Help with Living, Learning, and diving the Florida Keys????

[TheSecretChief]

Hello, I am very new to this forum. If this thread is placed wrong, or if anyone has any other forum related suggestions please feel free to comment and i will change methods. I will try to be brief and to the point with my questions.
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I am a currently a molecular biology tech with a M.S. in biology, I will be entering a Marine Biology PhD program in the fall of 2016. Until this time i will be undergoing dive training to take me from basic open water certification all the way to instructor level certification.​

I have researched a few different ways of going about this year of training. Some of my options have included internship abroad programs such as the Global Vision internation Dive academy, a 30 week long intensive that leads to a PADI dive instructor certification among other things. It is a very expensive upfront program and that has been my main barrier. If anyone has opinions on this program they are much appreciated. Dive Academy | GVI USA​

Onto my primary plan. I plan on moving to a location within the Florida Keys, somewhere in close proximity to a reputable dive center. I then plan on living, working, and learning my way through the next year and then entering the Phd program.​

I am wondering if this forum could help me decide on the best course of action to accomplish this goal as well as suggestions on dive centers, instructors, locations, and the general logistics of living in the Keys. I know it is very expensive to live in this area, but i am a young, single, educated person that does not require much more than a hole in the wall to sleep in. Suggestions regarding housing are welcome as well.​

Basically i am looking to live in the keys for one year, gain dive instructor certification(and many sub categories), work wherever doing whatever(from construction, shop work, science, ditch-diggin, waiting tables to bartending- ive done it all), live safely and moderately affordable.​

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-Roughly how much would it cost to go from basically nothing, to a dive instructor certification? $7,000? $10,000? Im having a hard time putting a good number together. I understand this is highly variable, but a reality based ball park estimate is what i am after.



-Where in your opinion would be the best place in the keys to do this? Preference would be given to key areas that have some scientific researchers that i could mingle with and perhaps volunteer.



-Finally if anyone is located in the keys and perhaps would like to directly help me with this goal that would of course be fantastic. I plan moving there sometime between july-august 2015.
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Thanks so much for help!!

 

[Lorenzoid]

Learning to dive, I can understand entirely, but I don't understand how becoming a dive instructor relates to your Marine Biology PhD program. Or is teaching diving just something you would want to do on the side, maybe to earn a few bucks while you're a student?

 

[islanddream]

NetDoc (head honcho of ScubaBoard) and mselenaous (head honcho of NetDoc) are both excellent instructors in the Key Largo area. You might want to PM (Private Message) them to get some of your questions answered. I'm sure they would be a wealth of information for you. They are really NICE people!

 

[Bob DBF]

Learning to dive, I can understand entirely, but I don't understand how becoming a dive instructor relates to your Marine Biology PhD program. Or is teaching diving just something you would want to do on the side, maybe to earn a few bucks while you're a student?

Where my daughter went to University, the second year they had to certify OW. My daughter, being a DM already, worked on her Scientific Diver cert and helped the masters students with their studies until her classmates were trained, then they joined back up for their studies. The instructor and DM's were in the Marine biology department and part of their job was training students for the school. They may make some money on the side when not working in the department, but I don't know.

I'm just amazed that the OP is not already trained OW, and as a Scientific Diver.

As to the OP's question, I would guess 10 to 20K, Halls in the Keys is 12K, but I am no zero to hero fan so I never had to look into it.



Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I was curious about the relationship between seeking instructor status and the PhD program because if there is some sort of relationship, then I would think the Marine Biology Dept. would be able to advise the OP, maybe recommend a training route. I'm not sure if that's already been done or what the OP means by having "researched a few different ways of going about this year of training."

As neither an instructor nor FL resident, I have no useful information--I was just curious. Best of luck to the OP in what should be a fascinating and challenging program.

 

[diversteve]

Am I wrong or is the GVI program only taught at XTC dive in Xcalak, Mexico? The link seems to indicate that. For that kind of money - if you want to pursue an Instructor Cert, look at one of the much less expensive programs abroad - somewhere like Roatan for example. It's cheap to live there, you often don't need a car and several programs provide discounted housing. Utila is another option but a little harder to get to. Some are "zero to hero" programs as well so ask here about any that seem interesting - someone likely has been there/done that. There's similar programs in Belize also.

