opportunities as a dive professional

[lobbolt]

Before I go to college I might become a open water scuba instructor. What are the prospects of a career in dive instruction? I know PADI says it's a job others dream of. Your feedback would really help me a lot in deciding the direction I take in the next few years. Thanks a lot!

 

[DORSETBOY]

It's certaily a great way to travel and to meet likeminded people whilst doing so as an instructor, also good fun as weekend work. I don't think it's generally an avenue whereby many people will make much money but it depends on what kinda lifestyle you want and where you intend to teach.

 

[perpet1]

Before I go to college I might become a open water scuba instructor. What are the prospects of a career in dive instruction? I know PADI says it's a job others dream of. Your feedback would really help me a lot in deciding the direction I take in the next few years. Thanks a lot!

You are not going to get rich nut I can not think of a more fun way to make spending money while you are in school.

 

[H2Andy]

my (second hand) impression is that it's a great way to live so long as you can get
by with little money.

 

[RonFrank]

This is your DAD speaking...GET AN EDUCATION...LOL...

Seriously, get your BS/BA or whatever, and do the diving thing on the side. If you can not get AI while at the same time going to college, well, then you need to question that as many of the instructor I've met don't teach Scuba full time, and got their certs while working full time, and often doing the family thing as well.

Once you finish the education, then you will have a few more years under your belt, and many many more options open vs. having been an instructor full time.

You can go into the diving side of things full time, and if you decide that being an instructor is not for you, then with an education, there are more options available.

Consider what an instructor does as well. You will NOT be diving in awesome places every day while at *work* but rather you will be spending time in the pool, and the classroom doing to same drill over and over. You will be teaching which means that some people will be great, others difficult.

I'm not saying this is bad. But teaching is a skill, and not one that every good diver has.

Ron

Before I go to college I might become a open water scuba instructor. What are the prospects of a career in dive instruction? I know PADI says it's a job others dream of. Your feedback would really help me a lot in deciding the direction I take in the next few years. Thanks a lot!

 

[texdiveguy]

You might give this A.S. degree a look,,,,,you could get an entry level college degree and do it in SCUBA diving!!!

http://www.fkcc.edu/links/programs/dive_bus.htm

PS-- if this program/college is not possible for you..... THIS IS YOUR INTERNET DAD-- college first in any form!

 

[Mako Mark]

I was lucky enough to finish a grad degree before I ran away to the circus (oops I mean to become a dive instructor) and I always felt lucky that I did it in that order as I would always see others having the guilt or worry of returning home to finish studying when I didnt have to.

Now, there are ways to make good money as a dive instructor, but if you want to get rich become a lawyer or stock broker. If you want a cool lifestyle, particularly when you are young and have no committments, I suggest go for it, you will only regret wasting your 20's in the cube farm behind a monitor.

ps click the link on my sig lobolt...

 

[Saipanman]

I, too, finished law school before becoming a Dive Instructor. No regrets.

Go to college first, and see if you can take some of your courses in school. I took some diving classes through my school, and they were much cheaper. You'll (probably) save a few bucks, and kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Michael Schlink]

Two sayings I have always heard 1) If you want to make a million dollars in the scuba business, start with 2 million. 2) You quit teaching scuba when you can no longer afford it. Seriously I have been teaching scuba for quite a while, so far I don't see an end in sight. I absolutely love it. BUt I don't try to do it for a living, I do it for fun.

 

[scubadoguk]

Before I go to college I might become a open water scuba instructor. What are the prospects of a career in dive instruction? I know PADI says it's a job others dream of. Your feedback would really help me a lot in deciding the direction I take in the next few years. Thanks a lot!

have a look here,
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=77598&page=1&pp=10
become a instructor but it will never do instead of a education.