Advice needed - becoming an instructor

[Clan2008]

Hello,

I am a qualified PADI DM but qualified about 11 years ago and never actually worked as a DM and only done holiday recreational diving since...my last time was about 4 years ago.

I’ve decided to quit my job later this year and my plan is to move abroad...thinking of Caribbean/Central America...where I plan to eventually become an instructor after getting my knowledge and skills back up to where they should be as a DM.

As I’ve been out of the diving loop for a numbers of years I now have no idea how to go about planning my career change.

My main questions at the moment are:

- should I stick with PADI to do my instructors course or go with another organisation?

- should I choose a dive school to do my training/qualification with prior to arriving wherever I decide to go or am I better to arrive where I plan to train/work and go by word of mouth (I know that the dive centres with the flashiest and most impressive websites are not always the best centres to work for)

- should I do my first aid course and medical before I leave the UK or wait until I arrive at my chosen destination

- any recommendations on where is best to work in the Caribbean/Central America?? I’ve learnt a very small amount of Spanish and would love to go somewhere where I can practice and improve this.

- I currently own no diving equipment and plan to get the heavy items wherever I end up going to but is there anything I should consider buying in the UK before leaving?

- any other hints and tips about anything else you think is important that I should consider would also be very much appreciated!!

Many thanks
Nicky

 

[oly5050user]

Hello,

I am a qualified PADI DM but qualified about 11 years ago and never actually worked as a DM and only done holiday recreational diving since...my last time was about 4 years ago.

I’ve decided to quit my job later this year and my plan is to move abroad...thinking of Caribbean/Central America...where I plan to eventually become an instructor after getting my knowledge and skills back up to where they should be as a DM.

As I’ve been out of the diving loop for a numbers of years I now have no idea how to go about planning my career change.

My main questions at the moment are:

- should I stick with PADI to do my instructors course or go with another organisation?

- should I choose a dive school to do my training/qualification with prior to arriving wherever I decide to go or am I better to arrive where I plan to train/work and go by word of mouth (I know that the dive centres with the flashiest and most impressive websites are not always the best centres to work for)

- should I do my first aid course and medical before I leave the UK or wait until I arrive at my chosen destination

- any recommendations on where is best to work in the Caribbean/Central America?? I’ve learnt a very small amount of Spanish and would love to go somewhere where I can practice and improve this.

- I currently own no diving equipment and plan to get the heavy items wherever I end up going to but is there anything I should consider buying in the UK before leaving?

- any other hints and tips about anything else you think is important that I should consider would also be very much appreciated!!

Many thanks
Nicky

Did you maintain the divemaster rating by paying dues every year ? liabillity Insurance? If not , you may need to do divemaster over . Is your cpr/first aid certification expired? need to renew every 2 years. As to what agency, PADI has the largest presence in the carib, so chance of actually finding a job is with that agency certification. Do you have outboard engine or diesel engine experience? Sales? computer skills? I am surprised that as a divemaster you do not own your own regulator, bcd, computer and exposure suits. Get it and go diving as you have not been in the water in as you write 4 years.