question for instructiors (IDC? and equipment sales?)

[scubajoh44]

I am going to do my IDC this summer. I live in Texas but am willing to travel just about anywhere whithin reason ($) :11: . I am going to have to take my 2 children and a husband along. They will have to make a vacation out of it. Where should I do my IDC? Where is the best? Where will have accomodations and fun stuff for my family? Do you know of any IDC at a resort or anything of the sort? I would like to stay in Texas but just don't know what my family would do for 10 days. What about Mexico where we could stay at an All Inclusive resort ? ANY advice is greatly appreciated.
(What do I need to be ready for during IE? How many have to retake?)
I know most dive shops sell equipment. I will be a individual instructor with no "store". Do I need to look into some equipment sales too? Do you need this to break even as an instructor? How do you do it? Tell me what to do ......
Lots of questions, so thanks for any help!!!! Many many many thanks!!!

Jo

 

[devilfish]

I am going to do my IDC this summer. I live in Texas but am willing to travel just about anywhere whithin reason ($) :11: . I am going to have to take my 2 children and a husband along. They will have to make a vacation out of it. Where should I do my IDC? Where is the best? Where will have accomodations and fun stuff for my family? Do you know of any IDC at a resort or anything of the sort? I would like to stay in Texas but just don't know what my family would do for 10 days. What about Mexico where we could stay at an All Inclusive resort ? ANY advice is greatly appreciated.
(What do I need to be ready for during IE? How many have to retake?)
I know most dive shops sell equipment. I will be a individual instructor with no "store". Do I need to look into some equipment sales too? Do you need this to break even as an instructor? How do you do it? Tell me what to do ......
Lots of questions, so thanks for any help!!!! Many many many thanks!!!

Jo

I don't mean to discourage you, but if you have to ask these questions, you are not ready yet. Talk to your mentor and trainer.

 

[scubajoh44]

I don't mean to discourage you, but if you have to ask these questions, you are not ready yet. Talk to your mentor and trainer.

I have talked to my mentor. They usually send people to an IDC in Florida, but they will not have any accomodations or close hotels for my family. He did suggest that I sell equipment, but my circumstance is a bit unusual. I live in a town about 100 miles from where I will be teaching. (There is just no scuba shops within 200 miles) I am a teacher and will only do instruction during summer months. (second "hobby")
I know I'm not ready. That's what I'm trying to get ready for. Any advice will help.

 

[scubajoh44]

I don't mean to discourage you, but if you have to ask these questions, you are not ready yet. Talk to your mentor and trainer.

Can you be more specific? What do I need to be ready for? IDC? Sales? IE? How do I get ready?

 

[TorontoDive]

I don't mean to discourage you, but if you have to ask these questions, you are not ready yet. Talk to your mentor and trainer.

I think the poster is asking to get more info on where to take the IDC in a place where there are also things for her family to do....she's not asking if she's ready to challenge the IE. As for being ready for the IDC, only she knows if she is or not.

 

[wreckchick]

Having just done my IDC, I can highly recommend leaving the family behind so you have a chance to study and focus. Send them somewhere else and let you do your thing.

I did mine in Grand Cayman with Cayman Diving School, Renee Knight is the CD and it was a lot of fun. Out of 5 candidates, 4 of us passed the IE and only 2 made it through without having to redo anything.

If you're independent, the gear thing probably won't be an issue. First of all, to be a dealer you have to have a tremendous 1st order to pick up any product lines and since you won't have shop overhead, it's probably not a great idea to try.

I'm not sure how recently you've done your divemaster training, but you'll have to revisit all those tests in the IE plus having to do a Knowledge Review presentation, Confined Water, Open Water, and Rescue demos and a skill circuit.

To prepare I highly recommend going back through all your divemaster materials and assissting with as many classes as possible to see how the instructors demo skills, identify and correct student problems, and organize everything.

Hope that helps!

