Instructors: How did you choose your agency?

[GoBlue!]

I've debated posting this question for some time, as I do not want to start an agency-bashing war. So, moderators, if this gets out of control, just kill the thread.

We've all seen hundreds of posts about divers attempting to select an agency for a certain course. All of these posts are followed by at least one who replies (and many who agree) that "It's the instructor, not the agency."

So, let's turn to those who are interested in becoming instructors.

To the current instructors, how did you select the agency for your instructor training? Was it:
1. Instructor mentor of that particular agency? (i.e., "It's the instructor, not the agency!")
2. Local trends in dive shop agency selection? (i.e., you wanted to be marketable in your local area)
3. Curriculum and/or freedom to add to the curriculum of your selected agency?
4. Simply following the agency choice you happened to make when you were first certified with basic OW?
5. [Fill in the multitude of other possible reasons here...]

For those of you certified in several agencies, which did you become certified in first, and why did you add on others?

Let's make this a civil discussion,
Jim

 

[Drew Sailbum]

I had an idea of what places I wanted to work and which agency would be most marketable in those locales.

Instructor level training for that agency was not available locally where I was living at that time, so I decided to make an adventure of it and go overseas for my IDC.

 

[MB]

First, I wanted the academic freedom to teach. Canned lectures, videos, & proscribed sequence of topics is fine for some folks, but my heart says that de-professionalizes the industry and washes out the real strength of good teachers. I didn't want to teach like that.

Second, I did examine different agency standards. There are differences.

Third, I wanted the flexibility to teach privately or to make even a basic class meaty enuf for university coursework.

Fourth, I know a ponzi scheme when I see one, and I didn't want to be perpetually in a situation of buying my way to the next level, even after I've earned an instructor rating. I'm not supportive of the Amway/Avon model for instructor training and support.

Fifth, I witnessed a lot of instructors openly admit that they were "only" an Agency X instructor. Too many instructors shy away from the hard hitting instructors because they don't have the skills and knowledge needed to teach at the highest levels. They learned moderate to advanced diving skills AT the instructor course (rather than learning how to teach these skills). Even on the board, how often do we read that a candidate is preparing for an IDC, an needs tips on how to breathe UW without a mask. I didn't want to be a member of an agency where that scenario is common.

Finally, I interviewed a few CDs and discovered a common theme in the agency I chose. They did not believe everyone should dive, or that every diver should teach. They were universally proud of the differences between their agency and others. AND, they were incredibly knowledgable about diving and about teaching.

Easy choice once I discovered what was important to me.

 

[A2K]

I chose PADI because they are the largest certification organization in the world, I have had great instructors throughout my career that were PADI instructors, so I did not have a bad taste in my mouth when it came to that, and I believe that their standards are appropriate for modern scuba diving. Take it or leave it, that's how I see it.

 

[Walter]

MB and I have similar approaches and similar philosophies when it comes to teaching people diving. I'll agree with what he's already said so well. We actually work together on classes from time to time. That's unusual because we teach for different agencies. This is possible because our agencies do have similar philosophies.

The most important factor in choosing an agency for an instructor is to choose one whose philosophy matches your own. A match in teaching styles is much more important than market share or what agencies are found locally. Regardless of your agency, you can find more people who want to take your class than you can possibly teach.

First, decide what you want to teach and what approach you'd like to take, then find the agency that matches your approach. If you're a square peg, look for the square hole. Don't try to force yourself into what ever shape hole is readily available. I'm proud of my agency, and I think it's the best or I wouldn't be there, but frankly, it's not for everyone. There are huge differences between agencies, find the one that suits you best.

