Divers Academy is a friggin joke. Sadly all the almost graduates call me looking for work, I tell them how it is, that Tamara especially sells a good pitch. I knew they were full of it but then again, I was in the Army and know when people are blowing smoke so I didnt buy into the whole hype of it. Honestly, all schools will hype it up to be this awesome industry, but the fact is it is a ROUGH way to make a living. No guaranteed pay, working job to job like any contractor and when the work dries up then what? out of a class of 20 I graduated with only 4 including me are still diving. All truth be told I am most likely taking my experiences running a dive company and looking into the corporate sector. Its fun at first, but believe me, when you are off Montauk NY, after a 6 hour drive from the Jersey Shore, loading a boat, trying to suit up after taking headers over the wheelhouse in a 30 ft boat thats WAY too small to work from, in 22 degree air and 38 degree water all to recover a clam dredge at 90 feet knowing that after im done I need to dress down in 8 ft swells, get to the dock, load back up, drive 6 hours home get some sleep then show up in Atlantic City by noon it gets VERY VERY old. Im not trying to crush your dreams but if you are the kind of person who is seeking adventure, steady pay, exotic locations look elsewhere. If you want steady pay , 401 k etc etc then look elsewhere because it is VERY rare that you will have the opportunity to stay with one company. Its like any contracting job. Heres a perspective. I am a seasoned diver and had a company call who shall remain nameless about a year long contract that wanted me to be a part of. GREAT RIGHT?!.. well, great if your willing to burn steel in the winter for 15 dollars an hour, thats right.. FIFTEEN dollars an hour. If i put in my hat pay and dry suit pay that equaled to another 10 dollars a day. So picture trying to support a family living 5 hours away in a hotel room for a year that YOU have to pay for since they dont offer housing allowance or Per Diem. Basically you would be breaking even if not losing money. Think long and hard about it. If you want you can even give me a shout, my mobile is 732.664.2979. Im not trying to be an ass but just dont want to see another person give up a good paying career to follow a dream that they think is one giant sky cake.
---------- Post added February 19th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ----------
Also keep in mind that ALOT of the jobs im running or diving for I am the youngest guy at 29. There is alot of old salts in the dive world that are pretty disgruntled so just imagine working with people like that non stop. Customers arent the best either. " What do you mean it will take you 12 hours to get 25 miles offshore to me?! and you want HOW MUCH?!?!"
---------- Post added February 19th, 2013 at 12:13 PM ----------
As far as schools go, there is one in FL, one in LA and TX. All have their ups and downs but Divers Academy is just full of downs.