SeaLife Flex-Connect Mounting System Available

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joshua Gilmour
856-866-9191 ext.135
jgilmour@pioneer-research.com

SeaLife introduces Flex-Connect mounting system –The fastest and easiest way to add underwater lighting to dive cameras

Moorestown, NJ – Alongside the compact and powerful new Sea Dragon lighting, SeaLife recently introduced the game-changing new Flex-Connect mounting system for underwater lighting.

Flex-Connect is fast becoming the standard for outfitting underwater cameras with external lights and strobes due to the incredible speed that these and other accessories can be assembled and disassembled. Grips, Flex Arms, trays, light/flash heads and more connect instantly with a simple “click.” Disassembly is equally as fast with only the push of a button, requiring no tools and allowing for convenient, lightweight traveling.

The versatility of the system is unparalleled. Flex-Connect allows for a complete range of underwater camera setups, from the compact (such as a camera and cold shoe mounted light) to the more robust and full-featured (such as a camera set with multiple strobes or lights, grips, and Flex Arms) – and anything in between. Quickly adjust to your diving environment by adding or removing lights and accessories with ease, underwater or on land.

The compact Flex-Connect Micro Tray is perfect for adding light and stability to small cameras like GoPro®, and the Flex-Connect Dual Tray greatly expands underwater cameras with the ability to add multiple lights. The universal trays mount to all underwater cameras using a standard ¼-20 tripod mount, making it simple to expand with just a “click.”

Flex-Connect Flex Arms connect directly into a tray, or between a grip and light head, adding 7-inches of reach to lights and strobes and 100 degrees of bending motion for full control over underwater lighting. In close-up macro photography, the flexible arms allow bending of the lights or flash within inches of the subject for creative light effects. Alternatively, the arms allow spreading the lights far away from the camera to avoid backscatter in low visibility waters.

For an ultra-compact lighting solution, the Flex-Connect Cold Shoe Mount allows for mounting a flash or light to the cold shoe of an underwater camera. This mounting option also works well for adding a third light to a larger setup, for even more lighting power.

The Flex-Connect system is compatible not only with SeaLife cameras, but also with most other brands such as GoPro, Olympus, Fantasea, Sea&Sea and more. All brands of underwater cameras using a standard tripod mount can attach to Flex-Connect trays – and with many more Flex-Connect accessories and adapters soon to be released, the options for underwater cameras are unlimited.

Sea Dragon Lighting and Flex-Connect mounting accessories are available now at dive and photo dealers. Learn more at sealife-cameras.com/accessories/flex-connect

About SeaLife:

SeaLife underwater cameras, lights and accessories are made and distributed by Pioneer Research in Moorestown, NJ. SeaLife cameras were first introduced in 1993. In 2000 SeaLife made the first digital underwater camera. In 2007 SeaLife developed the first non-housed digital underwater camera, and in 2013 SeaLife introduced the powerful Sea Dragon Lighting system and its innovative Flex-Connect tray, grip, arm and accessory system. SeaLife Cameras, Lighting and Flex-Connect Accessories are sold and serviced in 64 countries around the world.

For more information visit www.SeaLife-Cameras.com.

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NAUI BOD Elects Officers

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

NAUI Worldwide
by Michael Feld, NAUI 50134

In a Telephone Meeting on Friday, March 21, 2014, the Nine Member NAUI Board of Directors Elected the Following Officers of the Board:

Chairman – David Ochs, Director, NAUI 15918
Vice Chairman – Dallas Edminston, Director, NAUI 4099
Secretary – Tom Hemphill, Director, NAUI 2491
Treasurer – Rick Lorimor, Director, NAUI 44715

Michael Feld, Director, NAUI 50134
Mark C. Flahan, Director, NAUI 2080 L
Lonnie Sharp, Director, NAUI 18314
Mike Tong, Director, NAUI 7865 L
Simon Yu, Director, NAUI 11146

New Board Directors Michael Feld (NAUI 501340), Dallas Edminston (NAUI 4099) and Rick Lorimor (NAUI 44715) were seated on the board.

Outgoing Board Directors Mark A. Flahan (NAUI 41837), Michael van Niekerk (NAUI 16899) and William Tong (NAUI 40366), Terms Expired.

Welcome new Board Directors and Congratulations on the Election of Officers.

