Go PRO Challenge Heats up with the Season

Campaign Uses $50,000 US in Prize Money to Boost Professional- and Diver-Level Certifications

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA, 20 June, 2007 – The excitement for PADI’s Go PRO Challenge is building as PADI Professionals around the world live the dive life and compete for $50,000 US in prize money. As the northern hemisphere dive season heats up, PADI Dive Centers and Resorts are taking advantage of the Go PRO Challenge contests to drive both professional- and diver-level certifications.

“We’re finding the Photo and Video Contest very effective in motivating divers to Go Pro,” shared Anna Schmitz of Emerald Coast Scuba in Destin, Florida, USA. “Also, the Go PRO DVD that came with the free retailer marketing kit has been a very effective marketing tool. People identify with the PADI Pros in the video; there’s a good representation of men and women, people from various parts of the world and instructors teaching at different levels.”

Schmitz is also thrilled with the Go PRO Challenge Professional Rating Contest, which targets all PADI Professionals and challenges them to continue their education and certify divers with their new ratings. “I like it for several reasons,” she says. “First of all, it’s generated a great deal of interest from our customers. Secondly, it’s gotten our staff excited and energized as they help the customers schedule their courses to maximize points. And last but not least, it has generated continuing education for our dive center. In fact, four divers stayed on after our most recent Instructor Development Course and took the Emergency First Response Instructor course, plus four additional specialty instructor courses in order to build up points for the Professional Ratings Contest.”

Patti Stewart of International Scuba in Carrollton, Texas, USA concurs. “The Professional Rating contest has certainly motivated PADI Professionals to get additional ratings. In fact, we already have three in our dive center trying to outdo themselves – and each other!”

Don’t forget, both contests are open to all current PADI Professionals, so if you are a PADI Pro, now is the time to get involved. Not only do you personally have the chance to win up to $20,000 US in two contests, you can also use the GO PRO Challenge as a tool to develop training opportunities for yourself and your dive center. Visit the Pros Section at padi.com for flyers, email templates and other tools you can use to promote continuing education through the Go PRO Challenge. Certifications achieved after 1 January 2007 qualify for both contests. The professional rating contests runs until the end of the year, but submissions for the photo and video contest should be sent to gpc@padi.com before 1 October 2007.

Visit the Teach Diving Section at padi.com for contest rules and complete Go PRO Challenge information or, call 800 729 7234 (US and Canada), +1 949 858 7234 ext. 2423 to discuss how you can use the Go PRO Challenge to promote the thrill and excitement of the dive lifestyle.