Born in a Pandemic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2020 the Covid 19 pandemic decimated the global tourism and dive industry. The Dive Shop (previously know as Ocean Cotton Bay) soon suffered the same fate. The Bahamas endured one of the toughest lock downs in the world. With complete country closure for over 9 months with no air travel in and out at all, schools were closed for 2 years, it was for sure a tough time for all here in in the Bahamas!. Being a small dive shop and after a few months of no income the company had no chance of continuing. Here came a strange period of time. With Zero income (over 1.5 years with no pay check in the end) Chad had to give up his rented accommodation and lived in his car for a week, living by campfire. The stars were pretty but the Bahamian bugs were not. Hereby soon realizing that there was an abandoned dive shop at the beautiful (although deserted) Cape Eleuthera resort and Marina.
With crickets in the ceiling and and crab as his room mate, Chad (Who was a previous employee of the company) hunkered down in the dive shop for 5 months and slowly concocted a plan vowing to never give in and refusing to believe the world was about to end.
Eventually some very kind and generous people believed in Chads vision and lent him the money to purchase what was left of this run down and fatigued old dive shop.
Day by day, bolt by bolt, being lost at sea for 2 days, designing the T-shirts, filling the tanks, designing the website, Chad has rebuilt the boats, the dive shop and the created a new direction and image for the business which is what you see today.
Chads story has been featured by PADI and magazines around the world as a beacon of hope and inspiration to the dive industry and dive professionals who are struggling to finding their way in this post pandemic world.
----------------------------------------------------------------
When the dive shop finally reopened in 2022 guests were greeted by Chads bed up against then side of the wall, the wetsuit rack was his wardrobe and at one point he even gave a welcome briefing with his underpants drying behind him on the shelf! With rusty old pots and pans on the gas stove, this period, although incredible embarrassing became the foundations of this new business. With the guests being very understanding and patient it lead to some great jokes and some great tips! Chad will be for ever grateful for those first founding guests.
Chad SindenS: The Dive Shop ltd, is one mans attempt at building an internationally recognized dive brand from the ashes of the pandemic.
"Although it was a tough time, I am forever grateful that I am still here as so many others are not." -Chad.
With crickets in the ceiling and and crab as his room mate, Chad (Who was a previous employee of the company) hunkered down in the dive shop for 5 months and slowly concocted a plan vowing to never give in and refusing to believe the world was about to end.
Eventually some very kind and generous people believed in Chads vision and lent him the money to purchase what was left of this run down and fatigued old dive shop.
Day by day, bolt by bolt, being lost at sea for 2 days, designing the T-shirts, filling the tanks, designing the website, Chad has rebuilt the boats, the dive shop and the created a new direction and image for the business which is what you see today.
Chads story has been featured by PADI and magazines around the world as a beacon of hope and inspiration to the dive industry and dive professionals who are struggling to finding their way in this post pandemic world.
----------------------------------------------------------------
When the dive shop finally reopened in 2022 guests were greeted by Chads bed up against then side of the wall, the wetsuit rack was his wardrobe and at one point he even gave a welcome briefing with his underpants drying behind him on the shelf! With rusty old pots and pans on the gas stove, this period, although incredible embarrassing became the foundations of this new business. With the guests being very understanding and patient it lead to some great jokes and some great tips! Chad will be for ever grateful for those first founding guests.
Chad SindenS: The Dive Shop ltd, is one mans attempt at building an internationally recognized dive brand from the ashes of the pandemic.
"Although it was a tough time, I am forever grateful that I am still here as so many others are not." -Chad.
|
Dream big.
Work hard. Ignore the neysayers. |
|
"The Pandemic has reaffirmed something that I already knew. Life is not about a new kitchen or a new car. Life is about living. Life is about experiences. Life is about having adventures and exploring this beautiful planet we live on. We only have one life... Live it.
|
Be part of the story.
Book a dive today!
|
Thank you for reading. |
|
