A career as a scuba teacher is a great option for those looking for part-time jobs. As a diving teacher, you can make enough to support your hobbies and travels. Many middle-aged instructors in scuba are former teachers, law enforcement officers, or military veterans. Many of them have a happy retirement and a fulfilled second life. Read on to learn more about how to become a certified scuba instructor.
Qualifications to become a scuba instructor
You must complete a scuba dive instructor course before you can become a scuba diver. The course teaches you the fundamentals of scuba equipment and how to breathe underwater. The course also covers safety tips and their theory. You'll learn about these topics in a manual and through eLearning. A confined water practice will be completed, usually in the pool. Next, you will need to do four open water diving tests. These will test your knowledge and skills up to a maximum depth limit of 18 metres.
Scuba instructors are also called "travelers" as they often travel. They are respected as industry leaders and have certifying agencies supporting them. Instructor training extends beyond teaching people to dive. It also includes the ability to teach others how to care for them. Instructors are also taught basic emergency medical skills and professional sales 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 instructor in scuba diving will earn an average salary of $18,000 to $20,000. However, this can change over time. It isn't a great salary for a professional career but it will cover many expenses such as living in foreign countries. Scuba instructors are more likely to be based abroad than the average person. This means that their take-home salary is much higher than the norm. They may have to move frequently in order to find steady work.
Instructors will teach others how to dive, and lead dive trips. You will find this job very challenging and not boring if you are interested in this career. A positive attitude and good communication skills are essential to attract potential clients. If you have experience in the hospitality industry, you should be able develop good relationships with local business people.
Work environment of a scuba instructor
Being a scuba instructor can be difficult. Divers are often an expert in all things, so they need to have a wide range of skills and be competitive. It is no surprise that the demand of scuba instructors outweighs the supply. Instructors may find themselves balancing the demands of teaching with work-life balance, hauling heavy tanks, and dealing with high-stress environments.
There are many factors that affect the work environment of scuba instructors, depending on where they work. Instructors who work at dive shops may be required to work 40 hours per week in order to teach two classes. This is averaging 60 hours per weekly. A resort-based instructor could work six days a semaine, or seven days during peak tourist times. It is important to keep up to date with new techniques and trends in order to be relevant in the industry.
Scuba Instructor Career Outlook
There are many benefits to diving, and being a scuba instructor is one of those benefits. This job is best for people who enjoy being outdoors in the ocean and do not like to deal with violence. Scuba instructors will reap the benefits of being able to improve their leadership skills and personal growth. Scuba instructors are part of a group and will be surrounded with mentors and like-minded people. You will have to lift heavy objects, train and certify students quickly, and deal with stress.
Scuba instructors may not have the typical job duties but expect to work more that forty hours a week. They might also teach up to 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.