determined

[DandyDon]

I'd like to start out in Hawaii and achieve divemaster to gain employment. Then work towards instructor. I am in Montana which doesn't lend itself to gaining a lot of training or experience. My open water is with naui.I'm definitely interested in wreck diving, and photography. Will probably expand my interests as I gain more experience.

Honolulu is the 5th most expensive place to live in the US. Got a plan for living there until you become an experienced DM? I have to wonder if they make any money really? If you happen to look great in a swimsuit, enough for modeling, seriously - that can help in a tourist industry, but they already have a lot of those actually.

 

[BVickery]

I am like you. I took my OW and felt, in time, I want to go the Pro level (my goal is to be a DM at the most later). And since I am going to be more of a grunt as far as interaction with customers, going to stay a customer for a bit and dive as many ops as I can see. Look and learn and try and figure out what kind of DM I want to be. Look and find things I like and dislike about some DMs. This advice can also be applied if you do want to be an Instructor. Learn what works/you like and dislike.

 

[tedfallat]

Very good point. Thank you

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

During my nearly 5 years as a working Oahu dive instructor, to me it felt like there was less than 1 DM working per dive shop, and most of the DM's working were somehow related to or in a relationship with someone else at the shop.

An instructor has a fair chance of finding dive work on Oahu; unknown, unrelated, male Montana DM's not so much.