What are my Loyalty Requirements to the Training Agency as a Dive Instructor After Certification?
Many new instructors feel a deep sense of pride and loyalty towards their certification agency, appreciating the hard work and expense that went into achieving their level of certification. This sense of respect and brand loyalty is natural, as respect promotes ethical behavior, sets a positive example, and facilitates personal growth. However, it is important to understand that an instructor's ISO 24802-2 certification is not exclusive to any one brand. Every instructor certified by an ISO-certified diver training agency undergoes a similar process and often feels their agency is the best. This sentiment is common and perfectly acceptable.
What Are the Facts?
Once certified, there is no official agency relationship between dive instructor/s and the ISO training organization/s. The training agency merely acts as a service provider to the dive professional/s. Advertising or using a preferred training organization does not create any special relationship or transfer responsibility to the training organization.
A common misconception among dive professionals is that adhering to agency training standards automatically provides coverage under the agency's insurance.
This is not true. While dive agencies offer frameworks and guidelines, each instructor operates independently and is responsible for their own liability.
The ISO-certified instructor does not make them an agent for any agency.
Payment of annual fees to a training agency simply allows instructors to issue certifications with the agency's branding and be subject to their terms and conditions.
Liability and Responsibility
In the event of an accident, instructors must prove their adherence to standards in court. Agency insurance does not automatically defend the instructor. There are potential pitfalls:
- Blame Transfer: Agencies might try to mitigate their own losses by shifting blame to the instructor, particularly if there are minor breaches in protocol.
- Coverage Gaps: Without personal dive liability insurance, instructors can face significant legal costs even if they followed all procedures correctly.
Loyalty is not going to help.
Business Savvy and Market Realities
To make a living, diving professionals must become business savvy as the upper to middle-income groups are under tremendous strain, resulting in fewer divers who can afford expensive courses. Instructors need to understand market dynamics, manage costs effectively, and offer competitive pricing to attract and retain customers.
Adapt or die.
Loyalty and Independent Judgment
While loyalty to a training agency is natural and can foster positive professional relationships, it is crucial for instructors to maintain their independence and critical thinking. Blind loyalty should never replace personal judgment and open-mindedness. Instructors should continually evaluate whether their agency's costs, policies and practices align with their own professional standards and the best interests of their business . Loyalty should not be at the expense of common sense. This affects part time and full-time instructors because if the dive industry becomes to expensive work opportunities shrink rapidly and become more exclusive.
The Answer
No diver training agency owns or is responsible for any scuba instructor after certification. Instructors are independent and have the freedom to choose and move between any ISO training agency that best suits their needs. This is like using a Honda to pass your driver's license test and choosing to drive a Toyota because it meets your demands and expenses. Loyalty to a service provider is fine provided it does not cost more than your customers can afford, or the overheads cut deeply into any profit margins, which could affect your ability to effectively do business and stay in the dive industry.
