CITA members participate in Aqualung clinic

(CITA): On Thursday, 6^th December, dive equipment manufacturer Aqualung held an equipment service clinic in Cayman for 16 employees of local dive operators, all members of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA). Keen to maintain the Cayman Islands' reputation as a safe diving destination, attendees were trained on how to inspect gear and identify servicing needs. A certification of training from the equipment manufacturer means dive operator employees can carry out cleaning and servicing at their local shop, saving them from having to return the equipment to the manufacturer. The Cayman Islands attract tens of thousands of visiting divers annually.

Keen to maintain the Cayman Islands' reputation as a safe diving destination, attendees were trained on how to inspect gear and identify servicing needs. A certification of training from the equipment manufacturer means dive operator employees are able to carry out cleaning and servicing at their local shop, saving them from having to return the equipment to the manufacturer. The Cayman Islands attract tens of thousands of visiting divers annually.

The training session was led by Ted Foreman of Aqualung, who sampled some of Cayman’s other tourism products during his visit from sponsors of the course, including the Westin Casuarina Resort, Budget Rent-A-Car and Cayman Airways, the islands’ self-professed ‘divers’ airline’.

The training course was coordinated by local dive shop, Divers Supply. Adam Gibbons of Divers Supply said, “Typically, this type of course would only be held at the annual Dive Equipment and Marketing Association’s (DEMA) annual expo in the US. Instead of each participant paying to travel to Las Vegas or Florida, as well as the cost of a hotel, meals, car rental and the US$250 registration fee for the clinic, this was a much more affordable training opportunity that Divers Supply was happy to coordinate.” He continued, “Because of the support from Cayman Airways, the Westin and Budget, the cost to participants was only US $125 – a true bargain to attend this training that will help our island maintain its designation as a safe place to dive.”

Another resort tech training course with will take place in January for CITA Watersports members, this time with ScubaPro. Aqualung and ScubaPro are popular brands of dive equipment in the rental fleets of Cayman Islands dive operators.