Ralph Erickson Educational Foundation 16336 S. 104th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60467

WHO WAS RALPH ERICKSON?

The dive industry suffered a severe loss over a few years ago, when Ralph Erickson, co-founder of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) passed away in 2006. However, his memory has led to the creation of the Not for Profit, Ralph Erickson Educational Foundation, an organization that reflects Erickson’s dedication to diver education.

The revolutionary dive educator led an unorthodox life filled with accomplishments that reflected his love for all things aquatic. Erickson was a champion swimmer and swim coach as well as a dive industry pioneer. In a time when there were no rules and diving was a sport for extremists only, Erickson’s fresh ideas about dive education revolutionized the industry, and the founding of PADI with business partner John Cronin represented the realization of countless hours of dreaming and planning.

Despite the business’s move to California in 1971, Erickson opted to stay in Chicago, where he coached swimming at Loyola University. He opened a PADI Instructor Training Center in 1987 with Patrick Hammer, a business partner and friend. Through the dive center, he continued to fulfill his dream of educating future divers and dive instructors until his move to Texas in 1990, where he lived with his family until his death on May 25, 2006.

Now, over a year and a half since his passing, he is remembered for many things: his skill as a teacher and businessman, his dedication to education, the great friendships he accumulated over the years, and PADI, now one of the most prestigious diver education organizations in the world. It is his passion for dive education, in fact, that led to the creation of the Ralph Erickson Educational Foundation.

The Foundation, formed by Patrick and Sherry Hammer along with Ralph’s wife, Karen Erickson, and daughter Karina Erickson, is dedicated to diver education. Its primary goal is to help underprivileged diving enthusiasts start their career through a grant program. It is their belief that people with a passion for diving should not be hindered from pursuing their dreams because of monetary concerns, and the foundation is designed to aid those individuals in realizing their dreams.

Individuals who wish to apply for a grant must fill out an application and send it to the above address. As it is a not-for-profit organization, it requires donations in order to launch successfully. If you are interested in donating money to this new endeavor in memory of Ralph Erickson, your tax-deductible donations today will advance dive education for countless students of tomorrow.

The foundation needs your support. Please donate today to help us assist in the growth of the SCUBA industry.

PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION TODAY. AS AN ILLINOIS NOT FOR PROFIT 501 C 3 CORPORATION YOUR KIND DONATION WILL BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Your donation helps us create DIVE leaders and grow the DIVE industry.

Donation may be made in a check form and sent to the Orland Park location. A cc card may be used we ask you fax a copy of the credit card as well as a note in how much you wish to donate. The secure fax number is 708-590-2995

Questions can be emailed to Patrick@ourworldunderwater.com


LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER?

Imagine what it would be like to go to work every day and love it. When you are in the SCUBA business, this can be reality.  I learned this back in the early 70’s, when my dive club at Moraine Valley Community College had no place to purchase and service equipment or fill tanks. In response to the obvious need, I went into the dive industry. After working for a few different companies, this was an unusual experience. My life was changing drastically; I was taking people diving, some to Lake Michigan and others to Devil’s Lake. I would lead training dives in Racine, WI on Saturday morning and hang out in Lake Geneva the same night. Sundays, we would dive Pearl Lake. I started running trips to Florida and the Bahamas. When, one day, my father asked when I was going to get a real job, his words struck me the wrong way. I am a dive educator, warehouse manager, purchasing agent, repairman, advertising director, author, travel agent and salesman. If what I was doing was not a “real job,” I could not imagine working harder. I learned early that diving is a fun job that can also be a great way to make a living. You see, I believe it is not how much money one makes but the quality of one’s work. I still love my job.

If you are thinking about getting a job in the dive industry, you have to choose what direction you want your career path to follow. Should you become an instructor and work for someone else or go all the way and open your own store? The industry needs both, so the choice is up to you. If you choose to become an instructor, there are plenty of options you can take; you can work locally, or go abroad. For instance, I just completed some programs in Jamaica, Grand Turk and the Cayman Islands. They all need instructors. Local dive centers frequently call us looking for candidates that have completed training and are looking for work.  If you would like to open your own shop, a good way to start could be to work for a store and learn the business before you open your own. Work closely with the store and they will support you.  It is a big country and the industry needs both stores and instructors. Do not come into the industry to hurt another store, because this is not a good business plan. Look at the market you want to go into and see how many stores are servicing the area. A city like Chicago could handle multiple stores, but in some small towns, one may be all they can support. 

Today, getting into the dive industry is serious business. The industry has changed significantly since I opened my first store with $5,000.00. Your first step should always be to make a good business plan, backed up by a solid marketing plan. How will you draw in potential customers? Next, you will need to go to the local bank for a loan. Always apply for more money than you think you need. In our business course, we suggest you plan on four to six months before you earn a paycheck in a new business. You should plan to stock a small variety of equipment vendors. Do not try to stock everything; a new store can get by with one major line. If a customer wants a product you do not carry, call your nearest dive center that carries that line. I am always willing to call another store for my customer, but before I call I show them the value of the products I carry just so they know the features of my product lines. Being an owner is rewarding, but it is hard work. Many people prefer to teach.