Rachel

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Second what Rachel said.

It's like this: if this means enough to you to do it, then do it with 110% focus on achieving the goal.

The dives get wearing. The days are arduous. Being judged and evaluated day after day can make anyone edgy. You feel challenged - there is a great deal going on.

You need a husband and your kids to deal with during this process like you need 24/7 menstrual cramps. There will simply be no way to avoid dealing with their needs while you're trying hard to focus on your own.

This is one of those things in the marriage where you tell your husband that you need to go do this by yourself, while he deals with the domestic gig for that period. Then tell him you'll switch, and he can go off hunting or fishing. Tell the kids its Disneyland next summer. Whatever.

But you're gonna need this time for you if you're going to focus on the diving and the instruction. Trust me on this one.

Other stuff:

1. Don't worry about equipment sales just now. Get the OWSI first.

2. You might want to call Dean Marshall and see if you can do an IDC with him. He's a good guy, shop is Brownies in FL. Here is his website:
http://www.yachtdiver.com/

Being an independent instructor can be challenging, you might have a community college or other 'satellite facility' you can teach through - otherwise, you're looking for a long distance relationship with a shop. As noted, however, Step #1 is to get the OWSI. Deal with all the rest after that.

Best of luck to you. Follow your dreams.

Doc

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Jo,

What you are looking for is a facility that does the short form, cram it all in in a short period of time IDC/IE. Most of these are instructor training centers that have a program specifically geared toward this. I don't know of one in Texas. That isn't saying one doesn't exist. If one did, I would think Houston first.

I know of several independent instructors. They don't sell anything but instruction. One is a rep for several different mfr's but that isn't a part time job. Challenges...

Where are you going to get BC, Regs, and tanks for your students?
Air fills?
What pool are you going to use?

What part of Texas are you in?

TwoBit

 

[Tollie]

Ditto ditto ditto. Please leave the husband and kids behind. You will need all of your focus on the IDC. You will also need to form a bond with other candidates and no way you can do these things and manage the emotional and time demands of a husband and children. Not possible.

Dean is a GUE instructor and a brilliant dive educator but not a Course Director.

Others have found that Pro Dive in Ft Lauderdale is a great school but there are others as well.

As a solo instructor you can make it without gear sales especially if it is a hobby at this point that you may grow into. You will need some gear for your students and probably a connection with a shop or dive tour operator if you are close to a large body of water.

That is in the future for you. Now just focus on finding an IDC you resonate with.

Let us know how it goes with you.

 

[scubajoh44]

Jo,

What you are looking for is a facility that does the short form, cram it all in in a short period of time IDC/IE. Most of these are instructor training centers that have a program specifically geared toward this. I don't know of one in Texas. That isn't saying one doesn't exist. If one did, I would think Houston first.

I know of several independent instructors. They don't sell anything but instruction. One is a rep for several different mfr's but that isn't a part time job. Challenges...

Where are you going to get BC, Regs, and tanks for your students?
Air fills?
What pool are you going to use?

What part of Texas are you in?

TwoBit

Great point. This is just what I need guys. THANKS!!!

Now, first I will actually be instructing in Clovis NM. I live about 65 miles from there. I have looked into renting pools there. They are as cheap as 35$ a day. Didnt' think this was bad. The equipment for students is another problem. Have given this a lot of thought but not a good answer. Should I find a shop going out of business and buy all thier stuff? e-bay? Start buying lots of equip now? Yeah, I know lots of money. And no warranties on stuff from e-bay. What do yall suggest?
The whole reason I wanted to do this is because there is no scuba shop in Clovis NM for a good 200 miles. Have lots of friends that want to get certified but no where to do it. That area is growing like a weed. Don't think I will have trouble getting students. Should I consider a shop? I am a school teacher and have no intensions of quitting that. I can only instruct evenings, weekends, or summers. I guess someone else could always run the shop.... ?????
Thoughts??????