Best path into the life

[islanddiverdude]

Well ive wanted and been interested in making this my life. In the back of my head its been my goal but has been haulted cause i tend to listen to other people to much. Ive been soul searchin for the last couple months. Becoming a fulltime dive instructor doesnt seem extremely promising from what i have read on this site. Not that that would hold me back but has kept me thinking about staying in school and paving a route to something in marine biology. I think my curiousities would cause too much frustration having to work everyday training when i want to be studying the wild life. Being in arizona it hasnt seemed possible but that was due to a self defeating attitude. This is the only thing i really can imagine doing. I want to be on the discovery channel talkin about some new fish i found lol. That would be my motivation. Any people takin this path and have any suggestions. Im currently studying in psychology but i dont see myself sitting in an office. Maybe as far as routes through junior college and up. Dont get me wrong im doing my own research as well, but a little testimonial does help to spark extra motivation.

Thanks

 

[Christi]

Well ive wanted and been interested in making this my life. In the back of my head its been my goal but has been haulted cause i tend to listen to other people to much. Ive been soul searchin for the last couple months. Becoming a fulltime dive instructor doesnt seem extremely promising from what i have read on this site. Not that that would hold me back but has kept me thinking about staying in school and paving a route to something in marine biology. I think my curiousities would cause too much frustration having to work everyday training when i want to be studying the wild life. Being in arizona it hasnt seemed possible but that was due to a self defeating attitude. This is the only thing i really can imagine doing. I want to be on the discovery channel talkin about some new fish i found lol. That would be my motivation. Any people takin this path and have any suggestions. Im currently studying in psychology but i dont see myself sitting in an office. Maybe as far as routes through junior college and up. Dont get me wrong im doing my own research as well, but a little testimonial does help to spark extra motivation.

Thanks

IMPO, don't give up a college education to be a divemaster.

 

[Freds@Aquanauts]

I did exactly what christi told you not to do!I've done half my training now, I'm a DM...Will tell you in a couple of years whether it was all worth it!!!But I think sadly she is probably right!

Freds

 

[S. starfish]

IMPO, don't give up a college education to be a divemaster.

Wurd.
If you can find the capitol to get into it though, it is a nice way to make some extra cash.

 

[ChrisA]

Well ive wanted and been interested in making this my life. In the back of my head its been my goal but has been haulted cause i tend to listen to other people to much. Ive been soul searchin for the last couple months. Becoming a fulltime dive instructor doesnt seem extremely promising from what i have read on this site. Not that that would hold me back but has kept me thinking about staying in school and paving a route to something in marine biology. I think my curiousities would cause too much frustration having to work everyday training when i want to be studying the wild life. Being in arizona it hasnt seemed possible but that was due to a self defeating attitude. This is the only thing i really can imagine doing. I want to be on the discovery channel talkin about some new fish i found lol. That would be my motivation. Any people takin this path and have any suggestions. Im currently studying in psychology but i dont see myself sitting in an office. Maybe as far as routes through junior college and up. Dont get me wrong im doing my own research as well, but a little testimonial does help to spark extra motivation.

Thanks

If you are thinking about working as a marine biologist. You are looking at being in school basically "forever". First as an under graduate then as a grad student and it just goes on from there. Nothing wrong if that's what you want and you are good enough on school work to make the grades. Look at universities and their requirements now. Get the basics now in JC. Chenistry, physics, math and so on.

A completely different route to making a living under water is as a comercial diver. They do not do as much underwater welding as they used to but still there is inspection and assembly work. But there is a long period of low pay untill you have the experiance to get the $100K/year job the schools advertize.

The trouble with being a DM is that later if you have a wife and kids they will want to do things like live indoors and eat food. Not easy to do that on $100 a week.

 

[wreckchick]

Actually, I'd look at professional underwater photography or writing for travel magazines. I've met people who do both and they have awesome jobs. They get paid to go on dive trips and then either take some pictures or write an article.

Rachel

 

[ChrisA]

Actually, I'd look at professional underwater photography or writing for travel magazines. I've met people who do both and they have awesome jobs. They get paid to go on dive trips and then either take some pictures or write an article.

Rachel

The trouble is that you can't count on this. Most writters and photographers can't get published and those that do mostly get like $50 for an article or image. A very few make a lot more. It's like being any other kind of artist most of then have "day jobs". Luck and telent are required and only one in a thousand make it big.

I'd think the best plan would be to continue with formal education as far as you can (not everyone has the abilty to get into a graduate program and research. In my wife's recent General Anatomy class, 1/2 of the class failed or dropped) aim for one of the sure-bet type jobs and work on the art and writting on your own knowing that it's a slim chance of "makeing it big" but you do it because you like to. You can always self publish on the web. Basically you need to have plans A, B and C each with a couple bail-out options. Life is not simple.

 

[Tollie]

The nice thing about diving is that it will grow with you when you are ready.

You dont need to force it. Keep on with your education and build a solid base of varied dive experiences in different environments. Develop a specialty. Photography or videography is great. Develop contacts at a lds... you might find that you are recruted into the profession as a DM.

If you make the jump into the profession you can start part time... dont quit your day job. Have something in the bank and then see how it goes. There is a lot of turnover in the profession and so you will find an entry level job.

You will maximize your choices is you:

have two or more languages...
can run a boat...
can do equipment repair...
have worked in sales...

basicly bring something else to the table beyound the dive training.