I dive both PADI and SSI, crossed over from PADI to SSI. Each agency has its drawbacks. To teach under SSI you must be attached to a SSI shop, with PADI I'm a contractor and can teach out of my backyard if I want (and did so to teach my nephew to dive), but PADI does tend to nickle and dime you to death. I part time at two shops, one is a largish chain and the other is a mom and pop. The chain is PADI and pumps through alot of OW students the mom and pop is SSI and sees alot fewer clients but spends more time on each student. I think I produce quality divers under either system, because, the quality of the diver depends on the quality of instruction and I CARE ABOUT MY STUDENTS !! Many of my students have become friends and regular dive buddies. I'm lucky that the larger chain agrees to cover 50% of my insurance cost and has a large unbrella policy that im a part of.
As to supporting your LDS by using the equipment they sell. Both the shops I part time with require me to dive with equipment they sell ( the only exception is my wetsuit which due to my size is custom, Before you think I'm fat, I'm 6'1" 225 played dline at USC and work out every day it ain't fat on these shoulders baby. I dive Atomic ,when I have a choice, the mom and pop sell atomic and I bought mine there, the chain does not sell atomic so I bought a Aqualung Legend as a backup for when I'm diving with the chain. As a small business man I understand the shops desire for me to dive with gear they sell, OW students look to the instructor to determine what they are going to buy and the shops make more money selling gear then selling instruction.
Bottom line instructors should have a backup reg, it is embarrassing and frustrating to get to a dive site and have to cancel the students day because the instructors gear fails. So I carry both regs to every dive along with spare weights, o-rings, hoses and repair gear in case a student has a problem. Like a good scout DM's, instructors, etc... should always be prepared. Yeah it is a hassle to bring that extra tank but the first time a student forgets theirs on a shore dive and you can save the day it'll be worth it.
By the way Attorney's make lousy students and just pollute the ocean , i kinda wish the sharks would do a better job cleaning up their environment.
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The LDS where I HOPE to be certified as a DM soon doesn't pay the PADI yearly fee nor the insurance. But the owner said a DM gets $200 for assisting in an OW class. This isn't much, but it would cover gas and a little bit more, and a couple of classes would more than cover the fees. Plus a discount on gear, service, free air, and sometimes free charters if you assist. Not much money. But enough, if DMing will be something I'll enjoy doing, which I think will be the case. However, I am amazed that anyone would do it for free. I enjoyed my 19 year career teaching Band very much, but I wouldn't have done all that work for FREE....
Paying for gas is crazy. Every shop I've ever worked for or heard of provides free gas to instructors and DM's when they are working. My experience is DM's barely get minimum wage, instructors get the bulk of the pay, I've even gotten tips from Instructors when I'm DMing although it is rare as most of us instructors are cheap tight wad bastards. But if your cute I'll buy the beer !!
