How much do you make as a DM / Instructor in the Bay Islands?

[undefined]

My wife and I are planning to come down to Roatan to complete DMT and IDC/IE. We're both curious as to what the average monthly income is for a full time DM or Instructor down there. While I know it is rude to ask someone how much they make, I do not know of a good resource ot determine this information beyond such an informal poll.

Notes:

1. If you do it for fun, this does not count. You must actually be paid.
2. Gross income, including tips (or without, your choice)
3. Full time is whatever you consider it to be.
4. The poll is anonymous.
5. We're not expecting to get rich. If it pays for the beer we drink we're happy.

[UTLgirl]

Resort DM's usually make a set amount per month, plus tips. DM's working with a day op usually make a flat fee per diver they take out, plus tips (although this is subject to the area & operator you choose). Either way, you'll want to look at the operator to see how busy they are. The more people they run, the greater your pay/tip opportunity.

I have no idea what Inst in Roatan make these days, but in Utila, Inst. usually make a % of the course they're teaching, so their pay varies by their inst. skills & the cost of the course they teach. For example, an OWSI who's certified as Nitrox inst or EFRI also, may make a % or 2 higher per course they teach then an OWSI. A Staff Inst? bump it up another % or 2 etc. The more inst. certs you have, the higher your % pay on all courses you teach.

The goal in paying more % per level of certs you have is to encourage all they teach to continually increase their skills & produce well qualified instructors.

[undefined]

UTLgirl,

Thank you for your input. I was aware of some of the differences between resort and day ops, but I appreciate the clarification. Even though I know what some of the day ops pay instructors (% wise), without knowing the number of students that pass through on an average month the figures are meaningless.

As I said, and as I hope is clear given the figures represented in the poll, I do not hold any illusions that working as a diver in the Bay Islands will make someone rich. Honestly, I don't know if it even pays enough to be self supporting. We aren't going for the money - it is just a lingering curiosity that I hope to put to rest.

EDIT: I also think that this will help, at least for archival purposes, in showing people the benefit of tipping. If DM and Instructors make what I am guessing they do, a good tip goes a long way to helping out.

[undefined]

Three votes for over $1K per month as an instructor... I'm starting to think I might have made a mistake in selecting the scale for the poll.

[GoProHonduras]

Most of the Instructors I work with average $700-$1000 in a quiet month (enough to cover living expenses) and between $1500-$2000 in a busy month, I'd guess there's at least 4 months a year where they can earn $1500-$2000, again a lot depends on the individual, how productive they are, how qualified and how good they are.

Warm regards,
Andy