Newbie looking to go all the way...

[PerroneFord]

Really? Someone diving twice a day, 6 days a week (which is pretty much what resort interns have to do) is over 300 dives - I'd consider that OK for an instructor. Assuming the diver was receiving half-way decent mentoring during this time they could be a pretty good instructor.

Doing 6 days a week, twice a day of what kind of diving? Is there ripping current? Is there a tough shore entry? Are they diving off a RIB? Drift dives? How about diving in cold conditions? Low vis?

Part of diving experience to be an instructor is having VARIED experiences. When someone shows up at this resort from Boston, and wants to get certified, and starts asking questions about drysuits, and thermoclines, is someone who has done all their diving in the Phillipines going to be qualified to answer? When someone from the pacific northwest asks about shore entries, is the instructor going to be able to give a credible answer?

Everyone is new at some point to teaching if they do it. I was at one point as well. But in a sport where a failure can be lethal, I want an instructor who has a bit of experience under their belt. And I don't care if you do 1000 dives in 6 months, it's just not the same.

I wish the original poster all the luck in the world. There are hundreds of instructors out there who've done the same thing. But I honestly don't think it's the best way to go.

 

[Meng_Tze]

 

[jbichsel]

Doing 6 days a week, twice a day of what kind of diving? Is there ripping current? Is there a tough shore entry? Are they diving off a RIB? Drift dives? How about diving in cold conditions? Low vis?

Part of diving experience to be an instructor is having VARIED experiences. When someone shows up at this resort from Boston, and wants to get certified, and starts asking questions about drysuits, and thermoclines, is someone who has done all their diving in the Phillipines going to be qualified to answer? When someone from the pacific northwest asks about shore entries, is the instructor going to be able to give a credible answer?

Everyone is new at some point to teaching if they do it. I was at one point as well. But in a sport where a failure can be lethal, I want an instructor who has a bit of experience under their belt. And I don't care if you do 1000 dives in 6 months, it's just not the same.

I wish the original poster all the luck in the world. There are hundreds of instructors out there who've done the same thing. But I honestly don't think it's the best way to go.

DING, DING! You win! I was hoping someone would bring this up.

Sure you can pound out 300 dives in six months in idealic conditions. But what happens when he has his instructor cert, moves back to the UK and now has conditions that warrant dry suit, limited vis, nasty shore entry, rocking boat entry?

How often do you think he will face entering off the boat with 2' swells but have to get back on the boat in 12-15' swells wher the boat prop and ladder on a 65' boat are clearing the water by 4-6'? I've done that diving oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. (Provided a great deal of chum for the fish also).

How about doing Search & Recovery for drowned children?

River diving? Diving in <1' vis at night? Same conditions in 40 degree water? Diving in <1' vis with large creatures that you only get glimpses of fins?

Getting tangled in fishing rigging at 130'+, exceeding NDL and giving your dive computer (and wife) a nervous tick? Spending 2+ hours decompressing in the water?

Dodging jet ski jerks that think your dive marker is a turn buoy for their race?

Getting snagged by Joe Bob or his cousin/brother/dad that thinks he just hooked the local bar record Channel Cat?

Being in 4-5' vis at 60', have a 90lb female student choke, freak and decide that if she tears out your regulator, eyes and testicles, gets a death grip on her power infaltor, these things will get her safely to the surface? Maintain control of her until your other DM arrives to control her, then get your reg, eyes, mask and tesicles back, don't drown yourself and NOT kill her?

Slip on the icy rocks while geared (kitted) up on a shore dive at a high altitude (9,800' above sea level) lake?

Watch a 180 day wonder instructor use the down line you set in the morning, lead his students as they all CRAWL (instructor included) to 90' for their deep dive, then CRAWL (instructor included) back up, surface, go to shore and start debriefing, THEN realize they are short one student? He joined our group by mistake, but never went back to that instructor.

Just a few examples.

Sorry, but these 90 & 180 day "wonder" instructor mills scare the crap out of me. I've seen too many of their product and it's not pretty.

My recommendation is to dive varied conditions, seasons, climates, locales. Get more experience under more conditions than just ideal or nearly ideal.

Personally, I had 15 years and over 2,700 dives before I beacame an instructor. I still have more to learn than I have years to learn it.

 

[Scotty g]

I wish the original poster all the luck in the world. There are hundreds of instructors out there who've done the same thing. But I honestly don't think it's the best way to go.

PF, you do have your own opinions and i can rspect that greatly. I agree, i have pondered on this for a year and maybe it's not the most ideallistic way to go to do this sort of thing for some people. On the other hand, i will go over there and endeavour to do my best no matter how far i get.

