This post and response was part of another thread, but I though it was worth separating it out...Jeff
This makes an interesting point. Right now we have 25 instructors, 11 of whom are in the U.S. and Canada. We've done that in the past year, with one instructor trainer. I spend a big part of every week interviewing and speaking with instructor candidates from all over the world, and Andrew is working tirelessly teaching IDC's.
It's a relatively long process to cross over or start from scratch. The IDC consists of four modules (registration, class prep, academic, and foundational) which gets you through the recreational classes and specialties, then there are additional modules for Tech, Trimix, Overhead, etc. And although we've kept the cost reasonable, there is still a financial commitment to go through the program.
There are no paper crossovers, no gimme's, everyone does the complete program. Which means this training is not for everyone, and finding those unique people - divers who want to become the best instructors they can, who can take the time and spend the money, is a methodical process.
We don't advertise for instructors, it's all word of mouth (or word of internet). This year, most of those people have been showing up in Europe. But just over the past four or five weeks, I've started having more conversations with domestic instructors. We're now making plans for an IDC in the pacific northwest and one in the mid-west. As we accept candidates into the program from the east coast, we'll add an IDC there, also.
It's an organic process to grow an instructor corps. UTD is not for everyone, and we spend a lot of time with each person who calls making sure expectations on both side can be met. So we will continue to add instructors at a pace we can manage while holding the line on finding the best people we can, regardless of where they live.
If you are interested, feel free to contact me. jeff@unifiedteamdiving.com. I'm happy to schedule a call with anyone.
And we have a group on the website for instructors from all agencies:
UTD Groups - All Agency Instructors
If you're currently teaching through any agency, please join the group...the discussions have been really interesting.
Best,
Jeff
This makes an interesting point. Right now we have 25 instructors, 11 of whom are in the U.S. and Canada. We've done that in the past year, with one instructor trainer. I spend a big part of every week interviewing and speaking with instructor candidates from all over the world, and Andrew is working tirelessly teaching IDC's.
It's a relatively long process to cross over or start from scratch. The IDC consists of four modules (registration, class prep, academic, and foundational) which gets you through the recreational classes and specialties, then there are additional modules for Tech, Trimix, Overhead, etc. And although we've kept the cost reasonable, there is still a financial commitment to go through the program.
There are no paper crossovers, no gimme's, everyone does the complete program. Which means this training is not for everyone, and finding those unique people - divers who want to become the best instructors they can, who can take the time and spend the money, is a methodical process.
We don't advertise for instructors, it's all word of mouth (or word of internet). This year, most of those people have been showing up in Europe. But just over the past four or five weeks, I've started having more conversations with domestic instructors. We're now making plans for an IDC in the pacific northwest and one in the mid-west. As we accept candidates into the program from the east coast, we'll add an IDC there, also.
It's an organic process to grow an instructor corps. UTD is not for everyone, and we spend a lot of time with each person who calls making sure expectations on both side can be met. So we will continue to add instructors at a pace we can manage while holding the line on finding the best people we can, regardless of where they live.
If you are interested, feel free to contact me. jeff@unifiedteamdiving.com. I'm happy to schedule a call with anyone.
And we have a group on the website for instructors from all agencies:
UTD Groups - All Agency Instructors
If you're currently teaching through any agency, please join the group...the discussions have been really interesting.
Best,
Jeff
