Diving Jobs? What is there?

[Thalassamania]

Making a good living underwater takes the same thing that making a living topside takes ... a skill that people will pay for. I was the Diving Safety Officer for a major oceanographic institution. I made good money, great health insurance, TIAA/CREF retirement, etc.. etc. But I needed a suite of skills that went far beyond blowing bubbles, however stylishly, or teaching diving. It's the same story with anything else. If the only skill that you have is being a DM, don't expect it to support even a average lifestyle. The guys in Thailand would have you believe that DMs there make $1000 to $2000 U.S. a month and the instructors can make as much as $4,000 U.S. a month. Frankly I don't believe word of it. I'm not trying to, "shout down enthusiastic, hopeful people based on their bad experiences." I've not had bad experiences, but I do know S*** from shinola, and in my opinion they are in the business of separating "enthusiastic, hopeful people," from their hard earned cash based on promises that they can't keep. Just my guess ... do be careful out there.

 

[Ex-Aquanaut]

The guys in Thailand would have you believe that DMs there make $1000 to $2000 U.S. a month and the instructors can make as much as $4,000 U.S. a month. Frankly I don't believe word of it.

You're pompus and self-important in the best of times, but calling me a flat-out liar makes you look like a complete idiot. Have you met the people I'm talking about? Have you actually any first-hand experience in what jobs might be available at what salaries?

Why don't you simply PM and I'll send you e-mail addresses of all the people -- DMs and Instructors -- I know that are indeed making the salaries I stated. Then you can submit your public apology.

 

[fisherdvm]

I have no comparison except what I see in new graduates of local technical schools. These young people graduate with the expectation of making $15 to $20 an hour with benefits from a 6 month program for high school graduates. Reality is more in the $9 to $10 range without experience. But schools do have a tendency to fluff up the salary expectation a bit.

Just because 10% of the graduate work their butt off and is lucky enough to make a living, it doesn't show the whole picture of the crew. Aquanauts, you would be more believable if you really tell us your true job placement rate, what percentage of your graduates actually work full time in the profession, and what the true unemployment (diving wise) of ALL of your graduates. Working on a cruise ship to me is more like being imprisoned in a floating island. Cramp crowded, confined, and dark. I would hardly call it a good living. It is not even close to being on the cheapest cruiseline as a paying tourist. My guess is that Thals might be closer to being accurate.

With the US economy as bad as it is, perhaps I should move to Thailand?

 

[leapfrog]

You're pompus and self-important in the best of times, but calling me a flat-out liar makes you look like a complete idiot. Have you met the people I'm talking about? Have you actually any first-hand experience in what jobs might be available at what salaries?

Why don't you simply PM and I'll send you e-mail addresses of all the people -- DMs and Instructors -- I know that are indeed making the salaries I stated. Then you can submit your public apology.

Aquanauts, cut it out please, ok? Thalassa is a guy with an impressive background and he's been around the track a hell of a lot more times than most of us. I understand that he is skeptical. In fact I think almost all of us are.

I work with three dive centers here in Spain. One just got closed down due to bureaucratical issues, govt. permits and so on. The other two, well the DCOs are making a living. They put years of hard work and money into it, so they deserve to just like you.

The rest of us? I'm telling you, this is hand to mouth. This is if I get sick, I'm screwed. This is I do this because I love it more than anything else in the world. But money? What money?

Any chance of getting a job at your Center?

 

[Rhone Man]

I truly don't know s*** from shinola in terms of what DMs and instructors actually make, but all of the instructors that I know (and I know quite a few) drive some pretty beat up cars and complain that they can't afford to have kids. Maybe that is not representative, but it is not a ringing endorsement for the call of Mammon.

 

[Thalassamania]

You're pompus and self-important in the best of times, but calling me a flat-out liar makes you look like a complete idiot. Have you met the people I'm talking about? Have you actually any first-hand experience in what jobs might be available at what salaries?

Why don't you simply PM and I'll send you e-mail addresses of all the people -- DMs and Instructors -- I know that are indeed making the salaries I stated. Then you can submit your public apology.

Your retreat into name calling is most amusing, it really adds to your professional image. SUre ... I'll stick my neck out say that I'm 95% confident that diving "professionals" in the upper bracket of the pay range you're citing are two standard deviations out. In science that makes you a flat out liar, in business that makes you a good marketeer, and that's the whole point.

When you can give me a statistically significant sampling of your graduates that includes their current employment, length of employment and wage history which demonstrates that your claims are real then we can talk, one or two individuals is in my world referred to as anecdotal data, in your world that would be called a lie.

But I suspect that it is more like my situation. I receive a great deal of money when I teach and choose to charge. If I were to extrapolate the few such paid programs that I do each year into full time work then that would put me in the pay range of well paid lawyers and physicians, wich is hardly the real case.

 

[Oxy]

 

[dwnunder]

Wow...Thalassamania,, sure shut AQUANUTS up...and that...by reading the scuba board is not an easy feat...well done Thalassamania. I too will be looking for AQUANUTS to post that data or as in his own words, "Then you can submit your public apology."

 

[Thalassamania]

Apology for what? Refusing to call a spade an "entrenching tool?"

 

[leapfrog]

Hey, guys, I got a job offer today. $1,600 a month plus accomodation and commissions as sales and marketing manager of a Dive Center. Going out in June so wish me well. I really appreciate the offer from the owner of the Center and when I get there I'll post so y' all can come and dive and help me to earn my daily bread.Rock 'n' Roll:walksmil: