PADI Member Forums at the Nordic shows

What’s new at PADI — what has changed?

Get first-hand infor­ma­tion on stan­dard changes, new prod­ucts and pro­grams, the last risk man­age­ment news and also local insights. At our Mem­ber Forums you get the lat­est updates and have the chance to exchange ideas with other PADI mem­bers and PADI staff.

Please note the dates of these events for 2012. Exclu­sive for PADI Mem­bers.

Copen­hagen Ferie — Bella Sky Hotel
•Sun­day, 22.01.2012, 14.00 — 17.00h
•Venue: Room 173

Helsinki, Fin­land — Vene Bat
•Sat­ur­day, 11.02.2012, 13.00 — 15.00h
•Venue: Helsin­gin Mes­sukeskus, Ballroom 2

Stock­holm, Swe­den — Vildmarksmässan
•Sun­day, 11.03.2012, 13.00 — 16.00h
•Venue: Stock­holmsmäs­san, Älvsjö, Room, K24

Vrak Foto Seminarium 2011-11-19

INBJUDAN
Vrakfotoseminarium lördag 2011-11-19
Föreningen P2-Svenskt Vrakskydd och det marinarkeologiska forskningsinstitutet MARIS
bjuder in till seminarium i undervattensfotografering med tema vrakfotografering lördag den
19:e november vid Södertörns Högskola i Flemingsberg söder som Stockholm.
Syftet med tillställningen är en inspirationsdag, där besökarna kan ta del av kunskap och
erfarenheter, samt skapa kontakt och få vägledning i den egna utvecklingen.
Tillställningen genomförs som non-profit och är gratis för besökare.
Seminariet är öppet för alla, men målgruppen är främst sportdykare med intresse i
undervattensfotografering.
I samband med seminariet så arrangeras också en miniexpo i pauserna där man kan mingla
med likasinnade och träffa talare som visar upp sin verksamhet. Det kommer även presenteras
vinnare i fototävlingen "Vrak i bild", som arrangeras tillsammans med Svenska
Sportdykarförbundets uv-fotokommitté.
På grund av att platserna är begränsade, så kräver vi anmälan via epost av besökare.
Läs mer på www.vrakskydd.se
FAKTA OM SEMINARIET:
Plats: Södertörns Högskola i Flemingsberg / Stockholm Syd
Datum: Lördag den 19:e november
Tid: kl 9-17
Målgrupp: undervattensfotografer, både nybörjare och erfarna
Inträde: gratis, föranmälan krävs dock
Anmälan: genom att mejla för- och efternamn till vrakfoto@hotmail.com
PROGRAMMET I KORTHET:
09:00-09:05 Välkomnande och uppstart
09:05-09:30 Fototermer för nybörjare (Pär Ahlgren, P2-Svenskt Vrakskydd)
09:30-10:00 Utrustning för uv-foto (Micael Blume, Waterhouse)
10:00-10:30 Kaffepaus
10:30-11:00 UV-fotografering inom SSDF (Ingvar Eliasson, SSDF uv-fotokommitté)
11:00-11:30 Temaresor uv-foto (Mikael Eriksson, Dyk & Resespecialisten)
11:30-12:00 Vrakfotografering i mörka vatten (Stefan Hogeborn, Oceanic Tech)
10:00-10:30 Lunchpaus
13:30-14:00 Motiv och miljöer (Torbjörn Gylleus, amatörfotograf)
14:00-14:30 Vrak i Östersjön (Johan Rönnby, MARIS)
14:30-15:00 Filmning på Spökskeppet med ROV (Eric Börjeson, FSF filmfotograf)
10:00-10:30 Kaffepaus
15:30-16:00 Börja filma i HD med GoPro (Magnus Keijser, undervattensfotograf)
16:00-16:30 Vilka bilder fungerar i en dyktidning? (Marko Wramén, DYK)
16:30-17:00 Presentation vinnarna i fototävlingen och avslut
Program för vrakfotoseminariet lördag 2011-11-19
09:00-09:05 Välkomnande och uppstart
09:05-09:30 Fototermer för nybörjare
Talare: Pär Ahlgren (P2-Svenskt Vrakskydd)
Beskrivning: Undrar du över olika begrepp och termer inom uv-foto och foto generellt? Pär reder
ut och förklarar en del begrepp som kan vara till hjälp för dig inte har koll på vad allt är och
innebär.
09:30-10:00 Utrustning för uv-foto
Talare: Micael Blume (Waterhouse)
Beskrivning: Lär dig grunderna om utrustning för uv-foto avseende både kompaktkameror och
systemkameror (SLR). Micael pratar om blixtar, blixtarmar, linser och UV-hus. Det förklaras även
vad som krävs för att få de bilder man önskar, och skillnaden att ta steget från kompakt- till
systemkamera
10:00-10:30 Kaffepaus
10:30-11:00 UV-fotografering inom SSDF
Talare: Ingvar Eliasson (ordförande SSDF:s UV-fotokommitté)
Beskrivning: Ordföranden i Svenska Sportdykarförbundets uv-fotokommitté berättar om
kommitténs aktiviteter och om UV-fototävlingar i Sverige, Norden och på VM-nivå.
11:00-11:30 Temaresor uv-foto
Talare: Mikael Eriksson (Dyk & Resespecialisten)
Beskrivning: Via researrangörer kan man åka på specialla dykresor med tema uv-foto som passar
både natur- och vrakfotografer. Där får man tillfälle att träffa likasinnade och en möjlighet att
utvecklas som fotograf. Som exempel kan vi nämna tema resor 2 ggr / år med Ekolog Bent
Christensen som är både ekolog och duktig fotograf. Mikael berättar om upplägg och vad man kan
förvänta sig som resenär.
11:30-12:00 Vrakfotografering i mörka vatten
Talare: Stefan Hogeborn (Oceanic Tech)
Beskrivning: Ett foto består av infångat ljus och hur gör man då när det inte finns så mycket ljus.
Vad väljer man för utrustning och hur använder man den i bland annat Östersjöns fantastiska men
mörka vatten? Stefan har erfarenheter från djup vrakdykning och grottdykning, miljöer där det
finns lite eller inget ljus.
10:00-10:30 Lunchpaus
13:30-14:00 Motiv och miljöer
Talare: Torbjörn Gylleus (amatörfotograf)
Beskrivning: Förhållanden, miljöer och vrakens storlek samt skick avgör vilken typ av motiv som
lämpar sig bäst för vrakfotografering i olika situationer. Efter en kort tillbakablick på några motiv
från sportdykningens barndom presenteras egna lärdomar och motiv från några av våra idag mest
fotograferade vrak.
14:00-14:30 Vrak i Östersjön
Talare: Johan Rönnby (professor i marinarkeologi, MARIS)
Beskrivning: Föredraget är en marinarkeologisk tidsresa från vikingatid till 1800-tal med
tyngpunkt på skeppsvrak i Östersjön och vad de kan berätta.
14:30-15:00 Filmning på Spökskeppet med ROV
Talare: Eric Börjeson (FSF filmfotograf, från bland annat "Oceans")
Beskrivning: När Spökskeppet skulle dokumenteras var djup på 125 m för stort för att dykare
skulle få tillräckligt med dyktid för uppgiften. Deep Sea Productions löste det genom att använda
fjärrstyrd undervattensrobot (ROV) för att filma i HD och ta bilder. Eric berättar om arbetet som
bland annat inkluderade stora ljusriggar för att lysa upp vraket.
10:00-10:30 Kaffepaus
15:30-16:00 Börja filma i HD med GoPro
Talare: Magnus Keijser (undervattensfotograf)
Beskrivning: GoPro kameran har blivit väldigt populär hos dykare, men hur får man ut det där
extra. Kombinera fotografering (t.ex. med DSLR) med filmning med GoPro, eller bygg en rigg för
mjuka filmsvep och bra belysning. Magnus berättar om sina erfarenheter och de anspassningar
han har gjort för att få ut det lilla extra, och hur han kombinerar vrakfoto med vrakvideo.
16:00-16:30 Vilka bilder fungerar i en dyktidning?
Talare: Marko Wramén (chefredaktör DYK & redaktör Dive The World)
Beskrivning: Marko Wramén som själv är fotograf sedan många år, diskuterar vad man ska tänka
på om man vill få sina bilder publicerade i en tidning. Det handlar bland annat om typ av motiv,
variation och komposition.
16:00-16:30 Presentation vinnarna i fototävlingen och avslut

DIVERS NIGHT

On Thursday, November 3rd at 20.11 o’clock (local time), a worldwide attempt will be made for a new world record in night diving. Night dives will take place in many corners of the world. New countries are participating each year, and this year will probably be no different.

Approximately 3000 divers from all over the world are expected to be underwater at 20:11 (8:11 pm) this first Thursday in November.

Tone Svee Dahl (33) from Fredrikstad, Norway, is the initiator of the world record attempt. She is the woman behind Diversnight and has created a voluntary organisation which now coordinates the efforts of local Diversnight event organizers all over the world.

Diversnight started in 2005, as an result of Tone serving cakes, and inviting divers to social dive trips. The purpose of Diversnight is to promote the sport of scuba diving, to bring together scuba diving communities from all over the world, and to show how exciting and adventurous the sport is - during any season and any time of day.

