RETAILING The Realities of Running a Large-Scale Dive Operation – by Beto Barbosa, Manager Diver’s Den, Cairns, Australia
Every year at the DEMA Show, dive professionals gather to share ideas and innovations. We talk about new gear, teaching meth- ods, and how to grow the indus- try. But one topic that often gets overlooked is what it’s like to run
dive pros in the world. Those who thrive here learn to manage large groups, handle challenging conditions, and deliver safe, memorable experiences under pressure. It’s demanding, but it shapes true leaders in the industry. Our role is to help new staff transition into this unique envi- ronment so they can succeed and grow. There’s also something magical about the Great Barrier Reef which makes the effort worth it. Strict Rules and Regulations
a large-scale dive operation — not just a small shop or liveaboard, but a corporation with multiple stores, big ves-
sels, and more than 200 staff. Running a dive business at this level is a whole different ball game. It’s more about lead- ership, logistics, regulations, and making sure hundreds of moving parts and employees work together seamlessly. Staffing in Cairns: A Dif- ferent World One of the biggest challenges is staffing. Coordinating shifts for hundreds of dive profes- sionals across different loca- tions is tough enough. But in Cairns, the challenge is even bigger.
One of the biggest chal- lenges we face in Queensland is operating under some of the strictest dive and snorkel regulations in the world. The Queensland Government’s Code of Practice sets the bar extremely high for safety. Every single trip must comply with detailed requirements — from crew-to-passenger ratios and medical screening, to pre- dive and pre-snorkel inter- views, mandatory SMB use, annual professional dive med-
icals, and annual staff inductions on all activities con- ducted. These systems are essential, but they also make diving here both costly and training-intensive.
This isn’t a typical tropical dive destination where a guide takes a handful of divers out in calm waters. The conditions here are rougher, which means boats need to be big — often carrying 40–80 guests, with some operators hosting up to 300 at a time. For new staff, that scale can feel overwhelming. It’s not the en- vironment most guides trained for. Gone are the 8-12 pax on a boat and the personal connec- tions, our crew have to find those connections under im- mense organisational pressure - making Cairns not the working environment for all pros. That said, the Cairns experience builds some of the best
On top of that, we work within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, managed by GBRMPA. Their rules cover everything from anchoring and waste management to the language used in dive brief- ings. As a Green Fins member, 100% AWARE partner, and a PADI Eco Centre, we take these standards seriously — not only because we believe in them, but also because the penalties for breaking GBRMPA regulations are sig-
nificant.
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