Measuring professionalism based off the number of dives is comparable to measuring an automobile drivers skill by the number of times he's driven a car... it doesn't tell 1/4 of the story. I've witnessed some horrendous diving by people claiming to have 1000 dives.
Is the guy a great swimmer and diver? Is he comfortable in front of students? Does he prioritize safety and preparation? Does he work hard and have patience when things don't go perfectly? How much experience does he have outside of his comfort zone and local dive environment? Does he have technical training and skill? And do you trust him?
These are all more important than dive numbers... IMO.
Is the guy a great swimmer and diver? Is he comfortable in front of students? Does he prioritize safety and preparation? Does he work hard and have patience when things don't go perfectly? How much experience does he have outside of his comfort zone and local dive environment? Does he have technical training and skill? And do you trust him?
These are all more important than dive numbers... IMO.
