DM Salary

[RonFrank]

And . . . you have to develop a "story" to help you hire DMs to work for you for free fills while asking them to pay for their additional gear and certification desires.

theskull

Wow, this is certainly out of right field!

You maybe right. The LDS's are certainly a very large part of the issue in pay for instructors and DM's even if the quotes you used from some distant past were really not ment to suggest that....

However case in point, I recently was told by *someone* that instructors at s very busy dive shop which I frequent make $6 bucks a student for OW checkout dives???? I need to do a bit more research to determine if this is true (and I will), but it very well maybe the case based on a few comment tossed out by instructors that I know rather well (never wanted to directly ask).

So this means that out of a $150 for the cert dives, the instructor makes LESS than the state and federal government... I'm going to outright ask exactly what they make. If the answer is anywhere near this figure, I'm seriously going to discuss this with the owners (not that I have a lot of pull), but that would be BS!

 

[friscuba]

Wow, this is certainly out of right field!

You maybe right. The LDS's are certainly a very large part of the issue in pay for instructors and DM's even if the quotes you used from some distant past were really not ment to suggest that....

However case in point, I recently was told by *someone* that instructors at s very busy dive shop which I frequent make $6 bucks a student for OW checkout dives???? I need to do a bit more research to determine if this is true (and I will), but it very well maybe the case based on a few comment tossed out by instructors that I know rather well (never wanted to directly ask).

So this means that out of a $150 for the cert dives, the instructor makes LESS than the state and federal government... I'm going to outright ask exactly what they make. If the answer is anywhere near this figure, I'm seriously going to discuss this with the owners (not that I have a lot of pull), but that would be BS!

I talked with an instructor from northern California, I can't remember the exact rate he was paid but it was somthing along the lines of 250-350 a class typically. This kept him occupied 5 evenings and then he had to spring himself loose for an entire weekend to travel to Monterey. I'm not sure if he had to chip in for the room. Anyway, it all worked out to a few bucks an hour at best.

Wages here in Hawaii seem to be running anywhere from 9-15 bucks an hour, depending on experience, certification level, and if you have a Captain's license. Shifts can run somewhere between 4 and 7 hours a day, and if you are lucky, or working for multiple operators, if you can work 5-6 days a week. Even at the top end of the spectrum one is hardly making a good living, especially when apartments start at about 900 a month for a studio, at least in our area.

Sad thing is, if everyone was paid a living wage, there'd be sticker shock for classes and charters. Who knows how it would affect the hobby. The guys who are willing to work for airfills or other considerations are not helping those who are really trying to make a go of it as a career either. The "story" aspect of it is probably quite common in certain areas, there's a lot of people willing to work for "fun" apparently in some areas.

 

[Aquatic Eagle]

The most I have made so far as an instructor was working for a cruise line. I worked for Norwegian Cruise Line for two years. They start instructors between $1750 and $2250 per month. That's great because you live on a cruise ship so you have no expenses whatsoever. They also reimburse you for yearly registration fees and for your liability insurance which can be pretty expensive. The biggest catch is that you very rarely get to dive. You teach snorkeling all the time but only get to dive maybe once every 6-8 weeks. That's one of the main reasons I don't do it anymore. Great money, no diving.

 

[Footslogger]

I have never been given a penny for performing DM duties, either when I was active with a dive shop or on a boat. On the other hand ...I did get some non-monetary perks and have typically been given the respect commensurate with my experience on dive trips.

For me that's enough. I love to dive and I love u/w photography. My motive for becoming a DM was the added knowledge and not financial reward.

Like many things in life ...it's all about expectations.

'Slogger

 

[nwdiver2]

List of instructors wages from the last few years, these are all wages paid to close friends in different areas of the world, these are all land based instructors working as both instructors and dive masters for shops and resorts. These are base pay tips may add some more pocket cash. These are also very experienced instructors.

Grand Cayman $2500-4000 Cayman dollars monthly about 50 hr/wk

Sharm el Sheikh $4000-4500 USD monthly about 50 hr/wk

Thailand $1500-2500 USD monthly about 55 hr/wk

Northern Suliwesi high end resort $3500 USD monthly 7/24 for weeks at a time.

Belize $2500 USD monthly 40-50 hr week

The best way to crank up your salary is to have specialties that are in demand and be prepared to offer a high level of customer service.

I have a small charter boat, teach open circuit rebreather and underwater digital photography, its only a hobby as I have a real job some day I may take it to a friend’s resort some where warm but not for a few more years.