Always Thinking:

By Bill Doran

 

At ScubaBiz.Help, we are always looking for new ideas and strategies to help the scuba business. In the following article, we have brought together two ideas to show you some possibilities. The first idea is to build a bigger version of your business by working with others. The second shows that an influential article can be a great advertising tool.

 

I have asked Jean-Marc to write an article on his recent venture to demonstrate these ideas. We hope you both enjoy it and find inspiration.

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Sharing the Scuba Sail and Charter as an example.

By Jean-Marc Claes

 

About seven years ago, we started the idea to leave Belgium “one day” and sail around the world to get to the best places to do some scuba diving in those remote locations.

 

Being a dive professional since 1990, now 34 years in active duty, organizing hundreds of dive trips, liveaboards, group trips and special expeditions worldwide, it was time to balance life and work by taking a different angle!

 

About three years ago, we left Belgium behind and started sailing and diving the oceans onboard our SY Blowing Bubbles. During this time, we had many guests onboard and met many sailors who were impressed by our idea and setup and wanted to do the same.

 

Scuba charter on a sailboat for just two people or a family…was that even possible? The setup of the sailing yacht is not quite the same as most live-aboard yachts you see in the world of scuba diving! There are many disadvantages to being on a sailboat regarding space, storage, and access. But there is also a serious list of advantages to being on a sailing yacht! Private space – not sharing it with dozens of other guests, the silence of the wind going through the sails when moving from location to location, and there are many more.

 

Even after we started sailing, we adapted our sailing yacht many times during the last few years. New equipment, different compressors, and a different-sized dinghy are all things possible to make diving onboard SY Blowing Bubbles more fun, enjoyable, practical, and efficient. As time passed and more diving was done, we learned and adapted again and again.

 

After some thinking about the (too) many requests we were getting, not being able to handle all the reservations and seeing the interest of other sailors wanting to offer the same services, Karen and I decided to create a new group: Scuba and Sail Charters.

 

All boats in this group are private sailing yachts owned by the people on the boat and offering dive services to the highest standards, sailing you to the best dive sites and providing you with the best possible private scuba charter.

 

While writing this article, we are training and coaching four boats to become part of our Scuba and Sail Charter Group; even more requests are waiting.

 

Although there are some differences, all boats/owners use the same procedures and the same way of operating. There are catamarans and monohull sailing yachts. Some boats can take up to six guests, and some are dedicated to family charters as they even have their own kids on board, so playtime for kids will be guaranteed, giving the parents time for a lot of diving during their stay on board.

 

For those who are not a diver yet but are in the mood to try scuba, no problem: all boats have certified scuba professionals onboard to provide you with the highest and most personal level of teaching dive courses and take care of you for your first-ever scuba experience in the best possible locations in the world.

 

Imagine liking it so much that you want to go back. You can try out the other yachts in our group, spread out in different locations worldwide, still getting the same personal services and high-level diving, although in different surroundings.

 

Value for money? Many people consider private chartering to be too high for their budget.

The reality is quite different: private chartering is based on an all-inclusive level, including all the activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, canoeing, wing foiling, and so many more activities.

 

Imagine what you save in costs when going on your next holiday? A private charter can be done starting at 2500/week/pp. Doing the quick calculation: a week of scuba diving is easily $200/day or $1000/week. This means sharing the dive sites with big groups, taking a local dive boat to get to the dive sites, getting from the hotel to the dive centers, losing time, extra costs, transportation, etc. What is the average budget you spend while being on your holiday destination? Most people spend 500-750$/week on drinks, food, and activities alone.

 

Imagine being on your private scuba & sail charter yacht, waking up floating above your next dive site, taking your morning coffee, relaxing, and preparing to jump overboard with your dive gear, no hassle, no time to lose, no waiting around, no queuing and NO extra fees.

 

That is what Scuba & Sail Private charters are all about, and even more. From enjoying a sundowner cocktail on the front deck of the yacht to watching the sun go down on the horizon. Does it get any better than that? It is all included in your private charter.

 

The only thing you NEED to decide is when & where to hop on board and get started on your next new (underwater) adventure!

 

Join us to discover this unique way of travelling, diving, and enjoying your next holiday! Contact us for information, travel schedules, and availabilities to help you plan your next holiday with Scuba & Sail Charters. You can reach us at jeanmarc.claes1@gmail.com or karen.erens@gmail.com.