I have seen you were in the top 3 Certifiers of Qatar’s Leaderboard last month, what does this mean to you, considering you are a PADI Ambassadiver?
I need to be honest with you Teo, at the beginning I was a bit surprised as I didn’t want to be seen as a ‘badge collector’. But then I thought about my role as AmbassaDiver, and how this would be a great opportunity to highlight the importance of focusing on quality, which inevitably brings quantity in the long term.
PADI’s mission is like my creed: Creating a global community of confident, competent and active divers who are champions of the water planet.
According to me, these are the most important aspects in divers training and, as you always remind us, PADI courses are performance based not time based. It doesn’t matter how long it takes for a diver to go through their course, as long as they are confident and competent upon certification.
In every group of students there are always different abilities, and therefore course schedule needs to be adjusted accordingly.
This doesn’t mean I am underselling my services; on the contrary, I believe everyone in the area knows that the PADI diving courses I offer most probably are among the most expensive in the region.
How do you price your courses?
I always keep in mind what I studied when I was involved in other businesses (sales & marketing) which is the ‘Project Management Triangle’.
There is a big difference between selling a product and selling a service like a diving course; buyers can see, touch and feel products, whilst services are intangible.
Learning to scuba dive is a life changing experience, it’s not only receiving a certification. That’s the reason why it is very important to focus on the benefits and the value of the courses I am offering and price them accordingly.
Quality is the ‘K’: I don’t want to see my students quitting diving because they didn’t enjoy the experience enough or because they were briefly and quickly introduced to the diving world. Most of my customers continue their PADI education and they dive whenever they have a chance.
Why do people take PADI courses with you?
I think because of my reputation, experience and my background.
I have passion for diving. Whenever I teach a course I think like I am teaching a family member who I want to learn, love, enjoy and safely practice the sport for lifetime!
My students perceive this and share it with their friends.
I have been mainly focusing on the ‘Elite’ market (VIP & Celebrities): most of my client needs customised courses and my ability to adjust schedules to meet their needs is highly appreciated.
I think word of mouth definitely contributes to my success!
What are the courses you like to teach most and why?
PADI Open Water Diver: This is where it all starts: love of the diving, ocean and marine life, and the kick start to PADI continued education.
PADI Rescue Diver: There is nothing more important than saving a life. I find the PADI Rescue Diver course is a game changer in many people’s lives, and not only while diving but also while driving, traveling, at work and even at home. This course is also a turning point, as the majority of divers, after becoming PADI Rescue Divers, continue to PADI Divemaster and Instructor courses.
PADI Digital Underwater Photographer: We all know that planet Earth is almost 70% water. However, we still know more about the Moon than we know about the underwater world; the more under water photos taken and shown to people, the more they will be attracted to scuba diving. Underwater photography is the only way to bring souvenirs from your dives and share them with friends and family.
What tips do you wish to share with other Instructors in your region?
- I would suggest they focus on quality rather than quantity by adding extra value to the course they offer, and not falling into the trap of an economy of scale model. Of course there are circumstances that may require some promotions but this has to be done carefully and only for a limited time!
- Another piece of advice for my fellow instructors is to always teach your course with the same passion you had when you first learnt to dive. Make the education process smooth, steady and wrapped with love for ocean health and marine life .
- Always encourage your students to stay fit and have an healthy lifestyle, to get the most out of their diving experience.
- Stay connected with your students; give them a teaser about the next PADI course or offer them a PADI specialty course that you think they might like, ask them to bring their non-diving friends into the diving community… It’s easy now with social media on your phone.
Finally, I am very proud to be a member of the biggest diver training organization in the world and am very happy to see a huge amount of PADI Pros teaching diving and making their dreams come true.
Keep diving, and make diving safe and fun.
