Make Good Money as a Scuba Instructor

[Duca]

Whaddayasay Cap... are you ready yet to answer any of my questions? I see that others are coming out of the woodwork to request some of the proof in your pudding.
:nono:
From your last "lesson," I gleaned that I'm supposed to commit crimes to make money in scuba ("steel" (nice speeling, BTW) client lists and tamper with databases). That's not a competitor, that's a crook. I guess you think olympic atheletes should try to trip thier opponents during competition?
Does your advanced course suggest entangling other instructors teaching students in your area?


(still) Can't wait to see any of the following:

Pictures, testimonials, links to your "other" website, etc, etc.

 

[ScubaBurt]

Well, I sure am glad I fell into this thread. Captain Dave sounds like a true X theory Instructor/Manager. For those who may not recognize this theory of management, it basically says: “Do as I say, don’t do as I do”. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I depend on my dive masters/crew, travel agents, and dive instructors for the many services they provide. I want them to make me feel that I am important to them/their business and they would like to have me back as a return customer. Sometimes it is not totally the product making the profit for a business or getting that return business, it usually has a lot to do with the positive attitude, service to the customer, professionalism and natural karma. Lacking any of these attributes may allow that competitor to get some or all of your business. The worst advertisement you can receive is from the customer you pissed off with your arrogant and condescending attitude. After reading the replies from the members of the board, I think Captain Dave’s value, as a respected member and dive operation, have dropped considerably. If that happens with board members who only know him by what he writes, just think about the divers that have met him in person. Good Luck Captain Dave, I think you will need it.
Burt

 

[captdave]

:mean:
The Challenge

Sorry I was absent today, as I do have to make a living. I also wanted for all of the rankers to get there post in so I could give you all a good bashing before going ahead. I think I will do the necessary bashing at the end of this message with a verbal walk the plank but I want you to read what I have to say first before we get to the fun bashing stuff.

The Challenge is simple.
I will take any board member who is a scuba instructor and personally mentor and guide them through their first high-end scuba seminar. Then you will see how easy this is and that it does work. I want instructors who have an open mind and who think the idea is a good one not someone out to try and prove it wrong. I want instructors who want to make it happen for them. All I ask is that the instructors who wish to partake in this adventure be from different states as we do not want to compete with one another and further that any of the scuba equipment that is purchased is purchased and supplied by my company loyally. I also want them to agree to post honest progress reports to the scuba board about their activities without giving certain proprietary information that I will reveal to them only as well as agree to sign a contract agreeing not to divulge this proprietary information.

The following are board members that I would just throw off my boat rather than letting them off at the next harbor you all receive the Walk the Plank award for being just plain dumb:

Guillermo had a nice post regarding the actual business aspects of what I have been talking about. It reminded me of those guys who try to tell you how to program you VCR but nobody knows what they are talking about. I think they call them technical writers. You know the ones you have to translate into real English to figure out what they said. I already translated it for you but if you want the big vocabulary just reread his post. Plus he really missed the boat in regards to the marketing of this plan. I never once state that direct mail was mailing out sales literature. I guess he can’t read either. He further stated that I lost the Audience. Well if this is so why have over 2000 hits to the thread happened. SO Guillermo good try but you get thrown off the boat.

Natashia the travel agent claims she didn’t learn anything and was upset at the bashing I gave travel agents as She is one of them and probably does a good job. Well folks this just is not going to work with this plan. If you remember an earlier post where I told you I booked a resort that was surrounded by a fuel depot. Well it was my lesson about travel agents. I relied on one to book this for me and you all see what I got. You have to go to the destination yourself and scout out your exotic dive spot and figure all of the logistics. If you listen to a travel agent you will end up in the middle of a fuel depot. They do a great job getting you to grandmas’ house during thanksgiving. But I assure you when your booking an air plane for 10-15 people you can get a better price than any agent can get and I will show you how and you can get a resort price a whole lot better. Remember they are not scuba people. The reason most of them become travel agents is they love to travel and this way they can get there FAM Trips. This is a neat way of going traveling for almost free. They could care less about your career they only want there little commission and a chance to travel cheap or free. Stay away from them. Natashia gets thrown off the boat as well with a Walk the plank award.

Joewr and Syrus have nothing better to ad than I spelled a word wrong. Come on guys you can do better than this. You both get the Walk the plank award. Get off my boat.

TANSTAAFL=
Their Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.




END OF THREAD

 

[joewr]

CD(a good name for someone who goes round and round and gets nowhere),

I was using "irony" defined by Webster as, inter alia:

... a pretense ... to make other's false conceptions conspicuous...

But, it probably went over your head...

