PADI and National Geographic

PADI and National Geographic Renew PADI National Geographic Diver Program

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA – 16 December 2009 --
Extending their commitment to the popular PADI National Geographic Diver program and support for PADI National Geographic Dive Centers, PADI and National Geographic have renewed the program agreement through 31 December 2011.
The PADI National Geographic Diver program combines the PADI Open Water Diver course with National Geographic specific content in special PADI National Geographic Diver course materials.
Since 2003, PADI is the only international training organization to work closely with National Geographic to provide such training, as well as a network of PADI and National Geographic Dive Centers around the globe.

“We’re committed to continuing this relationship with National Geographic,” said PADI President and COO Drew Richardson, “because the PADI National Geographic Diver program establishes an explorer-scientist mindset. It’s a great way to start out in diving, it gives people reasons to keep diving, and it brings new faces into PADI National Geographic Dive Centers.”



For more information about the PADI National Geographic Diver program, contact PADI Nordic or Regional Manager, Mikael Mox Moberg.


Others promise … PADI delivers.

New NG Centre in Sweden

Sweden got the second NG Dive Centre, Oceanic Tech in Stockholm.
After months of preparations and adjustments, the screening was evaluated and in place.

-Since Oceanic tech is very much involved in extreme exploration projects, we are glad to have the right tools to offer a basic start and an introduction for Open Water students in to become Underwater Explorers, says Stefan Hogeborn, Oceanic Tech.
More about Oceanic Tech and National Geographic Diver:
http://www.oceanictech.se/

Attract new divers? Know what you sell.

What are we selling?

According to many in the business we sell: Experience and a life style.

This short film clip is a very good example on one way to to sell the experience and life style of this particular PADI Dive Centre.

Enjoy, remember your last dive and dream of your next .

I will get back soon with an explanation on how to sort out:
What we sell?
What we package?
What we deliver

film clip is courtesy by: Oxygene Lysekil, sweden.
www.oxygenediving.com

Increase your business

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

These programs will be available online; PADI Regional Managers will also be conducting prescriptive in-store programs upon request.

Others promise … PADI delivers.

Diversnight 2009

December 3. , 20:09 local time

Not only divers of the Nordic countries are participating this year. Several more countries seem to be interested; Denmark, Estonia, Egypt, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Svalbard and the Faeroe Islands have confirmed their participation.

This years dive will be the fifth annual Diversnight arrangement we arrange, and the number of participating divers grows bigger every year.

2005. 351 divers in Norway.
2006. 889 divers in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
2007. 1859 divers in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and also Svalbard.
2008. 2183 divers in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Egypt, Indonesia, France, Spain, Faeroe Islands and also Belgium

2009 We are going for a new record!!! Look here for dive locations
Diversnight is a social event, well known for its excellent cakes and great prizes among its participants. Diversnight is to be a free-of-charge gathering and is made possible thanks to voluntary work and helpful sponsors.

Click HERE if you would like more information.

The main purpose of the Diversnight arrangement is that we accomplish something together above the level of clubs and boarders. We get the opportunity to show the world what a great hobby we have, and maybe recruit more divers. Not only to the sport itself, but to year-round diving even if it might be a little dark and chilly.

More info on: www.diversnight.com

Connecting DSD to Local PADI 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.

1. How does PADI Scuba Connect work?
   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 with;
   Your PADI Dive Centre or Resort name
   A customised promo code – which is the same as your dive centre or resort number
   The promotional website


4. Encourage them to register for the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online using your customised promotional code.
   When they register for the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online program, you receive $60 US from your PADI Office.

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.

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.

For more information, contact PADI Nordic

New Tech Rec Instructor products

Due to the changes in the Tec Rec programme 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 Tec Deep Inst.

Guide Tec 40-45-50 Instructor Slates Set
Newly-revised 19 slate set, coil-bound and printed on "wet notes."
- replaces Tec Deep Inst.

Cue Cards Tec Diver Course Lesson Guides CD-ROM

- replaces Tec Deep Lesson Guides

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:
EXAMS
Tec 40 student exam
Tec 45 student exam
Tec 50 student exam
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.

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.
Students use the Tec Trimix student exam for "Tec 65."
Instructors continue to use the same Trimix Lesson Guides.
Watch this space and other PADI communications for avalability dates for these products.

Interested in DSAT Tech Rec?

Checkout: http://tecrec.wordpress.com

Effective use of your students PADI wall certificates

Some useful suggestions from Peter Driessel, PADI Regional Manager, Africa & Middle East .

Many successful PADI dive centres hold a certification evening on their premises or in a local restaurant where they award their new divers with a PADI certificate of the various courses they have completed.

We know that this has always been positive as students from various courses get to mingle and promote the course that they have just completed to other attendees; we also know that invited non diving family members and friends are often turned onto the idea of scuba diving.

With all this said, have you ever given any consideration to the certificate presentation?During many of these evenings that I have attended I've seen dive centres give out both framed and non framed certificates. This got me thinking, how you can build a framed certificate that a diver would be proud to hang on the wall of their office or within their home.

My solution was to include the certificate, course title, for example, Open Water Class of 2009 and a photograph with all the names of the recently qualified divers.

Having a certificate like this will immediately add the professionalism to your course that our products and materials already portray.

Recently during the Dive Show in Johannesburg I hung several of these certificates on the Kewe Sales/PADI stand and was amazed at how many non divers said that they wanted to do the course with us as we looked so professional with our certificates!

In my opinion the most important factor in the presentation is that, you can be sure that the receiving diver will hang their certificate thereby creating interest for all that look at it.

Do you want new divers?

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?

Time to give it a go!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.
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.

After the poolsession it is important you ask the participant about continuing to the OWD course imediatly:

Have OWD Crew packs available, "start to day".

Have a schedule about the next course start.

PADI eLearning could work for many students, make sure you have the link on your web page.

Help your participants to sign on to the OWD Course, make it easy and fun!

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.

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.

Dive CentreMeeting, Denmark

Welcome to PADI Nordic business meeting for PADI Dive centres.
The purpose of the business meeting is to provide you as a PADI Dive centre with the latest information from the Nordic diving industry, exchange ideas with PADI Nordic and with colleagues, market trends and opportunities for the future.

For whom?

The meeting is primary for decision makers such as owners, managers or head Instructors at a Renewed PADI Dive centre. The amount of attendants is limited.

Where?

Denmark. October 24. Odense.Venue: First Hotel Grand, Jernbanegade 18. 5000 ODENSE.

How to register?

Send an e-mail to: mox.moberg@padi.seSeminar location, Dive centre name, PADI DC no, names of attendees.

What is included?

Seminars, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee, soda water, fruit.If you would like to stay overnight, please arrange it on your own expense directly with the hotel.

Fee?

No. The Business meeting is a part of your Dive centre fee, no extra charge.If "no show" or late cancellation, within five working days before start, PADI Nordic will invoice the Dive center with SEK 500.- per person cancelled.

Agenda
09.00 – 09.30
Coffee, sign up.

How to survive in a Recession…..

PADI WW statistics, PADI Nordic stat and trends by country.

PADI Market survey high lights. Uppsala University: Students certified outside Nordic.
12.00 – 13.00
Lunch

Workshop on sales process: before, under, after OWD.

Presentation on results from workshop.

e-Learning: OWD, AOW, EANx

Coffee and cake

EVE, padi.com and blog.

PADI Nordic initiative for 2009-20010.New IRRA membership standardExternal and internal services and seminars.
Agreements for 2010.Summary of the day.
Meeting ends at 18.30

History and the future

... The 1959 discovery of Australopithecus boisei, by Mary Laekey in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, was a watershed in the history of paleoanthropology, injecting a new energy into the particular field of multidisciplinary research, and adding a highly significant 1.75 million-year-old link into what was a relatively sparse hominid lineage at the time.

... The introduction of PADI’s eLearning system was a watershed in the development of diving educational programmes, injecting a new energy into diver acquisition for the industry, and has injected a highly significant $1.75 million US Dollars directly into PADI Dive Centre and Resort operations world-wide in under 2 years since initial launch.

This has been achieved because the power of the PADI brand, and educational validity of PADI learning systems & materials, allows up-front charging for PADI eLearning programmes – putting immediate profit directly into PADI members’ businesses, capturing an unrivalled volume of new divers for the sport, and committing new PADI divers to the industry right from their first interaction with it.

It’s amazing... what PADI can do for your business

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 (link to PDFs)
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.

Go to: Take Action during European Shark Week

New Courses

Here is a preview of the flowchart that will appear on the PADI website in September summarising the new TecRec course structure. The new courses will be launched on 1st September.

Read more on: http://tecrec.wordpress.com/

PADI EANx, now on eLearning

PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online Now Available
The most popular PADI Specialty course - Enriched Air Diver – is now available online. With the PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online, your divers complete the knowledge development portion of the course on their own time and at their convenience. This innovative new program also provides a dive-computer only option, which simplifies the teaching process and gets your divers in the water sooner using enriched air. It also provides an opportunity for you to increase your dive computer sales.

The PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online is priced at $195 US for divers and you'll receive $120 for each eLearner affiliating with your store through a link on your web page or through padi.com.

What’s In It For You?
The ability to earn additional revenue by satisfying divers looking to complete the practical application sessions - dive planning, gas analysis, fill procedures, etc. – at their own pace. You can also meet the needs of divers looking to complete the optional, but recommended, open water dives.
This convenient teaching methodology uses proven PADI eLearning® principles along with the same sound instructional design. It's convenient for your divers and can lead to even more equipment sales.

Even better customer service. The 2009 PADI Certified Diver Survey showed that more than 80 percent of respondents had either already enrolled in a PADI Enriched Air Diver course or plan to take it in the future. The PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online makes it easy for student divers to act on their intentions.

How Do I get Started?
Contact your PADI Sales Consultant or Regional Manager to get the updated Enriched Air Diver Instructor Guide (product no.70244, Version 1.0).

All PADI Dive Centers and Resorts that have issued PADI Enriched Air Diver certifications within the past 24 months are automatically included in the PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online system. They will also appear on the Dive Shop Locator at padi.com as a PADI Enriched Air Diver course provider. To add or remove your facility from this list, log on to the PADI Pros’ Site with your store login, go to the PADI eLearning section, click on the PADI eLearning Course Offering Selector Tool and select or deselect the online courses you offer.
Please note that once you deselect a course, consumers will not be able to affiliate with your store when signing up for that specific PADI eLearning course.
The PADI eLearning Course Offering Selector ToolMake sure you use the PADI eLearning Course Offering Selector Tool to change or update your course and language offerings for all PADI eLearning courses - not just the new Enriched Air Diver Course Online. Go to the Pros' Site at padi.com today.

How does the online course work?
The PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online follows the PADI eLearning format used in the successful PADI Open Water Diver Course Online and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course Online.
Student divers complete all knowledge development online. This includes an active slide presentation with supporting voiceover, photos, diagrams and links to associated video clips. Text from the manual appears in context and divers have access to an online version after completing the course.
Divers complete exercises and the knowledge review. The PADI eLearning system provides assessment, feedback and remediation.
After completing all components of the online course, student divers sit the new version of the PADI Enriched Air Diver exam. The system scores the exam, provides remediation and administers a retest for those requiring it.
Similar to the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online, divers confirm learning and retention by completing a quick review (the quiz, answer sheet and answer key are available for download from the PADI Pros' Site) in person with their instructor. Divers should also print out and bring their eRecords to their instructor at this time.
Divers complete the practical applications — dive planning, gas analysis, fill procedures, etc. — and the optional, but recommended, open water dives as usual. That means it’s easy to integrate online student divers with those taking the course using a traditional approach.

With the PADI Enriched Air Diver Course Online, you have the chance to earn income, increase equipment sales, give your divers a great reason to get back in the water and much more. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity. Contact your PADI Sales Consultant or Regional Manager today for more details.

New Danish PADI Course Director

The last International CDTC (Course Director Trainer Course) was held in the Dominican Republic, July 2009. Candidates from 18 countries was attending the course, including 1 PADI Master Instructor from PADI Nordic, Rasmus Dysted from King fish Dive & Travel in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Congratulations to Rasmus in his new position as a PADI Course Director.

If you would like to know more about how to become a PADI Course Director, log on to:

www.padimembers.com

Picture, courtesy by: DYK Diving Magazine. www.dyk.net

Below you can find dates for joining webinars to get more information on how to use EVE.

You can listen and look, ask questions and get more information on how your Dive centre could increase business by using EVE.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:


Thu, Aug 27, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM BST

Thu, Sep 24, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM BST

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 registrationwith information you need to join the Webinar.


System RequirementsPC-based attendeesRequired: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendeesRequired: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

eLearning link to your DC web site

According to the Fourth Quarter 2008 PADI eLearning Exit Survey, having a highly visible PADI eLearning link on your website - both on the homepage and course pages - is the top way customers find your dive centre. But, if you don’t yet have the link in an eye-catching place, it’s not too late.

I first found out about this online course from:
Dive Centre / Resort Website 23.3%
Friend / Family Member 22.4%
Dive Centre/ Resort Staff 19.5%
padi.com 19.5%
Internet Search 11.0%
Other 3.8%
Source: Fourth Quarter 2008 PADI eLearning Exit Survey

How to Put the PADI eLearning Link on Your Website?

