BUSINESS EDU continued
happy, patient staff, or train instructors who enjoy working with kids. Recruit parents, more on that later. The joy created for both kids and families who walk through your doors for camp and leave with happy kids and goodie bags, including masks, fins, snorkel sets, and a dive shop camp T-shirt, is powerful. Many parents have one diver and one non-diver, so the experience, if done well, can lead to mom or dad starting their Open Water certification. My own business exploded because non-diving parents crave meaningful summer options not just for their kids, but with their kids. Your shop can be that option. 2. Build a Junior Divemaster Pipeline Teens aged fifteen to seventeen will love the Junior Divemaster program. It’s not just training, it’s building character, leadership, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. They can help set up topside classes, supervise topside activities like bathroom breaks and snack time, rinse gear, and load materials for the day. Junior Divemasters want to learn the business of diving and can help with social events, talk about diving, and invite family and friends from school and home. They learn leadership, earn certifications that shine on college applications, and, best of all, go on to complete their Divemaster program with you once they are 18. I have over 35 instructors who started as young kids with me and over 50 Divemasters. I take great pride in contributing to their future and mentoring them as they grow into fine young adults, many of whom come back year after year to help with trips, teaching classes, or inspiring the next generation. This summer, run a week-long intensive: morning Junior Divemaster programs including learning skills, customer service, store tasks, and welcoming clients for socials. One teen Divemaster can recruit five more kids just through their Facebook or Instagram posts. That’s instant foot traffic. Run a Rescue Diver camp, not just a class but a week-long experience. Work on skills, real-life scenarios, and include Junior Rescue. Invite parents who may not want their kids to outrank them, or who want to feel more confident diving with their newly certified kids. Talk about safe places to dive, good questions to ask when planning a family dive vacation, and different types of diving. Ask participants to write a story about their journey learning to dive with you. Discuss jobs they can qualify for with a Rescue Diver certi- fication, like lifeguard, pool patrol, or safety diver, another angle for partnerships with local pools or schools. Talk about the path to Master Diver and Divemaster. Invite past participants to speak at social nights.
underwater photo hunts, PVC wreck building, fish ID, and treasure hunts to create a full week of fun. The PADI Seal Team offers logbooks, crew packs, and stickers, and can be done over multiple weekends, school vacations, or as a summer camp. Kids truly love the zero gravity, and learning about marine life is filled with arts and crafts and other hands-on activities. These confined water programs need only a pool, no ocean required, so any shop with access can run them. Pro Tip: Keep ratios at one instructor to two kids. Hire
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