Previous Diversnight arrangements:
1.2005: 351 divers in Norway.
2.2006: 889 divers in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
3.2007: 1859 divers in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and also Svalbard.
4.2008: 2183 divers in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Egypt, Indonesia, France, Spain, Faroe Islands and also Belgium
5.2009: 2749 divers, 218 divesites and 20 countries
6.2010: 1700 divers, 175 dive sites and 22 countries
7. We are going for a new record! In 2011 the gods of weather were against us covering most of the Nordic dive sites with ice.

During the past years both local and national medias have shown a great deal of interest in this. We hope that this will continue with this year’s Diversnight. We would appreciate an article or feature prior to the event, as well as some coverage of the actual world record attempt itself.



There is more information available at our website www.diversnight.com

You may also contact us at: info(at)diversnight.com



The Diversnight Team

Advanced Rescue Training

Advanced rescue training – When weather turns against us

Instructors and Divemasters at Nemo Classic Diving in Bergen, Norway, wanted to see what they were able to do in case of emergency, and under rough conditions. Some of the instructors are also working at a safety center for the offshore industry, Nosefo Bergen (Norwegian Senter for Offshore-training). Nosefo has a wave pool that is being used for offshore sea-survival training, and instructors and divemasters at Nemo were lucky enough to get to use this pool for a night of very realistic, but controlled practice. The pool can make waves of 90 cm height, and wind reaching a speed of 30 m/s. Temperature of the water were 6 degrees Celsius. Staff at Nemo were in for a big reality check.

Conditions in the pool were quite similar to what we can get at some of the most used dive sites in Bergen, and instructors and divemasters were looking forward to test them selves.

The group was devided into victim and rescuer, not very different from a regular rescue course. The victim was lying at 2 meters depth, and the rescuer had to swim about 15 meters to get to the victim. After surfacing the victim, the rescuer were to tow the victim 25 meters to shore, and get them onto the dock. The dock was about 40 cm high. Waves were breaking, and 90 cm high.

The rescue training a diver recieves during the Rescue Course, Divemaster Course and also during the Instructor Course is useually given in an area with little or no waves at all, because we have to learn the techniques first. Now we moved from ”driving in the streets, to driving in a rally slope”, and instructors and divemasters found out first hand that doing a rescue in rough conditions was very difficult, and extreamly exhausting.

It didn´t take long before the rescuer concluded that the mask was an item worth keeping, both for the rescuer and for the victim. The waves was constantly breaking and both rescuer and victim felt that drowning could be the result if the mask were lost. Routine steps like getting the dry-suit hose off suddenly was a challenge itself, because protecting the airways and preventing the victim from drowning took all of the rescuers attention. The same could also be said about getting the victim back on land. With the waves splashing around, it took a lot of strength, technique and stamina to get the victim out of the water.

Luckily, every victim was breathing in this case, but if they had not – ventilation in the water would be really difficult under such conditions. All the participating instructors and divemasters felt that in a situation with a lot of wind, low temperature and heavy waves – giving ventilations would not only be very difficult, but would also delay getting the victim out of the water to start CPR.

One of the most important lessons learned this night was that the limits for what instructors and divemasters find acceptable has to be lowerd. Even small waves may be to much in some circumstances. Another point that was reinforced this night was the importance of knowing the equipment we are using – not only your own, but your buddy´s as well. With waves splashing over your head, it is practicly impossible to get a good look at clips and releases, so you have to know where to find them, and how to release them. One of the biggest challenges was actually to get all the equipment of at the same time as the rescuer shold secure the victim in a safe position. And last but not least, if there is an emergency – it is all about choices, what to do in different circumstances, and that every rescuer must find the solution that works for him/her. There is no singel right way to do this…

The instructors and divemasters that took part in this ”advanced” rescue training got a new perspective of what a rescue situation like this means, and they all agreed that this was a very valuable experience. Skills and techniques that are easily done in calm water is a completely different scenario when the elements turn against us. After this experience – they are all able to make better decisions if they ever find them selves in a situastion like that.

Christine Hopeland.

INSTRUCTOR JOB

Colona Divers is looking for a Swedish speaking Instructor with the following characteristics;

• Service minded
• Knowledge in sales and marketing
• Nitrox instructor
• Aqua-Lung service technician
• Knowledge in Marine biology, and tropical marine life • Available from now until end of April


Best Regards

Niklas Funk


Colona Dive Center
Red Sea, Egypt
Mobile: (+2) 012-245 04 96
E-mail: niklas.funk@colona.com
www.colona.com

BIG SHARK SHOUT OUT OCTOBER 15 - 23

It’s time to pull out all the stops for sharks!
During Big Shark Shout Out week, Project AWARE Foundation, volunteer divers and shark supporters around the world will rally to protect sharks before it’s too late. PADI Pros and their student divers form a unique, collective voice that can help change the fate of vulnerable shark species.
Coinciding with Shark Alliance’s fifth annual European Shark Week and Project AWARE’s Give Sharks a Fighting Chance signature campaign – we’re calling on European Union (EU) fisheries ministers and parties to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to protect sharks from overexploitation.
What will you do during the Big Shark Shout Out?

1. Collect signatures for two vital petition efforts: the UnFinished Business petition to close loopholes in the EU Finning Ban and the Give Sharks a Chance petition to protect vulnerable shark species worldwide.

2. Teach the new AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Distinctive Specialty course.

3. Fundraise for sharks and create a local wall of support. Be the first of 10 to raise 200 ($, €, £) for shark protection and receive an AWARE shirt!
Organizing for the Big Shark Shout Out is easy with the organizer kit. It has everything you'll need to make your shark support something to shout about
　
NO SHOUT TOO LOUD FOR SHARKS!

Changes to EANx Standards

Use changes to Enriched Air Diver standards to enhance your business!

Are you missing a marketing opportunity following recent changes to the Enriched Air Diver standards?

The minimum age for the PADI Enriched Air Diver course has been revised and amended to 12 years old. This standards change took place in the third quarter 2011 Training Bulletin and is effective immediately.

With the proliferation of effective, economical dive computers on the market, an increasing number of divers are using dive computers to plan their dives. The Enriched Air Diver Specialty course has been updated and revised to now allow instructors to teach the use of nitrox using dive computers, ensuring this popular course remains updated and cutting edge.

As part of this update, the minimum age for students enrolling into the PADI Enriched Air Diver course has been amended to 12 years old, making it a training option for many more families of divers, on holiday or at home.

Recruting New divers - Finnish version

Planning to learn to dive abroad?

Dear PADI Professional In the video clip you will find interesting statistics and information. It is showing that we have a huge potential in the Nordic area and miss opportunities for an increased business. We know historically that a lot of individuals with a Nordic address get certified abroad on vacation etc.

The presentation shows what potential we have and how many entry level students that are certified abroad coming from the Nordic countries.
More information included is:
• Background and history
• Where and how many persons that are certified abroad
• Worldwide certification per capita, all Nordic countries in top and that shows the potential
• How many entry level certification lost 2010 for the countries in Nordic and what is the potential
• Important tips and ideas easy to implement The Power Point presentation is with English text and Norwegian speech.

Posters are sent to all PADI Dive Center/Resorts in the Nordic area. Digital files can be ordered for free if you want to print your own or in another formats.

We can of course not attract them all. But we can increase the business with those holiday makers to be more regular customers. This by showing them clearly and display in the shop at web sites etc, that we can be a source for them to invest in. We can offer a full course, eLearning and referrals, or just some information about training and diving.
If we inform them about what we can offer them many of those customers will seek our services.
Wish you the best of success with the campaign!

PADI’s Tec Revolution Starts Here!

Prepare yourself to teach PADI’s Recreational Rebreather Courses which are due to launch imminently. Whatever your current rebreather credentials you are welcome to take part. Make your life less complicated by becoming 100% PADI!

How can you prepare?

The first step is to attend one of the global events that PADI Staff will be conducting especially for Instructors and Instructor Trainers to become PADI Rebreather Instructors or PADI Instructor Trainers for these courses. There’s also time to prepare by building your number of hours on your selected unit in order to meet the course pre-requisites.

Whether you’re planning to be a PADI Rebreather Instructor or Instructor Trainer you will have the opportunity, as part of the global events, to familiarize yourself with the PADI rebreather courses and how to apply the PADI system to rebreather diving, plus the opportunity to network with industry experts and other rebreather users.

Simply view the initial schedule below of recreational rebreather programs that PADI Pros’ can attend. Spaces will be limited so make sure you register early!

Download the registration forms here, contact your local PADI office, or visit the Pros’ site for further details.

