PADI Dive Shop Resumes Business after Months of Shutdown Due to COVID19
Wuhan Diving, the first PADI shop in Wuhan, China, reopens its doors to dive enthusiasts months after lockdown due to the COVID19 pandemic. Wuhan being the epicenter of the pandemic was completely shut down sometime in January 2020. The entire city and business temporarily cease operations to contain the spread of the virus.
After 3 months and 12 days of closure, the shop resumes operation last May 04, 2020. Employees returning to work were required to submit results of coronavirus test showing negative results which were publicly displayed. Other health protocols like wearing masks the whole day and regular temperature checks on employees were strictly imposed to contain the spread of the virus.
The same health protocols apply to customers plus the limitation of up to 10 customers in the shop at a time to maintain physical distancing.
For the number of customers allowed to be followed, one must make a reservation at least 24 hours prior to visiting the dive shop.
Along with strong implementations of health protocols, tight health monitoring is also conducted not only in the City of Wuhan but across China.
Doing business amidst the pandemic may involve new safety guidelines and practices, but being in the new normal, PADI President and CEO Drew Richardson said this would only encourage them to adapt to the new normal so people can go back to diving again.
Despite the closure during China’s busiest tourist season, Wuhan Diving is still hopeful in fully restoring their operations including scuba certifications like they always do before the pandemic.
Since reopening Wuhan Diving has been working on students’ certifications ranging from open water to instructor and will expand to open water certification dives in June.
Although liveaboard trips in Thailand and Malaysia, Wuhan Diving is still looking forward to more operations as the year unfolds.
In line with their operation’s expansion, Wenbin Peng, the Wuhan Diving PADI shop owner is aiming for a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center, hence the application so they can begin instructor development programs, all to provide better and comprehensive diving classes and services to the diving community in Wuhan.
