The Dive Locker Podcast Archives - Page 18 of 32

073 Hands Off! Never Do For Students What Students Can Do For Themselves

In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we explore the dive pro rule never do for students what students can do for themselves.

Welcome To The Show!

Welcome to The Dive Locker Podcast, the podcast for dive professionals where we bring you the latest in diving industry resources that make you excellent at teaching techniques, risk management and dive business.

And welcome to the show everyone. Today I’m gonna share one of my favorite personal rules of being a dive pro. It is the motto “never do for students what students can do for themselves.” This is similar to a hands-off policy. Some dive centers tell their employees to avoid touching students as much as possible – well my rule covers those common reasons and more. So we’re going to dig in to how this rule actually will make you a better dive professional and it will make your students and clients, better divers.

Okay when you teach and supervise by this rule a whole new experience opens up for you and your students. It’s called empowerment. Here’s how it works. Let’s say your standing in shallow water teaching students how to put on the scuba unit at the surface. A student put on her BC and her shoulder strap is twisted.

Now there is a tendency of many dive pro’s to help the student by untwisting it for her. EEEHHH The pro has just removed the ability for the student to solve her own problem by doing it himself. Now, when this is done numerous times, the pro has now diminished the training experience by repeatedly stepping in when the student could have been taught to fix the situations themselves.

So aren’t we issuing certifications because we feel comfortable and confident that the diver can be a good, safe and responsible diver? Yes, that’s why I sleep good at night.

Four Areas to Consider

Let’s break this down into some areas of consideration here.

skill development

psychological development

personal space

buddies

emergencies

Emergencies

I’m gonna start with emergencies. Look if you need to put your hands on a student because there is imminent harm to your student or diver, then do it. If you see your student floating uncontrollably to the surface you don’t just point to their inflator with some hand signals and hope they resolve it. No! In that situation obviously you need to make contact. So whenever the student or diver is clearly in a situation where harm is potential – by all means go hands on and correct the situation. Right? Okay, enough said about emergency situations.

Skill Development

Let’s look at skill development. In my scenario with the BC strap, instead of doing it for the student, just simply point out the problem and let the student correct it. If you’re out of the water you can talk them through it. Or if underwater, get their attention, point out the problem then hand signal the solution.

Or, give them the stop signal and watch you signal, then you demonstrate how to correct the problem. I do that quite a bit. And guess what after the in water session I debrief and talk about how great he or she did with stopping, breathing and figuring out the problem. Sound familiar? It is because it is in most training agency course materials.

So what are we talking about? Everything. Obviously everything non safety threatening. But, undone straps, or buckles, twisted hoses, octopus coming out of configuration, hair in masks, weight pouch replacement, tons of things where YOU could easily solve the situation – but – so can they.

Remember, they will be a better diver if you’re not groveling all over them and helping them with every issue. Let them do what what it takes to problem solve. They will be better divers in the long run for it. Otherwise you’re creating divers who are dependent on dive supervisors – uh no – that’s not what we want out of divers.

Buddies

We also have buddies to consider here. As you know, sometimes we see one buddy who is overzealous in “assisting” the other buddy. This is often a parent child or a husband wife, boyfriend girlfriend, and much of the time it’s the guy doing everything for the girl. That’s not me being sexist that’s what we all see – I can hear you nodding your head right now.

So in this we also have the opportunity for buddies to adopt this same mantra and that they don’t have to rush in and save the day unless it’s an emergency. They too learn to point out a problem to their buddy and let the other diver resolve it. Now everyone’s on the same page. Also, when talking can take place teach your buddies to ask the other buddy if they want help. Simple as that.

Let’s say one buddy puts the BC on but the cummerbund was velcroed and its behind the back. You’ve seen this before, now that buddy is struggling to get the velcro undone and back to the front. Well, the other buddy could say to him – Hey your cummerbund is behind your back, that might be tricky to get. Reach back and … blah blah blah, if the other buddy gets it great, he just saved the day. However if not, then this buddy can ask Would you like me to help you? Then he can say yes or no to the help.

