THE FUNDAMENTALS
Q: Why pay upfront?
A: We believe we are massively discounting the real value of this product,
so that you DO pay £10,000/£12,500 and so that this amazing facility can
be built.
This could be the best man-made diving facility in the world, and we want
to see it happen, and we hope that the Founder Members want that too.
Q: Does £10,000/£12,500 sound like a lot or is it actually
fantastic value for money for what you're getting?
A: As an example, an exclusive private golf course membership at one of
the top courses in the country (assuming you can actually get one!) costs
£7,000 plus PER YEAR!
In the worlds of golf, tennis, motorsport, football for example, what do
you imagine such an amazing facility as Dive Dome would be equivalent to?
St Andrews?
Wimbledon?
Silverstone?
Wembley?
Once the facility is built, and it's as fantastic as it's going to be, what
do you think would be a fair and reasonable price to pay to be a member?
Either monthly or annually?
Exclude the 10 free guest passes per year for 10 years benefit
Exclude the free use of the gym and spa
Exclude the 25% equipment hire discount and free air fills
Exclude all the pre-opening benefits such as Eilat diving boats and free
concierge service
We believe you will still have outstanding value for a life membership
Q: How do I know it's going to be built?
A: If you are fortunate enough to be one of the first 1,000 members and
pay £10,000 for a Founder Membership, £9,750 is deposited in a Trust Account
operated by the same Trustees who look after the Wembley Stadium Trust.
If the facility is not built the Trustees will return the monies. The Trustees
will only authorise payments that are needed for the Dive Dome project.
The backstop date for the project to go ahead is 31 March 2005.
Q: How much does the Founder Membership
package cost?
A: Founder Membership is £12,500 for life membership of Dive
Dome. However, a limited number of Founder Memberships (around 1,000) are
being offered at a 20% discount. A non-refundable deposit of £250 will secure
a membership. The balance must be paid within 28 days.
Q: Is my money safe?
A: Other than the non-refundable £250 deposit monies would be
returned in the unlikely event that the project does not proceed. For the
protection of Founder Members all fees (other than the deposits) will be
paid into a Trust Account held by trustees.
Q: Will I get my initial deposit of £250
back as well?
A: No. This is a non-refundable deposit.
Q: I would love to join but don't have £10,000
to hand. How else can I pay?
A: Dive Dome have negotiated a deal on behalf of potential Founder
Members with whereby the Bank, subject to credit approval, is prepared to
provide unsecured loans to fund Founder Membership fees.
Q: How many people have signed up so far?
A: We have already signed a number of high-profile celebrities
including David Jason, Tamzin Outhwaite, Michaela Strachan and Craig Doyle
and expect to be inundated with calls following the official launch.
Q: What happens if you don't secure the
level of membership you're looking for?
A: We are confident that this won't happen but in this eventuality
we either seek alternative routes of funding in tandem with the Founder
Memberships or reimburse membership fees.
Q: How many founder members will be available?
A: 2500. Places are strictly limited and are offered on a first-come
first- served basis.
Q: Why should I pay £10,000 upfront before
the centre has been built?
A: This is the only way to secure a Founder Membership. Pay-as-you-go
access will be available to the general public once the centre is built
but Founder Members will receive priority booking at peak times as well
a host of additional benefits including life membership, free use of all
diving facilities, gym and spa, 10 free Dive Dome passes per year for friends
and family, free air fills and a 25% discount on all equipment hire.
Q: What are the full benefits of being a
Founder Member?
A: In addition to being one of the few members of one of the
UK's most exclusive clubs, Founder Members will receive free diving at the
centre for a lifetime, priority booking, 100 guest passes (over 10 years)
worth £7,500, free air fills, free use of the gym and spa facilities and
a 25% discount on all equipment hire.
In addition Dive Dome is offering Founder Members and their family and friends
free diving trips in Eilat while the Dome is under construction together
with a concierge service to take care of bookings for flights and accommodation
and the provision of free dive trips.
Q: Will you be offering corporate memberships?
A: Yes, we will be launching corporate memberships in December.
Q: Do you have a website?
A: Yes. It is www.divedome.com
Q: Where can I get further information?
A: All information is on the website. There is also a call centre
for enquiries regarding founder memberships. The number is 0870 242 2839.
Q: How do you know what divers want to find
at the resort?
A: We surveyed hundreds of divers, asking them what they wanted
at the centre. Diving with fish came out top. Cave diving and night diving
were also high on the list, all of which we will be offering.
