Errata for EFR Student Manuals Explaining New ILCOR Guidelines

(new link - updated 9 May 2011)
 
A two page errata with the new AHA/ILCOR guidelines is now shippnig with our EFR student manuals. For additional copies of this document, please visit the Training Essentials Menu of the PADI Pro's Site. Or download the EFR 2011 AHA ILCOR Errata.pdf here.

If the link above doesn't work, you may need to login to the PADI Pro's Site first. Then try clicking the link again.

For more information on how to apply the new guidelines into your EFR course, please read our article FAQ Incorporating New ILCOR Guidelines.

We anticipate updated copies of the student manuals will ship in late summer or early fall 2011. Please stay tuned to PADI Instructor News for future announcements about this product.

New PIC Online Tool for PADI Stores

Sub-User Accounts Now Available for  PIC Online

March 2010 - PADI launches PIC online for individual members.

October 2010 PIC online vailable for purchase from the online shopping cart.

April 2011 - dive centers can create up to three "sub-users" for PIC online.

The sub-user accounts allow employees to punch in PIC online without having access to everything on the dive center's PADI Pro's Site. Three delegates are available per store account.

Here's How to Get Started

• Log in to the PADI Pro's Site as the store
• Choose My Account from the main menu.
• Scroll to the bottom of the My Account screen 
• Choose  "Administrator Delegate Function"
• Accept the Terms of Use

Add a New User

• On the Add/Delete Users page, click "Add New User"
• Input the new user information (the person does not have to be a PADI Member)
• There is a limit of three sub-users. You can deactivate an account if an employee leaves and create a new one.

Test the New User Account
Log out of the PADI Pro's Site
Log back in as sub-user to test the new account.

Once logged in as the sub-user, the only menu item available will be PIC Online (email subscribers may need to click through to see screengrabs above).

Important info:

• Sub-users cannot purchase PIC online from the Pro's Site because they don't have access to the online shopping cart.
  
• Please use only Internet Explorer or Firefox when interacting with PADI's websites. Our technology is not optimized to work with Google Chrome, Apple's iPad, etc.

5 Ways to Improve your Facebook Page

5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Facebook Page

15 Minute Marketing Idea #12

Why should you care about Facebook?
If you bought a billboard would you pay for one on a old highway? Or would you buy a billboard on the interstate? Adults, especially those 34 and younger are flocking away from the old email highway and towards social media sites such as Facebook (see graph below).

The average US internet user spends 38 minutes per day using Facebook - this includes adults of all ages.

As communication habits change, you have to go where the eyeballs are.


I have a Facebook page, so I'm good, right?
The ideas below can help you boost your number of FB fans and help retain and engage the followers you already have.

First let's take a look at why people stop following a business on Facebook.  This gives us an idea of what FB users' expectations are. Email subscribers may need to click through to view the graphic below.

Information and graphic above from Dreamgrow.com

Idea #1 - Tasty Content
One of the top reasons for un-liking (38%) was "the content was repetitive or boring over time." People use Facebook because they want to have fun and be entertained. To that end, here are some ideas for fun and engaging content:



On Your Wall
Two PADI members are use fun fish facts on their Facebook wall:

• Ocean First Divers (Colorado) - Fish of the Day
  
• Pacific Wilderness (California) -  Mystery Fish  FB fans are challenged to guess what  the mystery fish is.

Ask a Facebook Question....
In the same spot where you'd post a status update, you can ask a question or create a poll.

For example:

• What type of fins are better: blades or split?
• To our female divers: how do you feel about pink dive gear for women?
• What is the most useful specialty to have?

#2 Always write back
If a customer takes the time to engage you by someone writes on your wall, or posts a picture, acknowledge them with a friendly reply. It seems obvious, but not everyone does this.

#3 Offer a Facebook-exclusive promo
Facebook users expect special deals for "Liking" you on Facebook. Here are some promo ideas to maintain their loyalty:

2011 Unlimited air fill card for $200

"Unlimited" sounds scary to a business owner, but studies show consumers vastly over-estimate how much they'll use something that's unlimited. Curb your risk by offering this to the "first 10 callers - limit one per person"

Are you (or your gear) in need of a Tune Up?
Like us on Facebook and get 2-for-1 scuba review or regulator service. Invite your friends to "Like" us for a 2-for-1 Discover Scuba Pool Experience.

June special - Enriched Air Class $99 with 10 sign-ups

Run a Groupon-style promotion among your Faceboook fans. Using the example above, if 10 people sign up and provide their credit card information, the deal is "on" and the discount stands. Use your Facebook wall to post updated on how many more sign ups are needed to tip the deal.

Useful Info:
When you're ready to run a promo, here are some directions how to create a promotional landing page.


#4 Add an enewsletter sign-up link
Give FB users the option to join your email list. Constant Contact and Mail Chimp have free FB apps that add an enewsletter sign-up link to your page.


#5 Try Facebook ads
May social media experts argue that  Facebook ads are more effective than Google ads due to their ability to micro target. Google recently released a try-Google-ads-free offer, so maybe there's some meat to that statement?

For an interesting discussion of Facebook ads, and how to get 40,000 Facebook fans in 4 Days, check out this article about Weekly World News (Bat Boy Lives!!!!)

---

Is Your Facebook Account at Risk to be Deleted?

Some saavy folks in our industry have identified a rampant problem. Many dive businesses have set up Facebook Profiles rather than Facebook Pages.

If you are using a Facebook Profile for your business, you are in violation of Facebook's Terms of Service Agreement. Your account could be deleted without warning and it means all your Friend contacts will be lost. There's a simple way to tell whether your business has a page or a profile

At the top of your Facebook page next to your name does it say "Add as Friend" or "Like"?