Personal Space

If the buddy says no, that could be because he wants to work it out himself OR the buddy may have an issue with our next point – personal space. What we must remember is that our life support equipment in diving is worn on the torso and most of the component parts are on the front of the torso. This is a very vulnerable area for most people and when you add the inability to explain ones actions underwater. Also with the limited field of vision wearing a mask, it’s quite unsettling when someone rushes in and starts touching and grabbing in this area.

Now add to that with girls and women – the breasts are a particularly sensitive area – i mean culturally, yes physically too, but you get what Im saying. And when dive pro’s or buddies start playing with houses and straps in that region of the chest it can be very uncomfortable for a woman – even when wearing a wetsuit or drysuit.

For this reason when I have to perform the CESA drill I am very open and communicative about how my left hand will come under the right shoulder strap of the student. I tell that to the whole class, and then I remind the person of that before we do the actual skill. This puts your divers at ease with all the announcing and accountability for where exactly my hand will go.

Psychological Development

And finally let’s consider that this rule helps in the psychological development of divers. First, technology and techniques are the only things keeping divers alive underwater. So when there is a minor problem, the mind recognizes this and it seems the deeper the diver is underwater, the mind perceives a greater threat when a problem arises.

So, if in your class you repeatedly stay hands off and let the diver solve his or her problems, then that diver has been enabled to play into his or her situations and gives them greater skills and confidence when the need arises. Brilliant isn’t it? This works folks. I have watched students do their equipment removal and replacement underwater and in neutral buoyancy – because that is how I teach it – then they have an issue with the reg, a hose, a strap, and they just simply stay neutral, slow down, and work it out. I’m right there ready if they get into an issue but I’m so impressed with how they respond because I never do for the student what the student can do for himself or herself.

Episode Sponsor

If you find this show adds value to you as a dive pro and you’d like to help support the show, please consider supporting it on Patreon. It’s only $4 per month – that’s only $1 per episode. When you become a supporter of The Dive Locker you’ll get a shout out from me on the next episode after you join. You will also be listed on the Patrons of Dive Locker Podcast webpage. And you will receive 10% off any ScubaGuru Academy course at the Patron level, and 20% off at the Rockstar level. And of course my undying appreciation for helping support the show.

Thanks For Listening!

That’s it for today, everyone. Thank you so much for listening. Remember to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher, that way you’ll be notified of new episodes as soon as they go live and please leave a rating. Items talked about in this episode can be found on the show notes Page at scubaguru.com . There you can also click the microphone and leave us a comment. Thanks again. We’ll see you in the next episode. Safe diving and take good care of my friends.

Podcast (thedivelocker): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

072 How To Be A Power Influencer

By Tec Clark Leave a Comment

In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we explore the four attributes of being a power influencer.

Welcome To The Show!

So today we explore how to be a power influencer. Now what is a power influencer – well my definition is a little different than societies. First, let me tell you what my definition is not – the term influencer has popped up recently mostly in the social media space. YouTubers, Instagram, Twitter have been platforms for people to emerge as influencers – those that have a substantial following. Not talking about that. Nor do I mean power influencers are people of power. Sure they CAN be, but there are far more no-name people being true influencers every minute of every day, than there are people with power to their names.

My definition of a power influencer is someone who possesses the strong ability to make positive change in others. This works in life and in your scuba profession. Are you interested in having more students in your classes? Or selling more gear, or having more group sales for your trips and travel? If so, you need to be a power influencer. So today I’m gonna share my four attributes for you to be a power influencer.

Four Attributes of Power Influencers

Okay so step one of becoming a power influencer is you have to have expertise. Now, expertise is pretty easy actually if you think about it as a dive professional you’re holding a rating that’s a dive master or higher. So think of this, anybody that is a lower level rating, especially beginners or non divers, they’re looking at you in this huge area of expertise. Because they know how much training or certifications you had to go to to get that level. So that makes you automatically an expert in your area.