Recreational Rebreather Instructor, Instructor Trainer and Instructor Crossover Global Course Dates



Dates

Location

Program

PADI Office









7-8 September 2011

Gothenburg, Sweden

Instructor Crossover

EMEA



7-8 September 2011

Gothenburg, Sweden

Instructor Trainer

EMEA



9-10 September 2011

Gothenburg, Sweden

Instructor Course

EMEA









12-14 September 2011

Bristol, UK

Instructor Course

EMEA



15-16 September 2011

Bristol, UK

Instructor Crossover

EMEA



15-16 September 2011

Bristol, UK

Instructor Trainer

EMEA









1-2 October 2011

Rancho Santa Margarita, USA

Instructor Crossover

Americas



1-2 October 2011

Rancho Santa Margarita, USA

Instructor Trainer

Americas









10-12 October 2011

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Instructor Course

EMEA



13-14 October 2011

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Instructor Crossover

EMEA



13-14 October 2011

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Instructor Trainer

EMEA









24-26 October 2011

Sydney, Australia

Instructor Crossover

Asia Pacific



27-28 October 2011

Sydney, Australia

Instructor Trainer

Asia Pacific



27-28 October 2011

Sydney, Australia

Instructor Course

Asia Pacific









7-9 November 2011

Orlando, USA

Instructor Crossover

Americas



7-9 November 2011

Orlando, USA

Instructor Trainer

Americas



10-12 November 2011

Orlando, USA

Instructor Course

Americas









14-16 November 2011

Germany

Instructor Course

EMEA



17-18 November 2011

Germany

Instructor Crossover

EMEA



17-18 November 2011

Germany

Instructor Trainer

EMEA









5-7 December 2011

Maldives

Instructor Course

EMEA



8-9 December 2011

Maldives

Instructor Crossover

EMEA



8-9 December 2011

Maldives

Instructor Trainer

EMEA









13-15 February 2012

Philippines

Instructor Course

Asia Pacific



16-17 February 2012

Philippines

Instructor Crossover

Asia Pacific



16-17 February 2012

Philippines

Instructor Trainer

Asia Pacific









20-22 February 2012

Sydney, Australia

Instructor Course

Asia Pacific



23-24 February 2012

Sydney, Australia

Instructor Crossover

Asia Pacific



23-24 February 2012

Sydney, Australia

Instructor Trainer

Asia Pacific









26-28 March 2012

Malta

Instructor Course

EMEA



29-30 March 2012

Malta

Instructor Crossover

EMEA



29-30 March 2012

Malta

Instructor Trainer

EMEA









13-14 May 2012

Orlando, USA

Instructor Course

Americas



15-17 May 2012

Orlando, USA

Instructor Crossover

Americas



15-17 May 2012

Orlando, USA

Instructor Trainer

Americas

For signing up!! Please go to the TecRec blog (see link) or PADI Pro Site.


Details of how to become a Tec Closed Circuit Rebreather Instructor and Tec Instructor Trainer will be announced shortly.

PADI Tribe Now 20 Million Certifications Strong and Growing

Countdown to 20 million diver certifications is celebrated with a trip to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef aboard the MV Spirit of Freedom.

The PADI organization expects to reach a major milestone before the end of third quarter 2011 - its 20 millionth diver certification. To celebrate this occasion, PADI Regional Headquarters around the world are sponsoring the “Countdown to 20 Million” campaign, which will award the diver who earns the 20 millionth certification with a trip to dive Australia’s Great Barrier Reef aboard the MV Spirit of Freedom. The PADI Instructor issuing the 20 millionth certification, as well as the affiliated dive centre or resort, will each also receive a trip to this natural wonder of the world.

“In 1966, Ralph Erickson and John Cronin had an idea about a better way for people to learn to dive. That the PADI organization has grown from the two of them to more than 20 million testifies to the power and wisdom of their vision” says PADI Worldwide Chief Executive Officer Brian Cronin. “It also shows how a mutual passion for diving unites the PADI family around the world. Twenty million certifications only happen because PADI professionals lead diving. I salute their achievement.”

The Countdown to 20 Million campaign includes a comprehensive public relations effort coupled with promotion in PADI digital media outlets and a daily, updated countdown counter at padi.com.

Tourism Queensland has graciously provided the land and air portion of the prize packages to the Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest reef system and one of the natural wonders of the world – including roundtrip airfare to Cairns, Queensland, Australia, four nights accommodations and excursions to explore the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, a Cuddle a Koala Experience and an Aboriginal Cultural Experience. The MV Spirit of Freedom is generously sponsoring the dive portion of the prize package, which includes a three-day, three-night liveaboard adventure to iconic dive sites like Cod Hole and the Ribbon Reefs, plus a low-level reef flight between Lizard Island and Cairns. The diver receiving the 20 millionth certification will receive a prize package for two and the certifying instructor and affiliated dive centre or resort will each win a trip for one.

“Each of the 135,000 PADI Members around the world not only share a passion for diving and the underwater world, but influence and lead diving in the local community,” says PADI President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Drew Richardson. “It’s this leadership, backed by passions, interests and convictions, that magnified John and Ralph’s concepts in to a global movement of literally millions of people who identify with PADI. As PADI Divers travel locally and internationally, they look for PADI Dive Centres, Resorts and Professionals because they are reassured by the common connection that unifies us as a family or tribe.”

Visit padi.com for details regarding the Countdown to 20 Million Diver Certifications contest. For additional information, email marketing@padi.co.uk

PADI - The Way the World Learns to Dive®

Ocean Conservation at Play! Project AWARE Launches Global Diver Scavenger Hunt to Aid Marine Debris Crisis

Project AWARE kicks-off its first-ever Global Underwater Scavenger hunt for divers as part of its new Dive Against Debris ocean protection programme.
The year-round programme asks scuba divers to collect underwater debris and log information online in a global effort to prevent marine debris in the future.
The Global Scavenger Hunt adds a game component that runs till August 1st and is a fun way to introduce divers to the activity of submitting data from underwater environments – anytime and anywhere.

"Together with scuba volunteers worldwide, Project AWARE has been organizing clean up dives for 18 years," said Jenny Miller Garmendia, Project AWARE Executive Director. "But the new Dive Against Debris effort strengthens and centralizes underwater data collection efforts globally. This underwater scavenger hunt is a way to introduce that concept and also reward individual divers for their important conservation work."

From now till August 1st 2011, divers anywhere in the world can play Project AWARE's Global Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a Scubapro Diver Duffle Bag packed with fins, mask, snorkel, boots and gloves from Scubapro's new SUB GEAR line, valued at $420. Other prizes include the latest IC14 Intova digital camera with waterproof housing and Project AWARE goodie bags. Any diver who logs debris data using Project AWARE's new online submission form is automatically entered into the scavenger hunt contest. Divers can even track their progress to see if they're in running for top prize on Project AWARE's scavenger hunt leader board.

"The debris data divers collect and report will play a key role in informing, persuading and empowering policy makers to establish and improve integrated solid waste management practices. Our combined data will support policies and strategies for the reduction and management of marine debris," said Garmendia.

For more information about how to get started playing the Project AWARE Global Scavenger hunt or Dive Against Debris program visit http://www.projectaware.org/project/hunt.


For further press information, an interview or images, please contact:
Tiffany Leite, Associate Director Communications & Outreach
Tel: +1949 858 7657 Ext. 2448 – Email: tiffany.leite@projectaware.org.uk
Domino Albert, PR & Communications coordinator
Tel: +44 (0)117 300 7313 - Email: domino.albert@projectaware.org.uk
Joanne Marston, Associate Director, Diver Engagement
Tel: +011 61 2 9454 2890 Ext. 891 – Email: joanne.marston@projectaware.org.au

Project AWARE Foundation is a global movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet - one dive at a time. Focused on the critical issues of Sharks in Peril and Marine Debris, Project AWARE empowers thousands of divers in more than 180 countries to work together for a clean, healthy and abundant ocean planet. Project AWARE Foundations is a registered non-profit organization.
www.projectaware.org

Teaching the new PPB Course

PADI's Peak Performance Buoyancy course is PADI's second most popular specialty after Enriched Air. The recently-updated materials incorporate advances in technology (such as the the unique buoyancy control demands of technical diving / CCRs) - as well as cosmetic changes.


Teaching Tips for Peak Performance Buoyancy

Use the new PPB Instructor outline (part no. 70236 rev. 2011) to offer three buoyancy training options:

a buoyancy clinic in the pool
an adventure dive
the two-dive specialty course.

Begin by dialing in the student's weight at the surface. The student should float at eye level while holding a normal breath and having an empty, or near-empty BC. Be sure to have a variety of weights nearby to make adjustments. It's important to repeat this exercise at the end of the dive when the student has 750-500 psi.

The next step is to have the diver fine-tune weighting by positioning and distributing weights for different applications, for example:


A wall dive: head-up, feet-down position (weights placed towards the middle of the back).


Taking photos: slightly head-down, feet-up position (position weights towards the chest away from the hips and/or adjust tank position tank higher or lower in the BCD).


Using a CCR: rebreathers should be at minimal loop volume and the top of the diver’s head should float level with the surface.
Have divers try different weight configurations while performing simple skill challenges. Some supplies you may find helpful to have on hand:


Hula hoop(s)
Ankle weights
Rope
Toypedo
Small plastic toy
Underwater camera



Suspend the hula hoop in the water using the rope and weights and have divers swim through it. Or, suspend a plastic toy in the water and have divers hover next to it / take photos of it. Challenge divers to throw the toypedo around without touching the bottom (while hovering or swimming).

Don't forget to repeat the buoyancy check at the surface (described above) at the end of your confined water session.

We recently published a PPB teaching tips article in the Surface Interval e-newsletter. Read the complete Surface Interval article. Additional game and skill practice ideas are included in the new instructor guide (product no. 70236 version 2.0 from 2011)


Did You Know...?

You can integrate the PPB specialty into the Open Water course. It requires some additional skills and one extra dive.* See page 33 of the 2011 PADI Instructor manual for details. Please note, you may only integrate one specialty course with Open Water.

