As a new year launches for your dive business, no doubt you’re looking at new ways and places to connect with potential customers. What if that potential customer base was comprised of young, fit and highly motivated individuals eager to learn, grow and seek adventure?
These are characteristics of college/university students, and there are approximately 18.4 million enrolled in the United States and an estimated 264 million worldwide. In fact, of the estimated 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, 87 percent have at least one pool. Chances are there is a college or university near you.
You may be thinking, “I tried to teach scuba at my local university, and my proposal got shut down right away” or “College students have no money, so I’m not going after that market.” If this sounds familiar, there’s a new program that will completely change your thinking and open up a new market ripe with opportunity. “The Campus Edge: Your Guide to Developing College and University Diving Programs” is an online course that helps dive pros get their services and programs into colleges and universities.
No one in the diving industry knows how to do this better than PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Tec Clark (OWSI – 67720). Clark became a diving professional at the University of Florida in 1988. He went on to teach at four universities, and he managed two of their diving programs (which were in the top three largest university diving programs in the country, as well as being award-winning). For the last 14 years he’s directed the Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving Program, a PADI Educational Institution, where he uses PADI programs and materials for their recreational courses, academic courses and scuba club.
“Over the years, I’ve consulted with so many dive pros who wanted to teach at their local college or university and got their proposals rejected,” says Clark. “When I would look at their proposals I would say ‘no wonder it got rejected.’ You see, as dive pros we’re really good at dive training and know it well, however most pros have no idea how a university works.” This is where the design of what programs you offer must fit campus life, and your proposals must align with university administrators’ missions, values and operations. “That’s why I put so much emphasis and how-to knowledge on these areas in my course,” states Clark.
In The Campus Edge course, Clark teaches PADI Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Divemasters and dive-center owners how to 1. Design, 2. Propose, 3. Operate and 4. Promote these three dive programming areas at colleges and universities:
- Scuba Clubs
- Recreational Courses (not for college credits, no grades given)
- Academic Courses (for college credits, grades given)
Plus, there are three bonus chapters that offer more strategies to get your foot in the door on campuses:
- Scientific Diving Support
- Assisting Professors With Field Trips
- Leasing Pools on Campuses
The course even comes with customizable templates for a Scuba Club Policies and Procedures Manual and an “Academic Course Syllabus” for a 15-week, three-credit hour scuba course. The Campus Edge is available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch and Italian.
You also receive a free, one-hour consultation with Clark to go over your specific needs to get into colleges and universities near you. Before your consultation, Clark will research the colleges or universities you wish to work with and will help you find the right department and people to make your proposal to, as well as guide you in the best programing choices for that institution. Even if you know all that already (as he teaches in the course), Clark can help prepare your pitch to university administrators, risk managers and attorneys – the decision makers.
The Campus Edge and one-hour consultation is only USD $297. However, PADI Members receive a special 10 percent off discount using this link. No other program can help you get into the college and university market as well as “The Campus Edge” online course.
