Can you really make a living Scuba instructing ???

[mrstein]

I know that this has been on the boards more then once.

However It seems that there are so many schools on How to become a Pro Scuba Instructor !!!!!!!

Can any money be made doing this at all ?????

And what about if you teach oversea"s Such as Thailand on the phillippines.

I have had some folks tell me that they have made upwards of 50 grand per year and I have had many other folks tell me if You make 25 grand a year that is a Small miracle in itself.

I understand you are not going to get Rich. That is not the question, However Can you make an OK living.

Someone has to have SOME Answers for US ...........

Mrstein

 

[Rick Murchison]

Somewhere, perhaps...
Not around here. Every instructor I know, even the ones who's only job is at the Scuba shop, does something else to put bread on the table. Whether it's another regular job or selling scuba gear, the money's made elsewhere.
Rick

 

[triton94949]

The main benefits of being an instructor are:

1) You can purchase or start your own scuba store
2) You can enjoy the pleasures of teaching
3) You can get free air/nitrox/trimix at the scuba store
4) You can get discounts on gear
5) You will always have a lot of buddies to dive with
6) It is cool
7) You meet lots of people
8) You meet lots of sexy people

Can you make a living at just teaching it, and not also being a boat captain or dive store owner or having another job? I don't know anyone who does.

 

[SDAnderson]

First a question: what constitutes an "okay" living?

Then the answer: No.

 

[MoonWrasse]

I know that this has been on the boards more then once.

However It seems that there are so many schools on How to become a Pro Scuba Instructor !!!!!!!

Can any money be made doing this at all ?????

And what about if you teach oversea"s Such as Thailand on the phillippines.

I have had some folks tell me that they have made upwards of 50 grand per year and I have had many other folks tell me if You make 25 grand a year that is a Small miracle in itself.

I understand you are not going to get Rich. That is not the question, However Can you make an OK living.

Someone has to have SOME Answers for US ...........

Mrstein

Pre-tsunami in Thailand, instructors I know were struggling to get by.
Post-tsunami, many left the west coast, those remaining seemed to be working for bowls of rice.

I'd suggest you sell greeting cards or raise lamas on the side

 

[solo_diver]

there's too many instructors. PADI is kicking them out like crazy. forget it. be a great diver and have a real job so you can go diving.

most instructors i've known that are in fact full time and don't have a secondary source of income are extremely poor and quite miserable.

the only instructor i've met that does it full time AND quite happy is independently wealthy from a previous profession.

Way, way, way too many instructors. this whole 'career' is self serving. become and instructor and you sire new divers who become instructors, kind of reminds me of vampirism.

plus, why o why would anyone ever want to turn their (i'm assuming you're all like me) favorite sport/pastime/whatever into your job?

don't most people still hate their jobs? I do. lol.

 

[liberato]

The owners of the schools that teach you to be a professional instuctor probably make an OK living.

 

[BigBoB]

Here in Guam, some break even, some make a little, some loose money and nobody gets rich. Here its all about how well you can sell continuing education (i.e. advanced, wreck, eanx, etc.) thats where you make your money. I am lucky that I still have a real job (military) and do this just to buy trimix (helium is almost $3/ft3) and pay for trips to Palau, Truk or Yap a couple times a year.

 

[japan-diver]

Wow, lots of gloom and doom here. Have been making a living teaching diving as my sole occupation for over 10 years and been supporting a few kids with it and I live in an area of the world where the cost of living is deemed to be very high. Also know quite a few professional instructors besides shop owners that make a very nice living. Entry level positions in this industry are low paying- the problem is most instructors don't ever make it past that level.
Part of being a professional dive instructor is knowing more than what was taught in your IDC. Progressing in your education beyond I'm a instructor to finding a niche that you can be the expert at, moving up to IT or CD. Learning about boats, retail management, marketing etc.. These are the things that will allow you to go beyond entry level instructor and make a living at one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world. Some said most people hate their job- I find life is two short to spend 8+ hours a day doing something I hate, I love my job and get to dive as much as I want and the fact that diving is my job hasn't made me dislike it at all.

So the answer is yes you can make a living at dive instructing if you are above average and want to.

 

[astrl]

plus, why o why would anyone ever want to turn their (i'm assuming you're all like me) favorite sport/pastime/whatever into your job?

don't most people still hate their jobs? I do. lol.

My thinking exactly.