CosbySweater
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At least you got paid. I assisted on about 3-4 OW courses each season and figured the first one's pay was close to covering the membership & insurance. I only assisted though, and the insurance for that was only $142 CAD as opposed to another $100 for the whole coverage. How many courses/charters do you do and still only break even?I DM for a University based training center and get paid by the University. With insurance and pro fees, I just about break even. To be honest, that's enough for me. Being a DM has opened up a whole new world of diving opportunities and gets me in the water much more frequently so I'm ok with making literally nothing (it's also a lot of fun).
That being said, I wouldn't agree to work for discounted gear. Dive pros incur real expenses that need to be offset somehow. I'd look for a different shop that can afford to write their instructors a pay check.
Is it common practice for instructors to work solely for discounts? A scuba shop I know of does not pay instructors a wage but gives them a discount on equipment. I am not sure how I feel about this as a new instructor. Is this a common practice in the industry?
At least you got paid. I assisted on about 3-4 OW courses each season and figured the first one's pay was close to covering the membership & insurance. I only assisted though, and the insurance for that was only $142 CAD as opposed to another $100 for the whole coverage. How many courses/charters do you do and still only break even?
I can't imagine my career teaching school Band and just breaking even. Then again you need a degree as opposed to a DM cert.
Without knowing what jurisdiction you're talking about, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's probably illegal. Not saying it's not true-- I've seen restaurants do it where it's definitely illegal. Question from a student perspective: how can I avoid patronizing shops that do stuff like this to their DMs and instructors? Or should I just tip generously and make sure to hand it directly to that person?I know of a dive shop that even keeps the tips meant for his staff.
That's a start. I've been told that he usually found out about those as well. This was about ten years ago. He also demanded that they do all their scuba travel through him. He's a real peach.Or should I just tip generously and make sure to hand it directly to that person?