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.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
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
Thursday, 16 June 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
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.
Monday, 13 June 2011
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]
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.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
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
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/
Thursday, 2 June 2011
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)