.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} For Dave Hayes, the key to success is remembering to have fun.

“That’s what we try to do,” he said. “And I think once more people realize how much fun we’re having, they’ll want to join us.”

Earlier this month, Hayes opened The Dive Club of Iowa, a scuba diving school and store. He said he’s always wanted to open a store of his own, and with scuba diving becoming a growing hobby in his life, he felt others in the area would eventually embrace it.

“This is an untapped market,” he said. “If people give it a chance, it will become very popular.”

The Dive Club offers lessons to divers with any skill level, from beginning to advanced. It also offers a wide range of equipment on site, which Hayes said makes it easier for someone just becoming interested in the sport to get involved.

For $350, beginning divers can get the training material, lessons and rental equipment for 20 hours of training. They will still have to purchase a mask, fins and snorkel, due to sanitary concerns, which could range from $150 to $250. For an extra $375, at the end of the lessons, all the equipment is theirs to keep.

“We have a full line of gear, and a service department,” Hayes said.

Mike Carroll, who closed a similar store on Grand Avenue in Des Moines in March to work for Hayes, is the store’s lead instructor.

“He wanted to focus on training, and I wanted to focus on the business aspect,” Hayes said.

Carroll has brought over a few customers from his store, but Hayes said they have also had a lot of walk-in business. There are still many lessons available, with classes scheduled to fit into anyone’s life.

“We’re very flexible,” he said.

The Dive Club also sponsors trips to diving locations around the country and world. Hayes said they plan on taking a group to Cozumel, Mexico, in June, and several spots in Missouri in July and August.

“Those trips are open to anyone, not just our students,” he said.

On Sundays at Urbandale High School, The Dive Club offers a free scuba lesson in the school’s pool. Admission to the pool is $3.

“Scuba diving is just such a great experience,” Hayes said. “The average person takes about a month of training and they are certified.”

Hayes will form a travel company, The Travel Club of Iowa, to coordinate the group diving trips, as well as bus tours to places like Iowa wineries and the Mall of America, he said.