2011 instructor manual page 33
You can also introduce the PPB adventure dive after dive four of Open Water.* Most new divers need a little extra buoyancy practice and you can start them on the path to adventures in diving. In a recent reader survey, PPB ranked as one of the top four adventure dives.

* There is a limit of three training dives per day. You can only add the PPB dive if the student completed (at least) OW dives one and two on the previous day.

New Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty

The Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty provides a trifecta of benefits for the diver: conserve air, lose weight, and protect the marine environment. "PPB" is also PADI's second most popular specialty after Enriched Air. Email subscribers may need to click through to padiinstructorinfo.com to view the images below.

PPB crewpak - product no. 60177
(now with 50% less neon)
It's been more than ten years since we added PPB to the PADI specialty roster, and the new materials include some useful updates. There is a new student manual (we only had a booklet before) and an completely updated DVD (now with 50% less neon in the wetsuits).





New PPB instructor guide - product no. 70236

There is a new instructor guide (product no. 70236). It's not mandatory to switch to the new guide, but there are two sets of knowledge reviews in the new student manual and only the new guide has both sets of knowledge review answers. Similarly, you may continue using the prior version of the student materials.

About the PPB Knowledge Reviews
Knowledge Review Part I is the same as the Peak Performance Buoyancy section of the Adventures in Diving manual. The answers can be found in the PPB instructor guide or downloaded from the PADI Pro's Site (Curriculum - Exams and Assessments - Adventures in Diving)

There is a second set of knowledge reviews in the new student manual. The answers are only available in the new instructor guide.

What Else is New?
The new student materials and instructor guide include useful information about buoyancy training for students using rebreathers.




The new materials are available starting today. Contact your PADI Sales Rep or order online from the PADI Pro's Site. Here are some useful part numbers:

Revised PPB instructor guide: part no. 70236

New student crewpak: 60177. Includes:

New PPB student manual: 79315
Revised PPB student DVD: 70858

PADI Member of The Month-June 2011

We have our winners for the month of June.

The Retail & Resort winner is:
Barra Lodge s32377 /PADI EMEA

Honorable mentioned for Retail & Resort
Crystal Dive Resort s6467/ PADI Asia Pacific
A-Dykk Kristiansand s5212 / PADI Nordic/EMEA
Test the Waters s19915 / PADI Americas
Dive Post Zoetermeer s799235 / PADI Europe

The Individual member winner:
Luca Giongo #492136 / PADI Asia Pacific

Honorable mentioned for Individual Member
Patrick Keller #91673 / PADI Americas
Olav Bro #503533 / PADI Nordic
Mauritza de klerk #640815 / PADI EMEA

Gratulations to A-Dykk Kristinsand, Noway and Olav Bro in Aalborg, Denmark.

PADI Announce the soon to be launched eCard

As a 2012 membership renewal benefit all PADI Members will receive a free PADI eCard for their highest core level (including Course Director and IDC Staff). The PADI eCard is an electronic version of the PADI certification card.

The eCard will be available for diver replacement cards in fourth quarter 2011. Initially, the eCard will be available through Replacement Card Online only. Divers obtaining a replacement card will have the choice of an eCard, a plastic card or both. In addition, PADI Members can use PIC Online credits to sell eCards to existing PADI Divers through the Online Processing Center on the PADI Pros’ Site. PADI Members can then utilize the power of smartphone technology when certifying divers.

PADI eCard is hosted, managed and displayed using the PADI App, initially accessible on Apple, Android and Blackberry smartphones, but development for other operating systems will follow. Security of the eCard is a primary concern, so PADI has integrated features such as QR coding (a specific, two-dimensional code) to make authentication straightforward and easy.

PADI eCard development demonstrates PADI’s commitment to positive identification certification cards and sets a new bar for delivery, embracing environmental stewardship by reducing the amount of plastics, paper and transportation used to deliver certifications to divers, for those who choose to use it.

Groupons "How To"

Use Group Voucher Websites as an Effective Marketing Strategy

Are you familiar with websites such as “Groupon” (group coupon), “Living Social”, and “Spreets” (spread the word on the streets)? These are deal-of-the-day websites, offering great discounts to customers based on a minimum number of sign-ups for each deal. Maybe you’ve even bought vouchers yourself?

This is one of the fastest growing online shopping markets, and is estimated to be worth millions of dollars in revenue each month. Many PADI Dive Centres have advertised on these websites and following their experiences, we would like you to consider some key points, before you dive in. This is a rapidly developing marketplace and this article is now in its 3rd revision, to reflect the changes that have taken place over the last few months, specifically with regard to Groupon.

It’s crucial for your business to get this right first time!
Although any advertising that gets customers through your door is great, it’s important to recognise that the web-savvy consumer these sites attract can be your ally or your enemy. Give them a really positive experience and they’ll advertise you for free via social media like Twitter and Facebook etc. Give them a bad experience or poor customer service and they’ll tell ten times as many people! A discount deal must never result in a sub-standard course!

What is the Real Marketing Value of this for a Dive Centre?

The obvious and immediate value is bringing large numbers of new customers into your store – but this does not automatically generate income. The percentage discount you have to give and the substantial cut taken by the websites means that you will not make a profit from the voucher sale alone, some centres have in fact made a loss. Minimise the risk to your business by planning your strategy in advance. The real long term value comes from converting voucher customers into regular divers, up-selling courses, merchandise and dive trips to them, and retaining their business in your club.

It’s essential that you do your homework first, and have a very clear understanding of your overheads, before you advertise a discount voucher. There are costs in time, effort and resources that must be planned for. Work backwards - start with what you can deliver and let that dictate what you offer!

Initially, most dive centres were advertising DSD experiences only, however since Groupon stopped supporting DSD offers in the UK in March 2011 some centres have successfully run vouchers for Scuba Diver and Open Water Referrals. While offering more expensive courses at a discount presents a higher risk, with careful planning it can be very successful, and the crucial considerations are the same. During May 2011 Groupon has re-introduced the DSD option, but only as a “sidebar” promotion, in association with higher value course offers.

The essential areas to consider are as follows:
1.) Customer Service
2.) Overheads
3.) Scheduling
4.) Add-on Sales
5.) Commitment
6.) Follow up

1. Customer Service

It may seem like a golden sales opportunity, but before you get carried away with the hundreds of people you could sign up, make sure you can realistically handle them and give them all a great experience.

To have a fighting chance of converting voucher customers, you need to have the scope for delivering really effective customer service at each point of contact – that is when they first phone you, when they come in to the centre to dive with you, and following up with them after they’ve completed the course. You need to have a schedule for this in place in advance – waiting until the phone starts ringing is too late!

After the deal goes live, the phone will ring constantly for a couple of days, and you may have a stampede come through the door too! (Even with higher value deals, dive centres have still received hundreds of customers.) Having a designated member of staff to cover the phone during this period is essential – it allows you to give consistent customer service to the callers, while avoiding any confusion or mistakes over what is booked in the diary. It will also mean minimum disruption is caused to your staff, existing customers and courses that are running at the time.

2.) Overheads

Before deciding how many vouchers to offer and at what discount, work out your costs and maximum ratios for each of the following:

Teaching materials - DSD booklets or OW required materials

Staffing – the logistics of teaching large numbers or multiple groups are complicated, you will need someone to organise and control the flow of people. Instructor to student ratios should allow for that excellent customer service you want to provide, and you also need people to manage the bookings, admin, air fills, gear fulfilment and effective follow up with the customers.

Pool Costs – If you don’t have exclusive use of an on-site pool, the rental and fuel/travel costs to get there must be accounted for.

Admin – regardless of the course you’re offering, there will be extra office time to account for, whether it be registering the DSDs or managing a sudden rush of referral paperwork.

Air Fills and Gear – the number of cylinders and the amount of rental gear you have will dictate how many people you can accommodate, so hiring extra gear or extra staff to speed up turn-around may be a consideration, depending on your planned schedule. Allow also for extra wear and tear, spares, loss or damage etc.

Academics – available classroom space and the teaching tools (computers, DVDs etc) will also effect how many people you can accommodate.

Open Water trips – if you’re offering the Scuba Diver course, all costs associated with the logistics for open water dives must be included too.

Work out how many vouchers/people you can take based on the immediate cost you can afford to absorb, as there may be a delay between the course and re-couping the voucher money.

Some sites pass on the money for the voucher sales after the deal has closed, making you responsible for handling any refunds, cancellations etc. Others withhold the money until after the vouchers are used, and there will be a time delay between you running the course and reclaiming/receiving the money for it.

When costing your promotion, factor in the immediate expenses without relying on the voucher money to cover it in the short term!

3.) Scheduling

When scheduling courses or experiences make them work along side your regular business and existing schedule, or give people sufficient warning of schedule changes so that it doesn’t damage your core business or alienate your regulars. Do not be afraid to limit the times available to the voucher customer, so that it works for you rather than swamping you.

4.) Add-on Sales

If you are offering discounted OW Referrals or Scuba Diver, up-selling to the full Open Water certification is the key factor if you are to make any profit. Add-on sales such as mask, fins and snorkel sets are also where you will make a profit. Sell the concept of the deal as a lead into the full OW course, and orientate the customer to this progression from first contact with the wording of your advert. Sell your local diving experience. (If you are doing referrals, refer the student back to your centre, so they complete their training with you.) Price your upgrade to OW so that the combined income from the deal and the upgrade gets you close to your original pricing for the full course.

