Calling all Photograhers...

[Scuba Instructor]

Hi Guys and Gals

I am looking for content for a new UK magazine that is due to be released in October, and need some good photography and articles concerning that. The magazine will be called Scuba Instructor, and will be a vehicle for all UK diving in both BSAC and PADI worlds, as well as some O/S content as well. First issue has articles from a Dive School in the Potteries (that has been experiencing enormous growth of late), and what they get up to, an article from a UK Hyperbaric chamber dive accidents and other medical uses of Hyperbaric chambers, along with O/S content from Emperor Divers and a story from the Manager of their Dahab operation, a write up on a Tony Backhurst Liveaboard, as well as lots of other club news, articles, directories etc.

So if you are a dab hand at photography, be it professional or amatuer, please drop me a line to simon@scubainstructor.co.uk, and let me know who you are and what you are up to, and I will get back to you. I would like to run a photography section in the magazine and will need contribution from as many of you as is possible really.

The magazine will be supported by a website, which will be located at www.scubainstructor.co.uk and I am working to get this site up and running at around the same time.

Thanks for your imterest in advance,

[BJ]

Best wishes on your new venture - but why is it that publishers always seem to think of content as something that is so unimportant that they rarely plan to invest much money in it? Is it because content is just the padding that fits between the money-making parts?

[Mark Powell]

Originally Posted by Scuba Instructor

Scuba Instructor will be a vehicle for all UK diving in both BSAC and PADI worlds.

What about SAA and ScotSac? Also will it cover technical diving?

[Ding Dang Doo]

Simon,

is this magazine aimed purely at Scuba 'Instructors'? or does the title mean it is offering 'instruction'?

I don't mean to sound pedantic, but the majority of divers aren't qualified to instructor level (myself included), so would certainly feel somewhat excluded from such a publication, even if we felt that we could contribute to the content in some way.

Pete

[Fiona]

Can the market actually sustain another magazine, the main ones we have at the moment fail miserably on a regular basis.

[Scuba Instructor]

Originally Posted by BJ

Best wishes on your new venture - but why is it that publishers always seem to think of content as something that is so unimportant that they rarely plan to invest much money in it? Is it because content is just the padding that fits between the money-making parts?

Thanks for the reply, and your positive comment as well. There are future plans for paid for articles, and I already have a number of paid for opportunities that want to contribute. If this is how you want to do it, then I need to know that.

Initially, this publication will be put together by people that want to contribute, on the basis that it exposes their club or venture in some way. I might add that they will also be the first cabs off the rank for paid for articles too...get in touch either way if you feel you would like to be involved.

[Scuba Instructor]

Originally Posted by Mark Powell

What about SAA and ScotSac? Also will it cover technical diving?

This is a vehicle for all typeds of diving, so yes, you are very welcome to contribute. Drop me a line with your details to me at my email address.

[Scuba Instructor]

This magazine is called Scuba Instructor, and will be for everyone. The purpose of this magazine will be in part as a knowledge base and article pool for Instruction in all types of diving, including all areas of it as well. This information will benefit all people that dive, no matter what level they are at, or who they dive with. There will be aryticles form people that are at Open Water and Advanced certification levels as well, as I am sure we can all learn something from people with less experience than us. Also, I hope it will be a good exposure for UK clubs and diving as a whole as well.

[Mike Phillipson]

I used to supply alot of image to technical photographic publications on an 'on-spec' basis, if the images were used i'd get paid etc.. after a while i was contacted directly by the editorial teams and supplied with forthcoming "wants" lists.. these would be articles/features they were planning to run within the next 3-4 months, i.e. filter comparisons, shutter speed, fill in flash technique etc.

Dependant on what features/articles you may be planning it might be worthwhile supplying this kind of info to photographers ... in my experience about 80% of images came form freelancers with only a few staff writers/photographers to keep overheads low..

Anyway good luck with the magazine..

Mike

[Scuba Instructor]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Can the market actually sustain another magazine, the main ones we have at the moment fail miserably on a regular basis.

We will see if the market can sustain another dive magazine. I am hopeful that it can of course. The fact that others have failed does not concern me, I only want this one to succeed, and I am working hard to get it there if I can.