I wish there were more instructors who knew how to teach. too many of them teach because they love diving...they are great at diving, but sadly, they suck at teaching 
MaxDepth
Diamond Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 8,757
- 43
- 91
What area of the country are you in, if I may ask?
I'm a PADI Dive Master in North Carolina, the home of DAN!
I've thought about going on to Instructor but I really haven't found the time or inclination to carry it further. I guess if I wanted to most of time diving, then I would.
Congrats to you!
:beer:
I'm a PADI Dive Master in North Carolina, the home of DAN!
I've thought about going on to Instructor but I really haven't found the time or inclination to carry it further. I guess if I wanted to most of time diving, then I would.
Congrats to you!
:beer:
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 66,278
- 14,698
- 146
A couple of years ago, as a Christmas/thank you gift for the fellow who helped start the local reef club and has remained as its webmaster, the club chipped in and bought him and his wife scuba lessons to certification. They LOVED it and have gone nuts with it...they've taken several other classes/certifications including rescue diver and a couple others. I think mixed gasses is the next one they're planning on.
We created a MONSTER!
We created a MONSTER!
I am in Orlando. I am doing my Certs via NAUI. I figure by teaching at least a few classes a year I can help pay for this expensive hobby!
911paramedic
Diamond Member
- Jan 7, 2002
- 9,448
- 1
- 76
HardcoreRobot
Lifer
- Nov 7, 2000
- 16,403
- 3
- 81
only OW with SDI, also some courses in nitrox,night/nav, ~30 dives. cant wait to do more.... im open to taking more instruction, but don't think i would even want to be an instructor.
KB
Diamond Member
- Nov 8, 1999
- 5,406
- 389
- 126
My Dive Master friends all say the same thing: There is only one way to become a millionaire while teaching diving, you have to start with a million dollars and quit while you're ahead.
I am just a lowly PADI Open Water Diver. Congrats on the master diver.
I am just a lowly PADI Open Water Diver. Congrats on the master diver.
I know I'm pretty late to the thread, but I became an instructor a couple of months ago and am teaching full time now down in Key Largo. Let me know if you've got any questions about it. Like many have said, it's hard to make a living, but it can be done.
Not looking to make a living with it. Its more of a way for me to make a few extra bucks doing something I love. I will have to look you up the next time I come to Key Largo to dive.
I'd like to do some scuba diving this summer (barrier reef Australia), no experience at all (at least I'm a good swimmer and have snorkeling experience). Is there some kind of class I can take for about a week to get some basic experience down? I only have time during the last 2 weeks of may just to complicate things further
edit: googling turns up that I can do an open water dive course over a few days, and I have a PADI center nearby. I guess I'll have to see what they have.
edit: googling turns up that I can do an open water dive course over a few days, and I have a PADI center nearby. I guess I'll have to see what they have.
Originally posted by: everman
I'd like to do some scuba diving this summer (barrier reef Australia), no experience at all (at least I'm a good swimmer and have snorkeling experience). Is there some kind of class I can take for about a week to get some basic experience down? I only have time during the last 2 weeks of may just to complicate things further
edit: googling turns up that I can do an open water dive course over a few days, and I have a PADI center nearby. I guess I'll have to see what they have.
Yea I know you can take weekend classes, but as far as I know you have to have a certification to dive anywhere on a chartered boat.
Also pay attention in class, this sport can be dangerous if you take it lightly.
dug777
Lifer
- Oct 13, 2004
- 24,778
- 4
- 0
I got my OW with PADI, then never went any further, probably done 70 or so dives since I did it back in 2001.
My old man is a NAUI DM, although he'd rather he wasn't every time we dive with groups on holiday, he always gets asked to lend a hand reigning in the absolute chaos that occurs when you try & take a group of people who've maybe done 10 dives, most of them in very sheltered environment, out in real world conditions
EDIT: & While he did DM'ing for a friend of ours who ran a dive shop & dive boats in the Solomons, it's not something he'd ever do again
My old man is a NAUI DM, although he'd rather he wasn't every time we dive with groups on holiday, he always gets asked to lend a hand reigning in the absolute chaos that occurs when you try & take a group of people who've maybe done 10 dives, most of them in very sheltered environment, out in real world conditions
EDIT: & While he did DM'ing for a friend of ours who ran a dive shop & dive boats in the Solomons, it's not something he'd ever do again
From what I see, many of these charters will provide a few training dives of sorts, but I'd rather learn what I can beforehand. I'd do something like several full day classes if they're available when I can do them.
I have heard on some charters outside the US doing a two hour class and doing shallow reef dives ie less than 30 feet. I honestly recommend a full class for a qualified director of your choice (SSI, PADI NAUI) because you can kill yourself at 30 feet or 100 feet.
I would do the full open water program/class. You will learn a WHOLE lot more and be much more comfortable in the water. Just do the class and get certified.
Well I'll look into it, the worst that happens is I go snorkeling which is still great.
Trying to avoid getting killed, that would be inconvenient.
Trying to avoid getting killed, that would be inconvenient.
SCUBA is safe, but it requires people to follow the rules. The full class will make you comfortable with extreme situations. It's well worth it!
Originally posted by: dug777
You will learn a lot, but you're doing better than most if you are comfortable in the water after you OW.
Here you have to get your OW before dive outfits will take you out, and the chaos I see is scary
Funny, I've never been to a shop that will even give you a tank without a card. My first real open water ocean dive was just me and the girl shore diving in 50 feet of Cayman Islands water. Walk up get/rent BCs for the week and grab our weights/tanks from the shop and off we went. Yes, we made a dive plan and followed it.
What we learned in the full class was invaluable, she lost her weight belt at depth but we were able to recover easily because of communication and corrective actions learned/practiced in the full course. Highly recommended.
Agree on the caos, before i buddy up with anybody - how many dives you been on? How comfortable are you? Generally stay away from the newbs and I'm just barely above newb level with only like 80 dives.
As a side note one of my goals in life is to take a live onboard 2 week dive trip to the barrier reef.
OP - a good dive master is a great thing to have/be.
dug777
Lifer
- Oct 13, 2004
- 24,778
- 4
- 0
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: dug777
You will learn a lot, but you're doing better than most if you are comfortable in the water after you OW.
Here you have to get your OW before dive outfits will take you out, and the chaos I see is scary
Funny, I've never been to a shop that will even give you a tank without a card. My first real open water ocean dive was just me and the girl shore diving in 50 feet of Cayman Islands water. Walk up get/rent BCs for the week and grab our weights/tanks from the shop and off we went. Yes, we made a dive plan and followed it.
What we learned in the full class was invaluable, she lost her weight belt at depth but we were able to recover easily because of communication and corrective actions learned/practiced in the full course. Highly recommended.
Agree on the caos, before i buddy up with anybody - how many dives you been on? How comfortable are you? Generally stay away from the newbs and I'm just barely above newb level with only like 80 dives.
As a side note one of my goals in life is to take a live onboard 2 week dive trip to the barrier reef.
OP - a good dive master is a great thing to have/be.
I do apologise if I suggested that dive shops will give you a fill without a cert here. They won't
I've done all my diving buddied up with my old man, or a family friend (instructor & commercial diver) who runs a dive shop in Bremer Bay (leafy sea dragons!), but I've been snorkelling since about 6, so I've always been very comfortable & relaxed. If in doubt, take a moment to make sure what you are about to do is safe & sensible, and the most appropriate solution to whatever you are facing
If you want teh best live aboard experience, full stop, then I recommend the Bilikiki or the Spirit in the Solomon Islands. Diving that is just out of this world, the best wrecks, bar none, and the most unspoilt coral, bar none
Screw coral, I want to hang out with some whitetips.
Sharks don't really bother me, it's when they show feeding behavior that I go - GTFO!
Sharks don't really bother me, it's when they show feeding behavior that I go - GTFO!
dug777
Lifer
- Oct 13, 2004
- 24,778
- 4
- 0
Originally posted by: spidey07
Screw coral, I want to hang out with some whitetips.
Sharks don't really bother me, it's when they show feeding behavior that I go - GTFO!
Amazing shark diving too, hammerheads, black & whitetips, and those nasty pricks, bronze whalers
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