TRAINING continued
that works out later. With everyone on the same page, we can minimize surprises, mitigate risk, and more effectively communicate with our team and guests. We aren’t step- ping on each other’s fins (dive pun intended) during the briefings or in an emergency. SOPs shouldn’t be vague, opinions or excessive complexity. They should focus on clear, concise, step-by-step instructions. They should never make assumptions about the reader’s knowledge or compe- tency. Keep it simple, direct and clear. Why Dive Centers Are Especially Vulnerable Without SOPs: Scuba diving combines humans, complex equip- ment, and unpredictable environments. That’s a dangerous mix if processes live only in people’s heads. I don’t know if you’ve met people before, but I have, and they are scary. Especially underwater! For example: A missed O-ring check can delay or cancel a dive ▪ Different instructors running briefings differently can ▪ confuse guests New staff may hesitate to ask questions in fast-paced sit- ▪ uations SOPs reduce those risks by removing guesswork. Our SOP explains that we have spares onboard like O-rings, BCDs,
regulator systems, etc. The staff know to check the spares before the boat departs because it’s in BOLD in the SOP. We all know that Mr. Murphy shows up out there at some point, but the better prepped we are for his visit, the better our outcome will be. Core Areas Where Dive Centers Need SOPs: Most suc- cessful dive centers focus their SOPs on a few critical areas rather than trying to document everything at once. Re- member, this thing must be digestible! If you show up to your next staff meeting with 500 pages of SOPs and expect the staff to read, understand, and implement soon... I’ve got some ocean front property that you will be interested in! 1. Equipment Handling and Maintenance: Clear SOPs for tank filling, compressor operation, gear rinsing, and storage protect both divers and equipment. This includes who signs off on inspections and how issues are reported. 2. Boat and Dive Operations: From loading procedures to roll calls and post-dive headcounts, SOPs ensure nothing gets skipped – even on busy days. I’ll repeat that louder. Especially on busy days! 3. Customer Intake and Documentation: Waivers, med-
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker