If You’re a PADI SCUBA Instructor, Say Thanks

I saw earlier today that PADI announced the formal agreement between PADI and the Boy Scouts of America. If you are a PADI professional, it’s time to get to work on this beautifully captive market. To those of you who have already been working with Boy Scouts, you are the leaders!

SCUBA Diving Most Proposed Merit Badge

Per the update from PADI:

In a recent Boy Scouts of America (BSA) survey, scuba diving was one of the most proposed new merit badge topics for troops nationwide.
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This agreement positions PADI as an official BSA business affiliate and leads local BSA troops to PADI Dive Centers and Resorts.
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This agreement positions PADI as an official BSA business affiliate and leads local BSA troops to PADI Dive Centers and Resorts.

One Million More SCUBA Divers

This is the part I really like:

“There are more than one million Boy Scout and Venturing members in the United States,” says Bill Hamm, PADI Americas director of sales and field services. “With this sponsorship and the introduction of the new Scuba Diving Merit Badge, local troops will naturally seek PADI Dive Centers and Resorts for scuba diving fulfillment. This is an incredible opportunity for all PADI business members.”

Marketing Ideas for a SCUBA Diving Center

These are just ideas of the top of my head, but here are some things I would consider to promote this partnership:

  • Affiliate with the local BSA group to become the “official” local dive center to all Boy Scouts
  • Offer reduced-price training to scout masters to at least get them to a Divemaster level so they can better assist and organize with their Boy Scouts.
  • Setup email lists and a community web site (WordPress/Posterous Blog, Facebook Page, etc) to attract, engage and retain Boy Scout SCUBA divers
  • Sponsor a Boy Scout event, even if it has nothing to do with SCUBA diving
  • Grab some extra instructors to come to a pool night to host a Boy Scout discover SCUBA event for free

So why do so much for free? Why train people to become professionals? They all bring more people to your classes and your store.

Have you worked with or developed plans to work with Boy Scouts of America?



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