For DSD offers, consider sales opportunities in the small detail, for example offering customers the chance to buy their own regulator mouthpieces, (for use with your rental equipment,) or their own mask, fin and snorkel sets, rather than offering big discounts on the full OW if they go on to train with you. Remember, once they have taken up the deal, up-selling future courses at an appropriate price and converting them into regular customers is best for your business. Discounting on full courses can reduce the perceived value of the training, where offering additional items in a combination deal will add value instead.

It is essential that your advertisement makes it clear what is and what is not included in the deal.

Adding hidden costs to the existing deal will alienate this customer, and may cause them to demand a refund. If a high percentage of voucher customers demand a refund, you can be blacklisted by the website and be banned from offering future deals. This is in addition to the negative publicity it will cause for your business locally and via social media, which can be very damaging.

5.) Commitment

Depending on the site you advertise with, there will be differences on your contractual obligations and how the voucher money is calculated:

*Be aware of exclusivity clauses, and ensure you are prepared to honour any restrictions on advertising your centre through other websites.

*Make sure you are fully aware of how the VAT on voucher sales is being calculated by the website, and what amount the value is being calculated from.

*Be aware that you can dictate the maximum number of vouchers available, as well as the minimum. Having a cap on the number offered can also add perceived value to your deal and future deals if you do it again.

6.) Follow up

If you wait until all the vouchers have been redeemed before you start contacting the first customers, you will have missed the boat!

Hopefully a percentage will sign up for more immediately, especially if the up-sell deal is dependent on them making a commitment during the course, however it can be difficult to spend quality time with everyone when you’re dealing with groups and a few potential divers may slip though the net.

You already have their interest – now make use of it! The value to your business of each new diver and their future training/diving career makes it worth scheduling some extra time for your staff to call them afterwards, and spend a few minutes talking about their experience, the courses you offer, social events at your centre etc. Following up with each person individually within a couple of days is the best way to capitalise on their enthusiasm, and gives you another opportunity to get them involved, even if not as part of the original deal.

To learn more about successful follow up methods please contact your Regional Manager. [RM email]

Q & A Summary from PADI EMEA Meetings in Nordic

We have conducted several meetings in the Nordic area designed to answer first hand questions PADI Members like yourself may have connected to the creation of the New PADI Europe, Middle East, Africa office (PADI EMEA).

Both for those of you that were at one of the meetings and for those of you that were unable to attend and didn’t have a chance to participate. We want to make sure you are kept informed as to the answers to the questions asked; below we have put together a short Q&A section. But if you have a question not answered below please feel free to contact us.

Q. Will the office in Gothenburg be open for the rest of 2011?
A. Yes. Although behind the scenes, the three offices that will make up PADI EMEA (PADI Europe, PADI Nordic and PADI International Ltd) will work towards a single identity, the office in Gothenburg with its present staff will continue to service your needs throughout the year.

Q. In regards to things like industry relations, meetings with government officials and local legislation, will PADI EMEA have local representation to champion our causes?
A. Yes. Trond Skaare, Han’s (Olle) Olsson, Mox Moberg and Immi Wallin who have represented your interests while working for PADI Nordic will continue to work on your behalf as employees of PADI EMEA.

Q. Although the majority of Nordic members speak English well, will we be able to communicate with EMEA in the Nordic Language?
A. Yes. Apart from continuing to have as full members of staff the individuals named above, several other positions within EMEA will be filled with Nordic language speaking staff members.

Q. Will communicating with the new EMEA office be more expensive for Nordic Members?
A. No. Our intention is by 2012 to have in place a phone system that enables PADI Members phoning the EMEA office from the Nordic countries to pay the local call charge while EMEA will pick up the bill for the international side of the call.

Q. Will communicating by Skype and placing orders on line through the PADI eShop be an option when Nordic Members are a part of EMEA?
A. Yes. All EMEA Members will be able to take advantage of this technology. Allowing you to place your orders at a time that is convenient to you.

Q. What currency will I be paying for product in 2012?
A. Euro.

Q. Will the VAT (Valued added Tax) we presently pay increase?
A. No. It will reflect the VAT you presently pay in your country.

Q. Will the cost of shipping go up?
A. Preliminary trials have indicated that this will not happen. This is due to the combined buying power of such a large single dispatching warehouse.

Q. In the Nordic region we are use to being invoiced for the products we purchase. Will this continue under EMEA?
A. Yes. We will honour any payment agreement that is presently in place through the Gothenburg office.,

Q. Presently in-cooperated into our PADI Membership we enjoy a liability protection insurance police negotiated by PADI. Will this continue under EMEA?
A. This is something we are working on now. Our intention is to be able to provide you with the same policy or one comparable in price and coverage with the one you presently enjoy. We will be able to give you more information closer to renewal time.

Q. Under EMEA will we be a part of the global Marketing campaigns enjoyed by PADI Members in larger offices?
A. Yes. One of the many advantages of combining the resources of the three offices is to be able to work as one strong global marketing unit. This will enable us to target divers who gain their PADI qualifications outside of the Nordic territory but live within Scandinavia.

Q. What from a marketing point of view do you see the strength of EMEA?
A. Working as one single identity EMEA will have tremendous opportunities to work with Equipment Manufacturers, Publications, and industry partners. We can organise acquisition campaigns that covers divers as far apart as Greenland in the North, South Africa in the South, Vladivostok in the East and the Azores in the West. From a Marketers view point this is a very exciting time

Q. Can we expect more PADI Materials translated into the Nordic languages?
A. Yes. When PADI Materials are identified for translation in the EMEA service territory the Nordic language will follow the same procedure for translation as the German, French, Italian and other languages in the territory.

Q. Will there be any problems with the combining of three offices?
A. We are human and can not guarantee that there will not be small hick-ups during the amalgamation of three service offices. We have given our selves over a year to complete the task and our goal is to complete the merger as seamlessly as possible to the membership. If we get it right all you will see are the advantages of being part of the biggest single PADI office in the world.



Q. Can we assure our members that the process that will be used by EMEA will insure that characters for printing on the C-cards – will to be able to handle Danish / Finish characters?
A. The process currently used to produce the certification cards will not change.

Q. Are their plans that will allow the PADI eLearning programs to be accessed through an Ipad
A. Not that we are aware of at the moment.

Q. What will the time line be for shipping from the UK to the Nordic territory?
1) Number of days once it has left the EMEA Warehouse?
2) Number of hours/working days from order being placed, to leaving the office?
3) Expected reliability and consistency of carriers?
A. We fully understand any concerns our members in the Nordic territory will have in regard to delivery times and reliability when we begin to despatch product orders from the EMEA distribution centre based in Bristol. We take these concerns very seriously and have worked tirelessly to minimise any possible disruption to your working day and to the profitability and efficiency of your business. Our preferred carrier is DHL and we have been in partnership with them for over 15 years, and over the years we have built up an excellent working relationship with them. We have spoken at great length with the top executives at DHL about the forthcoming changes and they are well aware of our expectations and we are assured we have, in that partnership, a reliable and consistent method of shipping to all PADI members. Our pledge is to pack and ship orders within 5 working days of the order being confirmed. This is the maximum time we set ourselves and in reality if the order is complete and fully paid for, the average time to ship and pack is within one to two working days. The transit times from the UK to the Nordic countries is shown in the table below.

Country Transit time
Denmark 1-2 days
Estonia 1-2 days
Faroe Islands 1-2 days
Finland 1-2 days
Greenland 1-2 days
Iceland 1-2 days
Norway 1-2 days
Sweden 1-2 days


You will find these transit times are very similar to the transit times you currently experience. We can reassure you that we will do our utmost to ensure you receive a first-class service. If you have any concerns or questions regarding anything related to distribution, then please do not hesitate to contact Mike Filer either by email mike.filer@padi.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 117 3007326, or you can contact
Mig Sutherland, Distribution Supervisor via email Miguel.sutherland@padi.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 117 3007311.

Q. Under EMEA will webinars be available in the appropriate Nordic languages?
A. Yes, we will start in the second semester of 2011 to launch the first webinars in the Nordic languages and make this available fully in 2012. There will be webinars dedicated to the members and to the PADI Retail and Resort Association members.

Q. Under EMEA will Teaching video clips be available using Nordic (Green water) conditions?
A. We definitely will be working on this and start to use the library that is available within the EMEA region.

Q. Any plans for specific Finnish materials for translation?
A. A thorough evaluation of the market needs will be done during the budget process. Extensive exchange with the Finnish members will be done in order to identify the urgent needs and determine priorities.

Q. Can we change EMEA Member Forums to more training related issues?
A. The PADI on Tour concept currently pilot tested in other parts of Europe is exactly providing the training orientated parts. The PADI on Tour will be implemented in the Nordic countries as of 2012.

Q. Pricelist; Will pricing in the Nordic area mirror the rest of the EMEA territory and will this show a decrease in Pricing from that now charged in the Nordic area?
A. Yes, definitely. The product line will be aligned for the whole PADI EMEA territory and the prices will be based on the Euro currency. Nordic members can count on a list of products being decreased in pricing.

