carrying stock? Yes
• Increase access to entry level divers willing to pay premium price? Yes
• Reduce costs associated with classroom time? Yes

Now add to this the empirical evidence that online learning (eLearning) combined with face-to-face learning (confined and open water) produces better results than traditional methods and we have some added benefits to this approach:

More opportunity to promote continuing education course
You'll have more time to spend with the student, discussing dive equipment, the upcoming dives, and the great offers currently available on equipment at your store.

Better prepared divers
Because the learning process is 'student centred', the student is fully prepared with the knowledge they need to apply to the confined and open water sessions.

Lower risk for the instructor and dive centre
More understanding of the subject at hand means a reduced likelyhood of making a mistake or not being able to apply the information to diving.

If you require assistance with eLearning, or implementing it at your PADI Dive Centre, please contact your Regional Manager (graham.owen@padi.co.uk or richard.howes@padi.co.uk).

Sources:

http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf(PDF Format)
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.doc (Microsoft Word Format)
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/reports.html (Reports Page)

EVE

Struggling to find the time to work on management ideas to make your business more profitable?

Too busy managing all these tasks to take the time out to work on the business marketing?

Do you want the company to manage itself more efficiently so you can spend your valuable time on ensuring customer satisfaction and revenue generation?

EVE is the PADI software of choice for the discerning dive store owner; a complete business management system, designed exclusively for the management of PADI dive centers and resorts, EVE saves you time, makes you money, keeps you organized and generally makes running your business simpler than you would have thought possible.

Over the coming months PADI International Ltd and ISSYS will conduct several webinars highlighting the benefits and functionality of EVE / EVE Online, and we would like to invite you to join us.

IMPORTANT .. Please select your preferred dates below – different topics covered in each seminar, so why not register for all of them now!

We look forward to bringing together both existing users and those new to EVE to share experiences and ideas. Also by asking questions of each other we will develop our EVE use and understanding.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Thu, Oct 22, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM GMT

Thu, Nov 26, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM GMT

Wed, Dec 23, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM GMT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration

with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

PADI Online Shop

Have you visited our new online shop yet?

You can browse our entire product range online and purchase at your usual pricing level – simply click the “Shop Online” link at the top of the Pros Area homepage.

Remember to check back often too, because the new products section and Specialty of the Month material offers are updated regularly.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the online shop, please contact us: sales@padi.co.uk

Take Control of Your Customer Service

Quality customer service is your competitive edge. Everyone can have similar products or services, but what they can’t replicate is your people, how they treat your customers, and how your customers feel when they are doing business with you.

The best way to develop your customers is to take care of the people who take care of your customers. Businesses have to care about their people both internally and externally. When the people who work for you feel valued, they will make the customer feel valued. This builds customer loyalty.

If you aren’t treating your internal people right and they don’t feel valued, they might pass that same negative attitude on to your customers. It’s the attitude of, “Why would you want to shop here? Do you even know what goes on beyond closed doors?”

Leaders who are serious about creating a culture of exceptional service start by getting everyone on the same page, believing fi rst that service is important. Make sure everyone in your business knows customer service is part of their job, even if they aren’t interacting directly with your external customers. Walk the talk. You have to say it’s important, but also act like it. As a business leader, how do you treat others? Leaders have to be great role models.

You can lose customers when there’s inconsistency. When some people at your company are great to work with and others are not, customers get frustrated. Don’t allow inconsistency internally, either. Don’t say quality of service is important and only measure your personnel by the number of calls made. You have to have measurement tools, but balance those tools against the level of service your people are providing.

What does good customer service look like? What does it feel like? And what does it mean for your business? You need to define it for your people. You also need to have incentives and reward programs. For any behavior you want people to exemplify, you have to reward it.
You don’t want people who work for you to think you don’t care what they have to say.

Encourage them to listen, and make it a safe place for them to speak up when they see something that isn’t working. Give your people credit when they fix or improve something. Ownership builds trust. If people on your team have that trust, why would they ever want to jump ship and go someplace else? This is a much better outcome than what I call “quit and stay,” when people show up, but they are dead meat. When your internal people aren’t happy, they will tell everyone about it.

What do you want your customers to know? For us, service is about caring about others. We established the slogan I CARE. When you know someone cares about you, you have that trust and loyalty, and you are willing to forgive them if something goes wrong.

Constantly measure and evaluate how you are doing. You can’t just do a yearly survey and think you will capture it all. Gather data and measure the service internally as well as externally.

Most companies fail not in their attempts to be Innovative or creative
Most fail because they undervalue the importance of Professional selling And Customer Care

European Shark Week 2009

European Shark Week, 10-18 October, is a unique opportunity for European Union citizens and shark advocates around the world to demonstrate their support for shark conservation and effect change.

This year, Project AWARE Foundation and Shark Alliance Partners are going back to governments for follow-up action under the EU Shark Plan, most importantly, improvements to the finning ban and quotas of zero for especially threatened shark species.

Why Sign Your Support?

Europe houses some of the world’s largest shark fishing fleets. Strong plans of action here effect global species conservation.

Sign the shark petition: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish

Share this Page with your family and friends.

Download the paper version of the petition and collect signatures in your school, dive center, or place of work: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Hold an event to help celebrate sharks. This could be a presentation, Kid’s activity such as an art contest, shark speciality course, or an information stand. Project AWARE looks forward to receiving your best stories and event photos.

You voice counts. The European Shark Week 2008 saw the collection of more than 100,000 signatures on a Shark Plan petition for EU Fisheries Ministers. The Ministers have since issued a strong response that highlights the plight of sharks and calls for prompt strengthening of the EU finning ban. Indeed, the Ministers’ words reflect the concerns of a growing number of EU citizens expressed through European Shark Week.

Predator turned prey - Turning the Tide for Sharks
 Most European shark populations are declining from overfishing. One-third are threatened with extinction. The EU ban on “finning” – slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea – is among the world’s weakest.

Hope lies with the new Shark Plan, adopted by the European Commission thanks in large part to support from many of you. The Plan sets the stage for vast improvements in EU shark policies, including the finning ban. Its success depends on collaboration and action by EU Fisheries Ministers and the European Commission. These fishery managers need encouragement from the European public to follow through on the Plan’s initiatives and truly safeguard sharks.