Why don't more DM's become Instructors?

[Superlyte27]

It's about 450/yr to be an active DM. Insurance is $300 to $350/year and agency dues are about 100-150/yr. So, about 450-500 bucks per year, whether you are working or not.

DM's get paid tips and if they are lucky, bout 35 bucks per boat trip. In the Key's this is barely enough to pay for the cost of being a DM. Being an instructor doesn't pay much better in the Keys.

 

[g1138]

I want to be an instructor one day but right now I can't justify the costs, I also haven't participated in many different training programs so I think I'm lacking in experience in the regards to teaching methods. I don't think I'd have the time to juggle instructing, working, volunteering for biology field experience, and searching for a career at the same time.
And personally I like being in the middle ground between instructor and student.

I pursued the DM rating because I knew out of college I'd want to take a gap year to get both work and field experience. I knew being a DM would help me in that. I volunteer my time as a DM because I like helping out with classes. It's a lot more fun than standing at the bow of the boat for a quarter of the day, even if you don't get paid.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I have been a divemaster for 12 years. I started instructor training 11 years ago, but then came down with a serious illness and had to quit the program. I got well and had only a few months interruption to my life, but have been content to be a DM with a bonus credential (back when I got it it was separate) to lead discover scuba and discover scuba diving classes. I love teaching, and on open water excursions teach a lot with a team of instructors, especially advanced students, but also remediating and "cheerleading" open water students having issues. I also love role playing for rescue scenarios and my instructor friend Kevin and I work hard to present realistic scenarios. (See my blog on being too good at acting) I also get assigned snorkeling classes (good money) and an occasional scuba review (even better money). I make a lot more money per hour as a lawyer than as a divemaster, and my teaching and assisting at the shop is primarily to get discounts on the mass quantities of equipment I buy. When on dive excursions, I have acted as a DM in exchange for free diving, especially when a dive outfit had a couple who wanted a private DM or photo taker, and other times to accommodate a French speaking group (I have enough French and hand signals to speak scuba in that language.) To do that you need to maintain insurance as both an assistant in teaching and as a dive leader (these are two different insurance ratings with some providers) The fact is a lot of people with instructor credentials are glad to get DM work at a resort or dive destination. Sometimes not having the instructor credential has been inconvenient for me, but I have many instructor friends I can call on for family and friends who need an off the calendar class. I think I would finish up the instructor rating if I was 10 years younger, but at 58, I think DivemasterDennis is a good enough handle, even though I still spend a lot of time loading an unloading heavy tanks. I still love the title, the t-shirt, and the diving!
DivemasterDennis

 

[TSandM]

I'm a DM because my husband wanted me to help him with his classes. I don't work with any other instructors. I discovered I enjoy the pool work with the students, but DMing open water in Puget Sound is something I find very stressful. I wouldn't mind being an instructor, but I would want to structure my classes differently from the way they are done. I don't see myself going on any further at this ponit.

 

[rhwestfall]

I'd take this a step further backwards - having seen what being a DM did to my buddy (I was his therapy on Sundays after diving on Saturdays with classes/groups), I wanted nothing to do with it..... and in the end, nor did he.... There were even times where we pulled anchor and left sites because of what we observed going on, and were borderline feeling obligated to get involved (which would have been quite adversarial with the shops/agencies conducting operations).....

At a class level (college class), I actually assisted my instructor with skill demonstrations, equipment service and maintenance, etc. He actually wanted to have me get an AI certification, but life got in the way. It was fun to work in the classes.... Don't know if it would have continued to be fun. Maybe after retirement - should I ever get there....

 

[k ellis]

I love being a dive master for the simple fact I can watch people grow and develop in to great divers. In my main line of work I see death, mayhem, fights and families ripped apart. I get tired of seeing children ripped from their parents (Who are not always bad people sometimes family members and neighbores report false information). So at the end of the day I dont want to come home and think about the 18 year old who I witnessed all shot up and die as he looked at me.

I want to go and see people who are scared to death to try something then in the course of an open water class become people who are excited and full of encouragement for the accomplishment they just achieved.

I love watching people come to you so excited that they are one step closer to seeing those beautiful reefs we as experienced divers enjoy so much. I also love to sit on the boat and listen to so many of the veteran divers sit and make fun of the rookie diver and think that they are scuba Gods. It just reminds me of how thinkful I am that there are those new divers who are still willing to listen to good advice.

Divemastering is like an escape from reality for me and especially since in the winter time I can get in to a swimming pool and excercise. I get to use the shops gear so I dont have to put wear and tear on my good gear. I love to also love my shop who has went so far out of their way to make my diving a reality. I by right should not be a diver but my shop took time out of their busy schedule to assist me in meeting the diving standards for all of my classes and even taught me how to swim. They allowed me the use of their pool free of charge to practice swimming in. So when you ask me why I do it for free I can only to say that I may not make any money working for my shop but what they have given me is priceless. I proudly work at my shop knowing its because of them that I am a diver. So here I am giving my time for free doing the very same thing. Making diving a reality for those who other wise would not meet standard or simply opt to not take the course.

 

[TMHeimer]

I was certified last May. Did it both for the education and possibility of a little work. Our shop has about a dozen instructors and the same number of DMs, so I am on the bottom of the totem pole. And it's the only (PADI) shop (and only "big" shop) for many, MANY miles. I hope to get some work at some point. I have no thoughts at all of getting Instructor. I was a Band teacher for my career, so had enough years of being the big cheese in charge. But I would like to get back a bit into education, and diving would be the way. Considering my age, I will want to get some work fairly soon, or will probably become one of those who puts it in mothballs and just dives.

 

[raftingtigger]

I earned my DM to support my Venture Crew's plan to have a week-long summer scuba trip. They were all enthusiastic, and we had 11 youth sign up for OW classes. Well by the time classes started we were down to 6, then one dropped for medical reasons, 2 had trouble with the OW part (they are still "in-progress", and 3 certified (1 adult, my son, another youth). Needless to say the summer scuba trip never happened. My reason to be a DM evaporated.

I do like working with youth, and really enjoy doing Discover Scuba (I have the add on) or helping with classes in the pool (ocean too if I get some pleasure dives also - it's a 3-1/2 hour drive each way). If I can get enough Discover and Scuba Review to cover my dues and insurance ($200/year), or end up taking scouts on dive outings then I'll keep it current.

There was never a thought of continuing on to Instructor, and that hasn't changed.

 

[aceupmysleeve777]

I've been a working DM since 2009. My wife is an instructor.There's no way I can justify putting more $ toward instructor without the economy improving first. Nowadays it's hard to just recover your dues.

 

[davetowz]

Quite a few views expressed so far, from the I figured out I don't want to teach to the why should I go in debt to maintain. Maybe the agencies should look at what they charge to stay current VS the income they get from a new diver being brought in by an instructor...crew packs.. cards... con ed sales..social groups..etc.