How often do Dive Instructors teach/lead dives independently of a shop?

[chadnaylor]

Title prettymuch says it all.

For all you professionals out there, how often do you teach certifications or lead guided dives independently of the shop you're associated with? How well does that pay?

More importantly, would you do it more often if you had more divers signing up to dive under you outside of your dive shop?

 

[RainPilot]

Pay is better, logistics can be a pain, insurance is critical.

If the shop doesn't like it you may find yourself out in the cold.

 

[The Chairman]

I only teach independently. I sometimes lead for various shops. Not in a while though.

 

[tbone1004]

I only teach through a university, but won't teach through a shop because they're too restrictive for my teaching style. It is very difficult to start teaching independently though if you want to make a living at it

 

[chadnaylor]

Hm. What makes it so difficult?

 

[tursiops]

Hm. What makes it so difficult?

Economics.
You need a pool. A classroom. Equipment to rent. Insurance. Continued flow of students.
Work out the economics....say you are willing to work 6 days a week, your environment allows you to work year-round, so you've got 300 working days. You'd like to make $60k a year, so that says you need to clear $200/day. So at 4 students a day, every single day, paying $50 each every day, you are paying yourself, but not paying for the pool, the classroom, the equipment, the insurance....
Who ever knew making a living teaching independently would be so hard?

 

[DevonDiver]

I've operated independently for nearly a decade.

The hard work comes in marketing and advertising yourself. The benefits are that you're absolutely free to dictate exactly how you'd run classes... and there's no pressure imposed to meet shop timescales or course prices.

I charge a tuition fee per day. Students pay their dive, gas and equipment fees separately to the hosting dive centre.

It's typical that I, as instructor, don't get charged a dive fee at the dive centres I use....in return I bring them business and refer courses/fun divers to them that i don't want. They also benefit from my social media marketing.

My tuition fees are per day, because I don't limit course duration to the bare minimum. I also run a large percentage of non-certification specialist clinics and mentoring.

I don't compete on price with dive shops. My service is different and you get a lot more for your money.

This doesn't appeal to customers solely looking around for the cheapest, quickest and easiest course... but I'm glad not to attract students with that mentality.

My job satisfaction comes from achieving great results with highly motivated students.... not pandering to the whims of an instant-gratification culture.

 

[sheeper]

economics and logistics are the issue for independent teaching (pools, gear, etc). I teach private classes once in a while independently of the shop i'm with. The shop is good with that as I have my students buy gear there. And they allow me use of their pool time, boats and rental gear.

 

[chadnaylor]

Thanks for the responses guys. How do you typically find your students?

 

[northernone]

I teach independently through a therapeutic training program I've developed. Taught a couple friends using rental tanks from a diveshop down south but otherwise never worked for a shop and do not intend to.

Cameron