For more information:
NAUI Worldwide
Web: www.NAUI.org

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Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire Adds Another Rebreather Instructor

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

by Richard Bilderbeek
Sales & Marketing Manager
Buddy Dive Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire welcomes a new Rebreather Instructor. Last week, Martin Cicilia, Assistant Manager of Dive Operations, completed his Instructor Rebreather Training with Instructor Trainer Milton Marinho.

Martin is now ready to start teaching Rebreather and Advanced Rebreather courses using the Poseideon MK VI. Guests at Buddy Dive Resort can also do a Discover Rebreather Course to get familiarized with the Rebreather. The Discover Rebreather course is a half day program and costs US $195. This includes a 1-hour dive at a maximum depth of 5 meters (15.4 feet).

Diving with a rebreather system is a completely different experience. Normally when you breath in you go up and when you breath out you go down. With a rebreather system, this is the complete opposite!

Congratulations to Martin Cicilia for his accomplishment and advancement in the diving industry. Well done.

For more information, contact:
Richard Bilderbeek, Sales & Marketing Manager
email: marketing@sapiasbv.com

Web: www.buddydive.com

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BookItGlobal Announces Strategic Partnership with Merchantech

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA — March 18, 2014

BookItGlobal, the rapidly rising CRM platform, today announced their partnership with Merchantech, a nationwide Merchant Service Provider dedicated to providing merchants with simple and convenient ways to accept Credit Cards, Debit Cards, EBT, Checks, Gift Cards and Pre-Paid Cards.

Through this strategic partnership, BookItGlobal will now offer a more holistic cloud computing solution. “Aligning our business strengths with Merchantech will allow BookItGlobal to transform how companies sell, service and market for their business by helping them connect with customers, partners, and employees in entirely new ways”, said Mike Amico, BookItGlobal Founder and CEO.

“Our Payment Systems and Solutions are designed to simplify the everyday life of running a business. Teaming with BookItGlobal allows us to further draw upon our pro merchant values to deliver customers the best service, rates, systems and solutions to maximize their productivity”, states Basir Khan, BDO & VP of Operations at Merchantech.

About BookItGlobal

BookItGlobal is a global provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software and a pioneering cloud computing leader. Our social and mobile cloud technologies, including our flagship sales and CRM application, DivingGlobal, help companies connect with customers, partners, and employees in entirely new ways. And thanks to the cloud, all of it comes with low cost, low risk, and fast results.

About Merchantech

Merchantech is a nationwide Merchant Service Provider that is dedicated to providing merchants with simple and convenient ways to accept Credit Cards, Debit Cards, EBT and Checks. We provide Payment Systems and Solutions to simplify the everyday life of running a business. At Merchantech, we do things differently. We draw upon our pro merchant values to deliver our customers the best service, rates, systems and solutions to maximize their productivity.

####

For more information about BookItGlobal visit us at: www.bookitglobal.com
Like BookItGlobal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bookitglobalcom
Follow us @BookItGlobal on Twitter

Contact:

Robert Klein, BookItGlobal

Phone: 916.996-6782

email: info@bookitglobal.com

Posted in Business Improvement, Press Release, Retail Articles | Leave a comment

Retail Dive Centers Asked to Complete Industry-wide Retail Profile

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

Dive Industry Foundation is dedicated to defining and analyzing what makes our industry what it is today and for suggesting ways to make it better and grow the industry. To be successful in this endeavor we need the help of hundreds of Retail Dive Centers. Very little is known about our industry, much less about the Retail Dive Centers who are the main generators of sales & certifications in the industry! If it were not for the Retail Dive Centers there would be no diving industry!

Below please find the Industry-Wide Retail Dive Center Profile. This started out as an annual retail survey in 2002 and has become an Industry Profile that can be filled out once and updated every year by the store owner. The industry profile is conducted to better understand Retail Dive Centers and to address their needs. We ask all Professional Retail Dive Centers to take a few moments and fill out the profile and mail it to our office in West Melbourne, Florida.

Dive Industry Foundation has been a trusted name in the industry as a Non-Profit Organization specializing in promoting economic development in the Diving and Watersports business community for the past ten years. We encourage all Dive Retailers to take part in growing our industry. All participants get a print copy of our Dive Industry Trade Publication and Directory or you can pick one up in person at Beneath the Sea. You will also be included in our Regional Dive Center Forum.

