Need some good websites

[Violeta]

Hi all! I'm doing a "Webquest" for an assignment, and I picked the topic: How to become a PADI certified diving instructor. It's a Webquest for a career counseling class.

What I'm looking for are some good websites that give information on the steps to becoming a PADI certified instructor. The searches I do on the web mostly comprise of dive shops selling their services and classes; I'm not looking for dive shops but practical info on what it takes to get certified.

Also, I could use some similar informational web sites on scuba gear and underwater photography. Again, not websites that sell BC's or underwater cameras, but websites that share information about scuba gear and photography.

Thanks so much for any resources you may share.
Vio

 

[landlocked]

http://www.padi.com/padi/en/td/default.aspx
http://www.scubadiving.com/

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

padi's website pretty much spells it out. They like people to know how easy it is to become an Instructor.

 

[maj2]

Can't help on websites beyond what is already posted.
However, I am curious on one thing... whay just PADI?
I do not want to start yet another agency bashing thread (my certs so far are PADI), but I would think that if I were still at the career counselling stage of my life, I would want a balanced, unbiased viewpoint on becoming a scuba instructor, not solely a PADI instructor. It may just be my own backgound, but anytime I see information dominated by a single source and steering me to a single endpoint, I have to question credibility.
I would suggest that as part of your project, that a couple ofother agencies be presented as well. The instructor requirements may be similar (I really do not know), but the provision of options will avoid the appearance of bias, and should give you a better end result. A quick scan of the information for other agencies would likely be beneficial.
Just my $0.02. Good luck on your assignment.