News
No Affiliate Fees With Professional Scuba Schools
It has become almost routine in the dive industry, each year you are asked to pay for the right to have access to training products and materials through affiliate fees. While every agency takes a different approach to these fees, and the “swag” provided to make the fees seem more palatable varies, one thing is certain – you are paying the agency to promote its brand. Since its launch nearly 30 years ago, Professional Scuba Schools (PSS) Worldwide has never charged a fee for dive centers, dive clubs, or dive charters to affiliate with and promote its brand.
PSS affiliates are considered part of the sales force, and it views added fees as simply a method to gain profits from what should be a partnership. While affiliation fees may offer some benefits, like promotional marketing products or reduced material costs, in most cases businesses are simply paying upfront for a promotional kit or courses they would not have purchased on their own. PSS feels the best approach is to offer the promotional products and materials at an economical price and then let the affiliates decide how they will support the brand.
To become a PSS affiliate a dive center, club, or charter, only requires an active status PSS Instructor on staff. After the instructor affiliates the business with PSS, then they have full access to the PSS EVO dive training management system. This allows them to order materials, manage courses, assign PSS staff to academic, confined water, or open water training, and view analytics associated with their training.
PSS has been training and developing divers and dive leaders around the world since the mid-1990s and has been growing rapidly in North America since 2019. It is renowned for providing flexible, innovative, cost effective, and collaborative training in more than 18 languages.
To take advantage of the remarkable incentives offered by PSS simply register for an instructor crossover at https://www.pssworldwide.org/en/registrazionexOver.aspx?lang=en and select “other”. After registration, a PSS Course Director will contact you to discuss the process and next steps.
If you own or manage a dive center, club, or charter and wish to find out more about joining the PSS Evolution email pssnorthamerica@pssmail.org or call 813-344-2868.
Photo: Jure Daić
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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