The Dive Industry Foundation guarantees that all information submitted in this profile is held in absolute confidence and in no way will be shared individually with any company or persons. The profile input is tallied to create Industry averages and trends. All participating Retailers will receive a detailed “State of the Industry” report. Some Industry averages may be published in the The Dive Industry Professional and high-lighted on our blog web site. Your cooperation is highly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time and effort.

INDUSTRY-WIDE DIVE RETAIL PROFILE

Contact Information:

Company Name (or DBA): _________________________________________

Business Structure: [ ] Proprietorship [ ] Partnership [ ] Corporation [ ] LLC

Date opened Business: _____________________________________________

Years in Business _________________________________________________

Business Address: ________________________________________________

City / State / Zip: ________________________________________________

Contact Name: __________________________________________________

Title: _________________________________________________________

[ ] Male [ ] Female

Date of Birth: _______________

Highest Grade Completed: __________________________________________

Business Phone: [ ] ____________________________________________

Fax # [ ] ___________________________________________________

Home Phone: [ ] _____________________________________________

Cell # [ ] ___________________________________________________

E-mail Address: __________________________________________________

Web Site (URL): __________________________________________________

Facebook Page: __________________________________________________

Skype: ________________________________________________________

Survey Questions:

Store Square Footage ______________________

Sales Floor Square Footage _____________________________

Days/Hours Open: _____________________________________________

[ ] Own [ ] Rent / Lease [ ] Pool on premise [ ] Classroom on premise

Number of Employees: Full Time __________ Part Time __________

Number of Instructors _____________________________________________

Do you sell: [ ] Swim [ ] Dive [ ] U/W Photo [ ] Kayak [ ] Surf [ ] SUP [ ] Apparel [ ] Swim Wear

Major Equipment Lines: ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2013 Gross Sales: $ _______________________

Compared to 2012 Gross Sales: Better / Worse

In-Store POS Computer Hardware ______________________________ Software _______________________________

Are you thinking of expanding into other watersports? Yes / No

Instruction: Yes / No Agency: _________________

Students per year: _______________________________

Type of Instruction: [ ] Swim [ ] Scuba [ ] Tech [ ] Rebreather

[ ] Other ______________________________________________________

Rentals: Yes / No

How many sets of rental equip? _______________________________________

Brands of Rental Equipment: _________________________________________

How often do you sell (rotate) your Rental Equipment? _______________________________________________

Repairs: Yes / No Number of Qualified Repair Techs ______________________________________________

Compressor: Yes / No [ ] Air [ ] Nitrox Type of Compressor ______________________________________

Compressor capacity: ______________________________________________

Do you have a Dive Club? Yes / No

Name of Club: _______________________________________________

Do you: [ ] Sponsor Local Dives [ ] Charter Dive Boats

Do you sell Dive Travel Vacations? Yes / No

Do you use a Dive Travel Wholesaler? Which one ? _________________________________________________

Number of Dive Travel Specialists: _______________________

Number of Dive Trips per year: ____________

How many dives did you make last year? ________________________________

Do you have a written Business Plan? Yes / No

Do you have a written Marketing Plan? Yes / No

Do you use Business Consultants? Yes / No

Type Used _____________________________________________________

DEMA Member: Yes / No

Dive Industry Association (DIA) Member: Yes / No

Will you attend the 2014 Surf Expo in Orlando, FL (September 2014)? Yes / No

Will you be attending the 2014 DEMA Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV? (November 2014) Yes / No

Do you go to Consumer Dive Shows? Yes / No Attend / Exhibit

Which ones? __________________________

Do you go to Travel & Adventure Shows? Yes / No Attend / Exhibit

Which ones? ______________________

Your Top 5 needs as a Dive Industry Retailer:

Would you be interested in participating in addition surveys conducted by the Dive Industry Foundation? Yes / No

Additional comments about the Industry __________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you completing this survey. By doing so, you’ve taken a Leadership role in this industry.

Please return via Direct Mail or eMail

Return to: Dive Industry Foundation, 2294 Botanica Circle, West Melbourne, FL 32904

Posted in Business Improvement, Industry, Retail Articles | Leave a comment

NAUI Worldwide Honors Results of 2013 BOD Election

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

March 6, 2014
Jim Bram, President
NAUI Worldwide

Dear (NAUI) Members:

For the good of the Association, we have agreed to end the debate regarding the 2013 election and reinstate the results of the 2013 election as announced in December. No one is claiming victory. This decision will allow everyone to just focus on one goal: NAUI.