Being a dive educator, I do not know of any industry one can enter for so little money. You can become a dive educator for fewer than five grand, from the entry-level course to the instructor course. However, you should understand that finding work as a new instructor with no other credentials is hard. I suggest to my candidates to complete a few instructor level specialties. In our company, we would hire a Master Instructor over a basic instructor any day.

Working as an instructor is very rewarding in many ways. Years ago, an instructor would work with a store in exchange for trips. Today, the professional dive educator is paid for their instruction. You should have a contract with the company you are going to work for, because a basic contract will help you avoid future problems. I suggest you review this contract every year.  In order for you to make the amount of money you are worth, you will need to work for a company that understands the value of selling a quality product for a profit. Imagine if you were working for a percentage of gross. Would it not be better for you to be sure the store is charging enough for you to make enough? Today, people are making $25 to $50 dollars an hour and many more are getting more than that. As a dive educator you need to be paid well for your service. Now, if you were to make less money but get a few trips, a lesser fee may be acceptable to you.

What is involved in getting into diving as a career? Once you complete your Instructor course, you should work with an instructor for a few programs to gain the experience you need. When you are ready, break off on your own. The dive center should be responsible for getting the customers; you are responsible for keeping them. It costs more to get a customer than to keep one. As an instructor, invite your students out diving. DO NOT run training and weekend dives to the same location. They say variety is the spice of life. Go camping at Devil’s Lake. Spend a weekend at Pearl Lake, but try to avoid the same lake every weekend. Your students will look forward to going to other destinations. Think of it this way: have you ever gone to Florida and dove the same reef every day? Of course not! You like to see different creatures, as do your students. Dive training is serious business and fun, but in order to keep interest high, you need to explore new areas. What better way of doing this than with a class? I remember years ago running my Aquatic Steward program in France Park, IN. We were studying the fresh water jellyfish. I was training students, but I was also learning from the others that were with me as we explored a new lake and saw some fascinating creatures.

The industry needs good instructors and fresh, bold ideas. If your job is not what you want to do for the rest of your life, then make a break and become a dive educator. A teacher who goes to class every day may only teach one subject. We go to class daily and teach many programs. I personally teach over 50 different dive related courses. I may not teach every class every week, but I have programs for those that need training in a special area.  The point is that I am not doing the same job every day. One week, I may be out on Lake Michigan doing a wreck diver course, and then the next week I may be teaching Underwater Photography.  What a great way to expand your career and stay interested!

A big part of the dive industry is travel. I have taken thousands of divers on trips, and in so doing I have gone to places I may never have had the chance to go. You may love live-a boards and have the chance to run groups aboard them. Maybe your dream is to see the south Pacific; you can run a trip there. Whether you are exploring some fascinating wrecks in the Great Lakes or heading to one of the hundreds of islands that make up the Caribbean Sea, there is no better way than going with your students.  Diving in a group is a lot of fun, especially when you are a new diver. So, as an educator, be sure to promote not only training but travel as well. You also need to learn how to sell equipment. Divers should purchase their own equipment, and when they do they will want your help selecting it. If you are familiar with the equipment, you can aid their selection and be confident that they are getting the proper equipment. In addition to that, your student’s purchases keep local dive stores alive. If your students do not purchase equipment locally, you may see local stores suffer, and if the local stores go under for lack of business, the divers will have nowhere to service their equipment or fill tanks.

SCUBA diving is a rewarding recreation, but making it a career is a pleasure. Keep in mind that as an educator you need to be rewarded for your work. For some reason, people think dive educators should not make the living others do. I believe we have such a high responsibility for the divers we are training that we should be paid more than any golf pro. However, pay is only a portion of the job. You receive many different rewards in the way of tips, trips, trying the newest equipment, and meeting many new people, some who will remain friends for a lifetime.

Get paid and see the underwater world, WOW what a concept!


THE PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION

Grants are reviewed every quarter. Instructor level training will be recommended at a few locations, THAT HAVE OFFERED TO ACCEPT OUR GRANTS.  In some cases the applicant may need to suggest a program they are looking to enroll in.

Grants will be paid directly to the school and at no times are paid to the applicant. as of april 2012 we have trained over 22 PADI Instrucotrs , at no cost to them. An IDC today with books, IE fees and EFR will cost as much as $3,000. Were glad to help bring new blood into the industry. We can only do this with your help.

To apply for a grant Please send a copy of all your scuba certification cards along with a resume to of your diving experience. If you are approved then we will ask for more information.

Patrick Hammer
Ralph Erickson Educational Foundation
16336 South 104th Ave.
Orland Park, Illinois, 60467

E mail to:  Patrick@ourworldunderwater.com