Going Above the Standards: The Fallacy

Like many people, I like to waste my non-diving time by going on various scuba on-line forums and reading scuba diving blogs. As I try to evolve as a scuba diving instructor, I like to read about what other instructors are doing. You never know, someone may have some good ideas about how to run specific drills or how to handle students in a particular way. When I read through a lot of this, much of what people advertise about their classes is that they go above and beyond what the training agency standards say. Heck, I’ve even said this about my own classes and I’m sure it’s written somewhere on my web site. As I’ve grown as an instructor, one thing has become obviously clear, going above the training standards just isn’t enough. [Read more...]

2010 Diving Goals

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

Every year I sit down and look at the previous year’s diving. Based on that analysis, I try to set some diving goals for the new year. At the beginning of last year, I wanted to have longer bottom times. I was able to average 50 minutes for recreational dives. I was able to push a few technical dives to 25 and 30 minutes of bottom times. After looking at my personal diving over the past couple years, I’d like to take another class. [Read more...]

Evolving Recreational Scuba Diving Courses: Mentoring and Coaching

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

As diving professionals, we discuss with our students the importance of continuing their diving education. Learning new skills to enhance their diving is a great way to keep people diving and enjoying our underwater world. However, continuing education must go further than just learning a few new skills. As diving professionals, we are supposed to have superior diving skills, we are supposed to be trained on how to present diving material in order to maximize student learning. We should be using the opportunity continuing education courses give us to help mentor and coach divers, not just give them a license to take another class. [Read more...]

The Economy and the Scuba Industry: Tips to Improve Your Scuba Business

Duane Johnson - Technical Diving Instructor

Duane Johnson - Technical Diving Instructor

Many dive store owners started their business because they love diving and wanted to make it their full time profession. In economies such as the recession we are currently in, operating a scuba diving business can be extremely taxing. This post will give the scuba business owner a few tips to think about to improve their business. [Read more...]