setting up a dive centre abroad

More questions....... Does anyone have any experience or advice or know where ot go for it regarding setting up a dive school/centre abroad. Eg what qualification you would need, licences and permissions etc, basic equipment requirements or anything else of relevance. Would PADI offer any advice? Not for me I hasten to add but for a mate in Holland who is a bit non plussed about how to do the ground work, gather the necessary info and formulate a business plan

Most of the answers to this really depend on where the dive centre is to be set up. Different countries have different rules regarding diving and Dive Centres. Also depending on the lcation would also dictate what eqiupment would be required.

As a basis to start you'd need about 10 complete sets of kit with more suits and boots and at least 20 cylinders.

Either access to a compressor or your own and again depending on where you are this coule create it's own set of problems.

You'd need a vehicle , possibley one to transport your customers around in, amd maybe a boat, again this depends on the location of the centre.

You also need to know the area well and any local anomolies.

On top of all this you'd need some money to suvive several months and pay for advertising. You've also got the web site to sort out, dive centre to find and kit out, come up with a name, a logo and get promotional material sorted.

This only gives a basic idea so if you want ot know more PM me and I'll give you a better idea from my own experience of setting up abroad.