• If it says "Like" then you're in good shape. 
• If it says "Add as Friend," you've got a profile, not a page.
  Use Facebook's online tool to migrate your profile to a page.

Read more about the difference between Profiles and Pages and why Pages are much better for businesses.

Ready for More? Next Wed morning, May 4th, PADI is hosting a free webinar on how to utilize Social Media to attract and retain customers. To sign up, contact your PADI Americas sales rep or regional manager.

---
This is the twelfth article in a series.
Read another 15 Minute Marketing Idea -  Using Your About Us Page to Attract New Customers.

Scuba Job for PADI Instructor on Catalina Island

Wanted: Experienced PADI Scuba Instructor with Managerial Experience 

Catalina Divers Supply is looking for a seasoned PADI Instructor with managerial experience in the daily operations of a dive shop and charter.

The instructor must be proficient in PADI standards and procedures, have cold water diving experience and be able to inspire staff to work independently and as a team. Experience in booking charters, boat handling, compressor maintenance and scuba equipment technician certification is mandatory for consideration for employment.

If interested, please email your cover letter, resume and photo to chris at catalinadiverssupply dot com along with the following information:

• PADI Instructor number
• Number of certifications
• Total number of dives
• Brands and type of all equipment owned
• Experience instructing in Southern California
• Documented and proven experience in managing the daily operations of a dive shop and charter
• Availability
• Salary requirements
• Eligibility to work in the United States

Emails not including this information will not be considered for employment. Thank you in advance for your interest. Please email your cover letter, resume and requested details in the body of an email to

Chris McGinn
General Manager
Catalina Divers Supply
310-510-0330
chris at catalinadiverssupply dot com

Richard Branson Launches Virgin Oceanic

Bajillionaire Richard Branson has launched a new endeavor - Virgin Oceanic. From the official website:

from virginoceanic.com

Virgin believes that the Oceans offer exciting possibilities for human exploration and scientific research. Our vision through Virgin Oceanic is to explore the possibilities of enabling adventurers and pioneers to participate in oceanic exploration.


If we are successful in our mission with this innovative design of submarine, then we will have proven that a vehicle can be built to withstand the extreme pressures of the oceans and that it is possible 
to take humans at far reduced risks to the bottom of our Oceans.

Watch an interview with Sir Richard Branson explaining the mission of Virgin Oceanic.

Watch a video with some (occasionally silly) footage of what the sub might look like. Email subscribers may need to click through to view the video below.




Now that NASA has killed the shuttle program, maybe youngsters will dream of becoming aquanauts instead of cosmonauts?

Last Chance to Vote in Our 2011 Reader Poll

The 2011 reader survey will close at the end of this month. Please take a moment to put your two cents in (it's only 10 questions).

We've got a couple of hot topics:

#1 Should I send out dispatches more than once a week (with shorter content) or should I keep things how they are now?

Right now 68% says keep things the way they are now - email dispatches no more than once a week.

#2 What would you like to read about in the future?

• 70% of you would like more teaching tips. 
• Approx 1 in 5 people want fewer marketing ideas

Jump in and cast your vote here - 2011 PADI Instructor News Reader Survey.

Scuba Merit Badge Free Online Program

If a Boy Scout Troop Leader asked, "can you help my troop earn the scuba merit badge?"

...are you prepared to answer?

If you're a PADI Dive Center or Resort interested in more information about the Boy Scout Scuba Merit Badge program, join us next Wednesday, April 13th from 7-8am for a free webinar.

You'll hear from PADI retailers who have successfully implemented a BSA program. Topics include:

• Approaching Boy Scout Troops in your area
• Attending Round Table meetings
• Conducting a Scuba Jam 
• ... and your questions!

The program is for PADI IRRA Members only; please contact your sales rep or regional manager for information on how to sign up.

Please review our earlier article about the new SCUBA Merit Badge. There are six things a Scout must do to earn the badge (certification is step four). The article will also give you information on how to become a Scuba Merit Badge Counselor.

Design Your Own Boardshorts

Ever taken a photo and thought, this would look really bitchin' on some boardshorts?

Okay, me neither. But since I read about Short-O-Matic, the idea has been on my mind. The California design shop allows you to upload an image and have it printed on "robust polyester microfibre" shorts.

You could make garibaldi shorts, shorts with your dive center logo, or just use your arse as billboard space for "www.mydivecenter.com." In case you're wondering, the starting price is $99. Hey, they're one of a kind shorts. Also, a portion of the proceeds are donated to Global Green USA.

There are a ton of underwater images already available (see above). They offer men's and women's sizing. Email subscribers may need to click through to view images.

Ladies, for other fun and custom swimsuit options, check out my write up on Splish.com.

----

If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe to receive updates by email or RSS (MyYahoo, iGoogle, etc).

See you this weekend in Tacoma, WA

If you're a PADI Instructor News reader in the Great Pacific Northwest, come by and say hello at the NW Dive and Travel Expo this weekend (Apr 9 and 10). We'll be in booth number 625.

PADI Diving Society members* receive a discount on admission with our Dive and Travel Expo 2011 admission coupon, along with a current PADI Diving Society membership card and photo ID. If you are not a PADI Diving Society member, join today!

Read the official PADI email invitation here. Read more about the 50+ seminars, treasure hunt and other good stuff at the Dive and Travel Expo's website.


* If you're a PADI Pro registered with the PADI Americas Office, you're automatically a member of PADI Diving Society. Please be sure you have your PADI Diving Society card, however (as opposed to your Pro card).