The second area that you’re gonna need is experience. Experience, now if you wanna be a free diving instructor great, but you better have what it takes to be that. That means you gotta have the experience. You need to be talking abut the masks, the fins, the locations you’ve been to. It doesn’t matter if its free diving, if its technical diving, whatever it is, you need to bring to the table your experience. So that you can tell the stories, that you can do the dialogue of what works, what didn’t work for you, what went right, what went wrong, what you like, what you don’t like. That’s all a part of your experience, and that is also necessary to be a power influencer.

The third area to be a power influencer is going to be encouragement. You have to be an encourager, and that means somebody that is absolutely giving, giving, giving all the time encouragement. Telling people what they’re doing great, telling people where they can go next, how to improve. Always encouraging pushing someone to the next level in a responsible, caring manner that really shows that you want them to succeed. Remember encouragement is free. Give it freely, and consider what life would be like without it.

And the fourth area to be a power influencer, is going to be engagement, you have to be present. You have to engage with people. Now that can be in person, it can even be social, virtual. You need to be present to be a part of dialogues, to be a part of peoples lives and part of their stories. You have to engage with people so that they know you, so that you have a relationship, and so that you connect with them.

Be An Influencer

By the way, many talk about how videos have replaced the instructor in the classroom and how that lessens bonding and relationship building. Well think about this, videos and social media – that is part of our life folks. So I encourage you to be really creative on how you engage regularly with people. Not mass emails, but personal emails, personal phone calls, personal texts, invitations to coffee, tea or beer. Engage and encourage are the two top areas to be a power influencer.

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Podcast (thedivelocker): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

071 To Teach Dive Tables Or Not?

By Tec Clark Leave a Comment

In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we explore whether dive pro’s should teach dive tables or not.

Welcome To The Show!

As you know our industry is full of debates, well one of them is whether or not to teach dive tables. Some say computers have replaced them and some say what if you need them when your computer fails. Good arguments from both positions.

So I’m gonna break down these arguments, throw in some other considerations for good measure, and that way you’ll be as informed as possible on the issue and the sides. And hopefully when you climb up on your soapbox to defend your position you won’t fall off and die on your sword.

Pro’s and Con’s – Or Are There?

To teach or not to teach that is the question. Okay so many old school instructors learned on dive tables, they understand them, know how to use and teach them. Then computers come along and wow… a whole new world of dive planning opens up. Awesome. Now on the flip side there is a whole lot of newer instructors who don’t have the same background and experience. In fact the only time they ever saw a dive table was in their Divemaster course. So to them tables are a burden and computers are the way to go.

The problem is is that both sides point to the other and defend their points but often these points are caustic and accusatory. When you sit in enough seminars, hang around enough instructors and read enough dive forums and blogs you see that it can be contentious. Look there’s enough divide in this world let’s not bring tables into the world of debate!

Looking Openly

So let’s look at this from a few angles. First, let’s point out that it is clear the industry is moving away from teaching and using dive tables. In fact, there are agencies who don’t teach them at all, at any level. The number one argument against dive tables is that the dive computer is a vastly superior product for dive planning and execution. And that is a true statement. It allows for real time measurements, it automatically calculates contingencies for changes in the planned dive profile, it records, it graphs, it guides through safety stops or deco stops, it alerts ascent rates and it can even change algorithms in conservativeness.

That by far is superior to the dive tables and their square profiles that are only calculated by the deepest depth, rounding times and depths up and down, and having rules in fine print that no one can read underwater! They are very restrictive to bottom times and frankly they are challenging to use and students often forget how to use them. Okay, so we get the point.

But consider this. Why would the world’s largest dive training agency PADI require Divemasters and Instructors to know how to use them? Hmm. Is it because PADI has tens of thousands of plastic Recreational Dive Planners in their warehouse and they need to get rid of them? There are some of you out there that actually think that by the way. Well it’s actually more transparent than that. They are the agency the produces the most Divemasters in the world and they are also the agency that is in the most dive resorts and charters in the world. And that is where the dive tables still have legs.

