2009 PADI DEMA Specials

PADI has just released its 2009 DEMA specials
7% off all materials

Everything? Yes, everything... except PICs & EFR PICs.

We also have specially-priced packages on our new products
(7% discount does not apply to packages)

Public Safety Diver materials - $45
(includes all related materials: instructor guide, lesson guide CD-ROM and patch)

Enriched Air Diver Update Package - $126.50
(equivalent to level two pricing)
Includes one each of:
The new Nitrox manual
New DVD
New PLGs,
Instructions for use booklet (if teaching with tables)
New Nitrox exam
and the new instructor guide.

This EANx package is a pre-order. The products will not ship until December 2009.

We also have two Tec packages. Both are priced with a level two discount. Please review the PADI DEMA promo .pdf for specific package inclusions. Read more about PADI's updated Tec programs and related materials.

- TecRec Update (includes revised instructor-level materials) $130
- Tec Crossover (includes Tec Deep student kit and revised Instructor-level materials) $178.40

Both Tec packages are also a pre-order. Expected ship date: mid-late November 2009.

Other Items to Consider....
(email subscribers may need to click through to view images)

Limited-edition PADI swag:

including a PADI tumbler and metal water bottle.

Save 7% on updating your DSD flip chart or cue card (there's a mandatory DSD materials update for 2010)
 

The new Advanced Open Water crewpak
Created in response to member feedback, the new student crewpak includes a safety sausage and whistle in addition to the AOW manual.

Emergency Oxygen Provider is an important skill in your student diver's toolbox. It integrates well with a Rescue course and counts toward a Master Scuba Diver rating. The Emergency O2 specialty takes about two hours from start to finish and may be conducted in lieu of exercise nine in a Rescue Diver course.

If this economy has taught me anything it's the need to diversify...
Chances are: a business just around the corner from you needs CPR training for their employees - and EFR materials are also discounted 7% right now. EFR programs are accredited throughout our region and with national organizations such as Girl Scouts USA, the Boy Scouts of America and the US Coast Guard. EFR programs also meet Federal OSHA guidelines.

The oh-so-fine print...

The special offers for DEMA are valid from 30 Oct - 9 Nov 2009 and not available through our online shopping cart. To purchase PADI materials using the DEMA discount, call us at: 800 729 7234. You don't have to attend the show to take advantage of the promo. DEMA specials may not be combined with any other special offer.

Download the 2009 DEMA Specials .pdf

View PADI's Program Schedule at DEMA

PADI and Boy Scouts of America Scuba Diving Merit Badge

Boy Scouts and adventure have always been synonymous. By 2010, Scouts who want to explore the underwater world can earn a scuba diving merit badge.

Before we go any farther, there's something I have to disclose: I was a Campfire girl, so, in this article I'll be faking my way through Boy Scout-ese. For those of you who were scouts, my apologies if I flub some of the terminology.



Completion of PADI's Open Water course is one of six steps for a scout to earn a scuba diving merit badge. Most of these steps the scout will complete with their merit badge counselor, but in case you're curious here are all six:

#1 - First aid for diving-related illnesses and injuries
#2 - Swimming merit badge
#3 - Discuss scuba diver's code
#4 - Open Water certification
#5 - Discuss the underwater ecosystem
#6 - Research scuba diving occupations and what experience is needed for each

Read a detailed description of the SCUBA merit badge requirements from the BSA's website.

Each scout will need a set of standard PADI Open Water materials, or they can enroll in eLearning (min. age: 10). Additionally, they will purchase a scuba diving merit badge booklet from their Boy Scout Council Store.

Read the Boy Scouts of America brochure describing the new Scuba Merit Badge.

To find out if there is a Boy Scout troop near you, use the troop locator on scouting.org. You can also read our overview about becoming a merit badge counselor. You don't have to become a merit badge counselor to certify scouts, however, it can be beneficial.

Before making contact with your local council or troop you should be ready to answer the following questions:

Will you offer a private class just for the scouts?
Can parents be in the class too?
Will you offer a group rate?
What about a special rate for troup leaders who want to continue through Divemaster?
What is your policy if a scout misses a class/pool session?
Do you have special mouthpieces for boys with braces?
What is your experience working with young people?



Something else to consider: Boy Scout groups often need to do fund-raising. 

Your scuba-fied scouts can be great ambassadors for your business. Create Discover Scuba Diving vouchers and have the scouts sell them and share in the income. Read our complete write up on the discover scuba fundraising idea.

