Big choice to make...

[Hawaiian shirt rebel]

Hey all I would like to know what you think…

I am looking into going to Commercial Diving Academy to go thru their Naui instructors training program. And I would like to know if anyone has gone to it or has hired of any one going to it and if so how was it and can you tell me about it other then what I could find in the stuff they send me. After I take it I would like to teach diving as a full time job and I am willing to go were ever a job might take me for the most part I do have a family to drag along with me. Can you please let me know what you think? What time is a good time a yr to do it? Do you think I could get a full time job doing it and make okay money? I would be making a BIG change in my life to do this so let me know all of what you think about it the good, the bad and the ugly.
Thank you for your time…
Damon
AKA: Hawaiian shirt rebel

 

[scubadobadoo]

I think you should slow down and get another few hundred dives in. Adding the need to make money doing something often ends up making one hate the very thing they once loved to do. Even Paul Newman complained about the acting business. Trust me, if you spend 12 hours or more a day underwater or around it the last thing you are gonna want to do when you get home is go diving. It will eventually be something that must be done. For the record, someone posts a thread just like yours here it seems every other day. Get it?

You also mentioned a family? Yikes. I hope they don't like health insurance. Honestly, slow down and think this through for another year or two or you will just end up being yet another "kid moving to the big city to be a famous actor." The analogy is very close. Most dream jobs pay little if at all.

Just my two cents and I'm sure others will have positive things to add...I hope. But really, slow down and go diving for a bit. Just simply enjoy diving. Everything gets old and everything becomes work no matter what you do.

If ya really want to teach then do it for fun before you hang your family out to dry. Good luck!

 

[cuddlefish]

Congratulations on your career change. I will assume you have put a lot of thought into this decision. I also assume (and hope) that you are already financially secure for both the present and future...so that you will not be relying on a diving career to support your family. I will say that it IS possible...I earn a good living in the dive industry...however, I will admit that it is rare that it can be a true full career.

Another consideration is which agency to go through. PLEASE, everyone do not let this become a bashing session of a particular agency or agencies. But the truth be told, some agencies have more career opportunity that others. Again, I will assume you have done your research and know that your agency of choice has lots of opportunities in lots of places.

I don't have specific information or opinion about Commercial Diving Academy...but I thought I'd throw my two cents in anyway.

Good luck!