Go to the PADI Pros' Site at http://www.padimembers.com/, scroll down to the eLearning section (on the left side) and click on the Step 1: Add PADI eLearning Links to Your Website link.

With exit surveys showing that 94 percent of participants would recommend the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online to their friends, this PADI program is an obviously popular and effective way to get new divers.

But, PADI eLearning isn't just about acquiring new divers - it's a significant retention tool as well. The same exit surveys also show that more than 93 percent of PADI eLearners would continue their dive education online. That means you can retain divers by taking advantage of the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course Online.

Even more online retention opportunities are on the way - including Enriched Air Diver Online.

By: Terry Johnson, RM Egypt & Eastern Europe.

PADI AOW eLearning: FAQ

Are eLearners restricted to the seven dives from the online curriculum?
In the eLearning program, students complete knowledge development for seven sections:

Deep Diver and Underwater Navigation (required for AOW certification)
Boat Diver, Night Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist and Wreck Diver
(why we chose these)
Students who want to try other adventure dives can access the Adventures in Diving Manual from the Tools menu of the online classroom. The knowledge development can be completed online, printed out, and presented to the instructor with their Advanced Open Water Diver eRecord.
The exception is: Enriched Air and Digi Photo - students must complete knowledge reviews from the specialty manual for these adventure dives (same as PADI's traditional course).

Scenario One:

An AOW eLearning student would like to try dry suit, night, and altitude diving in addition to the required deep and nav dives.
The studen t completes knowledge development for three of those dives (deep, nav and night) using the online curriculum.
For dry suit and altitude, he'll click on the Tools menu to access the sections on altitude and dry suit in the Adventures in Diving manual.
Lastly, he'll complete and print his knowledge development answers on his computer and bring them to his instructor.

Scenario Two:

A diver signs up for AOW eLearning and would like to try night diving, enriched air and digital underwater photography.
She'll complete the night diving knowledge review as part of the online curriculum.
For Enriched Air, she'll complete knowledge review one from the Enriched Air Diver manual.
For Digi. Photo she'll complete the level two knowledge review from the Digital Underwater Photography manual.

Can an Access Passes be used for AOW online?

YES. Access Passes (aka eLearning gift certificates) are available for Advanced Open Water online. The Access Passes must be purchased specifically for the Advanced course. An Open Water access code will not work for AOW.

To purchase: visit padi.com/accesszone and click "Purchase" under eLearning Access Passes. Create an eLearning login if you don't already have one (this is eLearning-specific and different from your PADI Pros login) and on the next screen you'll be prompted to purchase either OW or AOW Access Passes. The cost is $120 (payable by credit card only).

By: Terry Johnson, Regional Manager Egypt & Eastern Europe.

Attention Dive Centre Owners/ Managers!!

How would you like to be able (with only a few key strokes) to contact all your past students with targeted promotions?

By that I mean send an email to all your customers who have taken a DSD but not an Open Water course.

Or all your OWD students who have not taken the Advanced programme? As a PADI IRRA member that option is yours.

Click the stream below to find out how.

http://eve.issys.co.uk/files/MarketingPADIDivers.zip

The second sucessfull Webinar on the use of EVE

Today ISSYS and PADI Nordic made the second successful seminar on the web (Webinar).

Ian Sykes at ISSYS (creators of EVE) explained the basics and some new tricks to attract old and new customers to keep them diving.

The discussion on how to effective use EVE as a "power tool" to keep track of customers will continue.

Six PADI DC from, Finland, Sweden and Norway attended the webinar.

If you as a PADI Dive Center missed this golden opportunity, please make a mark in your calender for June 25 for the next session.

Join the Monthly EVE Webinars
IRRA members make a note in your diary for the first PADI Nordic/PIL EVE User Group Webinar.
When: Thursday 25th June Time: 16.00 – 17.30 UK time

Simply register by sending an email to eve@padi.co.uk.
The webinars will be a monthly event for EVE users and anyone thinking about becoming an EVE user. During the webinars you’ll find out how and why PADI partners with EVE, and also great tips and advice on how to get the best out of the system.




Or send an e-mail to:


mox.moberg@padi.se


To get a invitation

Opening hours during the "Midsummer Weekend"

Due to Midsummer holiday extended weekend in Sweden, PADI Nordic office will close at 13:00 June 18. The office is opening again on Monday June 22.

