opportunities as a dive professional

[freediver]

Please put some thought into it. Do you want to become a scuba instructor because you simply love to dive? That is not a very good reason. Want to become OWSI because you simply love to teach? Again, not good enough. How about because you love to teach AND you love to dive? Getting closer. Let's say you really would love to teach others and you enjoy socializing and can't get enough interaction with other people. You really entertain the idea of going home at night and laying in bed thinking of ways you can make Mrs. Smith more comfortable in the water, of course you're doing this while repairing a reg. You welcome the thought of spending hours and hours teaching the dive planner to a bunch of Boy Scouts until you know they are comfortable with it. Ahhh yes, one more, you delight in the prospect of living on Ramen noodles cause the pay just isn't putting steak on the table (maybe every once in a while). If that truly describes you then the scuba industry has been waiting for you my friend. If there is any hesitation then pursue the degree. Heck, either way, keep diving!

 

[Paco]

Here are my thoughts. I started diving in my late 40's and got obsessed. I've been in education as an instructor in a non-diving-related field for 25 years and consider myself to be a very good teacher (I think teaching is art and charisma more than teacher traing). Lately, my LDS recognized my teaching and diving skills and asked me to take the DM course. The owner of the shop told me that he'd like me to be an instructor in his shop. I took the DM course this summar and now am considering advancing to instructor. Though I think I could answer yes to many of the questions posed by freedive above, I wonder if part time scuba instruction might be a losing deal financially. How much part time work do you have to do just to afford the liability insurance (PADI around $600)? And at my age (52) if I teach for a few years and become inactive, the liability insurance for inactive instructors could be a real thorn in the side.
Yes, love for teaching, patience and all that is great, but that liability thing seems huge. What do you instructors think about all that?

 

[Saipanman]

How much part time work do you have to do just to afford the liability insurance (PADI around $600)? And at my age (52) if I teach for a few years and become inactive, the liability insurance for inactive instructors could be a real thorn in the side.

Beaver Dam is a wonderful place (I used to live in Mequon).

PADI encourages you to maintain your insurance for a few (6 or 7, I can't remember which off the top of my head, and my manual is in the car..) years after you stop teaching, because its insurance is of the "Claims made" as opposed to "claims accrued in" type of policy.

I can't tell you if it will be worth your while to take the leap, because I don't know how much diving/instructing you're gonna do (especially if you remain in WI) but I can say that if you move somewhere warm, you can easily make enough cash part time as an instructor to make it worth it.

If your shop sponsors trips in the winter to diveable (Yes, I've heard of ice diving, but as I recall, Ice fishing was by far more popular in WI because you could drink while you froze your butt off) places, I imagine you could make some money while having an absolute blast.

One thing to consider: As a PADI DM, there are many DM conducted programs you can lead/teach. Also, I give my DM's a fair amount of latitude when they're helping with a class; it may be wise for you to DM for a bit and see if that suits you better.

Good luck!

 

[jisou]

I'd definitely say do college first. I'm 26 and have yet to earn my college degree.. I'm regretting not doing it IMMEDIATELY a lot. When you put it off, you get into your own thing.. namely jobs, bills, relationships.. and it makes living as a money- and time-short student hard. Now, I don't think your proposed situation would be as bad - you're not going to earn a lot as an instructor, so the $$ wouldn't stop you from quitting and going back full-time...

But, really, you can do them both.. The DM that assisted my instruction was a graduate student. Diving was a good way for him to earn some extra $$ and stay sane.

On top of all that, I'm sure people have reservations about learning to SCUBA from someone who's only 20 years old, experienced or not. You know how we old people can be.

Go to school, get it over with. You'll have fun anyway.
Good luck.
Stacey

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!