COVID has affected dive travel, and teaching. But, looking back on what I expected - in early April - to be a really 'down' year, I am surprised by how busy I have been.
I teach through two shops, in two different, adjacent, states. And, COVID's impact on the volume in the two shops has been quite different. In one, the loss of public pool availability really shut down OW teaching for much of the season, and therefore really slowed down the 'pipeline'. In the other, the continued availability of private pool space allowed us to continue, even though the shop had to be physically closed for several months.
But, the need to change how we do things has also stimulated some innovation and opened up new opportunities.
I have been to the local quarries for 'fun' far more than in the previous 2-3 years. One shop set up some mid-week diving outings - '6-pack Diver Days', where we limited the number of people who could be in the shelter, (so we could maintain some distancing). Those were very successful. In fact, both quarries that I use have been quite busy. I have been able to do two coastal / ocean charters this season, for 'fun', which I had not done in the past several years.
We have implemented some cleaning procedures in one of the shops that I found to be particularly thoughtful, and I have changed my own approach to my personal gear cleaning, as a result. At one of the quarries, a very pro-active local shop and instructor created a Confined Water space at one of the entrances, that has served to offset the lack of pool availability to a certain extent.
One shop's monthly staff meetings have gone virtual (Zoom), which has increased participation. Dive Club meetings went virtual as well for 6 months, and we have had some great remote presentations.
I usually only go to DEMA in the alternate years, when it is in FL. I went in 2019. AND, I went to DEMA again this year - virtually. It wasn't the same, of course, but I really applaud the efforts of organizations and agencies to adapt to the changing environment.