"Midsummer evening" is an old Swedish tradition when all Swedes are jumping around a pagan pole covered in leaves and flowers, singing about the "small frogs" and demonstrating frog-leaps, of course we all are dressed up in traditional clothing.

I even heard rumours about some people drinking distilled and refined distillates from potato's and other crops, and the females are putting seven different types of flowers underneath the pillow, to dream about the future PADI Diving Instructor they will marry,but it may only be just rumors.

Dive center visits in Norway

Sometimes we are very fortunate to make visits to PADI Dive Centers/Resorts and have the opportunity, not only to meet all fantastic PADI Members, but also to get "wet" and do what we all love to do "GO DIVING".

During the week, Gulen Dykkesenter, just north of Bergen, Norway, hosted a Photo Seminar arranged by Lars Kirkegaard and world famous UW photographer, Alex Mustard.

At the seminar there was of course a lot of opportunities to do fantastic diving and get feedback from the Nordic elite of UW-Photographers.

More about Gulen Dykkesenter.

http://www.gulendykkesenter.no/

Picture left to right: Gulen Dykkesenter owners, Örjan and Monica with a happy guest diver.

Two New National Geographic Dive Center

After many hours with hard work, two new DC are rewarded with the prestigious National Geographic Dive center. AquaSyd, situated on the southern part of Denmark, is the third DC in Denmark. You find more about AquaSyd at: http://www.aquasyd.dk/.

Oxygene Jönköping is the first NG center in Sweden, read more on: http://www.oxygenediving.com/

A NG Diver certification is not just any Diving Certification, as a NG Diver the student are trained in the basics of Exploration, this is the first step to go on and develop skills for more extensive diving.

More about NG Diver: http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-courses/diver-level-courses/view-all-padi-courses/national-geographic-diver/

If you want to know more about how to become a National Geographic Dive Center, contact:

Mikael Mox Moberg, mox.moberg@padi.se

Picture: Courtesy by DYK Diving Magazine. www.dyk.net

Manager Göran Muntzing at Oxygene Jönköping.

INTRODUCTION TO EVE- Do not miss the next Webinar!

On May 26, seven PADI Dive centers attended the "Intro to EVE" Webinar.

The webinar was hosted by Ian Sykes at ISSYS, the company responsible for creating and supporting PADI DC on the use of the most comprehensive Customer Relation Management system (CRM) created to and for PADI Dive centers.

The reason for the webinar was to show the basic features of EVE and the possibilities in the system regarding to customer contacts, follow ups and customer tracking.

The webinar also gave the DC possibilities to ask questions related to EVE directly to Ian.

If you as a PADI Dive Center Manager/Owner missed this informative webinar, make sure to make a mark in your busy calender:

June 17, 2009. Time: 11.00 - 12.00 (CET).

To sign on:

1. Send an e-mail to iansykes@issys.co.uk

2. Make sure you got a functional microphone and speakers connected to your computer.

3. before the meeting you will get an invitation with all details on how to log on and attend the webinar.

DSAT Blog and chat page

For all of you interested in more Technical Diving, please check out the link below.

http://tecrec.wordpress.com/

The blog is covering Tech diving with focus on DSAT training and the latest standards related to DSAT training.

Project AWARE Actions blog

Please checkout the new "friend" on the blog list.

Go to:

http://projectaware.wordpress.com/

2 for 1-Do not forget to sign up!!

In our joint efforts to bring in new divers and to show the general public the joys and wonders of diving, PADI Nordic is proud to announce the "2 for 1" Discover Scuba campaign.

The campaign is a cooperation with Mares/CBM Produkter and PADI Nordic.

During 2009 every "splash camera" sold trough the major Nordic travel agencies in their Tax Free catalogue will consists of a first exposure with a offer of a Discover scuba offer, go 2 pay for 1. The estimated amount of cameras to be sold is 15 000.

As a PADI Dive center, do not miss the opportunity to get in contact with new potential divers.

Go to: www.padi.se/two4one

For more information, contact: olle.olsson@padi.se or mox.moberg@padi.se

PADI Nordic 2008 Go Pro Challenge Winner

Now it is finalised, the winner of the 2008 Go Pro Challenge is:

Palle Djursgård, PADI Instructor at Master Dive, Helsingör, Denmark a PADI 5 Star IDC.

We all gratulate Palle to a very fine job done during 2008 and wish him a prosperous 2009.

Each Regional Award winner will receive:
-A bursary from PADI Nordic of £750 sterling to be used for professional or business development (e.g. website re-development, additional instructor training, a local advertising campaign, purchasing additional training materials).

