OK Guys lets move ahead.
Being prepared encompasses a lot of preparation. You need to carry spare equipment, regulators, gauges, and alternate air sources. Flashlights, hoses, straps, dive computers and computer batteries, and mouth pieces. It is easier to swap a regulator on the spot rather than take the time to fix it just then. I always carry the necessary repair kits for repairs later when time permits. Now this becomes really easy if everybody is wearing the same equipment. You cant carry an entire dive shop with you but if everybody is using the same REG. same BCDs, and same computers a few repair kits and your home free and everybody keeps diving. There is no excuse for someone to miss a dive due to malfunction equipment so keep it simple and have ample backups and supplies.
I had a diver forget his mask once and after a 20-mile trip to a special island I know in the Sea of Cortez, He could not dive because he had forgotten his mask. When I pulled out a spare it saved his dive and he has been diving with me ever since
Lets talk more about this Underwater Video and Camera Business.
YOU MUST DO IT> It sets you apart from the regular instructor. It allows you the opportunity to create exciting moving pictures of your dive seminar for your Commercial and the people just love this. Editing is extremely important as nobody likes to watch a video unedited. Editing machines are real cheep now days and most live-aboards have one on board and you can shoot in the day edit in the afternoon and present in the evening. You can create a trip video which you sell to your clients at the end of the trip say $60.00 apiece Times 10 thats a potential of another $600.00. DO IT. Not all will buy but many will.
Give them a Nikonis V to take some pictures with as soon as they get their buoyancy control down. DO NOT USE these cheap versions of an underwater point and shoot. They really dont take very good pictures and a course in U/W Camera usage is designed for the use of a real camera. I have students come to me with a point and shoot and want to use it in my underwater camera course and I say no. I will let them use one of my cameras. A REAL CAMERA. Most good operators have the ability to process your film the same day and you can show slides that evening. DO not make prints. ALWAYS MAKE SLIDES this way everybody can enjoy the fun and prints can be made later. I am now using a Nikonis III with a light meter and it is truly fun. When I go on a fun dive trip for just me and my staff I could spend the whole time taking pictures. I am also hooked on this part of our sport. Your clients get hooked also after one roll of film with a good cameras and you then sell them the U/W Camera course and of course a camera.
This same philosophy holds true with all of the Specialties. Teach them how to use a speargun and you sell spear guns. Teach them how do to a wreck dive and you sell extra lights. Reels and safety equipment. Teach them the Night dive specialty course to sell dive lights and back ups. Etc. etc. etc.
Another point here. When you go diving for yourself never dive with anybody less qualified than you otherwise you end up with the liability and the responsibility. I have gone on fun dive trip with my staff and we sign up as advanced divers. This is so we can have fun and not be bothered by everybody elses problems. We go to dive and be left alone. You should take your staff out on frequent adventures just you and the guys and gals for fun- it helps clear the cobwebs.