Q. Is it possible that PADI EMEA can offer a “license for download” of minor materials e.g. an exam needed urgently? When needed, today PN offering to scan and send this exam by e-mail in urgent cases, at the same time as an order, payments and shipping the exam is done with normal routines.
A. We will research what protocols have been followed in the past by PADI Nordic and try to maintain similar levels of service. However, we will have to have a single policy for all of PADI EMEA.

Q. Will we talk with the same people as we are doing at the PN office today?
A. In regards to the front line personnel the answer is yes. Olle, Immi, Mox and Trond will all remain as EMEA employees living in the Nordic region. Internal Services such as Sales, PIC Processing and Accounts etc presently provided through Gothenburg will be transferred to the EMEA offices in Bristol. You will be given plenty of notification before this transfer takes place.


Q. What about competition from other training organizations?
A. Since PADI Dive Centers and members got a large market share of the diver education in the Nordic countries, there have been and will always be attempts from other organizations to take a piece of the cake. For over 30 years now we have not seen any significant Dive Center using another organization for diver training surviving over time. Fact is: PADI do cross over 1-3 Dive Center each year from other organizations. We got Dive Centers now coming back to PADI for a variety of reasons, have been trying other organizations. We believe PADI is not only the strongest brand in the diving world, but it is also the best choice for Dive centers and individual members regarding business, training quality and diver safety.

Project AWARE Re-launches 20 Year Organization

Just when you thought scuba diving for the ocean planet couldn’t get much better. The re-launch of Project AWARE Foundation, on June 8th, World Oceans Day, changes everything you thought you knew about diving for a cause.
Project AWARE is flipping the switch on an unprecedented global movement of divers acting in their own communities to protect the ocean planet.
Divers are on the leading edge of ocean protection. We are ocean heroes – numbering in the millions – across the globe. And together, our everyday actions can have really big results.
• Join the movement - Create a visible profile in the Project AWARE My Ocean community. There you can create a local conservation blog, photo and video gallery, as well as map your local conservation initiatives, submit data, manage ocean events and more.
• Battle the big two - With so many conservation issues converging on our ocean planet at once, Project AWARE is zoning in on two where scuba divers are uniquely positioned to directly affect real, long-term change – shark decline and marine debris. Visit www.projectaware.org for all new tools and resources to help you get started and lead the charge in your local area.
• Be a Dive Geek - Throughout 2011 Project AWARE will have fun contests and hold inspiring action weeks to rally your energy and support for the cause. Collecting and reporting data is critical to Project AWARE’s work. And advocating for the most effective ocean policies is central to making progress. Embrace your inner dive geek and seek to take the adventure of diving to more meaningful depths with your divers and students.

What’s New?
• An exciting, new online community – one where divers around the world combine their efforts online and offline for environmental change.
• New programs and specialty courses – focused on two major ocean issues where divers can have a direct impact – sharks in peril and marine debris.
• New, savvy tools and resources online – to help you maximize your ocean protection efforts and conservation goals.
• And much much more …
Are you ready for the big change? Ready to re-think what’s possible and share a positive vision for our ocean future? Join the movement to protect our ocean planet – one dive at a dive. www.projectaware.org

Positive Feedback

This letter was sent by a student to PADI Nordic, with feedback regarding her PADI Instructor. I am sorry to publish it in Swedish, bu I am sure some of you readers, from at least Sweden, Norway and Denmark could read and understand the content.
Very good job done by PADI Instructor Martin Amsten.


Hej!

i oktober 2010 tog jag steget och bokade in mig på en grundkurs. Jag som många andra tjejer hade lite problem med alltifrån avvägning till övningar såsom av och på med mask och dylikt.
Jag kände mig osäker med utrustningen och osäker på om detta var någonting för mig.

Jag skriver ett mail till er nu , för att jag vill på något sätt berätta min historia.


Som jag skrev så kände jag mig på något sätt osäker om detta var någonting för mig , samt om jag skulle klara av denna kurs och sedan kunna njuta av det jag lärt mig.
Jag klarade inte kursen utan fick göra ett extra dyk med en annan instruktör.
Jag skulle göra om mask av och på.

Jag ville inte.

Jag skakade på huvudet åt instruktören.

instruktören tog tag i min väst och tittade mig i ögonen och nickade. Och jag vet inte varför men på något sätt kände jag mig stark.
Jag provade igen , och jag kände instruktören hålla i mig under hela övningen.

Jag klarade det.
och för första gången simmade vi runt under ytan , och jag såg vad som fanns runt omkring mig. Jag fick dyka. Jag fick känna den känslan av hur det var att dyka.
spärren hade släppt.

för många må detta verka som ett litet problem, men för mig var det som mitt livs seger.

Denne intruktör tog några timmar efter detta dyk och berättade om sina erfarenheter, sin oro som han hade haft under sin grundkurs samt vilka steg han hade tagit och varför.
Det är få tillfällen jag har lyssnat så ihärdigt och varit så intresserad som då.

samma dag bokade jag in mig på AOW månaden efter.


Idag 8 månader senare sitter jag som DivemasterKandidat , och har några timmar kvar innan jag skall assistera denne Intruktör på en OW kurs. samt jobbar på samma dykcenter som honom.

Sen jag började jobba på detta centra har jag haft fördelen att kunna iakta instruktörer , deras olika sätt att lära ut samt olika sätt att bemöta eleverna.

Och jag är så imponerad av denna instruktör.

Han vinner deras respekt och deras förtroende första gången dom kliver in geneom dörren. De lyssnar, lär och vill bli som honom. han är ett bra föredöme.
Han är en sådan instruktör som alla bör ha.

Genom hans sätt att vara, hans personlighet och hans förståelse har han blivit elevernas förebild.

Syftet med mitt mail är att på något sätt ge honom beröm. Alla behöver beröm.
De flesta människorna idag skriver mail och klagar. Man klagar och gnäller på allt. Så varför inte skriva någonting positivt för omväxlings skull?
Ni har utbildat en bra instruktör, och ni har en staff som fötjänar ett diplom eller nått. Något som bekräftar han skills.

Denne Instruktör heter Martin Amsten , men instruktörsnummer 261995.

Mitt Namn är Malin Bergqvist

The new AWARE website

Today, June 8th, 2011, the new AWARE website is alive.
http://www.projectaware.org/

The first PADI EMEA Meetings

This is the primary Q & A from the first PADI On Tour meetings conducted in Sweden and Norway. Q & A from the meetings in Denmark and Finland will soon be posted.
To ensure you are kept informed as to the answers to the questions your colleagues asked; we have below put together a short Q&A section. But if you have a question not answered below please feel free to contact me.

Q. Will the office in Gothenburg be open for the rest of 2011?
A. Yes. Although behind the scenes, the three offices that will make up PADI EMEA (PADI Europe, PADI Nordic and PADI International Ltd) will work towards a single identity, the office in Gothenburg with its present staff will continue to service your needs throughout the year.

Q. In regards to things like industry relations, meetings with government officials and local legislation will PADI EMEA have local representation to champion our causes?
A. Yes. Trond Skaare, Han’s (Olle) Olsson, Mox Moberg and Immi Wallin who have represented your interests while working for PADI Nordic will continue to work on your behalf as employees of PADI EMEA.

Q. Although the majority of Nordic members speak English well, will we be able to communicate with EMEA in the Nordic Language?
A. Yes. Apart from continuing to have as full members of staff the individuals named above, several other positions within EMEA will be filled with Nordic language speaking staff members.

Q. Will communicating with the new EMEA office be more expensive for Nordic Members?
A. No. Our intention is by 2012 to have in place a phone system that enables PADI Members phoning the EMEA office from the Nordic countries to pay the local call charge while EMEA will pick up the bill for the international side of the call.

Q. Will communicating by Skype and placing orders on line through the PADI eShop be an option when Nordic Members are a part of EMEA?
A. Yes. All EMEA Members will be able to take advantage of this technology. Allowing you to place your orders at a time that is convenient to you.

Q. Will the pricing of Nordic language PADI Products be inline with those of other languages?
A. Yes. There will be one price list and one product catalogue used by all PADI Members in the EMEA service area.

Q. What currency will I be paying for product in 2012?
A. Euro.

Q. Will the VAT (Valued added Tax) we presently pay increase?
A. No. In a worse care scenario you will pay the same but there is a chance it will go down.

Q. Will the cost of shipping go up?
A. Preliminary trials have indicated that this will not happen. This is due to the combined buying power of such a large single dispatching warehouse.

Q. In the Nordic region we are used to being invoiced for the products we purchase. Will this continue under EMEA?
A. Yes. We will honour any payment agreement that is presently in place through the Gothenburg office.,

Q. Presently in-cooperated into our PADI Membership we enjoy a liability protection insurance police negotiated by PADI. Will this continue under EMEA?
A. This is something we are working on now. Our intention is to be able to provide you with the same policy or one comparable in price and coverage with the one you presently enjoy. We will be able to give you more information closer to renewal time.

Q. Under EMEA will we be a part of the global Marketing campaigns enjoyed by PADI Members in larger offices?
A. Yes. One of the many advantages of combining the resources of the three offices is to be able to work as one strong global marketing unit. This will enable us to target divers who gain their PADI qualifications outside of the Nordic territory but live within Scandinavia. Another initiative PADI Centres in the Nordic territory will enjoy in 2012 will be the “Hot Leads” programme. This programme enables PADI to give our centres the contact details of thousands of Nordic holiday makers returning home after taking a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience aboard.

