Here is a Question that arose from other thoughts

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here in canada it is recommended that you maintain your insurance for at least 3 years after you go to non teaching status or give up teaching, if you are sued and don't have current insurance you are up sh... creek with no paddle. i have also been told if you are sued and have liability insurance if you even waivered slightly from your agencies standards they and your insurance company will leave you hanging real quick.
 
You talk about your desire to become a diving instructor? Well let me tell you, that desire about seeing the wonder in your students' eyes leaves pretty quickly when you have to deal with your fist class from Hell.

I'm sure all the instructors on this board know the one that I am referring to. The class that is full of a bunch of clueless knuckle draggers and droolers who have no bussiness getting within a mile of a body of water with diving equipment. These people will test you to your absolute limits. When your ready to fail the whole lot of them, the shop owner will tell you to certify them anyway, hoping to get equipment sales out of them. :fury:

Sorry, I just had to vent. :banging:
 
Can I rant ? Thanks . . .

Here are some cons, some repeated, but talked about from my POV:
  • Liability. Many states have a statute of limitations, MN's is 7 years. Thus, 7 years after you teach someone to dive, certified them or not, you could potentially be sued by that person for anything that happened during training or anything that happens after training/certification. So, say a student drowns on vacation after you certified them; their signifcant other could potentially file a lawsuit against you citing wrongdoing, lack of instruction, not following established practices, or something similar. Furthermore, if you are on vacation and you happen to let it slip that you are an instructor (or DM for that matter) to the DM and you get paired up with a diver that you have never met before, you could be help liable in a court of law should something go wrong on that dive. This has been presented in several current periodical publications, including those from the certifying agencies. Also, if you should veer away from your organizations established methods of instruction, you will be left high and dry should something be taken to court. One last statement of liability before I get off this subject: some agencies require their members to report unethical, immoral, inappropriate, unsafe behavior of another individual instructor/DM (especially another member of the organization) if it is felt that due harm could be done in a given situation. I have found that though required, the organization does not necessarily stand behind their members in regards to those reports. If you don't report, and someone can say that you were there, then you can be held liable by your organization and possibly even a court of law. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
  • I have seen the statement abandonment as it relates to other vocations mentioned in previous postings. This should also be placed under liability, but in a different sense. If assistance would be required during a diving related accident and it is found that you could have lended that assistance but didn't, you could be held liable. The court system will hold you to your highest level of competence in a given situation. That is why medical personnel can be held liable for leaving the scene of a person in need of medical attention when they are currently receiving that attention from anyone else. This is not to say that you absolutely need to get hands-on with the situation, it could be as simple as making a phone call to emergency services. This is a final thought on this bullet: even though you can teach doesn't mean that you are licensed in the same sense as say an Engineer, Nurse, Doctor, Electrician, and others.
  • Time. Not only is teaching time consuming, but it can interfere with your life. Many instructors need to work full time elsewhere because of the lack of funds from teaching in their area. Furthermore, full time employment gives the benefit of health insurance and other stipends. Also, many people have a life outside of work: family, hobbies, sports, etc. And, many shops require that you make a 3-4 month committment in advance based on their schedule. Thus, if some thing came up, you may be pooched. More importantly, many independents and shops don't happen to have a pool; they lease time at a community pool. If you have an issue with a student or students or any of a variety of uncontrollable situations, then you will be working against the clock to get them done in the time allotted to you by that lease agreement.
  • Students. I do not know how to explain this one, but once you have that class or student from hell, you'll understand.
  • Burn out. Hey, I love diving as much as the next guy, but I don't want to do it day in and day out. How many of you practice your vocation when you're not on the clock??? I find other things to do after I leave work. If I taught scuba for a living, I do not think that I would want to continue to dive for fun; I would have to find some other activitiy to fulfill that void. I do not think that scuba would hold my intrest because I would be teaching the same thing over and over in the same way because I would have to abide by my organization's standards to keep my liability coverage. This would get old quick, as would many long days. Hard to keep your enthusiasm about teaching when you are bored or worn out (read burnt out).
  • Money. Costs thousands to get the certification not to mention con-ed. Remember the more marketable you are, the more you'll succeed; thus con-ed is nearly a requirement if you wish to succeed as an independent or with a shop. There are many instructors, but how many can tear apart a compressor and rebuild it? Con-ed doesn't need to be instructor based. Also, how many instructors recoup these costs, plus the costs for dues and insurance (which can reach upwards of $600 per year)? Many instructors in an area = lower wage that shops are willing to pay, just like any other job. More equipment is necessary, bigger vehical mandatory = more expenses.

