POINT of view WELL TAKEN ESPECIALLY WHeN AN INSTRUCTOR DEPENDS ON A SHOP FOR A POOL OR OTHER. ((OOPS caps),, needed resources.
Whaaaaaaaat?
Yes, pool time is a precious resource, expensive, many pools don't like to deal with scuba classes, and some shops have managed exclusivity agreements. Fortunately, I don't depend on a pool as I have an amazing site on a lake with a gravely bottom. . Allegedly a former shop along the Hood Canal (can't speak for its replacement) used the Hood Canal for confined water. To consider that pool-like conditions is a bit of a stretch.
As far as word of mouth ,,, that situation is just as common as lazy instructors are. When there are good instructors they are often known by selective groups of divers. If a new student is looking for certifying they will get steered to them just as often as getting steered to the bad ones. The difference is who does the referal and what substance the referal was based on.
That's a fair point.
You referenced gratefuldiver and going beyond min standards. Those instructors are seldom if ever a problem. its the ones that again are looking for a fast buck with the minimal effort.
Agreed. It is one reason why I publish (in my link of docs) the syllabi for courses that I like to teach. And why I recommend to students to interview their instructor, figure out what they will learn, and what they want to learn.
Another thing is that if you are in a community where there are several instructors ,, you have to be good to stand out from the others and some one has to know about the best ones available. .... When you are one of only a couple instructors ,,, they are now the only game in town,, then the game rules change and quality suffers. These are often guys that sell courses a little cheaper has no services available to themselves. perhaps works for a fire department where they get free air from, sells gear out of their basement. and use the instructor gig as a way to get a deductable pool or shop at their home.. In my area we have more than a few home instructors that are like that. and in perhaps a 2500 sq mile area we have 2 shops that I know of. Dozens of instructors exist but the normal person has no way of finding them except through referals. Shops dont normally refer instructors that they do not use,,, or get a cut from. Yes local economies drive that also. Then I can drive 100 miles to get to an area where shops and instructors are abundant, competition in high and it is again a coin toss at to get ,, like you said ,, sell them gear get them in and out and say next student.
Fair points.
The best ones I have found are affiliated with clubs and have to look the others in the eye because those students will often join the club the instructor is a member of.. You cant hide your failures in that situation. The membership sets the standard as to what they will or will not dive with. The instructor topic is a age old one. just like no 2 instructors are the same . so it is with the students,,and with that,, the best methods to achieve the greatest learning. the only true measurement is what you end up with.
Yup. That's the direction I'm going when I start up teaching again. Also be active in various social media outlets. Show people what they will learn with actual video from training.
Marketing is so critical. I will never beat the shops on price. Not with a ratio of 1:2, longer courses with flexible schedules. But I can continue to build my reputation and brand. This is a business after all. I can't just teach a great class and expect the students to flock to me.