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Sarahdive · 13-09-2012, 09:16

Hi Everyone! Thank you for taking the time to meet me.

I'm from Western NY and have lived here my whole life. My husband is from Detroit but graciously lives in NY with me. We have 3 kids, youngest of which is 10yrs old. My husband and I are working on our "empty nest" plans. In 2020 our kids will be gone and we are planning to sell the house and move to the Keys or somewhere in the vicinity. We are certified Divers and EMTs (volunteer) and looking to live aboard on a Cat or Sailboat. During this 8 year wait we are looking to learn everything we possibly can about life on the water.

We don't enjoy this life of sitting behind a desk and working for The Man. We want to learn the Charter business and ultimately have a SCUBA Charter business of our own. We are chomping at the bit to dive the salty waters of the Keys.

We own a 22' Cris Craft at the moment but have joined a Yacht club and will begin learning to sail very soon. We've sailed once so far and immediately knew it was for us.

Thanks again for reading and hope we talk soon.

Waterway Guide · 13-09-2012, 10:25

Welcome aboard the forum, Sarahdive! Sounds like a great plan...wish you the best of luck!

rtbates · 13-09-2012, 11:47

welcome and I can relate...

Every time I visited NY I had the same feeling, haha

Amapola · 13-09-2012, 13:18

Welcome aboard and best wishes on your journey.

hellosailor · 13-09-2012, 14:05

"working for The Man."
Best of luck on that. You may find the dive industry a bit saturated in all the good markets, and from experience I can tell you a lof of folks have gone into that business because they love it. And then gone out of business because it is damned hard to make a buck.
In retail, diving or charter, you will no longer be working for "the man" but rather you'll be working for a new man every time you need to work with a customer. Each charterer or dive customer will present their own demands from time to time, and if you're going to succeed at it, you've got to keep smiling and say "Yessir!" and make them happy. Unless they get too unreasonable, in which "the customer is always right" can be a good way to go broke, or mad, and you've got to fire them.
By all means pursue the dream, but I'd encourage you to get some experience in the business side of those businesses, before you invest in starting one.

Huey2 · 13-09-2012, 14:06

This is a great forum! Welcome aboard. I just bought my boat and don't know how to sail, but I not going to wait. Ask many questions, look at lots of boats, & sail with as many boaters as you can. Good luck.

Khagan1227 · 13-09-2012, 14:40

Welcome aboard Sarahdive!

As was said above, many of the good locations already have a few dive shops, but don't let that stop you. Great customer service and reasonable prices almost always wins.

Keith