BUSINESS EDU Octopus Strategy for Dive Pros: How to Handle the Hustle Like a Pro – by William Cline, Publisher, & President for 35 years of Cline Group, a marketing, research and advertising consultancy specializing the scuba diving industry.
Welcome to my new series using real world business instincts inspired by marine life. I hope you enjoy this new column! If you’re anything like me, you’ve got eight things (or more!) going on at once right now. You’re wrapping up summer dive classes, fielding emails about fall
Have a Plan B for busy weekends. Cross-train staff. Build buffer time into your travel appointments. And if something goes sideways? Don’t panic - shift. That’s Octopus Strategy in action. Tentacles in the Right Places: Multitasking doesn’t mean chaos. It means smart delegation. Like an octopus managing eight arms at once, your business needs systems where every- thing stays connected -bookings, training, inventory, travel, and events. This is a great time to revisit your task lists and assign team leads for DEMA meetings, new diver outreach, or gear maintenance.
trips, tuning up gear, booking ad space, and prepping for DEMA all at once. I don’t know about you, but this time of year makes me think of the octopus. These incredible creatures are the ultimate underwater mul-
titaskers. Flexible, fast, clever, and sur- prisingly good at escaping tight spots, they’re a perfect metaphor for what dive pros need to channel when everything is happening at once. This is what I call Octopus Strategy: the art of staying cool, adaptable, and in control when the tide rises fast. Think Like an Octopus: Octo- puses are famously intelligent. They problem-solve on the fly; open jars, rearrange their environments, and use tools. When your dive shop feels like a game of Tetris, take a step back and think strategically. Can your class schedule be streamlined? Can your front desk staff be trained to answer more questions independently? Can you automate parts of your booking process or emails? As DEMA approaches, be smart
You don’t have to do it all alone. You just have to know where each tentacle is going and guide them with purpose. Master the Moment Before the Wave: The truth is, this season is a mix of momentum and anticipation. Summer’s still roaring in places, but fall is on the horizon, and the dive industry’s biggest trade event is right around the corner. Now’s the time to clarify your pri- orities, re-center your energy, and get organized before the DEMA current hits. Build smart systems, communi- cate with your team, and set clear goals for what you want to learn, see, and accomplish in Orlando. Cover Feature: This month’s beautiful cover photo of a longarm octopus, shot in Bonaire by the leg-
about what seminars and booth appointments you commit to. Don’t overfill your calendar - pick the opportunities that will truly grow your business. A well-placed tentacle does more than flailing eight at once. Stay Flexible, Not Fragile: Octopuses can squeeze through tiny cracks and change shape in a flash. For dive pros, that flexibility is just as important. Maybe a group trip cancels, or a team member suddenly needs time off, or a shipment’s delayed. The ones who thrive are the ones who adjust, not collapse.
endary Marty Snyderman, captures everything we love about these intelligent, graceful creatures. Adaptable, curious, and always thinking a few steps ahead, the octopus is a fitting am- bassador for dive pros navigating the busy waters of fall plan- ning and DEMA prep. So take a cue from the octopus. Think fast, stay flexible, and guide your business with intention. The pros who thrive in this season are the ones who move with strategy, smarts, and just the right amount of squeeze.
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