Tourist divers in the country need to be updated with the latest standards and strategies.

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Asia Pacific regional manager Jen Clent made the comments at the 2017 PADI Member Forum at the Novotel Nadi.

Ms Clent said:  “This is a great opportunity for Dive/PADI Members to catch up for a regional recap and to learn about the latest marketing campaigns, what’s new at PADI, training standards, Project AWARE and risk management.”

She said the member forum would help PADI members to update themselves especially in regards to how PADI was doing as an organisation and as a region.

“The forum will update the members on the standard of changes and ways of doing safe guarding practices,” Ms Clent said.

The event was attended by all PADI Members; Divemasters in training as well as staff at PADI Dive Centres attend the event.

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Dive Committee Chairman Mike Agnew said, “This is vital forum to update the members in Fiji.”

He said some members were not updated with the latest technology.

“Some members are not on email and they do not get information or have difficulty in getting updates online,” Mr Agnew added.

“The more the members are updated, the best practices they follow and  the safer customers are.”

Mr Agnew added PADI had 90 per cent shares of the divers in Fiji as members.

“Majority present here are tourist divers and instructors. We are happy with the members and they keep us updated.”

Mr Agnew said that they would make sure that all the dive operators in Fiji have staff covered with valid insurance policies.

A total of 48 participants from properties in the western division attended the event.