Continue to Instructor?

[UnderwaterDentist]

Hi all. I am relatively new to this forum so hopefully a similar question has not been recently posted.

I just returned from becoming a PADI Dive Master in Utila and am considering continuing on to become an instructor. However, because I will be entering dental school in the fall, I am looking for more of a hobby or part time job. Would I be better off staying a DM or do you think it would be worth the money to continue on? I think I would enjoy teaching but will probably teach a little bit for extra cash during school and maybe for fun once I am a dentist? Anyway, I guess the real question is: How many classes must one teach to start earning money? I will be attending dental school in Iowa, so not by a large ocean or diving hub--do you think I would actually make any money or would it just increase my huge dental debt?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bill Schindler]

Hi all. I am relatively new to this forum so hopefully a similar question has not been recently posted.

I just returned from becoming a PADI Dive Master in Utila and am considering continuing on to become an instructor. However, because I will be entering dental school in the fall, I am looking for more of a hobby or part time job. Would I be better off staying a DM or do you think it would be worth the money to continue on? I think I would enjoy teaching but will probably teach a little bit for extra cash during school and maybe for fun once I am a dentist? Anyway, I guess the real question is: How many classes must one teach to start earning money? I will be attending dental school in Iowa, so not by a large ocean or diving hub--do you think I would actually make any money or would it just increase my huge dental debt?

Thanks for the help!

I live in the Midwest and have been an instructor for 10 years. I would never recommend that someone become an instructor in order to make money. The cost of insurance, etc. will make it real hard to make a buck. I would only recommend that you proceed with instructor training if you really want to become an instructor and want to be able to do more than a DM. Perhaps at this time, it may be better to actually work as a DM and you can then make a more informed decision on whether you want to become an instructor. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[UnderwaterDentist]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I should clarify. I am less concerned about making money than making back the cost of what it would cost to become an instructor. I have very little funds and a huge debt ahead of me. I'm not sure I want to add another $2K to teach "for fun."

 

[DrSteve]

I will be attending dental school in Iowa, so not by a large ocean or diving hub--do you think I would actually make any money or would it just increase my huge dental debt?

Thanks for the help!

I did grad school at U of IA, even collaborated with one of the dentists for a very brief period until my advisor got bored. Not a bad place, but you'll be ready to leave after your stint there. Anyway...to my knowledge there is nowhere within easy driving distance of IC to actually dive. I'm sure Lake McBride might have some spots, but it is a state park so no telling if they allow it. Plenty of rivers and they always have a student or two try and jump between two bridges and fall into the river...so maybe you could get some time in as a search and recovery diver (we'll assume that rescue is unlikely). There's always Lake Michigan, and Madison is a mere 3.5h away and same for Chicago.

Good luck.

 

[Tavi]

We're supposed to make $$ teaching??

 

[kidspot]

We're supposed to make $$ teaching??

you mean you're not rolling in dough? I mean all you have for expenses are your liability insurance, annual instructor fees, student manuals, gear rentals/purchases for students, park fees, air fills, maintanence fees, and pool fees ... plus the odds and ends like meals, travel, etc... so if you charge $125 per student (like one of our local shops does) lets see... after 10 students.... you should have about $700... less...

I am amazed at the number of shops around me that offer certification for $350 and will have only 1 student in the class... kind of hard to make a living on that when it takes 3 days minimum ...

So on behalf of all of us who have benefited from instructors who teach for the love of teaching and survive on P&B sandwiches - THANK YOU!... now charge more... you deserve it

 

[pasley]

Not a DI, and not an expert. But since when did that ever stop me? IMHO
DI= increased potential liablity even when diving for pleasure.
DI= yearly liability insurance cost and I would guess it is not cheap.
DI= spending time in the water watching others do skills, not fun. Ask any DI when we the last time they went out on a fun non-working dive?
DI= best way to make fun into work.

 

[DrDave]

Anyway, I guess the real question is: How many classes must one teach to start earning money? I will be attending dental school in Iowa, so not by a large ocean or diving hub--do you think I would actually make any money or would it just increase my huge dental debt?

I am a new PADI DM, and I've had similar questions as yours. The dive shop I'm working with in Texas has a fairly good business, and I get to see the class sizes and can geusstimate what the instructors are earning. Then I see the investment they've made in gear, teaching equipment, gas expenses, insurance... At this point, I haven't seen any monetary incentive to advance to Instructor. I work as a DM because it allows me to work wth the students, but I don't have to be responsible for everything that goes on in the class. This keeps it fun for me, and not so much work. I usually earn enough to cover my gas expenses.

Have you checked with any local dive shops about what the market is for instructors in your area? Would you enjoy working as a DM for a while to kind of "test the waters" to see if there's a need for another instructor in Iowa? If you did make Instructor, would the pressure of wanting to pay for your instuctor expenses take the fun out of teaching?

Just a thought. Good luck with your decision!

-- Dave

 

[UnderwaterDentist]

Thanks for everyones responses. If it is really so awful and you are losing so much money doing it, why do you? I am not asking to be a millionaire. . .I'm a poor student who makes $8 an hour so at this point I'm not looking to make a killing. I think I would really enjoy teaching but if it will be more hassle than its worth, I'll forget about it. So far it seems an overwhelming NO. Anyone think it would be worth it? Evidently, someone does because people are still taking the IDC. As for DM work. . .doesn't seem to be much in Iowa, or my current residence.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Thanks for everyones responses. If it is really so awful and you are losing so much money doing it, why do you? I am not asking to be a millionaire. . .I'm a poor student who makes $8 an hour so at this point I'm not looking to make a killing. I think I would really enjoy teaching but if it will be more hassle than its worth, I'll forget about it. So far it seems an overwhelming NO. Anyone think it would be worth it? Evidently, someone does because people are still taking the IDC. As for DM work. . .doesn't seem to be much in Iowa, or my current residence.

I do it because I love diving and I love teaching ... but I am far from making money at it.

$2K is just the initial investment ... the "down payment", if you will. Teaching materials cost a lot of money ... I have probably $3 to $4 thousand worth of instructor manuals on the shelf. Continuing education costs money ... I just shelled out another $1,100 over the week-end to become a DAN instructor ... and the teaching aids required for the DAN courses is about another $1,500. It takes a good while to recover that kind of money.

Some instructors do earn a living at it ... but to earn a living and do the job right you'll be putting in so many hours that you'll eventually burn out on it.

I'm not suggesting you don't do it ... just set your expectations properly and go into realizing that you're probably not going to make a lot of money at it. Recognize that most instructors teach through a dive shop, and like any other job that involves limitations, rules, and politics.

Dive instruction can be very rewarding if you go into it for the right reasons, and with the right mindset. Financial rewards should be low on the list of reasons why you'd want to do it, though ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)