-Assistance from your Regional Manager and the PADI Nordic Marketing Department in putting together a promotional article relating to your scuba diving career and instructor achievements.

This will be released on padi.com and to local Dive Press.

-The Regional Go PRO Challenge Award Plaque, engraved with your details, to display for one year, plus an individual plaque recognising your achievement for you to keep.

-Free PADI membership for 2009.

You will find more information on: http://www.padimembers.com/

Picture, left to right: Olle Olsson, Sales and Marketing Manager/PADI Nordic.

Palle Djursgård, PADI Instructor at Master Dive.

Webinar on EVE for PADI Dive Centers in the Nordic area

Make a mark in your busy agenda, May 26 at 11:00 (CET).

A webinar hold by Ian Sykes at ISSYS will be made for all of you Dive Center owners/managers, who are interested in more information on how EVE could help you keep track of students and customers.

To sign up you need to:

1. Send your interest along with your e-mail address to: ian.sykes@issys.co.uk

2. Make sure your PC/Mac have functional speakers and microphone.

Any questions, please contact:

mox.moberg@padi.se

PADI DC Business Meeting in helsinki

During last Saturday, 12 Key persons in the Finish diving industry got together for a full day of presentations, interesting discussions and workshop.

The meeting took place in Helsinki and was attended by 6 of the leading Finish PADI Dive centres.

A lot of useful information was shared among the attendants, and all of us agreed it had been a interesting and informative day, for both PADI Nordic Staff and the present DC.

We also agreed on to continue with this type of meeting.

Picture: Olle Olsson, Sales & Marketing Manager PADI Nordic, talks about statistics and certification numbers.

PADI DC Business Meeting in Jönköping

The first PADI DC Business meeting was held in Jönköping, Sweden during Saturday.

11 PADI Dive centers and 12 Managers and Key Instructors attended the meeting.

During the day there was a full program covering topics from Surviving in hard economical times, EVE, elearning, work shop and ideas on how to attract and keep divers active, what PADI Nordic can help individual DC with.

comments on the meeting.

-"This meeting was much more interesting and useful then the first impression from the proposed agenda."

-"The best part was the EVE presentation, this was really interesting and useful information for me as a Dive Center".

-"The information and possibilities with eLearning was good."

At the end all Dive Centers made an agreement to put the eLearning link on their web site.

Next DC Business Meeting will be:

Oslo, Norway. April 18.

Helsinki, Finland. April 25.

For signing up or more information, please contact:

Mikael Mox Moberg, mox.moberg@padi.se

Phone: +46 70 777 66 32.

Picture: Trond Skaare, PADI Nordic Manager Training and Membership, presenting " Survival Training".

Vildmarksmässan, Stockholm

After a summary of the total of visitors at the exhibition in Stockholm March 13 - 15.

A total of 23 430 visitors. New record and an increase of 25 % from last year.

Friday: 4 796

Saturday:11 497

Sunday: 7 137

Many exhibitors felt the increase of visitors and an increasing interest in diving, diving activities and equipment.

We are looking forward to the 2009 season.

More information on:

www.vildmarksmassan.se

Photo: By DYK Diving Magazine.

Stockholm Dive Show, Vildmarksmässan

Only2 days left to 2009 Dive Show at Vildmarksmässan, Älvsjö.

Do not miss this opportunity to meet colleagues, customers, PADI Staff and get inspired for the up coming season.

Free entrance for all PADI Members, just show your PADI card at the entrance.

REMINDER!

PADI MEMBER FORUM.

New venue, Conference room T3

Stockholm, Vildmarksmässan.
Sunday 15th March at 12.00-15.oo. No need for pre bookings, just show up.

OXYGENE PROVIDER INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Stockholm, Vildmarksmässan. Saturday 14th March at 12.00-17.00. Conference room 257.

Need for pre booking, contact:

mox.moberg@padi.se

Vildmarksmässan 13-15 mars 2009.

Öppettider:

Fredag 10.00-19.00

Lördag 10.00-18.00

Söndag 10.00-17.00

EntrépriserVuxen 130kr

Ungdom 16-18 år 50kr

Barn 7-15 år 20kr

Barn 0-6 år fri entré

Familjebiljett(2 vuxna, max 3 barn 7-15 år) 270 kr .

For more info, go to:

http://www.vildmarksmassan.se/

PADI Nordic 2008 Award

H2O Borås, Sweden receives one of the prestigious PADI Nordic Industry Awards for 2008.