Read PADI's official announcement about our partnership with the BSA.

2010 PADI Specialty of the Month calendar

The 2010 Specialty of the Month schedule has been released. It's similar to last year's calendar, but Enriched Air is the new Specialty of the Year. I don't know what the prizes will be yet, but I imagine we'll see the popular Specialty of the Month prizes from 2009 come back.

(email subscribers click through to view 2010 Specialty of the Month calendar flyer)

January: Enriched Air Diver

February: Boat Diver

March: Drift Diver

April: Digital Underwater Photographer

May: Dry Suit Diver

June: Peak Performance Buoyancy

July: Deep Diver

August: Wreck Diver

September: Project AWARE

October: Night Diver

November: Underwater Navigator

December: Search and Recovery

PADI IRRA Members: call me (or your regional sales rep) for a free Specialty of the Month display. The three-sided display can be hung on a wall or assembled into a rotating counter-top display. The product comes with interchangeable graphics and two hooks for displaying related specialty merchandise such as secondary lights or Fish ID cards.

Short-Staffed

If you've spent an extra-long time on hold this week, blame H1N1! There are so many people out of the office right now. I think every department has at least one person out sick, and there's a lot of hacking going on around me.

So far I've been lucky. I hope the extra vitamin C I've been taking will help fend off this virus - and whatever crud comes back from DEMA.

5 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays

Every year it seems like Christmas starts earlier and earlier. Costco and Home Depot are already selling cards and decorations. It's nuts, right? 

Still, the holiday hoopla must make financial sense or they wouldn't keep doing it. After all, the average family spends $800-$1000 during the holiday season.

While you won't find me decking the halls any time soon, I will start posting some holiday marketing ideas. Here are a few ways you can prep for the greatest shopping season of them all:

DSD : Discover Santa Diving

Host an underwater photo shoot with Santa for your customer's holiday cards. It's a fun activity and a great marketing tool.

Every diver who uses that photo on a holiday card or in their online profile promotes scuba to non-diving friends and family members. The hardest part - convincing the rookie divemaster to don the santa suit. Hey, we all have to pay our dues.

Develop a Message for Online Shoppers
A recent poll reported on CNBC said 17% more people plan to shop online this year. Not only that - the average US internet user spent 68 hours online last month. They're out there... millions of them... looking for that perfect gift.

What will holiday shoppers / travelers find on your website?

Review the DSD-During-Confined-Water program (retailers)
Though not specific to the holidays, the Bring-A-Friend-to-Confined-Water philosophy has increased open water sign-ups 20-60% for participating stores. Call me for additional details and promotional materials...

Warm and Fuzzies

Whether it's recognizing hard-working staff members, or fundraising for a good cause, the holidays are also a time for giving.

Tie a Charity Donation to Each Purchase
To give customers a feel-good reason for spending their gift-giving dollars with you, tie a charity to each purchase. For example, "for every $100 purchase we'll donate $10 to XYZ charity" (such as Project AWARE).

Create a Giving Tree 
Decorate the tree with paper or glass ornaments tagged with a prize or discount.  Invite customers to bring in five cans of food in exchange for selecting an ornament off the tree.

Making a List - Checking it Twice
For staff "thank you" gifts, we have some items on sale (see below).

• PADI's popular laptop backpack is on sale for $15/each when you buy ten or more.
• PADI hats are also on sale for $9.50/each (plain, divemaster, or instructor).

(email subscribers, please click through to view the promo above)

2010 PADI IE Instructor Examination Dates

2010 PADI IE Schedule
(west coast and central pacific dates)

January
16-17 Salt Lake City

February
13-14 Honolulu, HI
13-14 Orange County, CA
16-17 Kona, HI

March
20-21 Salt Lake City, UT
27-28 Tacoma, WA
27-28 Okinawa, JAPAN
31 Mar - 1 Apr Guam

April
10-11 Sechelt, BC CANADA
17-18 Orange County, CA

May
8-9 Monterey, CA
15-16 Honolulu, HI
18-19 Lahaina, HI
21-22 Kona, HI
22-23 Salt Lake City, UT

June
12-13 Orange County, CA
14-15 Kelowna, BC CANADA
19-20 Seattle, WA
19-20 Vancouver BC, CANADA

July
10-11 Salt Lake City, UT
17- 18 Honolulu, HI
31 July - 1 Aug Guam - new!
31 July - 1 Aug Orange County, CA

August
7 - 8 Aug Okinawa, JAPAN (TBD)

