RAID ZERO FEe-MEMBERSHIP – UPDATE
We had planned for a healthy response, but even so, we are in shock. We have been inundated with emails, phone calls, texts and instant messages of every flavour. Mostly, from our members saying thank you for making this work, from instructors and dive centres asking, “how do we crossover to RAID?” and from others asking how on earth is this possible?
Let’s get a few things sorted, and let’s start with the basics.
For most of us, annual subscriptions have always been a drain on cash-flow at a difficult time of year. So, we have worked out a modern business model that solves this.
The overview is simple: if we make it easier for our members to stay in business, their business grows. The result, increased revenue for them and for RAID. This makes Zero FEe-Membership viable for RAID, and it will not affect the level of service we provide or the depth of that service.
We believe subscriptions have hindered the industry over the past several years. We are working to grow it, hence the need for all pro’s to certify five (5) divers (minimum) to maintain Zero FEe-Membership status arch year. And dive centres still pay for course credits and associated cost of doing business. We have not made any of those costs ‘free.’ However, as always, those trade costs are competitive and realistic for dive centres… but not Free!
A lot of strategic planning went in this marketing campaign, it’s been years is this RAID internal mixer. We cannot share the business model we’ve developed to make this work – our competition would love us to do that.
Dive Raid International has worked from day one to be a bit different by design. There are plenty of resources available highlighting these, the fact is, our fixed costs are less than our major competitors making this for us.
Dive RAID International is supported RAID Regional Offices, these guys eat, sleep and eat diving and are there regional business needs… for some of them, RAID is all they do day-to-day. These twenty (20) offices and staff make an efficient and effective, they’re potentially near you now, speaking your language and available.
And one final thing to consider: The management team’s mantra here at RAID is to be nimble and agile. As such, we will always strive to lead rather than follow. Zero FEe-Membership is another example of that difference. Dive RAID International is member-centric and we have worked hard to make Zero FEe-Membership happen for us all, we all need it. And we know it confuses some and frustrates those who are locked into expensive annual subscriptions. But we believe you will support us and this ground-breaking initiative because RAID is your agency.
CONTACT info@diveraiduk.com or your local RAID Regional Office for full details and for instructions on how to remain in status for 2022 or cross your instructor membership or business over to Dive RAID International.
*To maintain active status in 2023, RAID instructors will be required to certify five (5) divers during 2022. Should this not be achieved, instructors will be required to do an online update which will detail all the changes at RAID during the past year.
- RAID Launches Independent Diver Course - April 2, 2024
- RAID ZERO FEe-MEMBERSHIP – 2022 UPDATE - April 27, 2022
- Go Dive Show Updates - February 21, 2022