PADI Divemaster and Instructor internship Roatan Bay Islands Honduras - is one option - they have a course calculator with prices. Nothing to OWSI will cost you about $5K for training/materials - not including accommodations/flights etc. Staying in the West End you can just about walk to everything also - most of the shops, nightlife, etc. are there. CTD rents rooms in a large house to their DM/Instructor candidates - at $300-500 per month depending on size/AC. So even if you were there a year, that's $6K more. Add $800 for flights and all you've got left is food and entertainment - both of which are also cheap.

There are also about a dozen other Instructor certification programs at other shops there as well. 4 I know of are at Cocoview, Barefoot Cay, West End Divers or Bananarama - all in different locations on the island. Plan to do some manual labor also as a DM trainee - it's part of the job.

But I don't think it's optimal for what you seem to be doing for a career. Why are you actually going for Instructor? Do you plan to teach? Because it seems like you're pursuing a course that won't be of as much value to you later in your marine biology career.

I'd be looking for AAUS based training instead - AAUS doesn't teach diving but they do set the standards you will be required to follow later in your career so it likely makes more sense to pursue that than Instructor. I think their standards are higher also, and I'm pretty sure they even spec. stuff like the proper gear to be worn so you may as well buy it right the first time. American Academy of Underwater Sciences - American Academy of Underwater Sciences

Conveniently there's two accredited colleges/universities in the Keys that look like they teach it. One is even currently listed as a host for a 2015 AAUS program (FKCC) And about a dozen more on mainland Florida. Maybe student loans, maybe grants or scholarships? AAUS has a scholarship fund that I believe you qualify for with your degree also. From the AAUS site - other mainland colleges are listed there also:

Florida International University
IslaMorada, FL

Florida Keys Community college
Key West, FL


hth,

 

[TheSecretChief]

Thanks for all the replies so far! They are already helping immensely.

To clarify the "WHY" in all this. The why for the most part is simply just because i want to do this and i have the time now. It doesn't have anything to do with "requirements" for the phd program or entrance, aside from very relevant job skills. Plus when i have grad students under me i want to be the best i can be for them and myself. I'm not typically the scientisty of the scientists. I am the get dirty, fix stuff, leg work, field tech kind of scientist on the team....

Plus if you are a Marine Biology university program or government agency and you have a choice between Phd graduate with instructor certifications and Phd grad without instructor certifications..Who would you choose?

I would hire the professor or person who kills many birds with one stone.

I am GIS certified, welding certified, will be wilderness medicine certified soon, work on engines, can fix electronics run a greenhouse, expert photoshop user, and a list of lab tech certs. These things are only peripherally related to my actual phd specialization but they are extremely relevant to many employers. I can teach you music theory and jazz guitar as well lol...

Secondly, i've been doing the school, lab job, day in and out routine for awhile. Its time to take some time and live..while still making moves and personally progressing.

I want a period of time to immerse myself, the setting to immerse myself, and the means to progress as i high in certifications as i choose. I understand the zero to hero aspect of it all. I have the means, the will, and the ability...so why not ya know?

The GVI program is expensive, but it includes housing and meals for around 30 weeks plus the training and potential for job placement. ( if i decided on that) $18,000 is steep no doubt but 6 months of rent anywhere in the states is a chunk of that. Plus getting to wake up everyday on a nature preserve and do nothing but immerse myself and learn is very appealing.

I'll respond more later...time to clock out.. Thanks so much everyone

 

[Rich Keller]

Plus if you are a Marine Biology university program or government agency and you have a choice between Phd graduate with instructor certifications and Phd grad without instructor certifications..Who would you choose?

I would choose the Phd with a commercial diving certification. If your main focus is going to be working underwater you would be far better served by going to a commercial diving school rather then going the sport diving route. Scuba instructors know a lot about only one aspect of diving were as commercial diving will get you into areas they have little or no experience with. Unless you need to be able to teach diving as part of your job a scuba instructor certification is a waist of your time and money. You will learn far more in less time for about the same amount of money by taking a commercial diving course then you will earning an instructor certification. Anyone you would need to mentor in your field would have already been certified anyway so why not put yourself in a position to take them to the next level.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Short answer, general numbers including a full set of gear: gear: $2500.00; open water course $450; advanced opn water $350.00; Rescue Diver $350.00; divemaster (with books) $1500.00. Instructor course (with books and etc." $1750.00. Instructor exam and misc. $500.00. So to be safe, about$7400,or perhaps a bit mores. Forget instructor. First lean to dive and then get some experience. After you sort it out for a while, and gain some dive experience, you can choose to go pro, but don't start there. Start by learing to dive and diving.
DivemasterDennis