Please read story and answer questions!!!

[jtthompson4]

So I in all my travels, I have come to the art of scuba. I HAVE QUESTIONS!!.

I in early 2008 moved to Kentucky and started in an open water course and stopped shortly after because my wife got pregnant. So a few years went by, I was in the military for a time, got out and worked in a factory making decent money. My parents moved to Florida in the summer of 2012. My father called me late 1 evening and invited me to move down so I could take on becoming a PROFESSIONAL DIVER!! So I moved down in early March, with my wife and 3 children now. And I started diving. I have since worked up through 6 specialties and now a PADI Divemaster. Maybe I should have done my research, but I have since come to realize that there really ain't much money to be made, even as an instructor and it seems to be that the money is going to cert agencies and shops, resorts etc etc..... I have spent nearly 10,000 dollars in training and equipment and love diving. But this was to be a career move. So someone be honest with me..... Who the world is making the money? How do I make the money? Because hearing that DMs make tips and a free boat ride doesn't cut it with me. What's the since in being a PROFESSIONAL at something if I don't make any money. Now don't get me wrong, diving is in and of itself wonderful and I love working with people, but I don't feel I am a professional at anything if I can't support my own family. So maybe a wrong move on my part, maybe I should have looked into it more, but please someone give me an honest and good no crappy answers. I would really love an answer from specifically shop owners and such, because they, I HOPE can give me a good answer as to why compensation is so low for a professional in diving.


Thank you

 

[spoolin01]

Consider the market dynamics for rec diving employment, which is what it seems you're focused on. Labor supply, conditions for entry, value added? What do you propose to do that anyone would want to pay you for, how specialized is what you offer, and what is it worth to the buyer?

That's not to say there aren't opportunities for the right person with a lot of entrepreneurial effort, that could lead to a good and satisfying profession. No doubt there are some corporate pathways as well in that corner (cert agencies, shops, resorts, equipment manufacturers). What about a commercial specialty?

 

[DandyDon]

No, I don't think there is much money to be made simply as an Instructor. There are exceptions, but they didn't happen with the ultimate C-card. One way or the other, being a profitable Instructor is often part of being a profitable business - generally as a shop owner, selling equipment to students before they buy it elsewhere, selling trips that you escort personally and are not be confused with vacations, and the like. I see way too many new divers fumbling around underwater with cameras, but the shop owners want the camera sale before the customer buys elsewhere - and you are up against many online sales sites for all their equipment needs and desires.

And don't forget the essentials: Location, location, location.

 

[Rhone Man]

I know a few people who have become millionaires through the dive industry, and they all did it the same way.

They bought a dive shop. They scraped along for a long time, scratching a living in the dive industry. Then a couple of decades later they discovered that the real estate under their dive shop had rapidly appreciated, and they sold it for a huge capital gain.

Otherwise the only way to make a small fortune in diving is to start with a large fortune.

 

[Phil_C]

Sadly I think that the other posts above are right - unless the instructing is part of an overall business with other aspects then you will not make much money out of being a DM or instructor. I also think that unless you are fortunate the integrated (instructing/dive shop/school) route is also hard work for average returns. There are always exceptions, but for every success many more have fallen beside the roadside unnoticed.

From what I understand generally the only people consistently making a regular wage from diving are commercial divers but that is a whole different ball game and your recreational training is not what you require to get into that field.

So to put it bluntly - the dive industry is NOT a good plan unless you have something else to support you or are very highly qualified and can offer more/better than every other dive operation you are trying to compete with. - Sorry for the negative view - Phil.

 

[tajkd]

Most people go into the dive business for love not money. Even dive shops can be risky business. Dive travel booking can be lucrative but only with extreme effort. You can make money if you invent something (like goPro) but that's a stretch as well. Good luck.

 

[AfterDark]

The people I know that own dive shops, are making a living by having several other business ventures besides their dive shop. Most do it for the love of diving and reduced costs of dive travel at least that's what they tell me.

 

[jtthompson4]

So to everyone, I understand the people "going in it for the love of it", and I do love it. with that being said, you gotta live. Do I want to get rich? No. Just live, but seems I was wrong. I just wish there was someone in the beginning that could have been honest. Thanks yall.

 

[Sevenrider860]

I just wish there was someone in the beginning that could have been honest. Thanks yall.

I am curious... Who told you you could support a wife and three kids being a PADI Dive Instructor?

 

[nolatom]

You'd be more versatile hence valuable (I think) if you used your boat time to sit for your Captain's license. In some outfits the license helps separate you from the dive-only crowd. But then you may not be teaching at the same time, too many hours. But it may get you in the door someplace? Couldn't hurt, might help?