Wanted to pick your brain! I got the bug

[SCJeff]

Hey all, I'm new here, and recently just got my OW certification with a local PADI shop. Some background on me, I'm a water rat. I've been snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding for years and have worked part time for some outdoors companies, doing kayaking tours and things of that nature. Well I've always wanted to get into scuba diving since I was little and finally took the plunge, and absolutely love it.

The old lady and I are looking at relocating down to the keys or caribbean in early 2016, and I thought adding scuba diving to my resume of water activities would help me land a job at a shop of some sort and just further my options and make myself more marketable. Along with getting a captains license (6 pack).

I'm not trying to get a head of myself and realize I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm very dedicated to learning things like this. I've spent years learning all aspects of kayaking and white water, and am prepared to do the necessary studying, research, learning, and actually diving to become a competent diver as well.

Just some questions for all of ya'll.

1. As far as the different SCUBA schools, is there one or the other that is generally, more widely accepted? I have both a PADI and SSI dive shop to choose from, and I get that it's mostly the instructor that matters as far as a educational aspect. I've been looking at the insurance, fees, etc. for PADI. I haven't dove into reading up on SSI yet. But lets say I went to a resort and wanted to work for them, what would be more accepted?

2. I've been reading that regardless of which school I go with, I can swap to another and still be accepted at least for my AOW, but what about once you get to DM or Instructor level? I would assume you have to stick with a particular program correct? Up until that point does it really matter? I saw that the number of dives needed varied a little bit between schools.

3. Any advice for me?

I plan to be diving every weekend, plenty of day trips to the coast... Charleston, Savannah, and some Aquarium dives. Can't wait

 

[diversteve]

I'm not an instructor but have been diving since 81'. I'm SSI. But for job opportunities in the Caribbean I'd recommend PADI. IMO 90-95% of dive operators on most of the better known dive destinations are PADI. I suggest checking the shop locators on both organization's websites for those islands/areas you're considering. IDK about Florida.

Quick example - already knew 1/2 the answer: On Grand Cayman - certainly in anyone's top 10 list for the best of the Caribbean - there's exactly one SSI dive operator - Off the Wall in Georgetown. Nice operation, 2 boats, about 8 staff total IIRC. A quick check of the PADI website shows 27 PADI operations there. Including the 2 biggest, Fosters and Red Sail. Between the 2 of them they have almost a dozen boats in their dive fleet. Even the AI dive resorts - Sunset House and Cobalt Coast - aren't that big combined. Getting a captains license seems like a good idea...

One other thing to check - I thought that to teach SSI you have to be affiliated with a shop. I have PADI instructor friends that teach from home. Might be a possible option after you relocate. At some locations I've had DM's ask me if I was interested in private charters outside of their employer's trips. We did that on Bonaire - dove one night with our DM from the boat we were on mornings. I don't know the legality of that but he wasn't a native.

 

[Bubble Junky]

PADI tends to have more job opportunities, but it depends on the location. You can be an instructor for both agencies, with no problems. Most people choose to become a PADI instructor first, and then to do a short crossover programme to become an SSI instructor too. It makes more financial sense to do it this way round if you wanted both agencies' instructor ratings.

 

[maniago]

People love to hate the big guy just because - Microsoft, GM, Department of Defense, United States of America....and PADI. At least for your early certs, for sure DM IMHO. Instructor can be a toss up, but if you are strictly looking to get the most hits on your resume, PADI is the best starting point...then branch out from there. Again, IMHO. YMMV.

Caveat* I'm a PADI DM, but have certs from SDI and TDI as well. I learn from anyone and any where I can.

 

[scubadiver888]

As people have pointed out, PADI is the big guy. You will get more hits from PADI than from other certifications. However, switching from PADI to another agency would not be out of the question. So you aren't limited to being just PADI certified. Start out with say PADI, get some work then decide if there is another shop you want to work for. If the shop you want to work for is SSI or SDI or NAUI and you are good, I'm sure they'd help you switch when that time comes. I've worked for a shop which started out as PADI then became SSI. The owner just got re-certified as an instructor for SSI. A lot of the requirements for being a PADI instructor were accepted for becoming an SSI instructor in training. Some will keep multiple certifications but the dues and insurance might be a factor against this.

Being a DM isn't sufficient. If you are a DM you are limited as to what you can do for a dive shop. They'd rather hire an instructor because they can do more. Some weeks they might need someone to guide a group but on the weeks they need to teach a class or take students out on a DSD, the plain DM will not work.

The more you have above a typical instructor the better. Getting a captain's license will make you more marketable. Knowing how to do small engine repairs or service equipment will help. When business is slow they are more likely to keep on the guy who does equipment repair, can handle the boat, does engine repairs AND is an instructor.

Note that getting your 'Equipment Specialist' card is not even close to knowing how to service dive equipment. You want to get a shop to bring you on and actually service the equipment of customers. Getting factory trained on specific regulators would be good as well.

 

[maniago]

You probably also need to know that most if not all instructors have a full-time job doing something other than diving. There's no liveable wage in instruction. And, alot of high volume instructors burn out after 3yrs - just get fed up with instructing. Its easy to have great dreams after just getting your OW (like just getting your private pilots license), but the truth is that its not an "all peaches and cream" life - unless you are already independently wealthy, or you like scraping by, or its your retirement gig. If the later, then you can afford to do it part-time and still enjoy yourself without being a dive-slave.