Yet another "I wanna be a instructor" question

[spartanws6]

I have read a lot of prior posts about this subject, and I appreciate the "give it to me straight" answers I keep seeing so I figured I would throw this out.

I fell in love with diving when I took my OW couse almost a year ago. Since then I have completed three different specialties and am leaving on my first dive trip to Key Largo in 7 days (WOO HOO!!!)
I have completed all of my training through a LDS in town that is run by some great folks. Last week the owner asked if I would be interested in instructing sometime in the future. Of course, I had already considered this (I recently seperated from the service and DESPERATELY miss teaching/training) I know training and instructing involves much more than the joy of standing in front of folks and teaching... but the instructing time more makes up for the other crap that goes hand in hand with it. just MHO.
Now, before the flames starting coming I have to complete a police academy first and get settled in my job. I see teaching being a part-time gig at first of course. More importantly, I am a firm believer in that I need more experience in different kind of dive environments before I begin teaching folks. So... to my question (finally!!!)

I am SSI trained and I do enjoy the system. Right now I have one more specialty before I am AOW certed. In the SSI system, as I understand it, I must complete the AOW, then Dive Master, then what they call the "Dive control specialist" and finally OW instructor. My question is this: what kind of time frame do the specialist rated diver look at before becoming an instructor. Are there any kind of items I am missing here? Do I have to do "X" number of assistant instructon classes, "X" number of CPR classes? etc?

I am excited that the LDS has essentially recruited me, however I just want to have some sort of plan / timeframe to see what I am looking at here. I would love to pass on the passion to the sport, however I just want to make sure I am qualified (and I simply don't mean on paper) and that I have the "plan" right in my head.

Sorry for the long post! appreciate the responses

 

[MB]

Here are some different ways to think about this.

1. Instead of "how long does it take" try a different question. How many dives does it take. Don't get tricked into the agency/marketing answer - some say 50 dives is enough to be an instructor. How silly. But ask how many dives will it take until you have valuable experience and knowledge to share. Maybe 250-300 dives?

2. How will you know when you have that experience and knowledge? Just the raw number? When you see things that most other divers don't see, and when you wish you had taught somebody a better way to do or know about something, then you're starting to think like a teacher.

3. What type of dive leadership activities have you been involved in? It takes a lot of stuff other than teaching to be a good teacher. Organizational skills - lots of instructors really blow it on this. How will you get 10 people from A to B. How will you set it up so that they get there quickly, safely, and with the stuff they need?

4. What sort of people skills will you need to deal with people who don't / won't listen, follow directions, think for themselves, think ahead, etc?

5. How many different ways can you teach a thing? How many different times can you teach it and still have fun teaching it?

Good instructors do so much more than lecture. Good teaching is an art and science, and you definately need to learn way more than you know today (regardless of what you know today!).

Its cool that you're thinking about this in advance.

 

[spartanws6]

Here are some different ways to think about this.

1. Instead of "how long does it take" try a different question. How many dives does it take. Don't get tricked into the agency/marketing answer - some say 50 dives is enough to be an instructor. How silly. But ask how many dives will it take until you have valuable experience and knowledge to share. Maybe 250-300 dives?

2. How will you know when you have that experience and knowledge? Just the raw number? When you see things that most other divers don't see, and when you wish you had taught somebody a better way to do or know about something, then you're starting to think like a teacher.

3. What type of dive leadership activities have you been involved in? It takes a lot of stuff other than teaching to be a good teacher. Organizational skills - lots of instructors really blow it on this. How will you get 10 people from A to B. How will you set it up so that they get there quickly, safely, and with the stuff they need?

4. What sort of people skills will you need to deal with people who don't / won't listen, follow directions, think for themselves, think ahead, etc?

5. How many different ways can you teach a thing? How many different times can you teach it and still have fun teaching it?

Good instructors do so much more than lecture. Good teaching is an art and science, and you definately need to learn way more than you know today (regardless of what you know today!).

Its cool that you're thinking about this in advance.