The current 2013 election in progress has been canceled. Candidates in the canceled election may stand for election in 2014. Additionally, nominations are open for the 2014 election.

NAUI was founded more than 53 years ago as a democratic, membership association. The Board of Directors has been dedicated to representing and honoring the democratic principles of our Association and to serving in the best interests of the membership. Regardless of each individual Member’s opinion regarding the debate, the most frequently heard position put forth was each Member’s strong commitment to NAUI. Such commitment has been true since NAUI was founded.

We, the undersigned, collectively pledge to put the election debate behind us and work together in good faith, on your behalf, toward the advancement of NAUI. Let us all turn our energies toward advancing NAUI.

Best regards and safe diving,

Dallas Edminston, Director

Michael Feld, Director

Mark A. Flahan, Director Emeritus

Mark C. Flahan, Director

Tom Hemphill, Director

Rick Lorimor, Director

Michael van Niekerk, Director Emeritus

David Ochs, Director

Lonnie Sharp, Director

Mike Tong, Director

William Tong, Director Emeritus

Simon Yu, Director

Jim Bram, President

Posted in Industry, NAUI Matters, Training & Education | Leave a comment

Courtney Rayes Selected as 2014 Our World-Underwater Australasian Rolex Scholar

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

Posted in Industry, Non-Profits | Leave a comment

Reg Tech Regulator Repair Service

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

Reg Tech
“Quality Service Since 1990”
4521 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60076

Reg Tech is a professional repair center that services scuba diving equipment for the retail scuba industry. Think of Reg Tech as your wholesale repair vendor. Reg Tech offers:

Regulator service and repairs
BCD service and repairs
Cylinder service and inspections

Solutions

From the beginning, REG TECH has been dedicated to providing retail dive shops with solutions to the problems of operating their own repair facility. We offer dive centers a simple, cost-effective, reliable and timely alternative to maintaining a full in-house repair facility.

With Reg Tech, you will see:

Better quality repairs
Less management hassle
Reduced expenses
Happier customers

Turn your repair center into the reliable profit center it should be – let Reg Tech be your repair shop.

How does Reg Tech work?

It’s simple – fill out a work order, wrap the equipment in bubble wrap or peanut packing, put the equipment, any warranty paperwork and the work order in a sturdy box and call FedEx or UPS to pick up.

Once the repairs are completed, we will ship the equipment back to you. Our workmanship is guaranteed for 30 days.

If you need the equipment repaired fast, a four day Emergency Rush Service (including shipping time) is also available.

What does Reg Tech offer your customers?

Your customers are looking for four things when they bring their equipment to you for repair:

Quality: First and foremost, your customers expect that the work they need done will consistently be trustworthy. Reg Tech Service Technicians are professionals with advanced training in the care and maintenance of SCUBA and SCBA equipment. Our Techs follow factory protocols and their work is subject to a rigorous quality control process. They don’t have to balance their time between teaching classes, staffing the sales floor and organizing dive trips; instead, they are dedicated to the single task of repairing your gear.
Convenience: Your customers are looking for a simple solution to all their service and repair needs – a single source for repairs that will end the “dive shop shuffle.” Reg Tech services and repairs most manufacturers complete lines of regulators, BC’s including warranty work, and offers you a way to keep your customers (and their dollars) in your shop, where they belong.
Speed: Your repair tech just moved to Grand Cayman, you’re supposed to be leading a dive trip to the Red Sea next week and it’s the start of the dive season. How do you tell your customers that you can’t service their gear until next month? Reg Tech allows you to commit to an aggressive repair schedule (most work is in our shop for less than 5-10 business days) that gets your customers back in the water quickly.
Price: Avoid sticker shock at your service counter! Reg Tech Is an efficient operation and enjoys significant cost benefits that we are able to pass along to you. Just call us.

“Ask about our custom Service Notice Program – increase your revenues and smooth your workload while helping your customers keep track of their repair schedules!”

