Becoming an Instructor

[tbone1004]

Says he already has the skills and knowledge. Maybe he already did the mentor thing and just wants the card.

if he did the mentor thing, said mentor could have given him the card or figured out the fast/cheap track already.

 

[guruboy]

My mentor would have 0 clue about where the cheapest/fastest place in America is and if I got the card from him I'd still have to pay the shop full price.

Not like he prints the codes himself...

 

[tbone1004]

then your mentor is doing it wrong. You can't get around the fees from the agency, insurance, book fees, or anything like that, but they can waive the course fees which is what the majority of the cost comes from. this all assuming said mentor is a course director, or you are doing it through a shop that has one, because yes, they can file the paperwork

 

[guruboy]

He is not a CD, so I guess he's not doing it wrong after all.

 

[DevonDiver]

Possibly look for an agency that's in the process of expansion regionally or globally.

Sometimes there's good deals when/where that's happening.

Take a look at RAID... they're trying to build market share, reputation and awareness at the moment. UTD also... but less likely to discount.

 

[tbone1004]

He is not a CD, so I guess he's not doing it wrong after all.

if he works for a shop, and the shop has a CD on staff, then the shop is going about it wrong, but that's neither here nor there.

Andy has a good point though, taking advantage of expanding agencies is a great way to lessen the costs

 

[Michael Guerrero]

but the real question is still why do you want to become an instructor, and why are you trying to go the fast/cheap route instead of following a slower mentor type progression?

That might be your question TBone, but it's not mine . Let's assume the person has their reasons, that they have considered why they want to be an instructor, and that they have realistic expectations about not making a living at it.

So, is it easier to be an SDI instructor that then transitions to TDI, or does it make much of a difference? I've personally had instructors that were PADI Tec and TDI and NAUI Tec and GUE, so clearly you can be affiliated with several agencies at the same time. And I don't see an issue with PADI Tec for an instructor who has the proper skills. After all, everyone says it's really all about the instructor, right? Not the agency?

So question 1 is what agency is the fastest/cheapest to become an instructor (sounds like maybe something in the Florida Keys for a few weeks would do it).

Question 2 is, if someone wants to be a technical instructor as well, does where you get your recreational instructor cert matter?

Question 3 is, do you have to be able to teach a lot of different recreational courses to teach technical diving, or is there a certain level of recreational instructor you have to reach before you can become a technical instructor, or as soon as you're an OWSI (or equivalent) you can become a tech instructor?

Thanks for the inputs.

 

[Michael Guerrero]

Doing a cross over should not be a huge deal, you would have to look at what the requirements are for each agency to cross over.

I'm hoping to crowd source the answer to this from people who have done it rather than looking it up myself .

 

[tbone1004]

still didn't answer the question on why you want to do this... the question is valid on whether the information provided is going to be used for good reasons. Most people asking those questions are taking shortcuts. Our OW students can pass the skills portion of the instructor exams, and the requisite knowledge isn't difficult to attain. What is, is the experience in how to teach, which is far more important than the skills and knowledge. Gaining the experience in teaching and how to deal with how students are going to react is what you should be getting out of your ITC and what you may be missing by going the fast/cheap route.

question 1: there isn't a specific agency, it's about what they are charging to do it. That is typically PADI at one of the big centers because they are trying to churn and burn due to $$. You may also be able to get cheaper by going with one of the lesser known agencies that are trying to grow, but it may not be cheaper in the long run once you factor in the cost of crossovers

question 2: no. but it may be easier/cheaper/faster in the long run if you know the technical agency you want to teach with, to start with them first. The CD's may be able to shorten the course because you are already are teaching for them so don't be penny wise and pound foolish

question 3: it depends. I teach for NAUI and there are no "levels" of instructor. I am an instructor and can teach whatever I want. Very different than some other agencies where there are different levels of OWSI so it depends on which tech agency you want to go with, and which rec agency you start with. Again, don't be penny wise and pound foolish

 

[Michael Guerrero]

the question is valid on whether the information provided is going to be used for good reasons.

Let's assume the person enjoys scuba diving and is not a super villan with malevolent, nefarious intent .

So it sounds like whatever the person does, knowing a Course Director would be a positive thing because they have control over fees and what not to register the instructor.

If it makes it easier, let's use some hypotheticals:

- PADI OWSI (I think this is the entry level instructor) to PADI Tec/Rec instructor (through Tec 50)

- PADI OWSI to TDI Tech Instructor (at least AN/DP)

- PADI OWSI to NAUI Tech Instructor

- SDI to TDI

- SDI to PADI

- SDI to NAUI

I'm not lising GUE because I'm afraid it's crazy expensive to go through their IDC, but if that's not the case someone please let me know. And I'm assuming GUE differentiates between their Rec and Tec instructors, but no clue about this either.