There is a demand for 'good' instructors...
I kinda disagree. The greatest demand is for 'cheap' instructors... those willing to work for free, or a peanut salary. Demand for any attributes other than that is very location specific.
Given the choice (
and it normally is a choice, because most 'good' instructors are usually not willing to be 'cheap' instructors), many dive ops will go for the eager, novice instructor who'll work for little cost, just to gain "experience".
The Maldives would, I assume, be a little different - very remote location means considerable investment in getting staff and difficulties replacing them if they prove to be unsuitable. There's more emphasis on recruiting and selection. I believe Werner Lau, for instance, used to demand a minimum of 500 certs/2000+ dives, along with 2-3 fluent languages as a minimum prerequisite for application.
I think we could say 'proven' rather than 'good' are the attributes most valued in those circumstances. Either way, it rules out 99.9% of newly qualified instructors..
That is
not the case in more accessible locations...and those with multiple 'sausage factory' IDCs churning out hundreds of zero-to-hero instructors per year.... such as Thailand, Mexico or Honduras.
Language skills are the second biggest demand, I think. Again, that is especially true for remote locations, where a diverse nationality range of customers is the norm... but a limited amount of dive staff can be employed. Dive centers want maximum 'bang for buck'... with the smallest pool of instructor staff covering the widest spectrum of languages in demand. I knew a newly qualified Swiss instructor.. zero post-IDC experience... was snatched up to work in the Maldives... he spoke 6 languages. In more accessible locations, with a big instructor pool, language is not such an issue - freelancers can be brought in to run specific courses that existing staff may not be able to cover. Cheap still rules the priorities there.
The only definition of 'good' that I saw applied consistently in Koh Tao was an instructor's 'con-ed rate'. Some (the bigger) dive centers actually set minimum con-ed rates for their instructors. Hit big figures and you'll be valued. Fail to achieve targets and you're out the door.
At no time did I notice breadth of experience, quality of instruction or teaching ability noticeable as prime factors for employment in Thailand.
The basic situation remains... a newly qualified instructor has to invariably endure a lengthy period of 'work for peanuts' before they accumulate sufficient experience to be competitive for employment in those locations that have greater cause to value quality staff. The vast majority of instructors don't survive that 'trial' period - savings expire or they get disillusioned working endless, intensive OW courses for little personal reward and a border-line poverty existence.
Things that help an instructor survive their 'trial' years:
1) Vast quantities of savings, to allow a decent lifestyle irregardless of income for several years.
2) A genuine and resolved passion for scuba diving, that surmounts the considerable sacrifices that need to be endured.
3) Elite sales skills.
4) A second job or alternative income source.
Things that help an instructor skip/shorten those 'trial' years:
1) Fluency in multiple languages.
2) A good friend/network to assure work in a desirable place where they will be valued (despite inexperience).