Need Some Constructive Advise On New Web Site!!

[Scubaer]

I'm designing my new web site and I'm just looking for some impartial advise and constructive critism from all you divers. Now's the chance to have your say about how you would like to see a web site designed. I have it currently on line and am working on the wording. If anyone has any ideas for me, I would be grateful. Currently the contact form is not working so you can contact me through this thread. I'm looking to design a new logo also (we have loads of octopus by our dive site). Basically any ideas you would like to see on a site, or how I can improve the current site would be greatly appreciated. (www.greekdiving.com)
I have loads of gif's and bullets and headers on file but if there is any others that youve seen or know of, please let me know.
THANKS IN ADVANCE (( Efxaristo) thank you))

 

[Lisa0825]

I am trying to download the front page now, but it is taking a long time, and I am on my office high speed connection... Oh, I see... it was a video to download. Loooks nice, but you might want to give viewers a choice to skip it in case their connections are slow. The bullets on the left side menus are not showing up for me.

Great photos!!! I love the "octohead" pic!LOL!

I barely skimmed the wording... sneaking a peak at work.

 

[Scubaer]

Point well taken Lisa, I noticed that myself. I will add a skip intro bullet of some sort and reduce the page width to fit a normal computer screen.
Many thanks
John

 

[timle]

skip the unskipable intro - slightly annoying the first - majorly annoying after I've been to the site a couple of times.

Avoid the dynsrc tag - its IE only. If you want to do a video - use a more standard way to embed it.

Don't put a video on the front page in the first place - make it a link if users want to download it and view it they can.

The main page should have some information on it - not just links and a video. This is your first impression - make it good.

 

[Scubaer]

Cheers for that timle, I am try to get my web designer to sort that out..
Many Thanks

 

[scubajcf]

With edits humbly submitted.


CERTIFICATIONS

The Greek Diving Center caters to all levels of scuba diver. We offer a Discover Scuba Diving program for beginners who have never dove before. Children eight (8) years and older can join our Bubblemaker program. Non-diving and certified parents are welcome to attend the program and accompany us to the dive site – We provide snorkeling equipment so you can swim from the dive boat or the beach.

We are a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Dive Center and a CMAS Center. With our experienced staff, our customers can attain PADI Certification ranging from Open Water Diver up to Divemaster (lots of specialties too). Additionally, our divers who are certified through ESDA (European Scuba Diving Association) can expand their knowledge and take advantage of our beautiful wall dives, deep dives and daring night dives.

There are a lot of amazing dives you can do with the Greek Diving Center, including an amazing, stalactite filled cave or explore a Piaggio Sea Plane wreck at 18m deep. No matter your level of experience, the Greek Diving Center offers everyone a first class scuba diving experience.

Your Scuba diving lessons can be conducted on a one to one basis or as a group. All the necessary equipment is provided. If this doesn't fit your needs, we can custom tailor an individual scuba diving program for private individuals or small groups.

If Scuba Diving isn't for you ... that's O.K. Let us organize your next snorkelling trip. There's still a lot to see without ever having to put on a tank.

 

[Scubaer]

My HUMBLE thanks !!!!!!!

 

[scubajcf]

Couldn't find you in the PADI Dive Center Locator.
Might want to contact them about that

http://www.padi.com/english/common/...GRCE&City=&Name=&CourseType=ALL&Submit=Submit

 

[scubamickey]

I didn't encounter any video on the home page, just a flash intro that failed to loop. Took .94 seconds to load according to my browser. Not bad.

I would recommend putting more info about the training. Like requirements for swimming ability and health, etc. Along with some basic course info.

I would also get away from listing everything in a paragraph format and go to bullets. Much easier to read and draws the reader's attention.

Lastly...Reconsider the shade of blue you are using. It's hard on the eyes.

Good luck!

 

[diversteve]

A few things I noticed:

In the About Us section:

"Our dive beach is only 5km from Porto Heli (Cape Korakia) and the warm, crystalline waters"

use where the warm....instead of and?

This may be a question of semantics, here in the States we would use the word training instead of the word tuition. I'm sure it's different on your side of the pond. Possibly another one would be the use of the word Certicates instead of Certification.

You need to decide if you're going to use the bold font or the standard font and be consistent throughout. The about page is not bold, but every other page is.

Also frankly I found the juggling annoying. It was disappointing after having to wait for the .avi to load to see that. And I don't think it clearly expresses anything about the great diving you must have in the area or inspires anyone to contact you for dive instruction. In addition, while viewing the video, the one other thing I noticed is how barren the area was around the diver. Didn't inspire me to consider diving in your area or with you. It just sends the wrong message.

I'd move it to the photos page with a link if someone wants to see it. It's cute once.

Replace it with some text/intro and photos to motivate people to click deeper into your website.

Good website design means that the front page of the site should be less than about 150K total combined text/graphics and load in under 15 seconds on a dialup connection. Otherwise you lose your audience. Especially on your site where there's no clear indication that something is happening while the video is loading.

Keep the beginning flash intro though, it's catchy.

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