Consider a career as an instructor in scuba diving if you're looking for part-time work. You can earn enough money to travel and enjoy your hobby as a diving instructor. Many middle-aged dive instructors are veterans, former teachers, police officers, and military personnel. Many of them are able to enjoy a comfortable retirement and a fulfilling second lifestyle. Continue reading to find out more about the requirements for becoming a scuba diver instructor.
Qualifications to become an instructor in scuba diving
To become a qualified scuba diving instructor, it is necessary to complete a course in scuba diving. This course will teach you how to use scuba equipment, and how to breathe underwater. You will also learn about the theory and safety of diving. These topics will be taught to you in a guide and through eLearning. You'll also need to do a confined swimming practice, often in a pool. Four open water dives will be required to test your knowledge and skills at 18 meters.
Scuba instructors are also known as "travelers" because they are required to travel often and may not have a steady job, and so they have to rely on freelance jobs. They are considered leaders in the industry and certifying agencies support their instructors. Instructor training extends beyond teaching people to dive. It also includes the ability to teach others how to care for them. Instructors also learn basic sales skills and emergency medicine skills. Scuba instructors have access to a wide range of discounted parts and gear, which allows them to purchase the latest equipment and replacement parts at half-off retail prices.
Salary for a Scuba Instructor
An average annual salary for a Scuba Instructor is $18,000-$20,000. However, it can rise over time. While it's not a high salary for a professional career, it's more than enough to cover the cost of living in many foreign locations. The take-home pay for scuba instructors is usually higher than the national average because they live abroad. They may have to move frequently in order to find steady work.
Instructors will teach others how to dive, and lead dive trips. If you're interested in this career choice, you'll find the job highly demanding and never boring. Good communication skills are important, as well as a positive attitude, to attract potential clients. Scuba instructors who have worked in the hospitality industry, for example, should be able to build good relationships with local business owners.
Instructors who teach scuba diving are required to be able to communicate with their students.
Scuba instructors are not easy jobs. Divers must have diverse skills and work in a highly competitive environment. It is no surprise that the demand of scuba instructors outweighs the supply. Instructors may have to manage the demands of teaching while also managing their personal lives, such as hauling heavy tanks or dealing with high stress environments.
There are many factors that affect the work environment of scuba instructors, depending on where they work. For example, a instructor working at a dive center might teach two classes per week for 40 hours. A typical week is 60 hours. A resort-based scuba instructor might work six days a week or even seven days during peak tourist seasons. You must keep up with the latest trends and techniques in order to be competitive in this industry.
The career outlook for a scuba instructor
Divers have many benefits and a career as an instructor can help you reap many of them. This job is ideal for those who enjoy being out in the ocean, but do not enjoy dealing with people or being around violence. Scuba instructors have the opportunity to grow and become leaders. Scuba instructors work as part of a community and will be surrounded by like-minded people and mentors. The career can present challenges such as heavy lifting, insufficient time to train and certify students, and stress management.
Although they might not have traditional job duties, scuba instructors expect to work more then forty hours a weeks, sometimes teaching two classes. Instructors may work seven days per week in busy periods. Dive resort instructors can expect to work 60 hours per week. Scuba instructors generally work 40 hours a weeks and typically teach two classes per day.