Q. What from a marketing point of view do you see the strength of EMEA?
A. Working as one single identity EMEA will have tremendous opportunities to work with Equipment Manufacturers, Publications, and industry partners. We can organise acquisition campaigns that covers divers as far apart as Greenland in the North, South Africa in the South, Vladivostok in the East and the Azores in the West. From a Marketers view point this is a very exciting time

Q. Can we expect more PADI Materials translated into the Nordic languages?
A. Yes. When PADI Materials are identified for translation in the EMEA service territory the Nordic language will follow the same procedure for translation as the German, French, Italian and other languages in the territory.

Q. Will there be any problems with the combining of three offices?
A. We are human and can not guarantee that there will not be small hick-ups during the amalgamation of three service offices. We have given our selves over a year to complete the task and our goal is to complete the merger as seamlessly as possible to the membership. If we get it right all you will see are the advantages of being part of the biggest single PADI office in the world.

Come to the Next PADI EMEA Meeting

As you may be aware from previous correspondence, the PADI organization is constructing a new regional headquarters to be known as PADI EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). The new regional headquarters will consist of the territories currently serviced by PADI International Ltd., PADI Europe and PADI Nordic.

The primary headquarters of PADI EMEA will be located in Bristol, UK, with another major office in Hettlingen, Switzerland. The present office in Goteborg will continue to operate until the end of 2011, then most of the departmental business will shift to the centralized PADI EMEA entity. However, several of the best known staff from PADI Nordic will then be employed by PADI EMEA and will continue to be based in the Nordic region. These include, Trond Skaare, Hans “Olle” Olsson, Immi Wallin and Mikael “Mox” Moberg. These individuals will be able to interface with PADI members in the Nordic region as they have in the past, and their ongoing input into the PADI organization will ensure that the needs of our members in those countries are considered and planned for into the future. Between them they also have a good range of languages key to the region.

In 2012 the present PADI Nordic membership will be serviced by the largest PADI Regional Headquarters in the world with more than 2,500 retail and resort members,
and 57,500 individual members certifying more than 380,000 divers annually.

The regional headquarters will support a diverse range of languages and cultures.

To answer any questions you may have regarding being a part of PADI EMEA we will be conducting a series of Member Seminars in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden. Attending these seminars together with senior staff from PADI Nordic will be Douglas Nash Vice President, Sales & Marketing PADI International Ltd., and Jean-Claude Monachon Executive Director, Market Development, PADI Europe.

For a list of seminar dates, times and venues please consult the list below.

23. May Denmark København Hotel Skt: Petri, Krystalgade 22 19.00

24. May Danmark Odense First Hotell Grand, Jerbanegade 18 19.00

25. May Finland Helsinki Scandic Marina Congress Center, Press Room, 1st Floor. Address: Katajanokanlaituri 6, 00160 Helsinki. 19.00

Summary of the New PADI Rebreather Courses

PADI recreational rebreather courses will cover semi-closed (SCR) and closed-circuit rebreathers (CCR) which are fully electronically controlled, known as eSCR and eCCR.

Third party testing for all units will be required. There will also be a list of features rebreathers should have for recreational diving (and a different list for the Tec courses) and manufacturers will need to ensure their units have these before applying for them to be used during PADI Rebreather Courses.



Rebreathers that meet the requirements for PADI recreational rebreather courses will be called Type R Rebreathers. These could be eSCRs, eCCRs or hybrids of both.

The courses will be generic but due to differences between rebreathers the qualifications will be unit specific. Divers and instructors will use manufacturer user manuals in addition to PADI materials to cover both information that applies to all rebreathers and that which applies to the specific unit being taught.

Diver Courses

PADI Rebreather Diver
•Aimed at qualified entry level divers and above who have some open circuit scuba diving experience.
•Teach divers to use Type R rebreathers to a maximum of 18m/60 feet depth within no-decompression limits.
•Responses to problems will be simple. In most cases this means switching the mouthpiece to open circuit mode and ascending.

PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver
•With a pre-requisite of PADI Rebreather Diver (on the same Type R rebreather) this course expands on the basic knowledge they have already learned to teach divers to carry a bailout cylinder and dive to 30m/100 feet max (40m/130 feet max with PADI Deep Diver).
•Responses to problems will be very similar – bailout to open circuit – the main difference is that they will have a bailout cylinder to enable them to bailout from greater depth.

PADI Rebreather Qualifier program
• Divers wishing to cross-over to another Type R rebreather will need to do the Rebreather Qualifier program which covers unit specific skills and knowledge.
•Additional modules for divers with PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver.
•Divers will be certified at their current level on the new unit.

PADI Rebreather Refresher
•Similar to a Scuba Review this program refreshes rebreather divers’ skills if they have not dived on a rebreather for a while.

Instructor level

PADI Rebreather Instructor – will be able to teach all recreational rebreather diver programs on the specific unit(s) they have qualified on.
• There will be no direct applications for this rating.
•Candidates will need to be qualified rebreather divers with experience on the specific unit. Experience will probably need to be in excess of 50 hours, however precise requirements are still to be confirmed.
•Candidates will attend a rebreather instructor course conducted by a Rebreather Instructor Trainer.
•Instructors crossing over from one unit to another will attend a shorter program ensuring they have the required skill and knowledge on the new unit.
•Instructors crossing over from other organisations will attend a shorter program ensuring they have the skill and knowledge to teach PADI rebreather courses.
•Instructors will be required to use the same rebreather as the students when teaching a course.



Instructor level products:

Rebreather Diver Instructor Guide

Rebreather Diver Course Wetnotes

There will be one Instructor Trainer level:

PADI Rebreather Instructor Trainer
•There will be no direct applications for this rating.
•Course Directors or TecRec Instructor Trainers who are also PADI rebreather Instructors will attend a Rebreather Instructor Trainer program to orient them to teaching rebreather instructors.
•Providing they meet PADI and manufacturer experience requirements Rebreather Instructor Trainers will be able to teach instructors on any unit for which they are PADI rebreather instructors.

I.T level products:

Rebreather Diver Instructor Trainer Guide

Launch

The estimated launch for these courses is 3rd Quarter 2011.

PADI Staff will conduct programs to teach the first rebreather instructors and trainers at events organised by the Rebreather Advisory Team and Instructor Development teams in each Regional Head Quarters.

These events will be at strategic locations throughout each region and will be scheduled as soon as possible after launch, however, we will need to allow for product delivery times.

Tec CCR programs will be launched later in 2011. Courses will follow a similar format, however, instructor and trainer qualifications are more complex as there will be several levels.
Read more about TecRec on the TecRec Blog, see right corner for links.

New Dive Anywhere Campaign Connects You and Your Customers

Grow your customer base by posting your Dive Anywhere events to padi.com.
Dive Anywhere is here to help you increase awareness of local diving and connect consumers with your business. This new global diver acquisition campaign is designed to combat the misperception that great diving is only available in specific regions.
The PADI organization has a number of Dive Anywhere advertising and marketing efforts that drive divers to an interactive map on padi.com where they will find Dive Anywhere events. This currently includes a flash graphic on the home page (one of the large images in rotation), so this is the ideal time to get your events uploaded.

What are Dive Anywhere events?
Whatever you want them to be! From large scale Discover Scuba Diving experiences to Tec Explorer Days or gear demonstrations, Dive Anywhere is anything that is in your area.
PADI Dive Centres and Resorts only need to post their events to take advantage of the campaign. Just visit the Marketing Toolbox section at the PADI Pros’ Site and upload event information such as event name, date and activities provided. It’ll then show up on the interactive map at padi.com/dive-events. Plus, you’ll find customizable marketing collateral in the Marketing Toolbox on the PADI Pros’ Site, to help promote your event.
For more information on registering or conducting your Dive Anywhere events, email marketing@padi.co.uk

Feedback from and to PADI Members 2010

Feedback från 2010
Iceland

5252 Scuba Iceland
162695 Finnbjorn Finnbjornsson

“The instructor made me feel very secure but still made sure I knew how to deal with everything myself, not just rely on him.”

5157 DIVE. IS - Sport Diving School of Iceland
486899 David Ramsay
“My teacher was excellent all the way through, friendly, helpful, social and very confidence inspiring.
All in all a very enjoyable experience in a very serious hobby :)”

Norway

5163 Prodykk
257651 Anders Degerdal

“Im happy with my instructor and the course in general. Was a good experience overall”
“Mr Degerdal was a very good instructor! I am very satisfied with my training, and I am confident to go out and continue diving!”

5080 Nemo
262432 Lars Korvald

”Et veldig bra kurs med hyggelige og dyktige instruktører! Gleder meg til AOWD kurset!”

5009 Dykkersport
505510 Annika Persson
“Annika Persson was the best instructor I can Think off!! And all her helpers where fantastic!!
Dykkersport at Lysaker brygge is a great place to Yale course!!”

