Questions about becoming a scuba instructor

[Garth Jensen]

Thoughts on my dive career plan.
Im a new diver, and my plan is to work my way along the courses to become an instructor by two to three years from now.

I am currently an h.s. teacher/football coach (19 years) and plan to stop coaching have diving take over for my extra curricular activity. I have no grandiose plans of living off my diving. Just hopefully equal the amount of money i get from coaching. about $5000 a year.

I would like to start a dive club at my school, I have permission to use the pool as needed. Many kids have inquired about diving when they see me in the pool practicing with my equipment. I want to Introduce kids to the sport and maybe they can have the opportunity to make it a career.

Next year, i want to have field trips to my LDS to take the discover scuba course. And work together with LDS to facilitate until i have reached the adequate levels of instruction.

I have 14 year till retirement, when then i can then can think about my own island paradise dive shop.

 

[TSandM]

It sounds like a realistic plan, but I would definitely advise getting as much, and as varied a diving experience as you can during those years. To get to instructor in 3 years, you are going to have to do a LOT of class time -- and if that's all the diving you do, you won't have a lot to offer as an instructor.

 

[Skittl1321]

Do you want to be a scuba instructor just to get to dive? Or do you have an actual passion for teaching others to dive?

A friend has a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and moved from Iowa to Panama to manage a lab (she's in her late 20s). She dives almost every day to collect samples, and quite a bit in her spare time. There are lots of careers that allow you to dive, you just have to think creatively. Quite honestly, it is pretty amazing how many jobs exist in the world- and how few you know about until you luck into them, or search real hard for them!

 

[Garth Jensen]

I want to dive as much as humanly possible. I want to give our kids the opportunity to learn about diving and potential career plans.

I have been teaching for 15 years and enjoy working with kids every day. so i guess you would say its a passion.