September
11-12 Monterey, CA
11-12 Tacoma, WA
18-19 Salt Lake City, UT
18-19 Orange County, CA
25-26 Honolulu, HI
28-29 Lahaina, HI

October
1-2 Kona, HI
16-17 Okinawa, JAPAN
20-21 Guam

November
6-7 Orange County, CA
13-14 Vancouver, BC CANADA

December
4-5 Honolulu, HI
11-12 Seattle, WA
14-15 Kelowna, BC, CANADA
18-19 Orange County, CA

The timeframe of the IE may vary depending on location, logistics and number of candidates. PADI reserves the right to cancel, reschedule or relocate IEs as staffing, logistics and enrollment require.

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PADI Public Safety Diver Materials Available for Pre-Order

PADI's Public Safety Diver program will launch in a few weeks. There's a specially-priced Instructor Start-Up Package including all the new materials available for pre-order.

Public Safety Diver Instructor Start-Up Package

Cost: $45 (flat rate, no additional discounts apply)
Includes: Instructor Guide, Lesson Guide CD-ROM and PADI Public Safety Diver emblem

The new package includes all the Public Safety Diver materials we've developed so far. There are no student materials at this time.

We anticipate the Public Safety Diver materials will start shipping around DEMA time. This package is not available online. Please call or email your order and ask for part number: 82345.

Read more about PADI's Public Safety Diver program (including instructor requirements and information on our 2009 DEMA seminar).

Kelp Forest Stamps

Buy From USPS.com

I know this is really nerdy but the US Post Office just released kelp forest stamps and I think it's kinda cool. The person opening my gas bill probably won't care, but you never know...

For the creatively inclined - Zazzle.com allows you to upload your own artwork and make custom postage stamps: $21.35 for a set of 20 x 44 cent stamps. There are a couple diver ones out there you can buy - including the classic dive flag.

New PADI Tec Diving Materials - TecRec 40, 45 and 50 - Now Available

Only the instructor-level products have been revised.

Any student-level materials you may have on-hand are still current.

NEW ITEMS

Tec Diver Course Instructor Guide
(includes newly-revised instructor guide and instructor appendix CD-ROM)
- replaces 70407 Tec Deep Inst. Guide

Product no 70605

Tec 40-45-50 Instructor Slates Set 
Newly-revised 19 slate set, coil-bound and printed on "wet notes."
- replaces 60204 Tec Deep Inst. Cue Cards
Product no. 60420

Tec Diver Course Lesson Guides CD-ROM

- replaces 70838 Tec Deep Lesson Guides
Product no 70913 

Tec Trimix Instructor Guide
(includes instructor guide and tec trimix 65 addendum)
If you already own the Tec Trimix Instructor Guide, please contact PADI Training regarding the revisions: 800 729 7234 ext. 2540.
Product no 70430

EXAMS

Tec 40 student exam (product no 71040)
Tec 45 student exam (product no 71045)
Tec 50 student exam (product no 71050)

Blank answer sheets and answer keys are in the Tec Diver Instructor Guide and will be available soon on the PADI Pros site.


Instructor-level exams have changed. If you are a TecRec Instructor Trainer (course director) please call PADI training for details. 800 729 7234 ext. 2540.

UN-CHANGED ITEMS

None of the student materials have changed for any of the courses. In other words, whatever student materials you have in stock are current.

No changes to the Equipment Set-Up DVD.

Gas Blender
None of the Gas Blender materials have changed.We put the instructor guide in a new binder so it would match the other guides, but that's it.

Tec Trimix
There have been a few changes to the Tec Trimix instructor guide. Please contact PADI Training for details (800 729 7234 ext. 2540 or trainingXpadi.com).

• Students use the Tec Trimix student exam for "Tec 65."
• Instructors continue to use the same Trimix Lesson Guides.

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DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, I am not  a tec diver. 

Those scrawny arms (pictured left) are no good for hurfing doubles. So I apologize, but to better assist with answering questions about our new Tec program, please contact the training department: 800 729 7234

Kelly ext. 2240
LeRoy ext. 2336
or Steve Mortell ext. 2445


You can also visit the DSAT Chat Tec Blog for lots of good info.

I'm attending a briefing from Tec guru Steve Mortell next Tuesday and after that I'll be a little more up-to-speed.

Google - Now In Hawaiian

This is not a joke... you can now Google search in Hawaiian.



Read the complete story on Hawaiian Google on CNN.com.

Mahalo!