“Min instruktør Annika Persson var ekstremt nøye med at alle måtte gjennomføre alle øvelser korrekt og dette ga en fantastisk trygghetsfølelse. Har tenkt å ta adcanced kurs og har bestemt meg for at det blir kun med samme instruktør. Utrolig dyktig dame :)”

Denmark

5248 Dykkergitte
267578 Kim Henriksen
“Dykkergitte´s policy of having only 4 students pr. instructor has given me a course with high quality and safety. All my questions have been answered in full. It has been a great pleasure to take the course at Dykkergitte.”

5224 Kingfish Dive & Travel
507682 Mia C. Krogh hansen
“Mia was a very good instructor, whose pedagogical skills never failed.”

5268 N. O. W Dive
955214 Ben Bos
”Meget pædagogisk og kompetent instruktør! Ben Bos skabte en behagelig og samtidig seriøs stemning omkring dykkeruddannelsen. Udstyret var af rigitg god kvalitet og virkede slet ikke slidt.”





Sweden

1101 Alpin & Dyksport
508320 Margit Juretic
”Jag är jätte nöjd med kursen och med min instruktör. jag kommer utan tvekan att gå fler kurser för samma instruktör, har redan gått advance open water och dry suit för samma instruktör och är som sagt jätte nöjd.”

1394 Oxygene Örebro
75980 Lars Andersson

“The course was a very well balanced experience. Enough time was spent in the pool to ensure a sense of knowledge and safty once the final open Water dives took place. The small groups (6 students, 1 instructor) made it easy to connect with the instructor and I felt that I was given enough room to ask question and be allowed help with my weaknesses.”


31017 Oxygene Lysekil
250817 Fredrik Andersson

”Min instruktör var en mycket bra pedagog som var tydlig och höll ett lugnt och bra tempo. Kursen kändes seriös, säker och givande. Superbra!”

1384 Aquatica
257120 Daniel Andersson

”EN mycket bra kurs! Har varit en fantastisk upplevelse!”

77854 Björn Petersson

“I’m very very satisfied with my open water course and instructor. Looking forward to the advanced course!!”


A well done to all of you, and to all other PADI Members.

PADI EMEA

As you may be aware from previous correspondence, the PADI organization is constructing a new regional headquarters to be known as PADI EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). The new regional headquarters will consist of the territories currently serviced by PADI International Ltd., PADI Europe and PADI Nordic.

The primary headquarters of PADI EMEA will be located in Bristol, UK, with another major office in Hettlingen, Switzerland. The present office in Goteborg will continue to operate until the end of 2011, then most of the departmental business will shift to the centralized PADI EMEA entity. However, several of the best known staff from PADI Nordic will then be employed by PADI EMEA and will continue to be based in the Nordic region. These include, Trond Skaare, Hans “Olle” Olsson, Immi Wallin and Mikael “Mox” Moberg. These individuals will be able to interface with PADI members in the Nordic region as they have in the past, and their ongoing input into the PADI organization will ensure that the needs of our members in those countries are considered and planned for into the future. Between them they also have a good range of languages key to the region.

In 2012 the present PADI Nordic membership will be serviced by the largest PADI Regional Headquarters in the world with more than 2,500 retail and resort members,
and 57,500 individual members certifying more than 380,000 divers annually.

The regional headquarters will support a diverse range of languages and cultures.

To answer any questions you may have regarding being a part of PADI EMEA we will be conducting a series of Member Seminars in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden. Attending these seminars together with senior staff from PADI Nordic will be Douglas Nash Vice President, Sales & Marketing PADI International Ltd., and Jean-Claude Monachon Executive Director, Market Development, PADI Europe.

For a list of seminar dates, times and venues please consult the list below.
11. April Sweden Göteborg Hotell G, Nils Erkssonplatsen 19.00
12. April Norway Oslo Clarion Hotel Royal Christiania, 19.00
13. April Sweden Stockholm Piperska Muren, Scheelegatan 14 19.00
23. May Denmark København Hotel Skt: Petri, Krystalgade 22 19.00
24. May Danmark Odense First Hotell Grand, Jerbanegade 18 19.00
25. May Finland Helsinki Scandic Marina Congress Center, Press Room, 1st Floor. Address: Katajanokanlaituri 6, 00160 Helsinki. 19.00

Very much welcome to PADI Member forum in Odense, Denmark.
Date: March 22.
Time: 18.30
Venue: First Hotel Grand, Jerbanegate 18, Odense.
This year’s MF will be cover, among other topics:
Global and Nordic certification statistic.
Trends in diver certifications.
The new PADI Divemaster Course.
New directions for Project AWARE.
PADI Rebreather Course information.
PADI Standards.
Risk management.
I look forward to see you!

Groupons

HOW TO!

Use Group Voucher Websites as an Effective Marketing StrategyAre you familiar with “deal-of-the-day” websites, offering great discounts to customers based on a minimum number of sign-ups for each deal? Maybe you’ve even bought vouchers yourself?

This is one of the fastest growing online shopping markets, and is estimated to be worth millions of dollars in revenue each month. Many PADI Dive Centres have already advertised on websites such as “Groupon” (group coupon), “Living Social”, and “Spreets” (spread the word on the streets), and following their experiences, we would like you to consider some key points, before you dive in.

Although any advertising that gets customers through your door is great, it’s important to recognise that the web-savvy consumer these sites attract can be your ally or your enemy. Give them a really positive experience and they’ll advertise you for free to their friends via social media like “Twitter” and “Facebook” etc. Give them a bad experience or poor customer service and they’ll tell ten times as many people!

It’s crucial for your business to get this right first time!

What is the Real Marketing Value of this for a Dive Centre?
The obvious and immediate value is the increased footfall of customers into your store – but this alone does not generate much income. The percentage discount you have to give and the substantial cut taken by the website really only makes this a viable option for selling DSDs, and you are unlikely to make profit from those DSD experiences alone after costs. Therefore the long term value to your centre comes from converting the DSDs to Open Water divers, regular customers and beyond.

To have a fighting chance of converting them, you need to have the scope for delivering really effective customer service at each point of contact – that is when they first phone you, when they come in to the centre to dive with you, and following up with them after they’ve completed the DSD. You need to have your strategy and a schedule for this in place IN ADVANCE – waiting until the phone starts ringing is too late!

What is it going to cost my business?
It may seem like a golden sales opportunity, but before you get too carried away with the hundreds of people you could sign up, make sure you can realistically handle them and give them a great experience. There are costs in time, effort and resources that must be planned for.

Work backwards - start with what you can deliver
and let that dictate what you offer!

Be aware that you can dictate the maximum number of vouchers available, as well as the minimum. Having a cap on the number offered can also add perceived value to your deal and future deals if you do it again.

Responding
After the deal goes live, the phone will ring constantly for a couple of days, with people eager to book in with you, you may also have a stampede come through the door! Having a designated member of staff to cover the phone during this period is essential – it allows you to give consistent customer service to the callers, while avoiding any confusion or mistakes over what is booked in the diary. It will also mean minimum disruption is caused to your staff, existing customers and the courses that are running at the time.

Scheduling
When scheduling the DSD Experiences, consider the costs associated with pool use and staffing. If you don’t have a pool on site, the most cost-effective way is to combine the DSD time slots with your regular pool times, or if booking the pool especially, establish a minimum number of people per session to make it viable. Work out the pool time/staff hours/equipment that can be committed and the staff to participant ratio you want to offer. Allow extra time for your staff to register all the DSDs afterwards.

Do not be afraid to limit the times available to the public, so that it works within your existing schedule rather than swamping it. Make sure that accommodating large numbers of DSDs does not damage your core business or alienate your regulars.

Commitment
Depending on the site you advertise with, there will be differences on your contractual obligations and how you redeem the money for vouchers sold:
*Be aware of exclusivity clauses, and ensure you are prepared to honour any restrictions on advertising your centre through other websites.
*Work out how many vouchers/people you can take based on the immediate cost you can afford to absorb. Some sites pass on the money for the vouchers sold after the deal has closed, making you responsible for handling any refunds, cancellations etc. Others withhold the money until after the vouchers are used, and there will be a time delay between you running the DSD and reclaiming/receiving the money for it.

When costing your campaign, factor in the immediate expenses of DSD booklets, staffing, pool costs and gear without relying on the voucher money to cover it in the short term!

Sales Opportunity
If you plan to make additional income from merchandise sales, make sure what you offer is optional. Adding hidden costs to the existing deal will alienate this customer, and may cause them to demand a refund. If a high percentage of voucher customers demand a refund, you can encounter problems with the website, in addition to the negative publicity it will cause for your business locally and in the social media.

Consider sales opportunities in the small detail, for example offering customers the chance to buy their own mouthpieces, (for use with your rental equipment,) is one good idea that has been used already.

After Care & Maximising the Value to your Business
If you wait until all the vouchers have been redeemed before you start contacting the first DSD customers, you will have missed the boat!

Hopefully a percentage will sign up for more on the day, however it’s difficult to spend quality time with everyone when you’re dealing with groups. Following up with each person individually within a couple of days is the best way to capitalise on their positivity and the great experience they’ve had with you.

You already have their interest – now make use of it!
The potential value to your business of each new diver makes it worth scheduling some extra time for your staff to call them afterwards, and spend a few minutes talking about their experience, the courses you offer, social events at your centre etc.

To find out more about the ideal route to a successful follow up for DSDs, please contact your Regional Manager via mox.moberg@padi.se