In consulting with divemasters and boat captains for this episode that perform charter dive trips, it is clear they use dive tables often. What happens is many tourist destinations see the divers just renting equipment, and thus no computers are on the rental package. So the boat crew actually assists in the dive plan. This is mostly with Open Water and Advanced tourist.

Usually however, the regulars and local divers all have computers. And also of course when there is a technical dive charter everyone is on computers and even backup computers. But there still remains a need to plan a dive or two or more using dive tables when the divers only have a watch and depth gauge. This is a common occurrence on charters in tourist spots.

The other common occurrence is when those who own computers forget them, they malfunction or the battery indicates low power. These are very real occurrences – so now what? Does the diver actually not dive? Waste all that money and sit out? Nope, that’s when the tables come out. And the person either knows how to use them or not. And in many cases they don’t. So, here comes the divemaster and saves the day by showing them how long they can safely stay down per the tables.

Again, this is were the tables are being used in our industry. The problem is the majority of Divemasters will never work on a dive boat in their whole career. So they can easily poo poo the need for knowing how to use dive tables.

What Is At Risk Not Teaching Tables?

Now here’s where it gets interesting. I was on a charter dive boat in Cozumel where I saw a buddy pair getting ready to dive. They both looked squared away as divers and they both had computers. Now out of the corner of my eye I saw the one diver fiddling with his computer and I heard him say the battery was dead. He then said well I’ll just use your computer and stay above you the whole dive.

Before I could go get the divemaster and ask him to intervene, he actually heard it too and discussed dive table protocols they should follow for the dives. He quickly pointed out using one computer for two divers is not a good practice. The diver responded with, well that’s what I was taught to do if my computer ever failed. And it was obvious that he never learned tables by the blank look on his face when the divemaster explained them.

Okay you got the scene in your head right? So again what is the alternative to dive if your dive computer goes out? What do you teach your divers to do? Not dive? Well that’s technically the correct answer, but do you think for a minute a diver is just going to become a bubble watcher because their computer failed or they forgot it? Heck no!

So here’s how this would go down if one of the divers got bent on that trip. A legal claim would be made – a lawsuit – that the instructor was negligent by telling the diver during a class that they can use one computer as long as the person without a computer stays above the diver with the computer. What takes place next in deposition is that instructor or even lets say this false information did not come from the instructor but the buddy heard it somewhere – now at the deposition the plaintiffs attorney asks “did you learn how to use dive computers in your training?”

The person answers yes. Okay you are a XYZ training agency diver, did you take your course online or by book? By book okay please read page 83 of XYZ’s Open Water Diver manual third paragraph down, bullet number five. “Each buddy in a team must have a separate computer. No two divers share the same dive profile, so each diver must have his or her own computer.”

Also, says the attorney, we noticed in our investigation that you dive with the ABC brand computer model 123, is that correct? Yes it is. Then can you please read for me the owners manual of that model on page 10 rule number 3? “Each buddy in a team must have a separate computer. No two divers share the same dive profile, so each diver must have his or her own computer.” Thank you. Of course an expert witness is in the wing salivating at the mouth to discuss why two divers can’t share one computer.

Folks with the absolute negativity towards using dive tables, divers don’t even know it’s an option. Now one could argue that a diver is totally responsible for their dive plan and if they break the rules so be it, liability should not fall on the professional that taught them or the professionals on the trip. The fact is if a pro willfully allows a violated procedure like this to occur they could be held liable because they did not intervene and prevent that bend hit.

Final Thoughts

Now you may be asking Tec are you saying we should teach our students dive tables as a CYA to a lawsuit? Not really, what I’m pointing to is the absolute indisputable rationale that dive tables are a better back up for failed or no computers, than sitting out a dive. Look if they learn it in class and then forget it, but the day comes that they need them, they can whip out the old thing and even hand it to the boat crew to ask for assistance planning their dive. Or by reading instructions they can re-learn it if their not on a supervised charter.

So for these reasons I teach both computers and tables to my students. Computers are the priority and the tables are the backup when needed, but they learn how to use both properly.

Now there’s also instructors who teach computers exclusively, but they use tables to show what it used to be like or to give a broader explanation of decompression theory. But if it stops there, then the diver never learns the backup and thus that same diver who goes on to be a dive pro doesn’t know tables at all – unless of course they are with agencies that make it mandatory to learn. Again this is one of the biggest reasons why the big kid on the block PADI is requiring tables to be learned at Divemaster and Instructor levels.

Plus I have yet to find a divemaster who says sorry I can’t help you plan your dive today, you’ll just have to sit out the dives. Come on.

As you can see, I’m biased towards teaching tables as an alternative to the computer and I’m posing thoughts for your consideration. Whether you teach them to your students or not that’s your call, but it is my professional opinion that especially dive pro’s should know how to use tables and not go around talking about how ancient and useless they are like figuring things out on abacuses and stone tablets. Give me a break. There is merit to knowing how to use them and to teaching them. While at the same time, champion promoting and selling dive computers as the primary and essential piece of dive planning equipment.

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Podcast (thedivelocker): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

070 15 Ways To Wow Your Customers

By Tec Clark Leave a Comment

In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we explore 15 ways to wow your diving customers.

Welcome To The Show!

Okay, it’s quiz time. You ready? Which is more important a new customer or an existing one? Its the existing one! Of course new customers are important but they are not AS important as the ones you have already. Check out some of these statistics:

Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing customer.
Increasing customer retention by 5% can increase profits from 25-95%.
The success rate of selling to a customer you already have is 60-70%, while the success rate of selling to a new customer is 5-20%.

Interesting huh? In fact one research firm discovered that loyal customers are 5x as likely to repurchase, 5x as likely to forgive, 4x as likely to refer, and 7x as likely to try a new offering.

So with this in mind how well are we doing at keeping customers? Often we do our thing and then move on – that could be a class, a sale of equipment, equipment servicing, a dive trip – whatever. Granted we have continuing education and upgrades in gear to keep fueling our existing customers, but there can and should be more to this relationship. And it involves giving.

You have heard the term wow your customer right? Well many of us try to wow our students or clients or customers with what we do and the services we offer. But hey, if we really think about it we do what we do – to a high level of excellence – and that’s it.

But if we take that relationship a little further by showing some customer appreciation well that can lead to the WOW factor, where your customers receive unexpected items or services from you. Then they speak your praises even louder. Friends a little investment in time, energy and/or expense to wow your existing customers has far greater returns than that investment.

So in this episode I’m gonna to share with you numerous ways that you can wow your customers. And remember we all have customers – whether you have a dive center, a dive boat, a resort, a liveaboard, or you’re an independent instructor or you teach at a university or an aquarium – you have customers. And that is why this is important.

Now, I’m adapting this from a fantastic worksheet by Ken Countess of The Countess Group. Ken and I did a couple sessions together for the DEMA virtual show last year and he is a great business consultant. You can get his full Wow my clients Worksheet at https://www.marketyourbusiness.co/wow-my-clients/ But I have taken many of his points and modified them for our industry. Okay here we go.

Items In This Episode

Send them a handwritten thank you note
Send them swag with your logo or inspirational message on it. Check out deeplydesigns.com
Within a few days of someone purchasing an item of gear from you, or after taking a course or a trip with you, give them a quick call or text to see how they like it, and thank them.
Send them a favorite food or snack
Send a book with a personal note
On location catered/cooked meal
Celebrate how long they have been a customer
Follow on social media and give a shout out
Featured diver on website
Make a donation to a charity on their behalf
Plant a coral on behalf of customer
Bricks pavers on new or old structures
Signage
Special shopping hours
Shirts water bottles at end of course

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Podcast (thedivelocker): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

069 Write Your New Chapter in 2021

By Tec Clark Leave a Comment

In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we embrace the challenge of writing a new chapter in your life story for 2021.

Welcome To The Show!

Today’s episode is short and sweet. Here we are the last week of 2020. And what a year it’s been. Of course we’re all hearing lots of sentiments like “Thank goodness it’s over. Good riddance, 2020. Worst year ever.”

