A Scuba Diving Instructor Salary Explained - How much do Dive Instructors earn?

[maj2]

I have heard a CD insist that a shop discount is a form of reimbursement. In other words, you need to spend more money in order to get "paid".

Just one of the reasons that I have never bother pursuing the DM or instructor path.

 

[tridacna]

I have heard a CD insist that a shop discount is a form of reimbursement. In other words, you need to spend more money in order to get "paid".

Just one of the reasons that I have never bother pursuing the DM or instructor path.

The manufacturers have a special pricing plan for in-house instruction staff. Supposedly to encourage instructors/DMs to wear their gear in front of students. LD stores usually pass this discount directly to those individuals. It's a nice way to get your gear cheaply in lieu of actual compensation. A store that I worked at added a 20% fee to that price making a profit from their own instructors.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

It's a nice way to get your gear cheaply in lieu of actual compensation. A store that I worked at added a 20% fee to that price making a profit from their own instructors.

Only if you need gear. You already had gear before you started your DM program. Shops often require you to only wear in front of students what they sell. So then it becomes more expensive.

 

[Wibble]

Lets hope that doesn't include wonders such as an i3.

 

[Wibble]

Anyway, it's my old man fantasy about taking a year out to teach diving on a lovely location with lovely people.

Health and happiness, what more could one want. There's no pockets in a shroud.

 

[Mergulhador do Delray]

This sounds like the perfect wandering young person job. Or the perfect wandering retiree job.

 

[Altamira]

This sounds like the perfect wandering young person job. Or the perfect wandering retiree job.

Perhaps, but as a retiree doing Instructor or DM duties, you better have a pretty good pension income to offset the meager earnings of those two categories of divers.

 

[TMHeimer]

Perhaps, but as a retiree doing Instructor or DM duties, you better have a pretty good pension income to offset the meager earnings of those two categories of divers.

You better have a good pension anyway-- the dive stuff would be extra, not a minus.

 

[Outbound]

Only if you need gear. You already had gear before you started your DM program. Shops often require you to only wear in front of students what they sell. So then it becomes more expensive.

Yup. One of my regular dive buddies is and instructor. He had to buy another BCD and reg set to wear while teaching because the shop didn't sell the brand he normally uses. Add that expense to the cost of training, the insurance, and the gas money and he isn't making much off of being an instructor. He has a regular full-time job that pays well, so this is just a side gig for him because he enjoys it. At least he says he does. After hearing some of the stories he tells me, I'm not so sure. Lol.

 

[Wibble]

Yup. One of my regular dive buddies is and instructor. He had to buy another BCD and reg set to wear while teaching because the shop didn't sell the brand he normally uses. Add that expense to the cost of training, the insurance, and the gas money and he isn't making much off of being an instructor. He has a regular full-time job that pays well, so this is just a side gig for him because he enjoys it. At least he says he does. After hearing some of the stories he tells me, I'm not so sure. Lol.

Would expect them to provide it if they're specifying the latest tat in the shop. Or expect a commission on each one sold.

Would also largely depend upon your skillset; if you're a know-nothing freshly certified DiveMASTER or are a highly experienced dive instructor with great skills.