Newb-O-Rama

[C2ShiningC]

Hi Everyone. I'm a newbie who wishes to eventually dive professionally. I've been offered a very good price on a basic certification course with a seemingly reputable dive instructor who certifies through SSI. I've read that basic certifications from any agency are accepted all over, but that the advanced courses that I'll want to take later aren't necessarily interchangeable between different agencies. I'm looking for opinions about the best agency for what I want to do (dive professionally as opposed to purely recreationally). And if SSI isn't it, I'm wondering if it's okay to go ahead and get the initial certification through SSI and then switch to another agency. I hope this hasn't been asked a million times! Thank you for your help!

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

Welcome to SB.

What do you mean by "professionally"? Are you thinking about being a DM? Construction? Police Diver? Science and Research? Military?

What you want to do may create different responses.

PH

 

[fjpatrum]

A good scrubbing of this board will show you several professional recreational divers that have multiple agency certs based upon the course and the instructor. Switching agencies isn't a big deal, though some don't have a "one-for-one" compatibility depending.

As Paradise Hunter said, though, commercial diving is professional but has very little to do with recreational certifications. A more specific explanation of what you want (I assume DM/Instructor for recreational divers) will go a long way to getting you more specific advice from people who are actually professionals, unlike me.

 

[C2ShiningC]

I'm still trying to pinpoint what I might like to do. I would love to be an instructor, for sure. I also would like to do something along the lines of search and rescue or underwater research.

 

[fjpatrum]

In the USA, I think most of the SAR stuff is done by dedicated teams of police and firefighters, though there may be paid diving positions on teams like that. A lot of the underwater research is done through universities, some is also volunteer. An instructor could still be any type of dive instructor, be it commercial, scientific, or recreational.

Let's consider it this way... commercial diving is usually tethered (as I understand it) with a surface supply and tender. Hard hat type work... underwater construction/demolition, etc etc. "Typical" for this board is the recreational professional-- warm water, tans, bikinis (at least in all the advertising pictures) and "easy" diving.

There's a whole lot in between... so what gets your heart pumping? As said earlier, doing a standard recreational OW course will put you on the course to doing the "typical" professional route no matter which agency you start with initially. All the basic OW courses cross over between agencies so then it's just deciding where you want to go from there. Commercial diving, a recreational OW course won't gain you very much, I believe.

 

[RonFrank]

PADI is a safe bet. You need to dive before you decide you want to do it professionally. There may be reasons you do not want to be a professional diver. Like money! Seriously, would you decide you wanted to be a professional pool player having never played a game of pool?

 

[MX727]

Go ahead and get certified with SSI. Then, you can see if you actually enjoy diving and REALLY want to make a profession out of it. I did PADI OW, went to NAUI for AOW and came back to PADI for Rescue and on up. So, there are avenues, which you can more fully understand once you get you initial cert.

The question has been asked a million times, but not by you, so don't worry about it. It's a normal question and welcome to SB

 

[C2ShiningC]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone! I appreciate your patience. Yes, I realize that a career in diving may not be for me, and that there's no way to know at this point, but I just want to make sure to start out on the right foot in case it's something that I continue wanting to do. The money aspect doesn't bother me- I already make no money and never have! I did more research and found another really experienced teacher who offers every class under the sun- all through PADI. I think I'll go with him, and then figure out what I might want to do in the future as I learn and see where my talents lie. Sounds like a plan.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I'd just like to add that competence as a dive professional comes through two things: 1. Proper training, and 2. Experience. Assuming you do get totally immersed in diving after your first class (as I did), don't rush through training without doing some "real diving " as well. A credential qualifies you for a title and a job. Experience and proficiency will get you that job and help you retain it. Keep uis all posted on your progress, and good luck!
DivemasterDennis

 

[TMHeimer]

My scant knowledge: Switching agencies up to Rescue Diver is easy. Doing that with professional certs. (DM and up) can require a course or so.
Instructor: From reading on SB and to some extent in person, it seems some instructors can make a living but not a great one. Many have "day jobs" as their locale doesn't provide enough scuba students. PADI has locations "worldwide" and knowing other languages apparently is a biggee.
Commercial Diving: I've heard this can be a career of 10 years for young people due to much time spent very deep. I asked one of my instructors if he ever considered it. He said the money is great but there's only one problem--you tend to die. His words, not mine.