Some talk about diving...we are diving. Some dream of going on great dive trips...we go on one or two every month. And some just wish they could dive at all...for them we hope to be able to assist in 2008 with several iniatives to help handicapped and wounded soldiers learn to dive with SingleDivers.com becoming the 'dive buddy organization' for these divers once they are certified!
Any organization that is growing needs the help of its members to become stronger and better and to be in tune with the member's desires, needs and wants. We are no exception so we ask you to help us keep what is working and improve what isn't and add what we need to truly be the premier dive organization for single and married but buddyless divers!
Having said that...let us tell you abit about where we've come from and where we hope we are going.
1. SD was formed in March of 2004 and will be 4 years old in March 2008!
2. We have run 12-15 trips a year or 1-2 a month every month since our inception! And we plan to run a record breaking 17 trips in 2008!
3. Our trips range from 3 days to 12 days...from under a $1000 to over $3000 for all skill levels. We help avoid single supplements, find suitable roommates so no one is the 3rd or 5th wheel and we work to match dive buddies based upon skill level, breathing consumption rates, style of diving etc.
4. We have over 4300 members from 21 different countries and still growing strong!
5. We take school supplies on almost all of our trips or help build schools or do reef clean up...our members are stewards of this earth!
6. And we have an all volunteer staff that is world class in every respect because they love the mission of SingleDivers.com and they love to help others just like you and me!
So where do we want to go?
1. We want to continue everything that we are currently doing and expand our trip offerings so you keep having great choices, great values and exciting once-in-a-lifetime adventures with the best group of divers around...other single. solo and buddyless divers!
2. We want to appeal to every level of diving skill...not just tech divers or newer divers...or fresh water or blue water divers but ALL divers! And we want all our divers to have an open respectful and fun exchange of information, knowledge and enthusiasm! We currently do this and you'll find that as a result we have tremendous talent sharing their thoughts and knowledge with us both in the diving and diving health arenas.
3. We want to offer more value for your membership with SingleDivers.com. So in addition to $25 member rebates off every trip you take with us over $500 or any group trip, we want to add more manufacturer's discounts and values only available to our members! We want to add more discounts for travel for our members and we want to add more trips if that is what you want!
4. We want to offer more "Singles Weeks" since our divers have been asking us for them. Last year we had one this coming year we'll have two! And we want them to be not only an excellent value but fun and with purpose where we can make a difference in the world we live and dive!
5. As mentioned earlier we want to help our wounded soldiers learn to dive and then become their favorite dive buddy organization to keep them diving!
6. We want to continue our civic and ecological efforts both educational like DrBill's feature columns and initiatives to help save our planet such as a very special joint effort with Nautilus Explorer to work with children to help save our SHARKS! We also have a special program being developed with The Texas Flower Gardens to Help save our OCEANS! We have strength, power and passion in our numbers...together we can make a difference!
7. We want to expand our local "Happy Hours" and "Dive of the Months - DOM's" so you can find more members to socialize and dive with near you!
8. And we want to continue to evolve to be your favorite spot on the web...a reprieve from the workday or the negativity of the world. A chance to be funny or silly or to laugh at someone else's antics, to be part of an organization focused on helping others and to learn more about this great sport we all love!
What we won't do...
1. We won't sell out to advertisers...we've been approached and we won't hammar you with advertising, pop ups, etc. You may see a banner for one of our trips or perhaps supporting one of our tremendous partners but that's it. Our partners prefer to reach out to you differently than ads and we are glad!
2. We've been asked why our premier membership is not free? Or why pm's are not free? And the answer is nothing is free...you pay for it one way or the other. Here you pay $35 a year for your membership, get a great goodie pkg with stickers, patch, magnet and other cool SD and partner stuff and you get a $25 rebate after every trip you take with us over $500 no matter how many times you travel! What do you get in return? You get an advertising free, spam free and predator free community that is respectful and courteous of its members!
3. We won't lose our 'dive club' roots and our 'personalized approach' to diving trips and having fun. All our trips will continue to focus on the individual divers ensuring appropriate diving for your skill level, appropriate rooming and diving buddies, plenty of 'meets and greets' and events and activities to meet others, have a great time or just relax in your own style! Yep...SingleDivers.com can and does offer all of that and more on every trip we do.
4. We won't quit trying new things. There is a risk in trying something new...if it fails then people think all of SingleDivers.com must be representative of that one experience. But if we don't try new things we'll stagnate and at the end of the day...the only way to truly succeed is to offer freshness and variety with a common backbone of continuity so that one SingleDivers.com experience is very similar to all others but still new and different! So you have our committment to keep trying new things!
5. We won't quit 'guaranteeing your vacation' meaning once you sign up for a trip it will not be cancelled by SD regardless of how few people are on it. So even if its just you and me diving...that trip will go!
What we need from you:
1. We need your help in determining where you want to dive so we can set up trips that are affordable, exciting and where you want to dive!
2. When we post trips we need your help in filling them. We commit to our suppliers for a minimum number of spots which we have to fill or pay for regardless. Being an all volunteer organization aka 'dive club on steriods', this is very costly and will close the doors on an endeavor like this should it happen too often. It is possible to give seats back but usually that is 4-6 months in advance which then totally changes the trip composition. Not that its bad but it is different. So instead of having the entire resort or boat for our group, we only have part of it. So how can you help? First don't worry that a trip will be cancelled. Go ahead and sign up...if you do others will too! And you have our promise we won't cancel the trip regardless of how few or many sign up for it. Yes this is unique and we hope you'll help us by going on a trip that needs divers on it.
3. Participate in the community...everyone loves to read what others have written...but we need 'writers' too!
Don't have a funny joke to post? Then wish someone a Happy Birthday! Or welcome them to the community! Its your community...your family...make yourself at home and make some waves!!! 4. Give us your ideas on how we can better serve you. If your suggestions require we add more volunteers to make it work then bear with us as we ramp up for that. Or better yet, volunteer yourself! We always need great helpers! If your suggestions require we add professional staff such as office support or accounting support then please bear with us as we try to make that jump and add that level of investment to SD to support that endeavor. We want your suggestions...but please understand that we may not be able to implement them all right away.
5. Tell us what we are doing right! We'd hate to stop doing something for lack of feedback that made SD special to you or fun and unique!
6. And tell us where we need to improve...while we may not be able to change overnight...we'll work on them in 2008!
So as you wind down the year doing your own personal reflection and new year's resolves...please help SingleDivers.com do the same!
And while you are at it...take a trip with us! Consider it an early Christmas present! Or your tax refund to yourself or heck just something you deserve! Keep SingleDivers.com DIVING by DIVING WITH US!
Sincerely,
Kamala aka Wreck Wench
George aka Tolly
And the rest of our World Class Staff and Volunteers!
