jtthompson4
Registered
So I in all my travels, I have come to the art of scuba. I HAVE QUESTIONS!!.
I in early 2008 moved to Kentucky and started in an open water course and stopped shortly after because my wife got pregnant. So a few years went by, I was in the military for a time, got out and worked in a factory making decent money. My parents moved to Florida in the summer of 2012. My father called me late 1 evening and invited me to move down so I could take on becoming a PROFESSIONAL DIVER!! So I moved down in early March, with my wife and 3 children now. And I started diving. I have since worked up through 6 specialties and now a PADI Divemaster. Maybe I should have done my research, but I have since come to realize that there really ain't much money to be made, even as an instructor and it seems to be that the money is going to cert agencies and shops, resorts etc etc..... I have spent nearly 10,000 dollars in training and equipment and love diving. But this was to be a career move. So someone be honest with me..... Who the hell is making the money? How do I make the money? Because hearing that DMs make tips and a free boat ride doesn't cut it with me. What's the since in being a PROFESSIONAL at something if I don't make any money. Now don't get me wrong, diving is in and of itself wonderful and I love working with people, but I don't feel I am a professional at anything if I can't support my own family. So maybe a wrong move on my part, maybe I should have looked into it more, but please someone give me an honest and good no bullcrap answer. I would really love an answer from specifically shop owners and such, because they, I HOPE can give me a good answer as to why compensation is so low for a professional in diving.
Thank you
I in early 2008 moved to Kentucky and started in an open water course and stopped shortly after because my wife got pregnant. So a few years went by, I was in the military for a time, got out and worked in a factory making decent money. My parents moved to Florida in the summer of 2012. My father called me late 1 evening and invited me to move down so I could take on becoming a PROFESSIONAL DIVER!! So I moved down in early March, with my wife and 3 children now. And I started diving. I have since worked up through 6 specialties and now a PADI Divemaster. Maybe I should have done my research, but I have since come to realize that there really ain't much money to be made, even as an instructor and it seems to be that the money is going to cert agencies and shops, resorts etc etc..... I have spent nearly 10,000 dollars in training and equipment and love diving. But this was to be a career move. So someone be honest with me..... Who the hell is making the money? How do I make the money? Because hearing that DMs make tips and a free boat ride doesn't cut it with me. What's the since in being a PROFESSIONAL at something if I don't make any money. Now don't get me wrong, diving is in and of itself wonderful and I love working with people, but I don't feel I am a professional at anything if I can't support my own family. So maybe a wrong move on my part, maybe I should have looked into it more, but please someone give me an honest and good no bullcrap answer. I would really love an answer from specifically shop owners and such, because they, I HOPE can give me a good answer as to why compensation is so low for a professional in diving.
Thank you