Originally posted by Heads Up
(have had enough of my 9 to 5 and want to go down the dive instructor route).
Be well prepared for stoney cove in the winter (when it's not possible to dive in the sea) when it is 2°C in the water, cold raining and bloody miserable above water, and you have a class of students diving in semi dry's that are cold through to the bone, and generally dispirited. (oh and having to get there ar 6AM to get a reasonable spot as well)
Instructing in the UK is not a bunch of roses! it is pretty tough work, that isn't payed overly well. You will be lucky if you can recover the cost of your DM, IDC and IE within the first 6 months. The going rate is about £40 per student qualified (sometimes less) and you will only get an average of 10 cards a week. You might end up spending 2 days with a group of 4 people, of which 1 won't qualify because of some reason (too cold usually) and then not qualifying others for 5-6 days. You might also have to try and bring in your own clients to supplement what a shop brings you. It is a very sporadic income, and during the winter months can be very quiet!
Shops will always sell you the dream, if it means that you will hand over serious ammounts of cash (over £1500 for the necessary basic courses, then add on extra for the speciality instructor courses) and they won't tell you how hard it really is. - the way to make money is to instruct part time for a while, and then work yourself into a position as chief instructor for a group of shops. However, that will generally require you to do a PADI IDC, IE, followed by 5 speciality instructor ratings for the MSDT, then having done enough certifications to be
invited on a CD course (you have to be invited, it isn't just turn up and pay the money!!) then you can start making a reasonably reliable income.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but I think that you really ough to know what the situation is like.
Try and find a new day job that is more enjoyable using your current skills (if possible) as this might help. Getting suitably qualified isn't cheep, and there aren't all that many rewards for quite some time after you have started instructing.
Jon T