Want to start PADI tr. for career in scuba w only 5 dives at 57 y/o. please feedback.

[diversteve]

Read this for some insight: Scuba Professional: Insights into Sport Diver Training & Operations: Simon Pridmore: 9781507621073: Amazon.com: Books

I'll bet I know two dozen instructors. All either have day jobs or own the shop they work out of - actually most of the latter category are too busy putting in long hours running the shop so barely get to dive anymore.

Without a day job, I'd look for somewhere a lot cheaper to live than Ft. Lauderdale while pursuing your training. Roatan, Utila or Thailand make the short list. Save as much of what you have post-house sale as possible since it's likely what you'll live on for the next few years.

 

[Dan333]

Yeah, I didn't think of it that way..."zero-to-hero" is a good term for that type of approach. I'm hoping to transition into this as quick as I can, though the feedback I've received so far is hitting home that I should take a much slower approach. I appreciate your input!

 

[gkrane]

I always thought of becoming a "dive industry professional" when I retired to make an income doing something I loved. After speaking with industry people on what it takes to become a DM and OWI I quickly realized that I am too old for the grunt work that the career progression entails. Most if not all instructors that I know do it as a second job. My "scuba retirement idea" seemed like it had the potential to put me in the poor house or the orthopods office.

 

[cb5150]

I've donated two knees and an ankle to the scuba gods in the last 5 years playing part-time Divemaster. I'm 49.


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[USdiver1]

I don't want to rain on your parade, but you probably didn't get to where you are in life by having only a superficial connection to something and then deciding that you want to dedicate all of your energy and possible financial future to it. In a word, no, you will not recoup your investment if you decide to go the scuba instructor route.

If you already own a vacation home on (Bonaire, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Roatan, Belize) and you are looking for a means to stay active during your early retirement (financially independent) then, sure go the DM, OWSI route, just don't expect to make any money at it.

Also at age 50+ you will suffer physically through the schlepping of dive equipment. Especially watch for hernias, slipped disks, knees and hips, keep your health insurance up, and make sure you are covered where ever you live and work.

 

[The Laconic]

n having enough money to take your PADI training through "Phase III - Resort Specialist" above. What the heck is that? I've never heard the terms "Phase III" or "Resort Specialist" before. Sounds like some instructor mill's package/terminology. I'd be leery of buying into some sort of bundled training package at this stage... or ever, frankly.

I was curious about this, so I looked at their website... yep. Except that I still have no idea what "resort specialist" is. Or "DES instructor" (weird that it's one letter away from EFR instructor though...)

• Total Immersion Program (TIP): Open Water to Divemaster – $3,899 (Includes Materials and PADI fees)
• Phase I: Professional Divemaster – $1,799 (Includes Materials and PADI fees)
• Phase II: Open Water Scuba Instructor and EFR Instructor – $2,999 (Includes Materials, IDC & Dive Theory E-Learning and PADI fees)
• Phase III: Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DES Instructor, Resort Specialist – $3,999 (Includes Materials and PADI fees)

Er, what's "professional divemaster", come to think of it?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I am actually working on my second book now about the Zero to Hero approach to instructor training. I like hearing these stories and seeing these links. It gives me more to work with. Was hoping to have it out end of this month in time for DEMA. May not make it due to some set backs on the home front and at the day job with schedule changes. It's still possible but realistically in time for Christmas is more like it.

I was considering this approach back when I first started diving. Lord knows my instructor talked about DM training during my OW class! Not even certed yet and was told I'd make a good DM. He was right as it turned out but looking back it was not the right time to approach the subject. It did have the desired effect of getting me to believe that class after class would be a good thing.

Until I found this board and a couple of GUE trained buddies to dive with. Then I realized how much it was about the money and that getting experience in as many conditions as possible, with as many different gear configurations as possible, and diving with different people was much more valuable. On top of that I discovered tech training and now feel that anyone wanting to become a dive pro should take at least one or two tech classes.

It gave me a dose of reality and better understanding of the risks of this activity. My training up to that point mentioned the risks, but not in the stark no-nonsense terms that the tech classes did. Until then I was buying into the sun,fun, hot bodies, travel the world, meet people BS that is used to sucker people into the pro ranks.

 

[Yoyodyne-88]

I was nearly 40 when I became an instructor, and at that time I was distinctly the "old man" in my IDC group. I started with very little experience and that made it even tougher, but it opened a wonderful chapter in my life.

I'm now 62 and still diving. At 57-plus, I would be leary of the physical demands. PADI instructor certification includes water skills that are arduous, and for good reason - in the real world you will be personally responsible for the lives of others in challenging conditions.

I would also say that doing it quick at a "Coconut College" is cheating yourself and your future students. You owe them the quality of teaching and oversight that can only come from your own accumulated depth of experience - not just training. I DM'd for a couple of years, and that was still minimal, IMHO

Not saying "no," but you definitely need to be serious about it.

 

[llipton@fsu.edu]

If you do have adequate financial resources to teach as a hobby and meet lots of cool people, great. You need tons more experience first. Then you need a steel-clad liability insurance policy because you will be named in any lawsuit for a diving accident in which you may have only been peripherally involved. This is the reason I will not go to the instructor or dive master level. I've had 186 dives in 16 months but I have assets that I do not want jeopardized if I am just on the boat and an unfortunate accident takes place. And, my husband is an attorney so I would have free legal representation but being retired and 57 years old I don't want any complications.

 

[RJP]

I'm now 62 and still diving. At 57-plus, I would be leary of the physical demands. PADI instructor certification includes water skills that are arduous, and for good reason - in the real world you will be personally responsible for the lives of others in challenging conditions.

Which "physical demands" of the IDC are arduous?