Dive in

zoom

Al Boom Diving operations manager Francis Uy.

Al Boom Diving operations manager Francis Uy explains why the dive industry is set to expand this year, despite the ongoing construction in the UAE that has affected dive sites off the west coast.

When and why did you start work at Al Boom Diving?

I started my diving career in the Philippines as a divemaster at various resorts, eventually becoming a qualified scuba instructor.

I joined Al Boom four years ago as a scuba instructor, and have since been promoted to manager of the diving division.

My typical day involves overseeing the Dubai team, as well as co-ordinating activities with our dive centre at Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah.

What are your views on the dive industry in the Middle East?

FU: The dive industry in the Middle East is very new and people are sceptical because they are not sure what to expect. It has been a challenge to promote the sport, but it is definitely thriving, and becoming popular not only among tourists and expatriates but locals as well.

Diving is popular all year round; in winter we see tourists from Europe enjoying the cooler weather while summer is popular with residents and tourists.

The most frequented destinations among divers are Fujairah and the Musandam in Oman, where it's not uncommon to see turtles, stingrays and sea horses.

Diving in the UAE also offers great dive sites, with a variety of wrecks and reefs to choose from in the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. As the leisure diving industry is competitive here, I believe that divers get good value for money in the Middle East.

What are the current challenges in operating in the diving industry?

The biggest challenge facing the diving industry right now is the construction in the area. There are a lot of great dive sites but the expansion of the city has affected those dive locations on the west coast immensely, and so visibility is affected.

Sadly, we stopped operating in these areas, which included wreck dives such as Cement Barge and the Zainab, as our main goal is to keep our customers happy and give them value for their money.

Occasionally we do have bad weather and do need to cancel dives for safety reasons, but it doesn't happen too often.

What are the current trends in diving in the region?

The most popular dive course is the basic certification - the Open Water course.

Discover Scuba Diving is ideal for those who would like to experience diving but do not have the time to take the full course, or simply seek the adventure and thrill of being underwater.

We are seeing an enormous growth in the Advanced Open Water course, and some divers - especially expats - are now turning professional and signing up for the Divemaster Course.

What are Al Boom Diving's biggest revenue generators and most popular products?

Our business is divided into four core services: PADI courses; diving and snorkelling charters; retail and distribution of dive gear; and equipment servicing.

Our biggest revenue generator would have to be our PADI courses, resulting in a spin-off of the other three services.

Our leading retail brand is Aqualung, for which we are the local distributors. Some of our all-time best sellers include: The Aqualung Legend regulator, The Cressi-Sub Matrix Mask and the Suunto D9 computer, which integrates a digital compass and wireless tank data reception. The recent introduction of a Titanium bracelet has further increased its popularity.

What are your plans for the Dive Middle East Exhibition this month?

We will be hosting our biggest stand ever, with close to 20 different brands, PADI instructors on the floor to advise on kit and sign consumers up for dive courses or trips.

We will be using DMEX to launch several new products, with the option of testing them in an on-site interactive dive tank. New products include: the Aqualung Mikron, the Aqualung Slingshot Fins and the Aqualung Pro QD I3, which helps control the dive with a simple lever.

In 2008 we will introduce new initiatives to expand the diving experience and increase the involvement, enjoyment and social aspects of the sport.

Divers are becoming increasingly competent and Al Boom Diving wants to be there to meet their increased expectations so that we can grow the sport in the Middle East. At the same time we want to focus on providing opportunities to keep newly-certified divers diving by offering a supportive and fun atmosphere.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM