Calling all free agent Dive Instructors

[danvolker]

I am launching a program for Non-divers at Resorts on Singer Island....the Tooka diving at BHB.

We need instructors to do 20 minute long tours, after a ten minute walk-through/speech/intro, etc..This is kind of like a Discover Scuba session, but exponentially better.

As you know from teaching Open water students, many will not learn bouyancy even after 20 dives...Witht he tooka, they don't need to learn bouyancy, they just need to learn how to breathe through the reg, and to remember to exhale on ascents...They should know how to swim, or YOU will be pulling them, and doing more work than you will want

See the video ‪Tooka Demo - short‬‏ - YouTube This is now playing in the lobby of the Hilton, and will soon be a the other major Resorts on the Island. You put enough weight on the non-divers, to make them about 1/2 pound positive, so that if they stop swimming down, they slowly float up. max depth is controlled both by where you take them in BHB ( typically less than 12 feet) and by how much hose we use. Their is a system on the Tooka Raft itself, that lets you instantly change weighting of a non-diver student, with them holding on to the handles on the side of the raft, so that they remain comfortable, while you tweak things.

You take out 2 to 3 people on the Tooka at a time, and the hose keeps them within 10 feet of each other, so it does a great job of herding....You can assist forward swimming any time you want, by pulling on the hose ( which clips to their weight belt). I have taken some non-divers around 2 hours before high tide ( I want this hotel service to be slack tide only when the current is ripping, and used my swimming to do 100% of the propulsion needed to get around--as they did not really swim well.

If you are interested, PM or email dan@sfdj.com with your interest.... You would get close to $50 per person, and we can schedule 2 groups of three per high tide. We have a dive shop this will go out from. We need additional instructors that can be placed on a schedule, for when people reserve tooka dives at BHB.

p.s.
Unlike the new OW classes at the bridge, this is controlled in many ways, to have zero bad effect on the BHB ecosystem when compared to new divers in general.... Bouyancy has them floating up, not crashing to bottom. Feet will always be pointed up, so they cant silt. an instructor actualy dictates where they go. There are at most 3 divers to one instructor--a class size easy to keep from doing damage We also have a few places to do this besides just the BHB.

 

[danvolker]

Wow...this is kind of shocking....87 views and not one instructor in the Florida area has an interest in using their instructor skills to make money? I have been hearing instructors complaining that they can't find students for ages now, so I thought this would be a no brainer.....What am I missing?

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

You would get close to $50 per person,

p.s.
Unlike the new OW classes at the bridge, this is controlled in many ways, to have zero bad effect on the BHB ecosystem when compared to new divers in general.... Bouyancy has them floating up, not crashing to bottom. Feet will always be pointed up, so they cant silt. an instructor actualy dictates where they go. There are at most 3 divers to one instructor--a class size easy to keep from doing damage We also have a few places to do this besides just the BHB.

"close" what is "close"?

As for your P.S. it sounds like a bad sales pitch. Also sounds like a lot of work with the way you want them setup. I am not sure if it is the way you described it but it just does not sound like something that is worth the while.

IMO BHB is not a place for new students or non-divers

 

[danvolker]

"close" what is "close"?

As for your P.S. it sounds like a bad sales pitch. Also sounds like a lot of work with the way you want them setup. I am not sure if it is the way you described it but it just does not sound like something that is worth the while.

IMO BHB is not a place for new students or non-divers

Thanks for responding.... first, the idea is, the instructor gets $50 plus $50, plus $50 for taking out a tooka group of three, which will be 10 minutes of show and tell on the beach, and 20 minutes of the Tooka tour. Two groups can be scheduled back to back, meaning this is a $300 day, for just one hour of work.

Second, many of these non-divers will like this underwater experience so much, that there is an EXCELLENT chance a good piece will decide they would like to get open water certified....this is another income stream.

Did you watch the video I linked? The whole thing is incredibly easy. Understanding this idea, requires watching the 5 minute video.
Unlike a Discover Scuba course, you do not have bouyancy problems which could threaten the BHB area with silt or worse...same being true of an OW course, where the students are also likely to be too heavy and hit bottom--with the tooka, you keep them slightly positive, as you can see in the video.

There are already many dive shops bringing large classes to the BHB. This is something that will not stop. However, in comparison, this Tooka project is small size groups (3 person) which are easy to control, and the area the tooka divers cover is precisely controled by the instructor.

And for that matter, a diver who is already a Dive Master, can get a Tooka Guide cert for peanuts, and can do this as well as an instructor, but without the ability to teach OW to those clients that became interested in diving from this.

 

[brucetrinity]

Hey Dan .... First, let me say I AM NOT AN INSTRUCTOR. I am an experienced diver. I watched the video... Tooka looks like fun !! I don't see any obvious negative impact on BHB and don't have any issues with folks giving it a try while I'm diving the bridge area .... after all, I don't own the BHB and there's plenty of space (except under the bridge). Looks like decent supplemental income for those that are instructors (in that area). Good luck with the venture !!

Bruce

 

[danvolker]

Hey Dan .... First, let me say I AM NOT AN INSTRUCTOR. I am an experienced diver. I watched the video... Tooka looks like fun !! I don't see any obvious negative impact on BHB and don't have any issues with folks giving it a try while I'm diving the bridge area .... after all, I don't own the BHB and there's plenty of space (except under the bridge). Looks like decent supplemental income for those that are instructors (in that area). Good luck with the venture !!

Bruce

Thanks Bruce.
The people I have taken in so far, have loved this, and they had zero skills in the water.....the tooka diver/guest does not need anything close to the skills in a Discover scuba session...so they have much more fun. It is a better "first impression" for the average non-diver, than a discover scuba experience.

 

[brucetrinity]

Yup .... I tried to get my wife interested via Discover Scuba (she's an experienced snorkeler) but she got overwhelmed with the "too many things to remember and I think my head will explode now" aspect of beginning scuba. Tooka looks much more "beginner friendly" and a logical step from snorkeling.

 

[Reck Diver]

So as a customer, how much is it going to cost me to do 20 mins at the bhb tethered to to other people and a raft? More than $50.00?

 

[danvolker]

So as a customer, how much is it going to cost me to do 20 mins at the bhb tethered to to other people and a raft? More than $50.00?

This is NOT a good deal for a diver.....the concept is to offer something to the huge majority of the population that never, ever, has an intention of putting a scuba tank on their back, due to the weight, fears about it, the massive training they do not want to learn, etc...

Essentially, they will pay to have to learn almost nothing, and develop almost no skills...However, they WILL learn what the underwater world looks like, and feels like....and gain an appreciation for the ecosystem not possible for a non-diver, otherwise.

The instructor does MUCH more than an Scuba experience instructor....it is a "service based" experience. It will cost around $100 per person for the dive...This is targeted at people here on vacation, staying at 3 , 4 and 5 star hotels. 3 people can be on this at once.

My expectation is, that this as a baby step, will bring many non-divers to the "revelation", that they may want a tank on their back afterall

 

[Reck Diver]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but $100.00 plus tip is just not worth it. I just don't think people will be lining up. There 3 star hotel people won't pay it and the 5 star folks... well just aren't going to a swim around a bridge in the intracoastal for 20 mins.

I would recommend taking this equipment on one of the snorkeling boats that drop on the Copenhagen in Pompano. It's a much better dive with a wreck and a beautiful reef. Lots of life, lots of fish (big and small) and no need to worry about the tide. You can snorkel for a couple of hours plus a boat ride to and from for $25.00. A much better deal.