Thinking about diving as a career and want advice!

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zack santagate

Registered
Messages
9
Reaction score
3
Location
Texas
# of dives
25 - 49
Hi guys!

I'm new to these forums. I'm Zack, I have about 30 dives and am considering investing in my education and becoming a dive master. I know there is usually not much money in diving, but I wanted some insight on to my options.

I have a degree in business marketing, am a freelance video editor & videographer, and photographer. I love diving and am thinking maybe I could target my talents and be able to actually make a fair bit of money as well through diving.
Do you all think my background adds value and what kinda money to you think I could make? I'm also looking to getting my captains license.

I would really love some advice, feedback, and insight into the industry. Thanks for all the help!
 
Welcome. The ease of entry as a dive 'professional' makes it a buyers market. Lots of people who loves to dive would like to get paid for doing do and the certification process is easy and fast compared to almost any other career. Barring prostitution and a few other options.

If you can bring value with your marketing background and use your video experience as well it may have you stand out slightly against other dm with no experience. However, with many instructors trying this as a second 'career' I have met dozens of degree holding individuals working for close to beer money plus tips.

That said, many do make a short lifestyle/hobby out as an instructor for a while and do love aspects of it.

Plenty of threads in search with discussion regarding those in your similar situation.


All the best.
Cameron

P.s. I am hiring but would like my instructor to have at least a decade of dive experience and passion to offer my clients.
 
As an instructor you'll make next to nothing, as a DM you'll make nothing.

That's just the way it is, remember DM and instructor courses are just another course with a margin for the certifying agency and you'll be sold the courses in a very similar way. The result is a market saturated with the over-qualified and under-experienced.

Do it as a lifestyle choice and have fun but you're not going to make a real career out of it.

If I were you I'd find a job that uses your degree education and use that to fund going diving for fun instead of work.
 
I'm also looking to getting my captains license.
From what I've read, being a captain likely pays better than being a DM. However it sounds like it is a profession fraught with liability problems.
 
As an instructor you'll make next to nothing, as a DM you'll make nothing.
......
Do it as a lifestyle choice and have fun but you're not going to make a real career out of it.

If I were you I'd find a job that uses your degree education and use that to fund going diving for fun instead of work.

Best advice that you'll get right there. Unless you have finances to tide you over, it's rare--very rare, for most to completely make their living off of dive instruction alone.
 
Go to law school.
 
As an instructor you'll make next to nothing, as a DM you'll make nothing.

That's just the way it is, remember DM and instructor courses are just another course with a margin for the certifying agency and you'll be sold the courses in a very similar way. The result is a market saturated with the over-qualified and under-experienced.

Do it as a lifestyle choice and have fun but you're not going to make a real career out of it.

If I were you I'd find a job that uses your degree education and use that to fund going diving for fun instead of work.

Thanks! Sounds like pretty good advice. I currently am transitioning from my marketing internship into a full time position in experiential marketing at the same agency, and I do freelance photography, videography, and drone work on the side.

I'm kind of thinking more at this point as having diving as another "side hustle" to make some extra cash on the weekends. Do you think this is even a viable ploy? and how long does it normally take ballpark to complete DM?

Thanks again for the honest advice
 
Best advice that you'll get right there. Unless you have finances to tide you over, it's rare--very rare, for most to completely make their living off of dive instruction alone.

Thanks for the advice! I see you're in scuba media and publications.. I'd like to think i'm a pretty talented photographer and video editor, especially in landscape. Is there any money content creation / underwater photography and video?
 
A big question is, where do you want to live? Based on where you want to live, how much money do you need to survive at whatever level of comfort you want? What skills (beyond teaching scuba diving) will enable you to earn that income? How many languages do you speak and which ones? (important for working internationally). What other streams of income could you have separate from diving?

Sorry for all the questions and no answers. Teaching is something I do on the side, for now, as I live in an area where it would be quite a pay cut to try to do this full time.
 
Welcome. The ease of entry as a dive 'professional' makes it a buyers market. Lots of people who loves to dive would like to get paid for doing do and the certification process is easy and fast compared to almost any other career. Barring prostitution and a few other options.

If you can bring value with your marketing background and use your video experience as well it may have you stand out slightly against other dm with no experience. However, with many instructors trying this as a second 'career' I have met dozens of degree holding individuals working for close to beer money plus tips.

That said, many do make a short lifestyle/hobby out as an instructor for a while and do love aspects of it.

Plenty of threads in search with discussion regarding those in your similar situation.


All the best.
Cameron

P.s. I am hiring but would like my instructor to have at least a decade of dive experience and passion to offer my clients.
Thanks! I appreciate your insight.

Btw, concerning your job inquiry: I may not have 10 years of dive experience, but I have three, plus enough passion and people skills to make up for my lack of experience :) also, an extremely fast learner.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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