the zero to hero training is bad for the industry and bad for you.
Go learn to dive. then go diving. then learn some more. then go diving.
then learn some more. then go diving.
THEN go for that divemaster class.
i will only teach DM for divers with significant experience (minimum of 100 dives) and they have to have completed Advanced, several specialities, rescue, and nitrox.
While I see where you're coming from, I am willing to learn everything required to be considered a skilled diver. I'm a fast learner, but recognize that it takes years of experience to be a true Dive
Master. I am merely looking at this as a huge opportunity to get my foot in the door. I may not have experience currently, but it has always been a burning desire of mine to learn.
Hey Kyle! I'm jealous of you and your age. Man, chase that dream but be very patient and pick the right company and place to live. Don't pull the trigger too quickly, do your homework.
3 hours per dive? Nope.
What captain or dive company is it? People here will know and be able to offer better advice. There are several options in that area, some good, some bad.
But at your age, man I say GO FOR IT (under the right circumstances) and follow that dream. You have your whole life in front of you. I'm a big advocate of pursuing your dreams and adventure.
Once you're old and fat, you can't go back and have a redo. Don't be an old guy reminiscing of your younger days and saying "I wish I would've done this or that".
At this point until I have more information I'd rather not name names, for the sake of not stepping on any toes. However I would very much appreciate your views on the good and bad options
They pay $50 per dive top and share tips. At 3 hours per dive this is around $16 per hour plus tips. Doing 2 dives per day is a decent living even after taxes, especially compared to the $9 per hour I currently make at my boring desk job building websites for lawn companies and chiropractors...
Also I'm not limited to just working for them. Especially once I complete the certification, would not a whole new realm of opportunities open up to me? Or is there less of a demand for professional divers than I've been lead to believe?
I would imagine that region would crank out a large number of dive masters & instructors. I also believe you'll find many of what you think are 'dive masters' on boats are actually instructors by training/credentials.
If, in that environment, they'd guarantee a job to an out-of-stater without having even seen how you perform 1st, I'd think that wouldn't be a job many people would want to hold long. Or high-paying, even for part-time.
You've got a fiancee. You guys looking to buy a house, have kids, any of that in the next few years? If so, I don't think Dive Master is going to get you there. If you just want to do some training that's one thing, but it sounds like you will need work, too. Got a feeling that part time job won't be it.
Richard.
It does seem like a small time operation. I can see the benefits and the downfalls of working for them. The Captain is also a US Coast Guard Captain, and served in the National Guard as a tank driver, and has been running the dive charter for 9 years, so I feel like I'd be in good hands when it comes to learning the industry. I don't think hes going to let me go through the whole course if he thinks I can't handle it.
I'm 26 years old, 5'11", 155lbs, and exercise regularly. I'm not in amazing shape but I am probably in the best shape I've ever been...if there was ever a time I could handle something like this its now.
Chelsea, My Fiancee, has known about my desire to pursue a scuba career for a while now. As a matter of fact she is the one that pointed me towards the ad. She has read many a story of people selling everything to move to a new place, leaving their $90k jobs in Manhattan to serve ice cream for $10 per hour. She wouldn't be leaving $90k per year, but she does have a decent job at the moment...although she has expressed that she isn't all that fond of the "normal life" as defined by society. Working part time to pay the bills and have some play money (even though it doesn't cost much to go to the beach!), spending more time enjoying life rather than working til you're 65 (when you don't even know if you'll last that long) to finally enjoy life seems great to us both. She will either love it or hate it, I don't think there will be an in-between..however I am optimistic.
My biggest fear with this is regretting passing up the opportunity. We've already planned on moving to the Lakeland or Bradenton area within the year, so this isn't a huge deviation from our planned path...other than moving sooner, and farther south. I had the chance to be an exchange student in Australia in 6th and again in 8th grade, but passed it up because I was simply scared to live with a family I didn't know for three months. Here I am, getting closer to 30 every day, and have not had a single adventure in my adult life. Chelsea is also 26 and in the same boat.
Currently weighing pros and cons of this move, and greatly appreciate everyone's input.
Thanks,
Kyle