Becoming an Instructor

[Michael Guerrero]

OK, so this is going to sound bad, but what is the cheapest and fastest agency to become an instructor for?

Assume the person is able to execute all skills at the instructor level already and has the requisite knowledge.

 

[andrewy]

PADI <1 year <5$k
You will get to drive in a $1000 car with $10,000 of gear in it.
if you want for self improvements, rather take GUE route even if recreational.

 

[lerpy]

Quickest is going somewhere like the Florida Keys. They run programs, normally through PADI 12 and your done, including the exam. Looking about 2500$ for books and class, 600-700 for the Exam.

 

[oly5050user]

Rather than what is the fastest, cheapest, think about what agency are you most likely to be able to find work thru in local area you want to live in. Does not make sense if you use cheapest fastest if at the end all you have is a owsi card and no way to recoup any of your expenses.

 

[tbone1004]

i guess the real question is why do you want to become an instructor? The ROI on paying for it is horrible, and unless you are making a career out of it, in which case you want the agency you want to teach for, not the cheapest, then you need to evaluate why you want it in the first place.

If you want this because it is a prereq for technical instructor, then going IANTD or SDI maybe the cheapest way in the long run, but may not be.

 

[Michael Guerrero]

Quickest is going somewhere like the Florida Keys. They run programs, normally through PADI 12 and your done, including the exam. Looking about 2500$ for books and class, 600-700 for the Exam.

What is PADI 12? Is that a 12-day IDC or something? Does this require DM first?

 

[Michael Guerrero]

If you want this because it is a prereq for technical instructor, then going IANTD or SDI maybe the cheapest way in the long run, but may not be.

That's a possibility too. Is it difficult to do a conversion or whatever they're called? So a PADI OWSI and a TDI Tech instructor?

 

[lerpy]

My apologies for my crappy typing. The IDC in places like Key Largo take around 12-15 days to complete. The majority of them give you a PADI certification, you require Divemaster to do them, or you can do it from Rescue through. Basically you can start a program at any level, it will just take longer. The 0-Hero course as you may have heard is basically going OW through to Instructor.

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. As for moving up to Tec Instructor I am not sure what the next steps would be.

I am starting my instructor training next month, I am doing SDI.

 

[tbone1004]

That's a possibility too. Is it difficult to do a conversion or whatever they're called? So a PADI OWSI and a TDI Tech instructor?

not difficult, but if you're already an instructor with SDI or IANTD, it may be easier to go into tech.

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?

 

[guruboy]

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