Huron Scuba has received the prestigious 2007 Excellence in Retailing Award from the Council on Retail Excellence. The award was presented by Tom Ingram (Executive Director of DEMA) and Susan Long (Board of Directors Member of DEMA and President of Diving Unlimited International) at the annual DEMA (Dive Equipment and Marketing Association) Show in Orlando, Florida on November 2, 2007 at the Rosen Centre Ballroom. Owners Dave and Rachael Kasper accepted the award at the pirate-themed DEMA Awards Party. Nine other dive centers, selected from over 1600 nationwide, were also presented with the award.

This is the second third consecutive year Huron Scuba has received this award, and the fourth year of national recognition. In 2006, Huron Scuba was presented with the award at the 2006 DEMA Awards Party, held at the Hard Rock Cafe Orlando, Florida during the DEMA Show. Nine other dive centers, selected from over 1600 nationwide, were also presented with the award. In 2005, Huron Scuba, along with 14 other dive centers, received the 2005 Excellence in Retailing Award from the Council on Retail Excellence ("C.O.R.E.") at the DEMA Show, October 6, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2004, Huron Scuba was one of ten dive retailers nationwide chosen for DEMA's 2004 Retail Leadership Conference, the goal of which was to identify best practices from industry-leading dive retailers.

The C.O.R.E. award recognizes businesses for their excellence in dive retailing. Each shop is judged on interior and exterior presentation, dive training, staff development, and activities. One of C.O.R.E.'s objectives is to share best practices of the award winners in order to help all dive shops improve. The award committee is made up of manufacturers and certification agencies who understand the role of retailers in the dive industry.

"At Huron Scuba, we are thrilled and honored to be honored three years in a row. We believe in the goal of the C.O.R.E. group and that is to run our business with the highest of standards to serve our customers well and keep the dive industry growing. As the industry grows, so does our ability to better serve our community and customers," says Dave Kasper, co-owner and Course Director of Huron Scuba.

Read more about Huron Scuba: who we are & What we do!

Also at the 2006 DEMA show, Huron Scuba was presented with a special award from PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the dive industry."

DEMA is a non-profit, membership-based association created to help businesses in the scuba diving and action water sports industries. There are 1,000 member businesses which make up the organization, including 350 retailers in the United States. For additional information on DEMA, access www.dema.org.

Huron Scuba is your best choice because . . .

• The highest-quality education anywhere is our #1 Priority, period!
• Huron Scuba guarantees to deliver the best prices and service on equipment and travel of any authorized dealer.
• “Fair Package Pricing” everyday for everyone, without having to ask.
• Fair Package Pricing saves the average diver $250+ and another $1,100+ over 5 years.
• Thank you for supporting Huron Scuba. We will do our best to support you!

2007 C.O.R.E. Excellence in Retailing Award Winners

Aquatic Adventures Ohio (Hillard, OH)  www.aquaticadventuresohio.com
Bubbles Below (Woodinville, WA)   www.bubblesbelow.com (also recognized in 2005)
Choo Choo Dive Center (Chattanooga, TN) www.choochoodive.com
Deep Blue Adventures (Milwaukee, WI)  www.dpblue.com (also recognized in 2006)
Diver Dan's, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) www.diverdans.com (also recognized in 2004 and 2006)
Dolphin Scuba Center (Sacramento, CA) www.dolphinscuba.com (also recognized in 2006)
Gypsy Divers Aquatic Center (Raleigh, NC) www.gypsydivers.com 
Huron Scuba Adventures, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI) (also recognized in 2004, 2005, & 2006)
Rogue Scuba, Inc. (Central Point, OR) www.roguescuba.com (also recognized in 2005 and 2006)
Scuba Schools of America (Montclair, CA)  www.scubaschoolsofamerica.com

2006 C.O.R.E. Excellence in Retailing Award Winners

Aquatic Center of Rochester, Henrietta, New York (also recognized in 2005)
Aquatic Dreams, Modesto CA
Deep Blue Adventures, Milwaukee WI
Diver Dans, Santa Clara CA (also recognized in 2004)
Dolphin Scuba Center, Sacramento CA
Huron Scuba Adventures, Ann Arbor, Michigan (also recognized in 2004 and 2005)
Jacks Diving Locker, Kona, Hawaii (also recognized in 2004)
Midwest Aquatics, Overland Park KS
Rogue Scuba: Medford, OR (also recognized in 2005)
SeaVentures Aquatic Center, Alpharetta, Georgia (also recognized in 2005)

2005 C.O.R.E. Excellence in Retailing Award Winners

A-1 Scuba & Travel, Englewood, Colorado (also recognized in 2004)
Aquatic Center of Rochester, Henrietta, New York
Aquatic Realm Scuba, Centerville, Ohio
Bubbles Below, Woodinville, Washington
California Dive Center, San Bruno, California
Eugene Skin Divers Supply, Eugene, Oregon
Huron Scuba Adventures, Ann Arbor, Michigan (also recognized in 2004)
Lynnhaven Dive Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia
National Aquatic Service: Syracuse, NY
Ocean Enterprises, San Diego, California
Peachtree Dive Center, Fayetteville, Georgia
Rogue Scuba: Medford, OR
Sea Sports Inc., Houston, Texas
Seascapes USA, Syosset, New York
SeaVentures Aquatic Center, Alpharetta, Georgia

The following from DEMA about why Huron Scuba was one of the ten dive shops chosen in 2004:

"Below is a list of traits that were identified by the manufacturers during the selection process that your company possesses.

• Strong business skills in planning, finance, marketing and customer service.

• Professional, good looking and well merchandised stores.

• Provides extensive training to instructors, sales people and staff.

• Equipment orientation and purchase are part of the new diver education process.

• There is a high ratio of continuing education after open water certification.

• Strong promotion of local diving in addition to travel diving.

• Utilizes the internet for promotion and acquisition of customers. (This does not mean the retailer must sell equipment online.)

• The retailer's business prospers during difficult economic times."