That's my :box: I'm getting down now.
 
Teaching the class from hell allows you to fully appreciate the good ones. While I'm only a DM at the moment I've been assisting (in some way or another) with classes for nearly 9 years and I know the classes you speak of. Last quarter we had THE BEST class I've ever seen; we lucked out, the whole class was good, even the ones that required a little extra work so they would feel comfortable with the skills. This quarter we've got one complete "know-it-all" and a whiner but the rest of the class is pretty good. The best part about working in a university setting is the fact that you don't HAVE to certify anybody. If they complete the skills satisfactorily, pass the test and have acceptable attendance you have to give them a passing grade for the university but they don't go on the check-out dives. I've seen a couple of those but for the most part the instructor is able to straighten out attitudes by the end of the class.

I'd probably get fired from any shop because I (when I finish my instructor training) will not certify someone unless I would be comfortable having them as a dive buddy for my loved ones. If I think you would get your buddy killed I'm not signing the card, if the shop owner wanted it done I'd tell him to sign it himself. (YIKES, a little attitude showing here).

I've watched instructors burn out on scuba and I hope I've learned something from that. No matter what, you have to keep a little time for yourself. Teaching any subject can be a challenge and teaching one that can get somebody killed can be down right nerve-racking.

Have a happy day!
Ber :bunny:
 
Dear instructors with the class from hell,

With Patience love, tolerence, understanding (and the occasional use of a cattle prod), your students will become as good as the instructors who train them:wink:

Remember: Students tend not to remember the 100 things you do correctly but you will have a real task on your hands trying to 'untrain them for that one thing you did wrong that they will mimic perfectly.

I have been instructing a long time (see the attached .jpg of me sat between two of my former students), but I do mean what you know?!? You think you had problems! It was a constant battle with these two for about 8 years.

If instructing looses it's appeal and ever becomes 'No-Fun' then it's time to hang up your fins and retire!

Keep smiling, and keep diving!

"May your bubbles flow forever upwards".

Aquamore
 
brother....you carry your age well my friend.......

I was considering (and am considering) continuing my diving education until I become an instructor (or reach instructor cert). Wether I teach or not would be of a future issue.

The insurance issue may be solved ( and I mean maybe) by checking the policy. Some policies will protect you not only while you are working (teaching) but also after you quit, as long as the claim being made is made under the statues of limitations and for the time frame your were insured, irregardless of the time the lawsuit was brought forth........
 
Instructing is not all it's cut out to be, at least on the open water level (for me)
I began instructing in Alaska, where PADI standards weren't high enough to give the acceptable survival rate of %100. As a PADI instructor, you can't go above the scope of the class as it is laid out without a very specific waiver with someone from PADI's signature.
I was informed that SSI pulled out of the state.
As for cattle boat diving, I've witnessed a panic attack on certified divers every fifth trip or so. Reason: improper training.

I do enjoy watching the look in someone's eyes as it all comes together. I don't enjoy certifying people as Scuba Divers because they don't meet the requirements of OW diver.

Everyone told me there was no money in instruction. I believed them, but thought it would be cool to instruct.
The way that PADI has saturated the market with instructors has got me thinking giving up OW instruction all together and teaching Cave and tech stuff.
Good luck, which ever way you choose.
 
Anybody need a good PADI DM (paid)? Im thinking about movin to a water town. Florida - Mexico,,, let me know..

Dave
 
And if every one ran in fear of frivolous lawsuits and knuckle dragging students, there would be no more instructors and the sport of diving would die.

And if you've ever had a lousy instructor, you know how important it is that folks with a passion for diving (which, I presume, is why you frequent this board) become the leaders in the industry that inspire new divers to take the plunge.

Re resort/dive boat operators treating you as free help if you disclose your status, I would suggest that you nonetheless want to disclose it to them so that your good samaritan efforts in an emergency are not rebuked.
 

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