You do have very valid points about different sutiations and the ability to advise accordingly. I'd like to think that if i am asked something about a situation, that i would be humble enough to find out but also to admit that i do not know.

jbichsel,

Thank you, you have made some excellent points. I know your not a fan of these 'instructor mills' and as above, i respect that greatly. Thanks for the scenarios though, obviously from your own experience, all real and very interesting.

Scotty

 

[ChillyWaters]

Oh and by the way - go all the way - meaning i am going to Thailand to study to go up to perhaps Scuba Instructor after a course for 6 months months in which i complete a set of dives that enable me to do this and gain the experience to become a safe diver to enable to teach others.

Am I missing something? You're committing to a career you know nothing about?

You're going to be an instructor, and you're sure about this, yet you've never dove before?? Perhaps do your OW and _THEN_ decide if you want to go further. It's called one step at a time. I sure hope you have a _lot_ of money to burn.

- ChillyWaters

 

[Freds@Aquanauts]

Actually Jbichsel the Op is going to experience quite a few of those situations you laid out. You may think that its thailand its "idealic", however Pattaya diving on an average day is pretty crap. the viz is not great quite often as little as 2m.

"Dodging jet ski jerks that think your dive marker is a turn buoy for their race?"
try dodging the thai ones that have an outboard motor on the back, rather than your standard impeller...

"How often do you think he will face entering off the boat with 2' swells but have to get back on the boat in 12-15' swells wher the boat prop and ladder on a 65' boat are clearing the water by 4-6'? I've done that diving oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. (Provided a great deal of chum for the fish also)."
This will happen a few times two him, I done two dives where my gear reeked of sick because I had to swill down the upper deck, and my gear taken a hit from the dirty water!They wont 12'-15' swells but they will be 8'-12'.

"Being in 4-5' vis at 60', have a 90lb female student choke, freak and decide that if she tears out your regulator, eyes and testicles, gets a death grip on her power infaltor, these things will get her safely to the surface? Maintain control of her until your other DM arrives to control her, then get your reg, eyes, mask and tesicles back, don't drown yourself and NOT kill her?"
Everybody has to DM or instruct students who are less than confident for whatever reason, and as I said bad visability is quite common

"How about doing Search & Recovery for drowned children?"
I never saw this is the instructor manual, by the way your not ready to teach people you havent searched for a dead body yet???Whats that all about???

No admittedly I havent pulled all of your senarios out, but I have pulled most. While many people dont approve of this method, it doesnt mean you can give the OP a hard time when in actual fact you know very little about where he is going or who is going to be taught by. Besides this guy is going to dedicate the next 6 months of his life there try not to piss to hard all over his parade! Good luck Scottg and I hope you have a great time.


Freds

 

[PenguinAdLitem]

I'd never take a class from an instructor who had been diving for only 6 months. On the other hand, if I had the time and money I'd ship off and do the same thing. Are you kidding me? 6 months of great, near constant diving, a course director there to help you along the way, tons of new and different dive experiences, lots of little shiny plastic cards (if you're into that sort of thing,) and it's a tax write off (in the US)? I'd hit that.

Then, if I ever felt qualified to actually teach someone, I'd buy insurance and do so.

 

[andydiver06]

Scotty don't get dis heartened by the comments. Follow your dream I agree with Freds of aquanauts. The six months is going to be real hard work ( Pattaya can be really challenging) and there is always first time. How can you become an Instructor if all the students ask for instructors with a minimum 500 student teaching experience. If you are ready to learn and willing to take the responsibility of your customers you are on the way. Time will only improve you. About teaching in a new diving destination - take a weeks time to explore the sites and learn from the experienced guys about the environment before you start teaching there. It will save you from embarrassment . That is what my LDS insists on new Instructors, but we never turn them away because they are fresh out of school instructors.
All this friendly suggestion from another novice who loves to dive not from a 3000+ diver.

 

[mamashark]

Don't take ANY meds before a dive! Causes major anxiety! If your sick, you shouldn't be in the water anyway...this includes mental illnesses...someone forgot to tell one of the guys in my class that Xanax to calm nerves before/during/after a dive is STUPID!

 

[PerroneFord]

Andydiver,

The issue at hand is not that he's a "new instructor". Everyone is new at some point and that's not a real problem most of the time. The issue is that he's a new DIVER.

If someone with 1000 dives in places all over the world said they were going to go take a 6 month class and become an instructor, I'd think that was pretty cool. But when someone who does not yet possess an OW card says they are going to do that, it makes me nervous.

If the O.P. had said he was going to do this, then go back home and rack up some local experience before teaching classes, I'd think very differently. I am happy to hear that the OP will be getting to dive some low-vis, current, and other things. No instructor can dive everything, so there will always be pieces missing, but a breadth of experience is important to being a good instructor.