Need advice on making scuba diving a career after graduating from high school

Blaine7440 · January 5th, 2009, 09:27 PM

I need some serious help... I live in Casa Grande, Arizona and there really isnt anything here to do or get a good degree in, but i have always wanted to do scubda diving and become a diving instructor. I have done tons of researching on it and on how to do things.
I will be graduating High School in 3 months and I am thinking about making a carreer into it. I have looked into Hall's institute in the Florida Keys, and there asking about 9,000 dallors in tuition fee's, But the problem is I dont want to be spending my money down the drain if i wont be making enough. What is the life like to be a scubda diving instructor?

Do you make enough to get by? Or is it pretty easy going?, I have so many questions i want to know about before i make this move lol
So if you can give me some advice that would be great

M.HARDY · January 5th, 2009, 09:40 PM

Hi There...Welcome to the BOARD!!
If you're patient and keep an eye on the Board i'm sure you'll get the low down on your question..there is lots of good people on this site with tonnes of advice..I suggest you listen to them and consider their advice..the people that may give you advice know their stuff
GOOD LUCK

markkelsey · January 5th, 2009, 09:40 PM

Welcome! Follow your heart. Money will find its way. You will be a happier person if you do something you love. And nothing is easy. You get what you work for

Capt. Ron · January 6th, 2009, 02:31 PM

After spending 20 wonderful years diving (and 38 years at work) find a career that you love. It will take some time. Never work for the money, you will just become a prostitute to the job.

As far as making SCUBA diving your career; I've never met a rich dive instructor! My friends, who are SCUBA instructors, have often told the old story of how to make a small fortune in SCUBA diving; start with a large one! Not to knock any of the dive schools, but you can learn/become certified for a lot less than $9,000. Then you could work weekends and vacations in additon to another career.

Best of luck,

Capt. Ron

Thalassamania · January 6th, 2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaine7440

I need some serious help... I live in Casa Grande, Arizona and there really isnt anything here to do or get a good degree in, but i have always wanted to do scubda diving and become a diving instructor. I have done tons of researching on it and on how to do things.
I will be graduating High School in 3 months and I am thinking about making a carreer into it. I have looked into Hall's institute in the Florida Keys, and there asking about 9,000 dallors in tuition fee's, But the problem is I dont want to be spending my money down the drain if i wont be making enough. What is the life like to be a scubda diving instructor?

Do you make enough to get by? Or is it pretty easy going?, I have so many questions i want to know about before i make this move lol
So if you can give me some advice that would be great

The downside is that the average new diving instructor lasts about two years in the industry and makes slightly more than a fast food worker.

The upside is that there are a few, who by dint of skill, or luck, or something else, find a way to carve out a niche and have a great life. If you think that you have what it takes to not only become a really good diver and a really good instructor, but also can find a way to make that work for you in the sense of making your own way in the diving world ... go for it, the odds are against you, but some few will make it.

DiverBizz · January 6th, 2009, 02:56 PM

First of all...why don't you get certified with your local dive shop. See if you really have the bug before investing into the career and then hating it. You are not going to become a Fortune 500 member as a dive instructor but I agree with Thalassamania.

You could travel the world and see once in a lifetime wonderful underwater sites.

floridanewbe · January 19th, 2009, 09:51 PM

welcome aboard

Thalassamania · January 19th, 2009, 10:25 PM

If you really decide that you want to be a Diving Instructor, move down to Key West, get a job waiting tables, learn to dive, once you've established residency, get into the program at the Keys Community College. It's a much better program.

Pre BC · March 7th, 2009, 06:52 PM

Blaine:

There are multiple career tracks possible. Most of the complaints you will hear come from instructors that dead ended as employees of someone else's shop or resort and never assumed management or ownership responsibility. The starting pay of a dive shop employee instructor is $12-15 per hour... Hardly a grand living.... But, you would be young and living in paradise! If you stay the course for enough years to rise through the ranks, you can make potentially double this by the time you become a course director working for someone else.

But, if you are willing to be creative, you can earn substantially more sooner and increase your top end.

There are alternatives to working in a dive shop. First, you can own one. If you are a good businessman you can make a six figure income. If you are a bad one, you can lose your life's savings!

Second, mega yacht dive officers start at $60k per year. You can verify this with any of the major schools for yacht crews. You can find out about the only joint dive instructor/yacht crew program I know of by contacting Genevieve Sparg at (800)776-3483. If you progress from Dive Officer to Captain, the compensation is $1,000 per foot.... Yes, you read that right... Captain a 250 foot yacht and your salary will be +/-$250k per year. Is it hard work? Yes. Can you get there starting as a dive instructor? Absolutely.

Another route to higher compensation is true concierge level one on one training of celebrities and high net worth successful business people. This requires top notch skills, a very professional appearance and a willingness to network and self promote. I don't feel comfortable giving out a phone number without permission, but if you ask around you can verify that there are few guys in South Florida making good livings teaching strictly private lessons and leading private expeditions. There are also a few making six figure incomes working with celebrities and the "Beverly Hills crowd" in Southern California.

Good salaried positions are also available for rock solid professionals who pursue administrative and marketing professions related to diving. I guarantee you that the senior staff's at PADI and DAN aren't working for $15 per hour.

Yet another route to higher income is combining being a dive master or scuba instructor with a related field. I have several friends who are scuba instructors on the weekends and county search and rescue divers during the week. Others are underwater cinematographers or yacht outfitters. In all cases their combined pay is over $80k per year.

Don't be discouraged by those who say it is impossible to make a good living as a dive professional. But, go in with your eyes wide open and acknowledge up front that making your hobby into a good living is going to take creativity and hard work... Characteristics you will need to be successful in any other career!

Let me know what you decide to do and which school you choose...

P

Pre BC · March 7th, 2009, 06:55 PM

P.S. Don't limit yourself to Halls. Visit South Florida for a long weekend and find the school that is the best fit for you. There is no "best school." Scuba Emporium, Pro Dive USA and Ocean Divers are all worth visiting.