Fastest way to instructor

[scuba_lover]

I just got SSI open water certification. I would like to know who has the fastest path to becoming an instructor - SSI or PADI or NAUI?

I know that experience is what matters more than the certification and the more dives i have would make me a better instructor, etc. but i would also like to know which path is the quickest.

 

[Cave Diver]

I just got SSI open water certification. I would like to know who has the fastest path to becoming an instructor - SSI or PADI or NAUI?

I know that experience is what matters more than the certification and the more dives i have would make me a better instructor, etc. but i would also like to know which path is the quickest.

Why do you want to know the fastest way?

How can you teach others when you barely know how to dive yourself.

Enjoy your new certifcation, build some experience that you can fall back on and then think about becoming an instructor.

 

[AzAtty]

The fastest path to become a GOOD instructor, or do you just want the merit badge?

With PADI, you can go from OW certified to instructor in about seven months. That gets you the merit badge. It doesn't get you experience, or more importantly, GOOD JUDGMENT.

 

[RonFrank]

I'm sure there is a fastest path, but that is just about the stupidest way to judge a program. The fastest path likely has zero to do with the agency involved, and is more about where you have it done.

For PADI the path is OW, AOW, Rescue/EFR, DM, AI, and Instructor. That is not something that can be fast tracked over a period of a few weeks, but I've seen people do it in under a year.

I personally would NOT want to be taught by an instructor who has little experience, and a lot less time in the water than myself.

I would pick an agency on what is available in the area you expect to teach. PADI is a safe bet just because they are large, and well established most everywhere. I have friends that are SSI, but they live and teach in an area where SSI has an equal number of shops vs. PADI. IOW's it's a small market with only three dive shops one of which is SSI.

 

[Teamcasa]

Scuba diving inspires many to become an instructor because is so much fun. However, like Cave Diver said, just enjoy diving for a while, start taking some more training and say after a couple of hundred dives, if you are still excited about it, start taking the training.

However, if you are the overachiever type and nothing is going to stop you from becoming an instructor, there are places that will train you soup to nuts. Some are in Thailand, Philippines and I think in Mexico. A simple Google search will give you the names.

 

[ppo2_diver]

The BEST way to get to instructor is to go do about 1000 dives. Then you'll probably know more than your average course director.

 

[Skooter]

It's great to hear your love and motivation for diving is so high. But honestly slow down and enjoy the ride through the learning experiences to come. It's great to have the goal of becoming an Instructor, but take the time to be an awesome instructor rather than just a card carrying instructor.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I just got SSI open water certification. I would like to know who has the fastest path to becoming an instructor - SSI or PADI or NAUI?

I know that experience is what matters more than the certification and the more dives i have would make me a better instructor, etc. but i would also like to know which path is the quickest.

In addition to what the others have said, I'd encourage you get as much diving under your belt as possible before making a decision about moving from recreational diver to dive professional. It is natural to be excited about diving (hey, we all are!!).

As was already mentioned, it is probably more about WHERE you choose to get trained rather than by which agency that will determine how long it takes.... But I get really nervous about the programs that take your money, and promise to take a non-diver and transform them into an instructor in less than a year.

After completing one of these programs will you be a competent diver who is able to demonstrate basic skills and teach the required "book" knowledge to your students? Sure. Will you have enough depth of experience to REALLY be a good instructor? Probably not.

So if you are really interested in being an instructor, that's fantastic! But don't take any shortcuts, get the experience, then get the training.

Good luck!

 

[reddiver970]

I would add to what has already been said, get as much diversity in your diving as you can. Warm water, cold water, night, boat dives, surf entries, whatever you can. Take your time there isn't a pot of gold waiting for you at the end of the IDC/IE.

 

[Colliam7]

I would like to know who has the fastest path to becoming an instructor - SSI or PADI or NAUI?

I think you asked about the 'fastest' path, and we seem to be telling you why not to take that route, rather than answering the question. I am not sure there are material differences between agencies in the 'fastest' path. For example, PADI requires that you show documentation of 100 logged dives, and 6 months of experience as a certified diver, in order to participate in the IE (Instructor Evaluation), although exceptions can be made. That's a very short period of time, and I doubt that other agencies are faster, or substantively slower for that matter. There are facilities (e.g. Hall's, in FL, www.hallsdiving.com/career2/insttrn.htm) that advertise very short Instructor courses that take you from certified diver to Instructor in as little as 19 days. I suggest you contact them for more information.