MikeFerrara:I hope some of our members read Chickdivers post and take it to heart.
In todays culture it seems to be unacceptable to tell any one that they're wrong no matter how nice it's done. The fact is though that some are wrong and some are right whether we like it or not.
All the "Im ok. Your ok" touchy feely make every one feel good marketing junk doesn't mean you can teach, supervise or even get them back at all.
Maybe it isn't hard to become a DM or an instructor and that might seem cool when you're out card collecting and patting yourself on the back but then one day you find yourself in the water in the middle of a bonified nightmare. The card pushers won't be there to make you feel good then. You'll either do it or you won't.
It's more fun and safer for every one to do the work up front.
Well, I'm probably wrong cuz you won't hear that in many dive shops. LOL
But if you are saying and teaching the right things you need to consider some type of promotion to touch more people as well...
I think this is one good side effect of the perceived elitism of DIR. It keeps people talking about it and gives some people a reason to try and be a part of it.
I do not know if this was the original intent but it seems to have worked out to be a original and unique type of marketing...