Good points... appreaciate the quick response. As far as instruction goes I am not too worried. Like I said earlier I just seperated from the military and was in charge of the training shop. Basically all required cop training for 700 folks and the entire base firearms instruction. That is why I know how much I love teaching/instructing and miss it so much today.
I am tracking with you as far as your input about the amount and type of dives. As I said earlier, I know right now is not my time, however I always like to have a plan in my head and see what I need to do in order to prepare to instruct. Of course, I will only start instructing when I feel I am prepared to instruct.... not simply because I have paid my LDS for the courses. I am talking all around to include my own personal experiences.
I am shooting for timing both the academic side and the experience side so they can both meet in the middle per se. Think of it as the college criminal justice prof who has a Phd, and is also a career retired cop. The way it appears as far as SSI is concerned is that the academics could drive the frequency of my personal dives. That is why I am inquiring about the SSI academic timeframe.
Definately good inputs! Of course, always open to more if ya got em!

 

[shark.byte.usa]

I'm SSI too, well almost, and I feel ya on the leaving the military and miss the teaching mentoring aspect of it. I don't have any quick aspirations of becoming an instructor, but have done a little homework, here's what I know.

SSI - doesn't have dive masters, they have "DiveCon", which is a Dive Master and Asst. Instructor hybrid.

DiveCon Prerequisites:
Advanced Open Water
Stress and Rescue Course
40 or more logged dives
Need 60 by the time you finish the course.

Instructor prereqs:
DiveCon
75 or more logged dives

that's the on paper version of the prereqs, I'm sure you'll get and have read alot of opinions as to when you will be ready for this step. I think my instructor said, because I plan on continuing my education, this is my hobby, it gives me something to do, especially if I can't dive, it could take a couple yrs. to get to this level. Like I said I was just curious and have no plans to be an instructor, but DiveCon on the other hand is different (free trips and some teaching along side an instructor), my LDS requires we complete their expert course, wich entails about 25+ specialties and a substantial amount of diving (always good), which will take over a year to complete before joining the DiveCon class, which I think takes over a year to complete. It could take longer for us because we're in the desert like you, but don't dive any lakes (for credit), so it's SoCal/International or bust.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I think you're doing the right thing by planning ahead ... here's my suggestions.

First, get out a dive as often as you possibly can. Find a variety of dive buddies with different levels of training and experience. That will help provide some clues as to how much there is to learn and what different approaches there are to diving.

Work toward Dive Con, and plan to stay at that level for a while. Consider it an "apprenticeship" ... forget minimum number of dives, and stay at that level until you have mastered the fundamental skills to the point where you could demonstrate them to a stranger comfortably and reliably. That's not as simple as it sounds.

Get involved with organizing and leading dives ... especially for moderate-sized groups of people.

Once you achieve Dive Con, make an effort to assist with classes as much as your schedule allows ... OW, AOW, and Rescue classes. If possible, make friends with instructors who teach for other agencies and ask if you can assist them from time to time. Different agencies teach essentially the same things, but with different approaches. It's a great way to pick up "teaching tricks" that will serve you well when you become an instructor.

Don't make becoming an instructor the final goal ... good instructors continue to learn and take classes, even after they start teaching.

One thing you should be aware of is that it's fairly expensive to become an instructor ... what with training, equipment, and insurance. And it ain't cheap to maintain yourself at that level either. Don't go into it expecting it to support you financially ... those who actually make money at it are more the exception than the rule. Do it because you love teaching and you love diving.

Best of luck to you ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[spartanws6]

Shark... that was just the kind of info I was looking for concerning the SSI in's and out's. thanks for the help!

Grateful.... thanks for guidance as well. Obviously an experienced diver as well as instructor, I will definately take your recommendations.

Thanks again all! If anyone has more inputs feel free to post!

 

[Lead_carrier]

Shark answered the SSI paper version of divecon and instructor requirements. As to the length of time to get them. That will vary from shop to shop. If you have the time, get with your LDS and see if you can hang around with the instructors and help them with their classes. We all need go-fers around. You'll get to see a lot of the situations you'll be encounting, helping someone with a problem and even get the extra pool time to keep your skills going strong.

One other thing to think of is doing your divecon and instructor courses, does the LDS of choice require an apprentice ship with their shop and if so, how long. I've seen shops that require apprentice ships of 4 months of weekends or the selling of 5 dive packages, whickever came first. Good luck and have fun with it.