scuba career

[10tigers]

hello scubaboard !

longtime reading , first time poster

I love to scuba dive and I'm thinking about becoming an instructor. I'm sort of sick of working all year so I can spend 2 weeks scubadiving somewhere. I'd rather give up babylon and scuba for a career.

So what's the best way to go about getting fully cerified as an instructor?
Are there internships? Or programs? I'm thinking of either asia(thailand), mexico, central america.

Do any of you instructors have any regrets? Do you get sick of it? Would you recommend others to go for it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Mako Mark]

First of all, welcome tiger..

click on the link in my sig line then email me. There is lots of herlpful info there, no matyter where you end up taking your training.

what level of certification do you have so far??

.

 

[10tigers]

what's up cancun mark

I'm AOW certified
i'll check out your site
thanks!

 

[dive_lover88]

Cool Webby!!

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I love to scuba dive and I'm thinking about becoming an instructor. I'm sort of sick of working all year so I can spend 2 weeks scubadiving somewhere. I'd rather give up babylon and scuba for a career.

Thanks

At the risk of sounding rude ...

You dive two weeks a year (on vacation?) and want to be an instructor? Is there no water where you live? Instructors should be active divers, not someone who dives two weeks a year on vacation and is in love with the glamour of diving in some la-di-da resort area.

 

[10tigers]

At the risk of sounding rude ...

You dive two weeks a year (on vacation?) and want to be an instructor? Is there no water where you live? Instructors should be active divers, not someone who dives two weeks a year on vacation and is in love with the glamour of diving in some la-di-da resort area.

First off, yes that' s rude. Sorry I'm not already an instructor. Scuba experience is like life experience. I steady progression. Did you jump in the water and automatically become whatever expert you are in scuba? Glamour of diving? Why go there? I asked a simple question. If you can't add something postive , please don't respond to my inquires. It makes you sound pompous and dumb. Thanks for your "i'm cooler , than you" speach. I bet I'd be a better instructor than you anyday. If you are one, and/or know what you're talking about.


Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It's done alot for the scubaboard.

 

[divad]

Yo diver for Jesus,
That wasn't very christian.





Pagan diver.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

There are AOW divers and AOW divers. But it sounds like you've dove for years. Do you only dive on vacation? I think diving locally is important since that's where you'd be diving all the time as an instructor. I've logged more than 100 dives in the past year in waters under 40 degrees. Our waters are now 50 degrees and I'm out there nearly every weekend in 5-10 foot vis with nervous students.

I dove for many years and logged more than 1500 dives before I became an instructor. You have to have something like 100 or so logged dives to qualify anyhow and I think we have way too many brand new divers as instructors. Our shop certified an instructor only a few months after he became certified as OW but it worked out well with him, that isn't always the case.

I still enjoy instructing and even in our below 40 degree waters when checkouts end I still go off for a little dive with my wife just because I enjoy diving. This is a muddy lake dive this time of the year so I must love to dive.

I think loving to dive in any waters is important.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I am not an expert, nor did I claim to be. I merely point out the fact that instructors (in ANY activity) should be active and progressing in that activity, not doing it on vacation and deciding it's their calling in life.

To tell you the truth it's been suggested that I would probably be a good instructor or DM if I was so inclined. I am not. With either designation comes an incredible amount of responsibility.

In the past I taught shooting. Did I enjoy instructing? Yes. Was it "fun"? Most of the time it was work; I had to make sure noone blew a hole in themselves, someone else, me, etc. I was able to relax only when shooting by myself or with others of similar skill and experience.

By all means pursue your dream but be aware that as an instructor you should have much more experience than your students and that comes with diving as frequently as possible under various (and some not very pleasant) conditions, not just on vacation.

 

[freediver]

hello scubaboard !

longtime reading , first time poster

I love to scuba dive and I'm thinking about becoming an instructor. I'm sort of sick of working all year so I can spend 2 weeks scubadiving somewhere. I'd rather give up babylon and scuba for a career. Hey 10tigers, just make sure and examine your motives for wanting to become an instructor. Is it to dive more often, or do you have a passion for teaching? Think it over carefully, it is a pretty big decision esp. if you want it to become your career.
So what's the best way to go about getting fully cerified as an instructor? I can only speculate but I bet CancunMark has much info. I would even consider him as your course director, very knowledgeable and willing to help.Are there internships? Or programs? I'm thinking of either asia(thailand), mexico, central america.

Do any of you instructors have any regrets? None, i only regret i did not become an instructor sooner! Do you get sick of it? No, but also keep in mind it isn't always glamorous. But then again what careers are? Would you recommend others to go for it? If they are prepared and armed with adequate experience, a desire to teach and help others, a passion for the underwater environment and the ability to survive on Ramen noodles, then yes, I would recommend it to others!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

best of luck!