Becoming a open water diving instructor or commercial diver

[Daniel101]

Pay can be pretty shoddy for diving instructors. In the UK, you can make a living/pay the rent. Abroad, the costs and/or package (accommodation/food etc) will allow you to live at that location - but you wouldn't be able to save very much and are unlikely to be able to pay any mortgages etc back at home.
Many resorts will pay a low basic, followed by commission on the courses you teach and any equipment sales that you make. The commission structure means that you have a vested in interest in getting your students to progress in their continuing education (con-ed)...so there is a strong element of selling involved.

The more qualifications that you hold, the more you can offer - and the more you will earn. Being OWSI is the bare minimum. Learning to teach specialty courses and getting your MSDT will open up many more options for you...and add some variety so that you are less likely to get bored running an endless series of open water courses.

Some locations have other advantages. For instance, in the Caribbean you might earn big tips from US tourists. That is less likely in South East Asia.

It is also very valuable to pick up some extra dive-related qualifications....

Firstly, get some experience running and maintaining compressors. If possible, get a gas blending qualification so that you can pump nitrox (and trimix).

Secondly, get some experience maintaining dive equipment - if possible, get qualified as a service technician for one or more major brands (Scubapro, Cressi, Mares).

Thirdly, learn to speak some other 'core' European languages; i.e. German, Dutch, Swedish etc

DO NOT underestimate how much it will cost to gain all of these qualifications. It costs A LOT. If you are going to do an instructor course - do it with PADI. They tend to offer the most jobs and it is the only agency that won't accept cross-overs. So, once you have trained PADI you can simply do a cheap(ish), short cross-over to NAUI, SSI etc. You can't do it the other way around.

Learning and gaining experience in England is a good way to do it. You can hold down a job and complete the DM & IDC in your spare time. After that, move up to MSDT by working in your free-time. Many people work freelance, used by several dive clubs when they are busy in the summer.

Essentially, you are trading in a wealthy living for the satisfaction of working in some of the best destinations in the world....and that's a happy healthy living.

[Sharky1973]

A dive master internship is a great idea; you will get real hands on experience and be able to work alongside different instructors which will provide a real understanding of the job. The minimum it will take is 2 weeks, but a couple of months would be better. You will gain invaluable experience of assisting with different courses, and be able to fun dive as much as you like for free! Koh Tao in the gulf of Thailand is incredible, and i would have to say that Buddha View Resort is definitely the best in my view.
If you take a look at Dive Careers Koh Tao | PADI Scuba Diving and Diving Instructor courses it will list all the prices and what they offer. All the instructors there are incredibly friendly and helpful and the course director Mark Soworka is fantastic, and experienced beyond belief!! You would definitely be in safe hands and I promise that you will have an amazing time. They also run IDC courses every month.

I do agree that another language is useful when looking for employment, but as for earnings everything is relevant, so although wages compared to the UK are low, you have to realize that the cost of living is also a lot lower and saving is possible.

[Mermaid]

Originally Posted by Daniel101

Essentially, you are trading in a wealthy living for the satisfaction of working in some of the best destinations in the world....and that's a happy healthy living.

Yeah,i agree.....i think its all about best destinations...

[DiveDevil1966]

I am teaching Instructor courses all year round and all over the world. During the last few years the IDC candidates have changed quite a bit. We have more and more young dive masters going through the IDC long before they are 20 years old. It is also very intersting to see what the various requirments are to become a diving instructor and more importantly to succeed as an instructor in our industry. To be succesful as an instructor these days, it is a must to speak more than one language, and have some form of business understanding and/or qualifications.
It is absolutely correct that our job is all about lifestyle and destinations. However if you do not speak various languages then all of a sudden you may realise that not that many destinations are open to you for getting a job.
There is fantastic language software on the marekt which is specifically designed for the diving industry. Perfect to get the head around the technical diving terms of a language.
Let me know if you wish to learn a bit more about this kind of stuff.

Have fun and Aufwiedersehen, Aurevoir, Bye Bye, Arrivederci, Asta luego and calispera