And since you do not want the desparately needed spelling, grammar, or finance lessions, I will walk the plank. Do I get to do it with my dive gear on? Please!

Joewr...sad and dejected...but, at least, I have Syruss for company...Wait! Is this one of CD's tricks? Hmmmmmmmmm

 

[Duca]

I resent the fact that I would not be instantly thrown off your boat.

:whoa:

 

[rstone]

I have been reading this thread before dave moved it here and while I believe there is alot what instructors call critical attributes missing in his plan, it is interesting none the least, and if i had the money id consider some of his ideas.

I find it hard to believe everyone who is a instructor doesnt care about how much they get paid.. Maybe when your new its the greatest profession on earth with all the glamor and excitement of being underwater and getting paid to do it, but then you realize you need money just like everyone else.. and dont tell me you dont ALL work because you just LOVE your jobs sooooo much. I know for a fact if you were not getting paid you would of quit a long time ago. Just because we are instructors doesnt mean we shouldnt get paid what we deserve. We are extremelly under paid for the amount of work we do which can be as low as $1.25 per student per hour.. which isnt crap... I could make more money at mc donalds, however there are some jobs i refuse to do. To say someone is in it for the money IS DAMN STRAIGHT, are you going to pay my bills? should i certify you for free because i love scuba?? geez people you make me sick. THIS IS A JOB AND A PROFESSION for some of US and we want to get paid as much as we can! dont we all?

As for attitudes.. i dont care for some of daves.. but maybe all you should read these post again.. most of you have a bad attitude to!. It makes me sick to read it, you attack dave for posting his ideas, then you insult them, then daves response is to defend himself then you attack him for responding.. geez.. grow up people!. As they say.. if you dont have anything nice to say.. dont say it at all!!!.

On another note.. and im directing this to Natashia... yes instructors are required to carry one million dollars in insurance, and legal fees are included free. Those PADI waivers are as good as gold as long as you followed standards. V&B employs about 28 lawyers ready to defend PADI at all cost. There has been many cases, with most of them being thrown out due to the paperwork the person signed or filled out.. You are right if they are signed under stress they wont hold much weight for the dive operation or boat or instructor. However if you screwed up... your on your own.. good luck.. because you will need it. You know natashia you may be a excellent travel agent if thats what you do, but the fact of the matter is most travel agents dont know how to do there job. They constantly call the airlines to book seats when they have a computer in front of them, and ask the airlines to book seats that dont exist, because they think airline reservation agents can book seats that dont exist i guess, then they expect a airline reservation agent to do all the work and yet still expect to get there commission. If you wondering how i know this... lets just say i can travel for 10% of a fare on standby.

enough said.. your all making me sick...

 

[syruss32]

I love the CD reference! Classic Joewr for sure!

CaptDave why would you throw me off the boat? Just because I think you are full of bologna? And the reality you could have just eaten lunch and all this BS you claim is your ideas is jst a little gas coming up in the form of text...

I can honestly say if I get thrown off with Guillermo, Natasha and joewr, we'll make a go of it and have a good dive!

So now back to hand any proof?

OH thats right you will accept pupils (aka people willing to do nothing but blindly sell stuff sold from your shop) and teach them the ways of the Force!

What you neglected to mention and I am sure this has slipped your mind is that these pupils will need to buy gear that is "100% CD Certified and Sold" in order to even learn from you.

Hot damn where to do I sign up for this $1500 free course.

Question if my tank is brushed aluminum do I have to buy one that is from your shop and has a picture of you embossed on it too?

 

[ScubaBaby]

that I am not an Instructor and live in the UK. If i fitted the requirements I'd be happy to join CD to try this out. But....I'm only training to be a DM and I live in the UK.....typical!!

Anyone else willing to give it a go who is more accessible to CD with the requirements ? (Only people who are strong swimmers without dive gear need apply.....CD seems a tad enthusastic about throwing people over board!!!)

 

[Natasha]

Dave,
Don't worry, I know I do a good job. I couldn't be in my own business for 9 years with 60% of my business, repeat business, if I wasn't doing a good job. However I do know travel agents that don't know anything about selling Dive Travel.
I am a certified Dive Travel Specialist according to DEMA and ICTA. I have gone through their classes and been to the "exotic dive spots" in order to help people.
As for the insurance that was brought up. please re read what I wrote. I said insurance to sell Travel, not insurance to certify divers. Two different things, sorry.
Dave was talking about selling travel to his new 'want to be certified divers'. He needs insurance to sell travel.
:sunny:

 

[syruss32]

Natasha his reponse is still above. It is down toward the bottom of his last long winded post.