Q: I don't have a diving qualification.
Can I learn to dive at Dive Dome?
A: Yes, there will be a Dive School that will run a number of
PADI and BSAC and other qualifying training programmes to suit divers at
any level.
Q: Do I actually need a diving qualification
or can I simply dive with an instructor?
A: You can choose to dive with an instructor if you wish but
a diving qualification will give you greater freedom and flexibility.
Q: Other than the founder members will you
allow people to use the facility on a pay per visit basis?
A. Yes. Dive Dome will be open to members of the public. However
Founder Members will be given priority booking.
Q: Are there any age restrictions in place?
A: There will be an age restriction in the main diving lagoon.
In the other lagoons (a 'fun' lagoon and snorkelling pool) all are welcome.
Q: I don't have my own equipment. Can you
provide this? If so, how much will it cost?
A: There will be a comprehensive equipment hire facility for
those without their own diving gear. As a Founder Member all equipment hire
will be offered at a 25% discount.
Q: Will you actually be able to dive with
the fish and corals?
A: Yes.
Q: Where are the fish and coral coming from?
A: All fish and coral will be aqua-cultured, which means they
will be specially bred in captivity and are used to human interaction. Specifically
with the coral, Dive Dome is working with a company called Harbor Branch,
America's largest non-profit oceonology centre, to grow its own coral. From
time to time Dive Dome will use this coral for conservation purposes to
help repair some of the worlds damaged reefs.
Q: Is Scuba Diving safe?
A: As with any extreme sports there's an element of risk, but
at Dive Dome we've taken as much risk out of the sport as possible. Underwater
CCTV will be able to identify any divers in difficulty and trained lifeguards
will be on-site to deal with any emergencies. Also, Dive Dome controls the
diving environment so the dangers that go with bad weather conditions and
poor visibility are taken out of the equation.
Q: How deep is the diving area?
A: It is 27 metres deep and 40 metres wide.
Q: Has anything ever been built 27m underground before?
A: Yes, there is an underground building down to 80m in Hong
Kong but it doesn't contain water.
Q: How much water will be needed to fill
the Dive Dome pool?
A: Just over 8million gallons.
Q: How many people can the dive area take
at any one time?
A: There will be a strict limit on the number of divers in the
lagoon at any one time allowing divers to enjoy free movement.
Q: How often will the wrecks are changed?
A: Approximately every two months.
Q: Where will the wrecks come from?
A: They will be purpose built to suit our requirements.
Q: Will the procedure of changing wrecks
affect the fish and corals?
A: The procedure will be conducted in such a way so as not to
adversely effect or endanger any of the marine life contained within the
lagoon. Our team of scientific and biological advisers will assist us in
ensuring that these changes have a minimal effect on the fish and coral.
Q: Where will Dive Dome be located?
A: Dive Dome will be located in Knowlhill, Milton Keynes. The
site is 10 minutes drive from Junction 13, M1 and 5 minutes in by taxi from
Milton Keynes station. The train takes 35 minutes from London. In addition
the site is 20 minutes from Luton airport.
Q: When will construction of Dive Dome commence?
A: It is anticipated that construction of the Dive Dome site
will commence in the second quarter of 2005.
Q: When will Dive Dome actually open?
A: The build time is around 18 months so the anticipated opening
date will be towards the end of 2006.
Q: How big is the actual site?
A: The build site is 5.9 acres.
Q: What is Dive Dome doing to support the
environment during development?
A: We have been working with professionals to achieve and emphasis
on sustainability, using the latest environmentally friendly materials to
build the resort. One example of sustainability is the plan to light the
resort using power sourced from the car park via solar energy.
Q: Who is funding this project?
A: It is anticipated that funding will predominantly come from
the exclusive Founder Memberships packages that are being offered. However,
the management team also has the option to use bank debt and or equity if
it is felt necessary.
Q: Who is behind this project? ?
A: Dive Dome is a subsidiary of RAM Investment Group plc a company
that invests in the media leisure and property sectors. RAM's ordinary shares
are admitted to the London Stock Exchange's AIM market.
Q: A similar project was launched two years ago but
didn't take off. Why is this project any different?
A: The concept, not the actual project, for Dive Dome was launched
a few years ago to establish initial interest and to see if the concept
was attractive to potential members and commercially viable. The time has
been used wisely since the concept was launched in researching the market,
talking to top scientists and marine biologists from all around the world
and acquiring an appropriate site and finalising plans.