Continuing from Master Instructor Profile: Daddy Bob at the Helm (Part 1)

I’d like to know now about his current capacity as Master Instructor for Mermaid Resort. Now, one becomes a Master Instructor, according to Bob, “…by instructing…after you have certified so many people and met all the rest of the criteria which also includes some business seminar training and that sort of thing…under PADI. You have to certify so many people in each different category and so many divers overall. You also have to teach at least 10 specialties. I have 17 specialties…like underwater photography, underwater videography, search and rescue, search and recovery, and the list goes on and on.”

And how did he get into Mermaid? “I came from another [dive] shop…and Mermaid - I’ve always seen it as the place with a lot of potential. [It] looked to me like I could come to Mermaid and take advantage of that potential and give them my potential. We’re building a really well solid based shop with the basis of safety yet fun and exciting. I have been instrumental when they first built Mermaid.” This is very true as Bob was the one who trained the supposed manager of the dive shop back then to the point of getting him up to Dive Master.

Any insight on pre-Bob Mermaid Dive Center and the current Mermaid Dive Center under you? “Quite a bit of difference. We’ve come a long way. We’ve made some giant strides.” In his words, he’s gotten a lot of support from resort management in that he has set forth policies and he’s seen everyone support and back him up. This great partnership is perhaps what has improved the dive center’s service and what will ultimately be instrumental in the plans moving forward.

What are these plans, Bob? “I want to put in a seaside bar…I’m very keen on that…it looks like we’re moving ahead. We’re also talk about putting in a tech diving center. There’s an emerging market for that.”

A bit of reflection now, maybe? Any notable lessons you’ve learned and which you’d like to share? “Oh there are so many… I think one of the things that’s most notable learning to is keeping it professional, teaching diving. Keep it professional, but still allowing it to be fun. I came from an old school of diving where it was a He-Man sport…A man’s kind of sport and one of the lesson’s I’ve learned is that I’ve had to adapt and make it less rigid and yet maintain all of the safety we can.”

And how do you see Mermaid diving 10 years from now? Bob lets out a hearty laugh, “Hopefully, I’ll still be diving. I may still be teaching. But I see Mermaid, 10 years from now, of course, it’s going to require some growing between now and then…I really believe that in this business, as in most businesses, you either grow or you don’t. I’d say that 10 years from now there will have to be some growth.”

Another branch perhaps in Cebu or somewhere else? “Possibly.” He says matter-of-factly and continues, “but I think even for right here… we can right now handle pretty comfortably maybe 15 to 18 divers at any given time…I hope we’re going to be more and more attractive so that we’re going to be hard-pressed to find room on a boat for divers. That’s what I mean by grow or go. You have to start expanding, finding more room, put more stuff, get more equipment. You have to upgrade your equipment. So that’s all growth. So I see Mermaid doing that. The resort itself is doing that already. They’re building more rooms up there.”

Do you have any last words to our readers? “…Welcome to Mermaid, safe, exciting, comfortable diving - at a reasonable price! First word, obviously, is Safe… safety is always my first concern.”

Yes, I’ve seen how safe it is around here. I’ve seen BCDs and other equipment being checked regularly for leaks, among others.

And some amenities that Bob has put in place…”After every dive, the diver is offered a complimentary cup of coffee or tea to warm up. They’re also provided with a towel and of course we have fresh water and hot shower. We have a nice rest area for them. We’re going to have more when we put in the seaside bar. We have probably the cleanest, most organized compressor room. That’s another thing that I require is that we have absolutely clean air. So we focus on those things - safety and comfort.”

And of course we are reasonably priced? “We’re not the cheapest price. I am a big believer in ‘Don’t be the cheapest. Give the best value to the dollar.’”

Such a wonderful person and this quite lengthy article could only offer so much. So I invite you, dear reader, book that diving holiday to Mermaid now and meet Bob!