The year has certainly been difficult for everyone in different ways. And all the feelings we have felt – being angry, sad, disappointed – they’re all valid. So this would be the point where I’m supposed to tell you to reflect on the happy moments, and the silver linings of 2020. Eh, I could do that but it is pretty cliched right now frankly.

Write Your New Life Chapter

Instead, I want you to do something. I want you to pretend you’re an author and 2020 was a chapter in your book of life. I know it sounds hokey but indulge me here. If you were writing a narrative or a novel of your life what point in the storyline was 2020? Now in most fictional novels and movies there is a structure to a storyline. It usually involves a hero who is the main character, the hero has an issue or problem to overcome, the hero meets someone to help them with a solution, and the hero wins in the end.

In that overarching life narrative and storyline where are you right now? What was 2020 in your narrative? No matter what your story looks like I want to challenge to write your next chapter. Make 2021 your next chapter. Make the problem to overcome your past, and this next chapter is the change that changes the trajectory of your storyline.

I’ll tell you why this is on my heart right now. This week I experienced three instances of others who are changing their storyline narratives for 2021 and it was powerfully inspiring.

A New Career

First the day after Christmas I taught a DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider Instructor course at Sea Experience here in Fort Lauderdale. Now the three men that I taught – David, Nick and Ryan – were all three ex-military and they just had completed their IDC. I spent two days with them and seeing the unfolding of new careers for each of them was really inspiring. They had excitement for their future and what this new career as a diving pro had in store for them. They were going to Sea Experience and being taught by outstanding trainers such as Colin Taylor, Bill Cole and Alex Brylske. And they are literally putting their military days behind them and writing their new life chapters.

A New Education

The second instance was yesterday I had the pleasure of taking a young lady named Rileigh and her mom on a tour of our Academic Diving Program at Nova Southeastern University. This young lady is from Arizona and wants to study marine biology. But one of their top reasons for touring NSU was our Academic Diving Program. In my time with them I saw the excitement for both of them as they prepare a new chapter in both of their lives. This excitement was palpable as we explored the daughters options and many opportunities to be a marine biologist and a dive pro. At one point they were so giddy and excited that the mother actually teared up. Wow, that is powerful.

A New Book

And speaking of Alex Brylske, the third powerful occurrence of someone rewriting their story and starting a new chapter is Dr. Alex Brylske. I’ve mentioned before that he is a mentor of mine and recently he gave me the honor of previewing his new book. As I have been doing that, I can say this is his best work ever! And his new book is pivotal, is a true game changer, it is that good. And this will change his story, his narrative, his life. Not only am I excited about it, but deep down I know he is too. How cool is it to say, my book is coming out in 2021. You see, a new chapter.

Hear me out. Along with whatever New Years resolutions you have in mind, think bigger. Think about changing your storyline. What can you do to write a completely new chapter in your life? What plot twist can you create that is provocative. Be different, be creative, take a risk, get uncomfortable. Think about the three examples I just gave you. For the guys becoming instructors at Sea Experience, for Rileigh and her mom deciding where she will go to college and for Alex writing his new book – they all took risk, they all got creative, they all got uncomfortable – but they all are focused on a goal. And those goals they each possess will be new chapters in their life stories.

My friends write your new chapter. Find a guide to take you and coach you on that new journey. Create the plot twist that puts 2020 in the dust, and makes 2021 epically new.

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Podcast (thedivelocker): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Welcome To The Show!

Four Areas to Consider

Emergencies

Skill Development

Buddies

Personal Space

Psychological Development

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Share this:

Welcome To The Show!

Four Attributes of Power Influencers

Be An Influencer

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Share this:

Welcome To The Show!

Pro’s and Con’s – Or Are There?

Looking Openly

What Is At Risk Not Teaching Tables?

Final Thoughts

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Share this:

Welcome To The Show!

Items In This Episode

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Share this:

Welcome To The Show!

Write Your New Life Chapter

A New Career

A New Education

A New Book

Episode Sponsor

Thanks For Listening!

Share this:

Welcome Dive Professionals

Recent

Search