For H2O Borås this resulted in positive exposure in local media and among customers.

Left to right:

Mikael Mox Moberg, Regional Manager PADI Nordic. Mattias Björnell, Manager and Owner of H2O Borås.

Reminder! DC Business Meeting

Just a short reminder to all PADI Dive centre in the Nordic area regarding DC seminars.
Bookings for the Business seminars are dropping in, to keep time limits and schedules,
we need to know if you are planning to sign up, latest by:

Odense, Denmark. February 26.
Jönköping, Sweden. March 5.

Where?
Denmark.March 21. Odense. Venue: First Hotel Grand, Jernbanegade 18. 5000 ODENSE.

Sweden.March 28. Jönköping. Venue: Best Western John Bauer Hotel, Södra Strandgatan 15, 550 02 Jönköping.

Norway. April 18. Oslo. Venue: SAS Radisson, Sonja Henies Plass 3, 0134 Oslo.

Finland. April 25. Helsinki. Venue: Scandic Continental, Mannerheimintie 46, 00260 Helsinki.

Time?
09.00-09.30 Sign up and morning coffee, end of the day at. 19.00.How to sign on?Send an e-mail to: mox.moberg@padi.se
State seminar location, Dive Center name, PADI DC no, names of attendees.

EVE-An "Employee" every Dive Centre should own!

Short on time?

Let EVE change that for you. As a dive centre owner do you have the desire to increase your profitability and change the amount of time you spend doing everything yourself, without busting your current overheads?If the answer is, 'Yes' you might like to consider EVE (Electronic Virtual Employee), the complete dive centre management software package created by ISSYS (Integrated Scuba Systems). You can also take advantage of EVE Online – a package that offers eBusiness software solutions that are easy to implement.

Designed in conjunction with PADI Dive Centres, and partnered by PADI, EVE is here.

EVE is potentially the best keep secret in the industry today maybe because current users are keen to keep the great advantages that EVE offers them to themselves.

Do not let them get away with it!

To find out all about EVE and what it can do for you visit

http://www.issys.co.uk/

or contact:

Mikael Mox Moberg, mox.moberg@padi.se

Dykningensdag "Day of Diving"

Dykningens Dag - Day of Diving, Saturday May 16th.

Saturday May 16th: Day of diving 2008 was a great success all over Scandinavia, and already now people are lining up for an even better event in 2009.

Make an event:If you, your local dive shop or your dive club has an idea for an event, start working on it already now... Find new buddies and playmates and set it up.

Spring is just around the corner :-)
Why do we have D-day??
To kick start the new dive season every year.
To show the world that diving is great.
To create new relations between clubs, shops and individual divers all over the Nordic Region.
Update:Slowly slowly... we have already shops and clubs who has signed up for 2009.

For more information go to:

http://www.dyk.net/dykningensdag/

PADI Nordic Dive Centre Business Meeting

Welcome to PADI Nordic Business Meeting for PADI Dive Centers.
The purpose of the business meeting is to provide you as a PADI Dive center with the latest information from the Nordic diving industry, exchange ideas with PADI Nordic and with colleagues, market trends and opportunities for the future.
For whom?
The meeting is primary for decision makers such as owners, managers or head Instructors at a Renewed PADI Dive center. The amount of attendants is limited.
Where?
Denmark.
March 21. Odense. Venue: First Hotel Grand, Jernbanegade 18. 5000 ODENSE.
Sweden.
March 28. Jönköping. Venue: Best Western John Bauer Hotel, Södra Strandgatan 15, 550 02 Jönköping.
Norway
April 18. Oslo. Venue: SAS Radisson, Sonja Henies Plass 3, 0134 Oslo.
Finland
April 25. Helsinki. Venue: Scandic Continental, Mannerheimintie 46, 00260 Helsinki

Time?

09.00-09.30 Sign up and morning coffee, end of the day at. 19.00.
How to sign on?
Send an e-mail to: mox.moberg@padi.se

State seminar location, Dive Center name, PADI DC no, names of attendees.
What is included?
Seminars, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee, soda water, fruit.
If you would like to stay overnight, please arrange it on your own expense directly with the hotel.
Fee?
The Business meeting is a part of your Dive Center fee, no extra charge.
If “no show” or late cancellation, within five working days before start, PADI Nordic will invoice the Dive center with SEK 500.- per person cancelled.

2Dive receive PADI Nordic Industry Award

The Management of 2Dive a

PADI 5 Star IDC Center, Copenhagen, Denmark receive one of the PADI Nordic Industry awards at Copenhagen Diveshow.

