Shadz, you may need to think about alternative diving proffessions instead other than instructor. For example, if you like photography you could get a camera and housing and start working on building a portfolio so you could get a job doing that at resorts. I know that, at least in New England, nobody makes anything close to a living as an instructor. In fact, the amounts instructors are paid around here sometimes dont even fully cover the cost of their car gas, breathing gas, equipment maintenance, etc. They just do it because they love teaching.
I did some research and it seems like the salaries for instructors vary quite a bit, but average out to be 35-40,000 a year. I definitely don't plan on instructing in the northern areas like New England (I like warmth!). But is my research way off or bloated?
Eventually I'd like to start my own business as a diver with a shop/boat where I can take people out diving at vacation spots, and teach a couple days a week. Is it simply not possible to make a living doing this? I don't want my fiancee to carry our financial burden by herself.
Just because you put your $$$ in (PADI or otherwise) and took a class and have a care saying your are a diving professional doesn't make you a professional at anything.
Put yourself in the fins of a diver who just enrolled in a scuba class to find out his instructor just learned to dive him/her self. The only way you become a good instructor is through experience and over time and diving in a variety of conditions with a variety of people.
Instructors dont make much $$$ anyway and shops dont usually hire to often anyway.
take an open water class, then take advanced open water, rescue diver, and then go take DIR fundies so you learn some other skills not taught in most beginner courses. then see where you want to go.
Thanks, this is helpful. What are DIR fundies though?