When do you call it quits?

[canuck_downunder05]

So it's coming to that time of year when I need to renew my Instructors membership and I've been having a hard time justifying whether or not I should renew.

So here is my situation. I have lived in 3 different countries working as an instructor. Thailand was an incredible experience, but because I only spoke english, the course load was often limited and I was really only able to freelance as most shops were fully staffed. While I still managed to find work and keep busy, it didn't seem to be enough. And on top I just got fed up with how corrupt everything was in Phuket. I was required to have a work permit which cost me well over a grand to set up and get rolling. There were no standards there 3 years ago when I was there that determined a set price. All the paperwork was in thai, my accountant in the end basically just screwed me over with her laziness to help me sell my company by providing me with documents. So I left just tired of the crap of paying into a system where nothing was regulated. I might be paying way more or way less than an instructor working next to me.

I enjoyed California, although that was a stable, summer gig.

This year I moved to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos Islands. The diving was unbelievable and the shop that I worked in was probably the busiest on the island. We had so many customers. I was able to teach all PADI courses everyday, see wonderful things and built up some real experience. But the shop in which I worked in was the most unprofessional environment I had ever worked in. A large majority of the staff members were from the Caribbean and held much different work standards from that of which I had experienced working in Thailand with other Americans, Europeans, South Africans and Asians. It was custom to show up late, or not at all. Speak loud and rudely in front of guests. Mistreat staff members and supervisors. I mean to even ask that staff carried their own weight by cleaning up after a class or pool session seemed too much to ask for. And this was in an environment of a well known international resort that I expected to provide far better service and be regulated by stronger management.

I ended up leaving as many of my concerns that I mentioned were never dealt with by my supervisors or HR. Like many of the other good instructors they had before, they would rather see good instructors leave a potentially great dive shop, while preserving instructors that just made the place unbearable to work in and just provided satisfactory service.


Is this becoming a common thing in this industry? I mean we don't get paid the greatest, but does this justify poor service for guests but also in house? Where is the incentive to stay in the game? I'm just disappointed because I love diving and teaching, however with the investment to move somewhere, leaving friends and family, I'm getting to the point where it just doesn't seem like it's worth it to move abroad to find work unless you can really land a good gig...but then again I thought I would have that in Provo.

I'm curious to know people's opinions. Is it more or less I just had a bad experience working with a new culture or has it become more difficult to work in this industry because standards are not high enough or even just similar around the world...

So to renew or not to renew and what would be the consequences if I don't renew now, but change my mind next year or the year after?

[oly5050user]

not planning on teaching, just go on non teaching status.

[scoobydrew]

I have worked in a few outfits and I think it all varies so much from centre to centre. It depends on the country, the business owners, type of diving, why are staff there i.e. passion for diving or passion for drinking and getting laid etc etc etc.

Could you ever find a dream centre to work for, great diving, pay you can live one, professionalism accross the board, well stocked with decent equipment and for that place to have an opening? I think with luck on your side you'd still have to wade through quite a lot of detritus first.

I would not be so sure about hanging up your slates just yet though, I know its tough at times but there are decent jobs out there. You mentioned Thailand, thats a place where the balance is not in your favour, too many other people willing to do it for free.

Have you thought about cruise ships or liveaboards yet? they have to have high standards and customer service and if you have racked up some experience then you should be able to have a shot at it. pay is better, cost of living minimal and can make visa nonesence easier too

[canuck_downunder05]

Well I did end up renewing so I still do have options. I'm just hesitant about picking up my bags and blindly going somewhere. Although Turks and Caicos was the first place I have gone where I had never been to the country or even dived there and that was probably apart of it.

I do have a dive trip planned for Belize this year and possibly over to SEA towards the end of the year. Maybe I will check out some places while I'm there and see what the vibe is like. And also look into liveaboards. I have worked on the before, and really did enjoy the diving, the guests and the time spend at sea.