Imported post
[b said:
Quote[/b] (Chris Hall @ July 29 2003,12:23)]I would like to know if we have any UK dive centres on the boards and get some feed back on how complying with the HSE regs has effected their business. Or does what I've seen at some dive sites mean that the letter of the law is not being followed as well as it should?
Hi Chris,
I suspect that there are a number of scenarios, I think that many of the freelance instructors probably do not follow the letter of the law to the degree the HSE have specified.
I do think that the whole courses for cash situation with regard to safety has improved and is much more rigorous now. How do the freelance instructors get by, well I guess that many are making very little money and are doing it for there own enjoyment or they are relying on friendly DM's, shore cover support who will work for very little money maybe benefits in kind such as cheap courses etc.
I don't have a huge amount of knowledge on how it has affected the shop situation, but I do know of one shop that used to do the OW without full consideration for support staff and now use DM's in internship to get around the problem.
I think overall that the cost of OW courses once it is broken down leaves very little for Instructors once all the expenses are taken out, especially if they work to maximums of 4 people per course per instructor as many of the ones I know do (Only 2 students per instructor and DM per open water dive). The hourly rate is probably less than working in Burgerking.
Just out of interest what is the cost of the average OW course around the regions. In the Southwest it seems to be between £250 and £300. Now for your freelance instructors that ain't much when you consider kit hire, pool fees, petrol and food expenses not to mention time spent doing the theory, confined water and 2 days minimum on OW (+entrance fees for quarries if the coast is out).
Daz