New instructor having trouble finding work....Need Help!

[DeputyDan]

I've only been diving for five years but in that time I have never met anyone who made a living as a full time instructor

dive shop manager/instructor
boat captain/instructor
dentist/instructor
CPA/instructor

you get the picture!

 

[jfl]

I'm an instructor working for a dive charter operation, and I think you are partially correct. The money is generally peanuts, and about half your income will be tips-If you are sucessful. Most shops I know get tons of emails for employment. The best way is to show up where you want to dive. Most places are looking for longer term staff, and not people interested in working a few months and moving on. Another thing to be aware of, is the seasonality of the job. You may go from diving 7 days a week, sometimes 2 trips a day down to once or twice a week. You have to love diving, because the pay is meager. Good Luck! JFL

 

[epic]

Are these instructor salary estimates accurate? What about for instructors that work full time at dive shops? I don't have the data but I'm guessing that a full time (40 hr/wk) instructor/dive shop employee here in Southern California makes around $40K. The range is probably a little lower to a little higher. When they aren't teaching they are working in the shop.