How to go pro?
- Thread starter jbourne
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In my area it costs $600 for DM and $1200 for IDC. That does not include IE fees or the Instructor manual. These rates for going PADI.
As far as "schools" go I would forget that idea, if you really want to "work" at it do the training with the shop you want to work with.
Financial Aid? I've never heard of any...
James
As far as "schools" go I would forget that idea, if you really want to "work" at it do the training with the shop you want to work with.
Financial Aid? I've never heard of any...
James
"Financial aid" is my day job!
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Wijbrandus
Contributor
I've thought about where I want my diving to lead, and if becoming a DM or an Instructor is in my future down the road. I wonder if PADI is the only game in town, or if other agencies are just as viable for a professional opportunity.
Is PADI the only way to go to get a job "in the business"? I'd actually been considering going to a shake & bake like ProDive in a few years, but I'm not sure PADI is how I want to go.
Is PADI the only way to go to get a job "in the business"? I'd actually been considering going to a shake & bake like ProDive in a few years, but I'm not sure PADI is how I want to go.
Ever consider going down here in Southeast Asia (Philippines)? Check this out www.idcinparadise.com
mermaidsxtreme
Guest
Hi,
The 'school' idea is a great idea if you've got a bit of time. I'm going through a diving academy in Pattaya, Thailand for a 6 month flexible course (been here a year so far!) went from OW and now on my DM course. The price is all inclusive and I mean all inclusive!! - all I buy is my beer and the nights entertainment!!!
I go diving with customers, leading dives, and when I need to train on my skills there are plenty of other students around to help me out including my '2' instructors. We have 3 boats and the diving never get boring. I have a full set of equipment including APEX regs and computer and my included accomodation is a beach condo just around the corner from the dive shop. I had some of my own equipment and they knocked the price of it off the academy cost and when I buy anything 'diving related' I get great advice on it and an academy discount - easy.
PADI!? - yep had the same thought - I come from Scotland and am also a SSAC Diver so I to didn't want to go full on with the PADI philosophy so am also doing an ANDI Advanced Nitrox course and ANDI Rebreather Course with options in IANTD etc - theres enough stuff out here that you can add that keeps you non-100% PADI!! - Pattaya's the 'Technical Diving Mecca of Thailand' and...
...certainly has the best night life in Thailand - a good mix when you hit the town with several other academy divers (I arrived here by myself and it was good to meet this gang of like minded fellows from all over the world - male and female!).
If you want to travel the world and get paid as a young instructor, I think PADI is the way to go. After reading some of their material including the PADI Diving Instructor Manual and Encyclopedia I have to say it - I recommend it!!
If you want info on it I'll grab it together and email it to you!
mermaidsxtreme@yahoo.com
www.PattayaScubaDiving.com
Mat
______________________________
Diving for miles in the land of smiles!
______________________________
The 'school' idea is a great idea if you've got a bit of time. I'm going through a diving academy in Pattaya, Thailand for a 6 month flexible course (been here a year so far!) went from OW and now on my DM course. The price is all inclusive and I mean all inclusive!! - all I buy is my beer and the nights entertainment!!!
I go diving with customers, leading dives, and when I need to train on my skills there are plenty of other students around to help me out including my '2' instructors. We have 3 boats and the diving never get boring. I have a full set of equipment including APEX regs and computer and my included accomodation is a beach condo just around the corner from the dive shop. I had some of my own equipment and they knocked the price of it off the academy cost and when I buy anything 'diving related' I get great advice on it and an academy discount - easy.
PADI!? - yep had the same thought - I come from Scotland and am also a SSAC Diver so I to didn't want to go full on with the PADI philosophy so am also doing an ANDI Advanced Nitrox course and ANDI Rebreather Course with options in IANTD etc - theres enough stuff out here that you can add that keeps you non-100% PADI!! - Pattaya's the 'Technical Diving Mecca of Thailand' and...
...certainly has the best night life in Thailand - a good mix when you hit the town with several other academy divers (I arrived here by myself and it was good to meet this gang of like minded fellows from all over the world - male and female!).
If you want to travel the world and get paid as a young instructor, I think PADI is the way to go. After reading some of their material including the PADI Diving Instructor Manual and Encyclopedia I have to say it - I recommend it!!
If you want info on it I'll grab it together and email it to you!
mermaidsxtreme@yahoo.com
www.PattayaScubaDiving.com
Mat
______________________________
Diving for miles in the land of smiles!
______________________________
PADI is not the only game in town. NAUI has a large presence in Asia and other areas and I have dove with SSi shops and others throughout the world. PADI is the most widespread though and easiest to find a job with but I know here in Japan many of the larger shops are NAUI and in other places also so if you don't agree with PADI's training philosophy it is possible to go with someone else. I have been full time in the scuba biz for over 10 years now and don't hold one PADI cert in anything. I do have certs from NAUI, IANTD and GUE and I have even some very large shops that were PADI only, I just didn't teach there.
I do suggest some kind of internship to get your instructor ticket, we offer courses w/accomadation here in Japan, Thailand and Mexico are also very popular choices.
I do suggest some kind of internship to get your instructor ticket, we offer courses w/accomadation here in Japan, Thailand and Mexico are also very popular choices.
Have a look at the link in my sig line, it should give you some idea about how to start down the professional path. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. Advice is free..
jbourne:
If you are looking for a career in diving be aware that there are very few prople who make thier full livelyhood off of diving. Most instructors and DMs do it for the love of diving and not the money.
In response to the question "is PADI the only way to go?" the answer is no. Keep in mind, however, that it is larger than all the other agencies combined and offers more support to keeping your dive career profitable than the others I have seen. This support has given them a reputation as being the profit oreintated agency (Put Another Dollar In) but if you are running a business you are in it for profit.
JBourne,
If you PM me I can give you contact details off divers who have taken excatly the same path that you are enquirng about. That way you can get an impartial and divers opinion on Going Pro, plus how they found the industry after qualifying as an Instructor.
Also check out www.utiladivecenter.com and www.goproutila.com for information on the programs we conduct in Utila, Honduras.
If you PM me I can give you contact details off divers who have taken excatly the same path that you are enquirng about. That way you can get an impartial and divers opinion on Going Pro, plus how they found the industry after qualifying as an Instructor.
Also check out www.utiladivecenter.com and www.goproutila.com for information on the programs we conduct in Utila, Honduras.
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