If you run a dive shop, teach, guide, fill tanks, move gear, captain boats, or keep your local dive scene alive, you already know the truth: people don’t become divers (or stay divers) because of one great post online—they stay because a real local community welcomed them, trained them well, and gave them a reason to get back in the water.
That’s exactly why I built 50dives.
I’m traveling, diving, documenting, and meeting divers where they are—then pointing the spotlight right back at the local people who make diving possible. A “50dives stop” is a chance for your shop and your local dive community to be featured, to meet new divers, to re-engage certified divers who haven’t been in the water lately, and to create momentum that lasts after I roll on to the next place.
This page is for the shops and instructors who are thinking: What would it actually look like to host this? What do you need from us? And what do we get out of it?
What it means to host (or support) a 50dives stop
A stop can be simple, or it can be a full-on local celebration. I’m flexible by design. The goal isn’t to force your operation into my template—it’s to collaborate in a way that fits your site, your schedule, your team, and the kind of diving you’re proud of.
Hosting can look like…
- A guided fun dive day where your guides lead, your shop sets the tone, and I document the experience.
- A “welcome to local diving” meetup at the shop—gear talk, site briefing, community intros, maybe a post-dive hang.
- A skills-focused session (refreshers, buoyancy tune-ups, or continuing education) led by you, built around what local divers actually need.
- A discovery-first experience for people who are curious about diving (and need a safe, professional entry point).
- A specialty highlight: boat diving, shore diving, quarry training, kelp forests, wrecks, springs—whatever makes your region special.
Supporting can look like…
Not every shop needs to “host” in the formal sense. Support matters just as much.
- Helping coordinate access, conditions, or local norms
- Connecting me with instructors, DMs, captains, or site managers
- Offering local advice that keeps everything smooth and safe
- Sharing the stop with your community so the right people show up
The common thread: you stay the local expert. I’m not here to replace your role—I’m here to amplify it.
Why this is good for your shop (beyond a single weekend)
Diving is local. Training is local. Fills are local. Service is local. And when people travel, the best trip they ever take often starts with the confidence and continuity they get from their home shop.
A 50dives stop is designed to create that flywheel.
1) We introduce divers to their local option
A surprising number of certified divers don’t have a shop relationship—they certified somewhere else, moved, got busy, or just fell out of the habit. When we put a friendly on-ramp right in front of them, with a clear “here’s where you go next,” you’re not competing with the internet. You’re becoming the obvious next step.
2) We help newer divers feel like they belong
New divers often have the same private worry: Am I good enough to show up? A well-run local day with a welcoming shop changes everything. They meet real humans. They hear real stories. They realize they don’t have to be perfect—they just have to keep diving.
3) We make the local dive scene look alive
When your community is visible, participation rises. A stop gives you a concrete reason to rally people: a date, a plan, a shared mission, and content that keeps working after the day is done.
4) We create content that points back to you
I document stops to tell real dive stories—people, places, and the practical path from “interested” to “active diver.” When we collaborate, I keep the spotlight on the operators and instructors who make it possible.
(Exact deliverables can vary by stop—if you have specific hopes for what gets captured, tell me up front and we’ll plan around it.)
What participants are usually looking for (and how we set expectations)
Your customers are rarely just “divers.” They’re a mix, and a successful stop respects that.
Certified divers
Many want one or more of the following:
- A low-friction way to get in the water with a group
- Local knowledge (site selection, entries/exits, timing, conditions)
- A confidence boost after time away
- A reason to buy/upgrade gear with guidance they trust
Learners and “almost divers”
They’re usually looking for:
- A safe, professional first step
- A welcoming culture (no ego, no judgment)
- Clear next actions: where to train, what to buy (and what not to buy yet), how to keep going
I’m careful with messaging: if someone needs training or a refresher, we route them to you. If conditions require limits, we set them. If the right answer is “not today,” that’s still a win when it’s handled professionally.
How we coordinate a shop-led stop (simple, clean, and respectful of your operation)
I want this to be easy for you. Here’s the planning flow that works in almost any location.
Step 1: You tell me what kind of stop fits your reality
A few questions answer most of the unknowns:
- What’s the best type of diving to showcase locally?
- What’s the right season or window?
- Do you prefer a small, controlled group or a bigger community day?
- Are there access constraints, permits, or site rules we must follow?
Step 2: We choose a format and set boundaries
We align on:
- Who the stop is for (certified only vs. mixed with training options)
- Prerequisites (cert level, recent dive experience, required equipment)
- Safety leadership (your instructors/guides lead; we don’t improvise)
Step 3: We plan the “shop connection” on purpose
A good stop doesn’t end at the parking lot. We’ll make sure there’s a clear local pathway afterward—how divers continue with you (future guided dives, classes, service, community events). That’s how the stop becomes long-term value.
Step 4: We promote it in a way that protects your time
I’m not interested in creating chaos for your front desk. We’ll keep communication clean: what the day is, who it’s for, what people should bring, and what they should do next.
What I’ll never ask you to compromise
I care about good stories, but I care more about doing diving the right way. When we work together:
- You set the safety culture. If your call is “no,” it’s no.
- We respect standards and local rules. No shortcuts.
- We protect your reputation. A stop should make your shop look like the professional hub it is.
- We keep it collaborative. This is your community. I’m a guest with a camera and a mission.
Ready to bring 50dives to your area?
If you’re even considering hosting or supporting a stop, send me a note. You don’t need a perfect plan—just tell me what you have and what you’d love to showcase.
When you reach out, it helps to include:
- Your location and the kind of diving you want to feature
- The time of year that makes the most sense
- Whether you’re thinking “host” (lead the stop) or “support” (coordinate/help connect)
- Any constraints I should know early (access, group size, prerequisites)
Head to the Contact page and tell me what you’re thinking. Let’s build a stop that’s fun, safe, and genuinely good for your local dive community.