The Opportunity
Sail Dive Explore (SDE), a boutique adventure tourism company, sought to elevate its scuba diving certification offerings with a distinctive instructor-led training (ILT) program on cephalopods. This specialty course aimed to fill a knowledge gap, ignite curiosity, and deepen divers’ connection to the marine ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates. The goal was to position the company as a leader in specialized dive education, expand its customer base, and promote marine conservation.
The Solution
Collaborating as a freelance instructional designer with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) at Sail Dive Explore, I led the creation of this specialized ILT certification course. The Project Design document, grounded in a comprehensive needs analysis, provided the blueprint for a clear curriculum, instructor guide, participant workbook, and multimedia presentation that enhanced the classroom delivery portion of the course.
I streamlined development with collaborative tools and rapid prototyping, refining materials through SME and diver feedback. Packaged as a PADI Distinctive Specialty, the course blended scientific rigor with practical dive scenarios, equipping divers with both knowledge and applied skills while positioning the company with a unique, marketable certification offering.
The Impact
The specialty diver course launched successfully, exceeding certification uptake goals by 4% in its first season. SDE gained a distinctive program that elevated their market position and strengthened their reputation as an innovative dive operator. This project highlights my ability to partner with SMEs to design industry-accredited learning experiences that combine technical rigor, learner engagement, and business impact.