Left to right:

Mikael Mox Moberg, Regional Manager PADI Nordic.

Management Team from 2Dive: Glen Gaardsdahl,

Frank Nielsen, Flemming Thyge.

Trond Skaare, Manager Training, Education & Membership, PADI Nordic

Photo courtesy by: Lars Kirkegaard. www.fotografit.dk

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH

This month is Equipment Specialist. Take the opportunity to help your students and customers with the right selection, preparation, configuration and function on proper diving equipment.

This is a very good way to introduce divers to functions, how to select and take proper care of diving equipment, either for diving locally or during trips.

The 2009 Copenhagendiveshow

This years Copenhagen Diveshow ended on Sunday January 25. PADI Nordic are very satisfied with all the opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with so many PADI members from all over the Nordic region. This year was also the first year with a introduction to the new PADI program, Oxygen Provider. The course filled up fast and was very much appreciated by the attendees.

PADI Nordic Training Manager, Trond Skaare also conducted a very well visited Member Forum on Sunday. We look forward to see you at 2010 Copenhagen Diveshow, as well as the shows in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

Kattegatcentret receive PADI Industry award

During Copenhagen Diveshow at Bella Center, Copenhagen Teddy Vester, Diving Manager at Kattegatcentret receive the prestigious PADI Nordic Award for 2008., at the PADI Nordic stand.

Left to Right: Mikael Mox Moberg, regional Manager PADI Nordic. Teddy Vester, Kattegatcentret. Trond Skaare, Manager of Training, education & membership.

PROJECT AWARE FOUNDATION

FUNDING RECIPIENTS 2008
Project AWARE supports projects that have a direct benefit to the aquatic environment such as public education, grass roots conservation and enhancement projects, environmentally focused research that leads to conservation measures, public awareness initiatives, environmental assessment and monitoring projects, and volunteer-supported community activism.
Thanks to donations from divers and water enthusiasts, Project AWARE Foundation (International) in the UK through its Grant Programme has been about to distribute more than £560,000. (GBP) since it received charity status in 1999. This has funded worthwhile aquatic projects throughout its service territory which includes UK, Russia, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa and the Nordic Regions. Project AWARE Foundation worldwide has distributed over $3,500,000 to worthwhile causes.
In 2008 the following Nordic organisation received funding from project AWARE.
Ocean Sounds, Norway - This research aims to build a foundation for the understanding and protection of the marine eco system in Lofoten Islands. Educational programmes will be used to make research results accessible to the public, to educate people about marine animals and their fragile environment.

Find out more on how you as a PADI Pro could help saving the environment.
http://www.padimembers.com/ go to: Project AWARE Toolbox.

Copenhagen Diveshow..count down!

Only 2 days left!

Make sure, if you are in the vicinity of Copenhagen,

visit Copenhagen Dive show January 23 - 25.

Free entrance for all PADI members.

A lot of interesting exhibitors, meet other Dive professionals.

PADI Nordic Staff look forward to see you.

Do not forget the Member Forum Sunday January 25, room 21. 12.00-15.00.

PADI Regional Managers Meeting

PADI Nordic Staff, PIL Regional Managers along with PADI Staff Members from PADI International Limited, PADI Europe and Drew Richardson PADI President all came to Bristol to discuss ways forward for 2009.We will bring these messages and ideas to the field during store visits and Member Forums.The wealth of information and ideas from an international base should allow you to grow your business. I would also like to encourage you to visit the blog regularly, as several of these ideas will be published.

Mox Moberg, Jean Claud Monachon, Douglas Nash, Irina, Olle Olsson, Graham Owen, Drew Richardson, Deborah Sutton, Peter Driessel, Suzanne Pleydell, Jessica Day, Terry Johnson, Immi Wallin, Simon Chance

PADI Nordic Staff world famous in the whole of Norway

8-11 January 2009 PADI Nordic visit Reisliv 2009, Lilleström.
Check out pictures and more about Resliv on:
http://www.rb.no/lokale_nyheter/article4038656.ece?token=&start=11&serie=0

Diversnight Assistant in sweden

Wanted!

The Night Diving queen, Tone is looking for an engaged Diver to be involved and synchronize the Night diving event in Sweden.

Requirements: Engaged, dedicated, high motivated with excellent social skills.

Salary: A big hug, your picture on the website, a lot of opportunities with in the diving community.

For more information go to: http://www.diversnight.com/

Contact: tone@diversnight.com