 

[jroy017]

My choice was more of convenience and ideas put together. As a student (undergrad) I didn't have the financial rexources to put down all the money necessary for my DM/inst course up front. I found a shop that didn't charge me anything for my DM but demanded alot of time and experience. Since i was and still am in University it took me about four summers to complete my DM. My instructor is about the same thing; for about a year and a half I,ve been giving the classes under supervision of my instructor trainer and have just finished. I chose this instructor trainer because I got along with him, i could do the course at my own pace and it really wasnt a question of him making a profit by teaching me.. (the deal is I give courses to pay back my insructor course). The other reason is that i'm part of PDIC even for our OW we've remodeled the course to fit the course we ant to give, we teach in french and the manuals or teaching aids dont exist so we make them like we want and just ask for approval from headquaters. We give a 10 class OW course (so 20hours theory and 15 hours pool), our divers who graduate are solid divers that i'm not worried about. I guess i chose my agency because of the liberty of standards(keep in mind that we adhere to minimum RSTC but surpass them by a long shot) and the flexibility to progress/teach at my rythm.

Not to start a PADI bashing here but I think there are two sets of instructors those that abide by the strict rules set forth by their agency (and yes PADI is number one in that) and those who choose to teach more or model their course to their beleifs and choose to teach in an agency that lets them (ie PDIC or other agencies).

 

[MB]

The most important factor in choosing an agency for an instructor is to choose one whose philosophy matches your own. A match in teaching styles is much more important than market share or what agencies are found locally.

Walter's observation is well grounded (as usual). There's only one problem... Many people bcome instructors without knowing what their philosophy is. Its not until they've done this for a while that they discover that Approach A is nuts, Approach B works under certain conditions, and Approach C is right on. ("Right on" - refer to any TV show from 1972).

My own experience reflets this. My initial reaction to a lot of teaching that I observed was that it looked a bit stupid, lackadasical, and maybe even dangerous. OK, that was my instinct, and my experience as a teacher, but if its standard practice in the dive industry then it must be OK. Fast forward a couple of years. No, my instinct was correct. That WAS bad teaching, conducted by incompetent people disguised as instructors, living in agencies who will not /can not raise their standards & expectations for professionalism.

So Walter's matching rule is a good one, but is best applied after folks have been in the industry for a while. For the diver with 50 dives who is on the fast track to becomming an agency instructor, or the diver who has only seen how a handful of instructors in a LDS conduct business -- these folks seldom have the ability to discern and discriminate excellent practice vs common practice.

I think the increased popularity of crossover courses might reflect this phenomenon. A crossover is a 2d chance to affiliate with other like-minded instructors. Sort of a late application of Walter's matching rule.

 

[jroy017]

So Walter's matching rule is a good one, but is best applied after folks have been in the industry for a while. The for the diver with 50 dives who is on the fast track to becomming an agency instructor, or the diver who has only seen how a handful of instructors in a LDS conduct business -- these folks seldom have the ability to discern and discriminate excellent practice vs common practice.

I think the increased popularity of crossover courses might reflect this phenomenon. A crossover is a 2d chance to affiliate with other like-minded instructors. Sort of a late application of Walter's matching rule.

True but its pretty hard to show up in some other instructors class from another agency jsut to watch: they tend to not like the fact that a competitor is sitting and observing his everymove !

not that i'm saying its a bad experience just not really practical especially since most dive professionals from one region know each other or at least recognize each other...

that one of the things I like about the instrcutor thread gives you a whole other perspective

 

[MB]

True but its pretty hard to show up in some other instructors class from another agency jsut to watch: they tend to not like the fact that a competitor is sitting and observing his everymove !

I learn a lot about instructors' approaches by watching them teach. When I board a boat, its patently obvious which instructors have adequately prepared their students. You see it in the parking lot, on the dock, in how students store their gear, how they prepare for the dive, and in how they adjust to the water. And you learn about an instructor's approach by listening to his/her briefing, and observing how the instructor observes his/her students.

It would be cool to sit in on others' classes, but that takes more ego detactment than most mortals can stand. Instead, just watch & listen, and you'll learn how others teach.

 

[neil]

When I first embarked on my journey to become an instructor I was completely clueless about everything: teaching philosophies, diving in general, agencies. I went into shop A and they told me how much it was going to cost to go from diver to instructor. Shop B told me how much time and work it was going to take. Went with shop B for that reason only. It was the right choice and it was a NAUI shop. I had no idea about agencies, it was purely the attitude of the shop that swayed me.

Neil