how many volunteer hours to complete your dive con or assist instr "internship"

[kensuf]

Mine was between 6 and 8 weeks, jeesh that was 20 years ago now. It involved assisting with two OW pool sessions a week and several weekends. It can be done quicker, or slower, it depends on the instructor teaching it, their expectations, and the candidate going through it.

 

[Scared Silly]

I worked an OW and AOW class (classroom, pool, and checkout dives). Done.

 

[rick00001967]

i'm def getting the sense my situation is a rare one. i wish i had been given the option to pay for the training instead of "interning". i would have certainly been further ahead. thx for the contributions everyone.

 

[Lead_carrier]

i'm def getting the sense my situation is a rare one. i wish i had been given the option to pay for the training instead of "interning". i would have certainly been further ahead. thx for the contributions everyone.

We have a couple of shops here that require you to help with 3 or 4 OW classes then work every weekend at the shop as an "intern" for a year or so. Unless you show that you have mastered the art of salesmanship and able to sell 4 sets of the most expensive dive gear carried. If you do not complete these task then your paperwork gets conviently lost.

Talk to the owner or instructor as see what their expectations are. They may just be stringing you along waiting for you to ask questions. You could always go to SSI and ask them what their expectations are, but don't expect them to step in and help you very much. They love to rely on the shop mentors..

 

[flots am]

i thought i would ask around here to get a sense of how many hours people typically work for free while doing an "internship" type training program to become an ssi dive control specialist or perhaps a padi assistant instructor.

To get the card only takes as long as it takes you to complete the listed requirements.

This could be 3 months, 6 months or a year depending on class length and cycles, but it's not like being PhD candidate in college, where it lasts until they figure you'll just leave.

The "work for free" thing generally lasts forever, or until you're tired of free diving in exchange for helping.

If you want your card, just tell them you want your card.

flots.

 

[rick00001967]

Unless you show that you have mastered the art of salesmanship and able to sell 4 sets of the most expensive dive gear carried. If you do not complete these task then your paperwork gets conviently lost.

thats does sound like an ssi shop.

 

[flots am]

If you do not complete these task then your paperwork gets conviently lost.

Good point.

Make sure you don't let this drag on too long, or stuff starts to expire; for example, you need first-air and CPR. If you wait too long, you'll need it again.

I believe there are time limits on some of the other requirements also.

 

[kmurray719]

Good point.

Make sure you don't let this drag on too long, or stuff starts to expire; for example, you need first-air and CPR. If you wait too long, you'll need it again.

I believe there are time limits on some of the other requirements also.

SSI standards say the requirements must be completed within one year from starting the course.

The more I read about some of the BS people go through with the shops they deal with the more grateful I am to have ended up at the shop I did.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

I am a DiveCon Instructor, now retired. But when I was teaching DiveCons, I preferred that they observe & assist in two full OW diver classes; classroom, pool and OW. But if that wasn't possible, then the equivalent of one full OW class. (ie. One class or 1/2 of one class and 1/2 of a second.) This wasn't just "free labor" for me. I considered it an integral part of the DiveCon class. I needed to see how the DiveCons would behave in a real class. I preferred 2 classes, as I said, to get their student-face-time up. It made better DiveCons and later better instructors.

My personal experience: It took me about 3 months to complete my DiveCon training and get my card. It was during the summer when lots of classes were being taught. I volunteered to work every class that I could and had a great time. It took about 3 more months to complete my ITC and evaluation and get my first instructor card.

 

[rick00001967]

Good point.

Make sure you don't let this drag on too long, or stuff starts to expire; for example, you need first-air and CPR. If you wait too long, you'll need it again.

I believe there are time limits on some of the other requirements also.

you are right as usual flots. my shop submitted my paper work and now SSI says i need another medical. i have read the 2014 standards........

"General Dive Professional Prerequisites and Active
Status Requirements: SSI Dive Professionals and
Instructors must fullfill the following prerequisites for
all Dive Professional Programs:

Provide a current medical exam for scuba diving
not older than 1 year and signed by a licensed
medical practitioner when enrolling in any
training program as a candidate
OR
Maintain a current medical exam for scuba diving
not older than 2 years and signed by a licensed
medical practitioner"

so i read this that i need a medical less than 12mths old to "start" the pro level course. it says nothing about it needing to be less than 12 mths old to "complete" the course.
example.....if i start a course with a medical from 11 months ago, would i have to complete the course in the next month ?? that would be ridiculous !!
also not sure why it says "or" between the two options.i think it may be a misprint and needs to say "and". i am assuming that maybe an SSI pro needs to have a medical at least every 2 years ??

---------- Post added September 17th, 2014 at 08:13 PM ----------

SSI standards say the requirements must be completed within one year from starting the course.

can you pls give me the section of the 2014 standards where it says that ?? i would love to read the section. i have not found anything that states that. thx