SSI DiveCons, function????

[SamDiver14]

I was just wondering if any of you guys might be DiveCons with SSI. If so, do you really have any function at the shop you work through? I know what the duties and responsibilities are technically, I am a DiveCon. But in my shop DiveCons never get any work. The instructors don't use them and if it is mentioned they (the instructors) complain about having to pay the DiveCon. They have said that "doing the job of a divecon for free is just paying your dues to become an instructor". I am currently considering becoming an instructor but I don't know if I really want to. Is there anything wrong with just being a DiveCon and expecting to get some, albeit small, compensation for my services? The other side of the question is, what function does the divecon serve in the described situation? The instructors will not use us and the skills updates go to the instructors. I suppose the instructors feel that they need the money worse than the divecons but like us they also work full time jobs and teach as a hobby. I guess the long and short of this is, if my shop does not change soon I may find another shop to work through. I would love any thoughts you guys have.

 

[pdoege]

The divecons get the short end of the stick.

They might get reduced rates for boat rides, maybe some equipment comps. That is about it.

I suppose you could make money as a guide. You would have to be full time.

I think the Divecon/DM thing is a scam to separate divers from their money. I would spend the money on technical training or go straight for instructor.

Best wishes,
Peter Doege

 

[ZoCrowes255]

Divecon/Divemaster/AI is used a lot of times as basically an indentured servant and many times as a stepping stone along the path to instructor. You should get some perks for being one though. I know my store the DMs and AIs get discounts on equipment, they get to go along on trips at cost, shop pays admission to the dive sites when they are helping, free air and services etc. We also use it as an apprenticeship towards instructor. We had an ITC run about two years ago with four people in it. Two of the people in it had been working with classes for about a year and they passed with flying colors while the other two who did not help with classes either dropped out or failed.

As an Instructor I am EXTREMELY grateful to my DMs and Divecons. They are a big help in tough situations and I will do everything I can to help get them a break.

If the Instructors you work with are not using their Divecons to their full advantage then that is their loss.

 

[theskull]

DiveCon is the equivalent of a PADI DiveMaster. How they are utilized is strictly a function of the shop and its culture. My shop makes extensive use of DiveMasters and pays them a fair wage in addition to the gear discounts, free air, free travel and entry fees, etc. My shop is very customer-focused and safety-conscious, and uses Divemasters on all but the smallest classes; basically, if there are 4 or more students in a class there will be a paid DiveMaster there as well. This is an enhancement to safety, as most of our open water sites have limited visibility (often only 3-8 ft., sometimes as much as 12-15 ft. when lucky). We go heavy on DiveMaster staffing during any deep dives as well to keep the staff-to-student ratio very low. I love doing the DM work and have no desire to become an instructor.

theskull

 

[DivemasterJoe]

Hi All,

I enjoy my DM gig. I work full-time at a "day job" and I couldn't make the financial investment in instructor training/dues/insurance pay off. The part-time DM position is perfect for me. They cover my insurance and I get to work in the shop any Saturdays I want. Our shop is small, but we do a fair amount of training. I help with OW and AOW classes, Rescue classes, I do Scuba Reviews, and local orientation dives. Recently I completed the PADI Discover Scuba Diving internship and now I can run DSDs using the shop's gear and pool time. I also get spots on trips, but I usually have to work my butt off on those so it is not like a vacation. All in all, the relationship is quite symbiotic.

Cheers,
Joe

 

[HockeyPuck]

(disclaimer: I'm not a DiveCon, not an instructor, not a shop employee, nor do I play one on TV)

The shop that I've taken classes from uses DiveCons to help during the open water diving days. They help the students with equipment, and usually watch from the surface to help keep track of students. The DiveCons also lead some trips that are sponsored through the shop (and would presumably be paid for their services)

 

[mars2u]

DiveCon is the equivalent of a PADI DiveMaster.
theskull

Not exactly...but close. I'm taking the DiveCon as we speak and it entails BOTH Divemaster and Assistant Instructor. PADI Divemaster course doesn't consider you an Assistant Instructor.
Yes, there are some classes you can actually teach as an SSI DiveCon that you can't as a PADI Divemaster.

Now the question I'm posing to myself is either becoming an SSI Instructor or a PADI Instructor?

 

[ZoCrowes255]

Not exactly...but close. I'm taking the DiveCon as we speak and it entails BOTH Divemaster and Assistant Instructor. PADI Divemaster course doesn't consider you an Assistant Instructor.
Yes, there are some classes you can actually teach as an SSI DiveCon that you can't as a PADI Divemaster.

Now the question I'm posing to myself is either becoming an SSI Instructor or a PADI Instructor?

Another nice thing about Divecons is that they can teach a few specialities for certified divers so they can bring in a little bit of extra income for themselves.

I had the chance to crossover to PADI or SSI from NAUI and I went SSI. If you want to know my reasoning behind it PM me.

 

[Rick Murchison]

At our shop, we tell the DiveCons that the emphasis is on the CON, and they'll not make any money at it. We tell them this before they ever start the course. And we tell them that course completion is no guarantee we'll have enough business - unless they generate it themselves - to ever use them in an official DiveCon capacity, or to justify the shop's covering their insurance.
Now with those little details out of the way, here's how we use 'em.
(1) Assistant Instructor - the only compensation is to have expenses covered on the qual trips (if you're frugal); the only way to get on a qual trip is to help in the pool sessions at no pay. This is also required to be considered for the instructor course. (Of course you can always buy an instructor course outright, but there is no job at the shop attached to such a course.)
(2) Scuba Skills updates - you actually get paid for these. The only time we use an instructor for the SSU is when no DiveCon is available. (The DiveCons who help with pool sessions are the ones who get to do the SSU's)
(3) Specialties - you actually get paid for these too - again, instructors are only used when no DiveCon is available... we reserve those specialties that are approved for DiveCons to teach for the DiveCons whenever possible.
(4) Trip leader/DM - this one's pretty rare as the instructors usually take the trips, but the deal is the same... basically dependent on how many free spots are available, the instructors/DiveCons get 'em - but no additional pay for the trip itself (unless you're conducting a paid specialty course as part of the trip). The surest way for a DiveCon to be a trip leader is for the DiveCon to propose, organize, recruit customers and basically cause the trip to happen, just as it is for instructors.
(5) Active DiveCons have their insurance covered by the shop. And, of course, the more classes a DiveCon helps with, the more likely he/she is to get selected as a trip leader, or be able to recruit his/her own customers for a trip.
(6) Discounts on gear and eligibility for "key man" deals.
Rick

 

[Lead_carrier]

but our shop gives all the scuba skills updates possible to our DC's. I can't do much for the divecons money wise, that work with me during class but I do try to cover as many of their expenses as I can and try to let them know as often as possible that I appreciate their assistance more than they will know.