OK, so what about just teaching the academic part of the course?

[LoneWolf]

Ok, I have started a new thread for another option. You have all been very helpful, especially my fellow soldier rmediver. As I stated before I work at a US Embassy and every couple years I will work at a different one. If I were a scuba instructor I could cater my services to the English speaking diplomatic community and expats and would have little to no competition. I would do it to introduce more people to scuba and to make just enough extra cash to support my own scuba “addiction”.

I was just going to offer the classroom/exam part and the pool part of the course. I had an idea of some of the expenses but some of you have opened my eyes to some other unforeseen expenses as well, particularly relating to equipment. Since I would only be doing it part time some of these expenses seem prohibitive, at least in the near future. So how about this alternative. I drop the pool part of the class and I focus on giving the best darn classroom/theory part of the course I can as well as the written exam. Sure, they would still have to do the pool work on their vacation but at least they would have the RELATIVELY more boring part of the course out of the way. I would also help them find good dive operators at their vacation site that offer both the pool and open water part of the class…at no extra cost(on my part). Since my course would not be equipment dependent I could afford to charge a fairly inexpensive amount and I could manage a few more students at a time then I could if I were also monitoring them in a pool. Remember, I won’t just teach them and forget them. I will help them plan their dive trip as well. What do you all think of this idea, and how much would you charge? Keep in mind it is the just the academic part of the class but also keep in mind I will probably be one of only a few if not THE only English speaking instructor nearby.

 

[Gary D.]

Ok, I have started a new thread for another option. You have all been very helpful, especially my fellow soldier rmediver. As I stated before I work at a US Embassy and every couple years I will work at a different one. If I were a scuba instructor I could cater my services to the English speaking diplomatic community and expats and would have little to no competition. I would do it to introduce more people to scuba and to make just enough extra cash to support my own scuba “addiction”.

I was just going to offer the classroom/exam part and the pool part of the course. I had an idea of some of the expenses but some of you have opened my eyes to some other unforeseen expenses as well, particularly relating to equipment. Since I would only be doing it part time some of these expenses seem prohibitive, at least in the near future. So how about this alternative. I drop the pool part of the class and I focus on giving the best darn classroom/theory part of the course I can as well as the written exam. Sure, they would still have to do the pool work on their vacation but at least they would have the RELATIVELY more boring part of the course out of the way. I would also help them find good dive operators at their vacation site that offer both the pool and open water part of the class…at no extra cost(on my part). Since my course would not be equipment dependent I could afford to charge a fairly inexpensive amount and I could manage a few more students at a time then I could if I were also monitoring them in a pool. Remember, I won’t just teach them and forget them. I will help them plan their dive trip as well. What do you all think of this idea, and how much would you charge? Keep in mind it is the just the academic part of the class but also keep in mind I will probably be one of only a few if not THE only English speaking instructor nearby.

Simple answer NO.

Read it then Practice it in the water. Your idea might work for a few but I think your going to run into insurance problems as well as a host of other problems.

Some people can't get this stuff to stick in the gray matter as it is. Dividing the class up between two or more instructors in two or more locations is asking for trouble.

Gary D.

 

[Michael Schlink]

It may not matter to you, but if you don't ever certify anyone then you won't be getting any credit for teaching and then you would have to recertify on a regular basis. Also I agree with Gary, students need the consistent building block class/pool structure. I would think that you would be better off teaching the entire class. As far as equipment and air fills there may be a shop in the local area you could develop a relationship with. Most shops won't mind missing out on the instruction if they are getting equipment sales. I teach independently but walk my students into a LDS to buy their equipment and the LDS doesn't mind a bit. I would think that you could start by contacting PADI and they could point you towards an LDS in the area you would be "stationed" Good Luck

 

[IndigoBlue]

For there to exist a market for scuba instruction, there has to be access to "open water" nearby. That normally means a lake, a flooded quarry, a spring, a bay, or the ocean.

If you look around, you may be able to find one of those in your area.

The next step is to accumulate an inventory of gear, and a small air compressor.

The next step is to get access to a pool to train in.

Once you have found all of that, you need to go somewhere to get yourself certified as an instructor, which normally takes about 10 days.

Then come home and get access to the pool and the open water site.

Then order your stock of gear: tanks, B/Cs, regs, wetsuits, masks, fins, weight belts, weights.

Then order your compressor.

Then advertise.

Basically, you would be setting up your own compact scuba store. You can teach the classroom portion in your home.

 

[pt40fathoms]

A classroom only scenario just will not work. However, consider this:

You do not need to provide all the equipment to your students, just the "SCUBA" specific items. They include a basic BCD, an AL80 tank, and a regulator c/w octo, SPG and depth gauge.

The student would need to provide the mask, snorkle, boots and fins, and exposure protection appropriate for the climate you are in.

The gear you provide does not need to be the best and most expensive on the market. It just needs to be safe and serviced regularly. For the above items, you can outfit the student for under $700.00 (Canadian Dollars, you will have to do your own conversions). Furthermore, if you keep the number of students to 4 or less per class, you can keep your inventory down. The only other items you will need is a compressor and replacement filters. The compressor can run you from $2000.00 to over $6000.00. Of course the compressor would be used by you on the off times, as well as for chargable fills, and the extra gear can be rented out if not used, generating income.

I can be done, but it won't be free!

 

[Scuby Dooby]

I think your best bet would be for you to just rent the equipment for your students directly from the shops. You pick up the the tanks, regs, bc, etc. on a daily hire and have the students reimburse you for it / include it in course fees. As stated above, if the shops are hesitant explain that you will encourage gear purchases at those shops that are willing to rent you gear. I'd be surprised if most places wouldn't be willing to work with you - they aren't going to get those customers anyway, especially if you are relying on the native english / expat angle.

If there is no dive shop, equipment and especially compressor available locally then I'd have to question whether it's such a good idea to bother dealing with the hassles of this idea at all.

just my .02c

 

[IndigoBlue]

...

If there is no dive shop, equipment and especially compressor available locally then I'd have to question whether it's such a good idea to bother dealing with the hassles of this idea at all.

just my .02c

I would think the most important consideration would be the availability of a local open water dive site with good vis. Everything else can be worked out. A pool would be nice, but even without a pool, as long as you have a local dive site, you can use the shallow section of it for the basic introductory training.

However you would then be investing in a lot of your own rental gear, like regs, B/Cs, exposure suits, etc.

Basically you would be creating a mobile scuba shop, complete with your own compact compressor. Think of the academic freedom to teach, that this would give you!

Think outside the box.