At 40 I was fortunate enough to be able to "retire" and work when and where I wanted to. I'm too hyper to sit for long, which means I spent some time searching for a way to combine vocation with avocation. During this same time I did the work to become a scuba instructor, using the time to talk to lots of folks about work and investing in the scuba industry. A friend who is a course director and major figure at one of the certifying agencies summed up my conclusion nicely. "Want to make a small fortune in the dive industry?" he asked. "Sure," I responded. "Then take a BIG fortune and buy a dive shop, a dive boat, or all the equipment to set up your own dive instruction business. Soon enough it'll be a SMALL fortune!" He was right: I basically lose money or break even (at best) teaching diving - I regard it as a hobby, but not something that I'd rely upon to support a family.
Can you make any real money in diving? Probably not here in California or anywhere with cold water...all the dive shop and dive boat owners I know are barely getting by. The warm water climates seem to have a better supply of customers, although I've not seen a dive operation that really seemed to realize big profits on a consistent basis. If you have the skills and the steel testicals to work as a commercial diver, there's probably the potential to make some real $$. Being at about the same stage of life as you, though, I'm betting that family concerns will negate this option.
Good luck
Can you make any real money in diving? Probably not here in California or anywhere with cold water...all the dive shop and dive boat owners I know are barely getting by. The warm water climates seem to have a better supply of customers, although I've not seen a dive operation that really seemed to realize big profits on a consistent basis. If you have the skills and the steel testicals to work as a commercial diver, there's probably the potential to make some real $$. Being at about the same stage of life as you, though, I'm betting that family concerns will negate this option.
Good luck