Try Dives can be ‘business as usual’. If resources will allow try running Try Dives weekly (or as needed) to accommodate potential members.
You don’t have to run a big Try Dive event, most people prefer a one-on-one Try Dive and it gives them chance to get to know people in the club in a more relaxed environment.
Responding to Try Dive enquiries
When someone makes a 'Try Dive' or 'Learn to dive' enquiry with your club, the most important thing is to get back to them as soon as you can, within 24 hours is best.
Next, keep your response simple.
If they haven’t dived before suggest that they come along for a Try Dive session at your club. Pick a date that’s good for them and your club and go from there. Confirm the Try Dive session in an email, remember not to overwhelm them with information about your club (unless they specifically ask for it).
All a try diver needs to know is:
- Where they are going and what time do they need to arrive
- Who will be there to welcome them - name of the person to ask for and a contact number
- What they need to bring - t-shirt, shorts, swimwear, towel etc.
- How much is the Try Dive - do they need to bring cash?
- A brief description of what to expect
- You might want to make them aware that they will need to complete a medical form on the night of the Try Dive and if they have any questions about this to contact you
Send a final confirmation email or call them a few days before the Try Dive, reminding them of the details. You may also want to get details from the try diver such as their fin size prior to the evening so you can pre-plan your kit requirements.
The Try Dive
A buzzing club night to show off your diverse, sociable and friendly club will really encourage new members to join, so make the most of your existing members. While you will need the required level of qualified instructors, all members can play a key role. Meeting a mix of people at a club night can make a real difference to your try divers’ overall experience.
Meet and greet your try diver/s
Ensure try diver/s are met with a friendly welcome to reassure them right from the start. First impressions count and the try dive starts the moment your participant arrives so someone to welcome your try diver/s is a must. The person that greets them doesn’t need to be an Instructor or committee member, an enthusiastic and friendly member of the club who can act as the participants ‘buddy’ for the visit is ideal.
Taking that first step to a try dive can be a little daunting for some so, by providing a warm and friendly reception from the outset, you can settle any try diver nerves and create a welcome to remember!
Top tip
Enthusiasm is infectious! Make sure you have new club members involved in your try dive event who are still excited about their training and can talk about their experiences.
A buddy should:
- Give the participant a brief outline of the evening and what they can expect
- Get the necessary forms signed and answer any initial questions
- Introduce the try diver to their designated Instructor
- Be around to assist the Instructor in kitting up for the pool session (they can even get in the pool and join the Try Dive)
- Keep your try diver/s engaged and not on the sidelines (all members can contribute to this)
Provide all the essential information about your club and learning to dive in progressive, bite-sized chunks over the whole evening. This way your try divers get the time to absorb the information while enjoying themselves!
Make sure you have a participant pack
The try dive participant pack will give them all the information they need to take away and read. Include information on your club, your membership fees and details of your Ocean Diver training programme and your essential contact details.
In each A5 sized pack you will find a try dive certificate, a Learn to Dive booklet plus you can add your own club details and information. You can order try dive packs for free from BSAC - order free Try Dive packs - or call +44 (0)151 350 6201.
Instructors and getting Try Divers in the pool
Enthusiasm and patience are key…Instructors try to keep the flow of the evening going and to avoid any unnecessary hanging around.
A warm welcome is essential – this is most likely the first time the participant has ever tried scuba and will probably be a little anxious as to what will happen next. Introduce yourself by your first name and let them know your instructor qualification to reassure them. Be friendly and remember their name, ask about any previous experience (snorkelling or diving on holiday) and if there is anything, in particular, they are worried about.
Use the Try Dive pool session checklist for hints and tips on conducting a Try Dive.
Remember to take a photo or short video of their first try dive as a great memento of their experience. If your club has an underwater photographer, get them in the pool! If not you can take one of them standing in the water kitted up. Important - make sure you get consent to take photos from your try divers. You can download photography and video consent form.

Top tip
Ask the try diver/s if they are happy for the picture to go on your clubs Facebook Page, if so tag them in the image and ask them to share it on their Facebook timeline.
After the try dive
Once out of the pool, their buddy's can show them where the hot showers and changing facilities are. Invite them to meet you in the bar/clubhouse for a chat and to get their certificate of achievement and try dive pack.
Make sure you capitalise on your try divers’ excitement and enthusiasm!
We can all remember our first time on scuba and that sense of achievement of trying something new. This is the ideal time to sow the seed that they can now learn to dive. If you’re getting the vibe that they are really enthusiastic, sign them up straight away.
Do a short review of the session, and explain what they need to do next to learn to dive with BSAC and answer any initial questions before handing over to your ‘star recruiters’ – your club members to chat to them, tell them all about club life and make them feel welcome.
If your club has facilities such as a boathouse, RIBs, compressor room etc get club members to show interested try divers around.
Post-event follow-ups and 'closing the sale'
Your try divers have achieved a lot in one night and have been given a lot of information to consider. You may well find that some make their mind up on the night so, as part of your preparations, make sure your Membership Secretary has a supply of joining forms to hand.
Top tip
If your club is signed up to allow members to join online you can do this straight away. We have now made it available for club and direct members to join clubs online, as part of this clubs can now opt-in by email to allow members to set up the club fees and membership fees with the club.
Contacting your try diver/s
By following this guide you will have already gone a long way to create a welcoming and memorable experience for your participants. The key now is an effective follow up to gain the new members, you should:
- Send an email to your try diver/s the day after to thank them for attending and invite them back to visit you on your next club night (again, no pressure to join, just come along)
- Confirm dates/details of your next Ocean Diver course
- Invite them to follow your club's Facebook Page and ask them to ‘review’ their try dive experience. Remember to tag them in their Try Dive picture on Facebook too!
- Make a note to call the try diver about a week after their try dive to follow up
- Keep a database of your recent try divers and invite them to your next social event as a guest. If your club has an e-newsletter, include your try dives on the mailing list for the next issue and if appropriate keep them up-to-date on future Ocean Diver training.
Let BSAC know how your try dives are going. If you are converting lots of visitors into members we would love to hear what you are doing. Equally, if you find you are struggling to get visitors to sign up please contact us and we’ll try to advise and help - contact the marketing team by email or call 0151 350 6224.