For more information contact:

Regulator Technologies, Inc.
4521 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL 60076
Phone: 847-329-0885
email: Service@RegTechScuba.com
Web: www.RegTechScuba.com

Posted in Business Improvement, Products, Retail Articles | Leave a comment

Ana Sofia Guerra Named 2014 North American Rolex Scholar

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

Ana Sofia Guerra

2014 North American Rolex Scholar of the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society

Ana Sofia Guerra, 23, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, an arid city far away from the ocean. When she was 9 years old she moved to Dallas, TX for a year and a half and later to São Paulo, Brazil. In Brazil she discovered her love for the marine world through Projeto Tamar, a local sea turtle conservation NGO. She persuaded her parents to let her take scuba lessons and she became a certified PADI Junior Open Water Diver at the age of twelve. Ana moved to Mexico City two years later and completed high school before moving to California to attend Stanford University.

Through Stanford, Ana obtained a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Biology, specifically focused on ecology and evolution. During the summer of her sophomore year she worked as a field assistant on Palmyra Atoll in the Central Pacific through Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford’s Marine Biology Station in Monterey Bay. Snorkeling on Palmyra’s reefs convinced Ana to immediately change her previous plans to finish her degree on the Stanford campus and instead she spent her junior year in a study abroad program in Australia and taking classes at Hopkins Marine Station. During her time at Hopkins, she obtained her Advanced, Rescue, and AAUS Scientific Diver Certifications and spent as much time as possible exploring California’s kelp forests. Ana returned to Palmyra the summer of her junior year to conduct research on her honors thesis project focused on the feeding ecology of Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis), an endangered species of shorebird, on the lagoon flats of Palmyra Atoll. While on the island, Ana was offered a volunteer position for the following fall by Palmyra Atoll’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Manager. She immediately filed a leave of absence from school, jumping at the opportunity to spend two months working on the remote atoll eradicating an invasive corallimorph that is threatening to destroy Palmyra’s extensive reefs. Back in California, three months away from graduation in June of 2013, Ana was offered the opportunity to work as a Teaching Assistant for the Stanford@SEA course that was to start in the spring. Once again putting school on hold, she sailed with and mentored students for five weeks aboard the SSV Robert C. Seamans, a 134-ft tall ship, from O’ahu to the Northern Line Islands. Upon return to land, Ana made her way down to Baja California Sur, Mexico to help on a project studying small-scale fisheries and had the opportunity to interview and work closely with fishermen in Mexico. Ana graduated from Stanford in December of 2013 after spending most of her final quarter working as a research technician at Hopkins Marine Station.

Ana is honored to be the 2014 North American Rolex Scholar of the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society and she looks forward to exploring new areas in marine science as well as developing skills in communication and photography. She hopes to use what she learns to influence marine conservation practices, make the ocean more accessible to those who don’t have the opportunity to delve into it, and bridge the gap between the marine scientific community and the public.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Ana from her Scholarship Society family. She may be reached at asguerra5@gmail.com

Posted in Industry, Non-Profits | 1 Comment

It’s Time For a Strong International Dealer Network

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Gene Muchanski

by Gene Muchanski
Executive Director
Dive Industry Association, Inc.

It’s time for a strong, international, non-denominational Dealer Network. An Association that is comprised of professional retailers who specialize in scuba diving and related water sports. An Organization formed to address the problems, issues and needs that are relevant to the modern day Retail Dive Center. An Association that is open to all Professional Watersport Retail Stores regardless of their membership or affiliation with any Manufacturer, Training Agency or Travel Wholesaler.

The Dive Retailers Sector of the Dive Industry Association was set up to address issues specific to professional Retail Dive Centers. We realize that dive businesses that teach diving, sell equipment, operate dive boats and sell adventure travel are on the front lines of the industry. Without you, there would be no industry.

We believe that your business succeeds or fails on what you do locally, and most all of the business you get is the business you captured yourself. We know that having a strong Regional Dealer Network is an excellent way to increase sales and market share while establishing better relationships with other like-minded business. We also understand that a strong National Dealer Network can work together to increase desire in the general public to take up swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and related water sports and grow our recreation. Only as an International Dealer Network will we ever have the economies of scale to elevate the professionalism of our industry and have a meaningful association that helps Retail Dive Centers to Start, Grow and Succeed.

Dive Industry Association is committed to growing our industry and working with Retail Dive Center owners to capture new markets and grow our industry. Our annual Retail Dive Center Survey has become a “Retail Dive Center Profile.” We ask that all Dive Centers download this profile and send it to us. All responses are held in strict confidence and no individual answers will be shared with anyone. We are looking for industry averages, ranges and trends. A Summery “State of the Retail Industry” will be shared with each respondent.

View Retail Dive Center Profile on www.diveindustry.net

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Dive Industry Association, Inc.