Why NAUI

Peter and Chris with Seattle behind them

A NAUI Success Story: Northwest Sports Divers
What are the advantages of being a NAUI Worldwide dive center? Just ask Chris Jacobson, owner of Northwest Sports Divers in Kenmore, Washington (USA). Chris, who recently crossed over his affiliation from PADI, declares "switching to NAUI was simply the best business decision I've ever made."
In fact, it's hard to talk with Chris and his staff without hearing the word "awesome" used to describe the growth and positive changes Northwest Sports Divers continues to experience since becoming a NAUI Pro Platinum Center in May 2002. Northwest Sports Divers had been a PADI 5-star facility since 1984, but Chris says the decision to make the move to NAUI was "a no brainer."

Exciting Classes
"With the NAUI program, I'm allowed to be an Instructor, to really teach my students as opposed to just certifying them," explains Chris. "Our classes are unique and my students have tons of fun! And because they share that excitement with their friends, I know for a fact we'll get even more students."

Chris goes on to explain, "Our NAUI students are a lot more educated,
and I know they're a whole lot more safe and well prepared than PADI divers. I'm free to teach them, to educate them and show them more - and that's really fun for an Instructor! Other agencies are less flexible. NAUI gives me the freedom to teach, and my students are jazzed because of that freedom!" "On check out dives, we integrate skills with tours and buoyancy checks," says Chris. "Our students aren't bored waiting their turn, we log more time actually diving and they come up with ear-to-ear grins from the experience." On one check out dive for a Master Scuba Diver class, Chris' group came up so psyched that a nearby group of students came over to see what the fun was all about. "I was surrounded by non NAUI
Divemasters and students who asked who we were. When I told them we were a NAUI class, they said they felt cheated that they weren't NAUI trained."

Business Growth
As a result of attracting new students, Chris' dive gear sales are
"going through the roof." Chris estimates that his business has
increased 20 - 25% from last fall, even taking in account the down period following September 11th. Crediting Store Manager Dave Keeley and their switch to the NAUI program, Chris says scuba classes are completely booked, even going into the traditionally slow holiday season.
Chris goes on to discuss his expanding business. "With the NAUI program, we can offer so much from the Open Water diver through the Technical Instructor. This is not possible with any other agency. NAUI is allowing me to grow and expand my business. No other agency allows that (growth). What is the word I am looking for......AWESOME!"

Chris also has an opinion on NAUI's products and services. "NAUI's
products are quality. The way the products are packaged and the amount of education in them are powerful for us." With NAUI's integrated education systems and Instructor Guides, NAUI Instructors can completely customize their presentations. Adding your store logo, dropping in your own photos or featuring your store in NAUI's easy-to-use presentation is simple and effective. To quote Chris, "there's zero comparison!"

Quality Difference
"NAUI stands for integrity," declares Chris. "I learned first-hand that
NAUI's Code of Ethics really means something. They uphold that Code. NAUI is driven in the right direction. And that's awesome!" Chris goes on to explain "NAUI's motto 'Dive Safety Through Education' is more than just words. NAUI is about creating safe, well-educated divers"

When NAUI Field Rep Peter Den Haan visited Northwest Sports Divers, Chris took a look at all the reasons why he should switch to being a NAUI facility. Explains Chris, "(The package of) NAUI's credibility, the potential for new business, support from headquarters, the freedom to teach, … it absolutely makes sense. Peter is a key supporter of my business. He shares ideas, and he's here to help my shop succeed," says Chris. "I feel like I'm a new student. I'm learning more and that's great!"

Founded in 1983, Northwest Sports Divers is located eight miles from
downtown Seattle and serves the greater Eastside and northern areas of the Emerald City. For a firsthand, enthusiastic testimonial about the benefits of being a NAUI Worldwide dive center, reach Chris Jacobson, Store Manager Dave Keeley, and their busy team at Northwest Sports Divers at (425) 487-0624 or at http://www.nwsportsdivers.com. What's Chris' view on the future of Northwest Sports Divers and NAUI? Says Chris, "We're moving ahead!"

How wonderful to hear the good news of Northwest Sport Divers! No doubt, the new-found academic freedom that Chris and his staff are experiencing has renewed their enthusiasm for teaching scuba. I found myself thinking, "I used to do stuff like that when I was a new instructor. Where has my teaching creativity gone?"

For 10 years, I collected PADI certification cards, but when I left the high school classroom for the swimming pool to teach scuba full-time, I chose NAUI. The choice was easy. NAUI enabled me as an educator to create the best scuba course I could. It allowed me to innovate and grow as a scuba educator.

I know some darn good PADI Instructors who have done some creative things to make their courses more thorough and exciting. But it has been an unspoken understanding that, while they always ensure the safety of their students, what they do is outside of PADI standards. Chris' story is a great testimonial for me to share with these instructor-peers and show them a way they can maintain their commitment to quality education without having to wink at professional standards. They can join the ranks of NAUI Instructors whose first commitment is to "Dive Safety through Education".

I applaud the NAUI Board of Directors and senior management for their bold moves to make our association a viable business while holding true to our creed. Just because we are committed to "quality education" doesn't mean we have to settle with the market share that is left over when everyone else is done! The meek may inherit the Earth, but let's not confuse false pride with humility.

The voices of other long-time instructors are echoing in my head: "This isn't the way we have done it before." "We sound more like PADI everyday." But I am inspired by a veteran instructor who has rediscovered a passion for teaching scuba. His enthusiasm for a new opportunity to create and innovate in his work calls me to see my scuba course from a student's perspective, and demands, "What are you going to do to make your class better?"

Louis Powell
NAUI Instructor #19365

Manager
Scuba Quest Largo
(727) 581-0606