Becoming a Scuba Diving Instructor
If you enjoy diving and are passionate about it, you can get certified to become a scuba diving instructor and make it a career.
Read on to learn more about being a scuba diving instructor and what it takes to become one.
What does a scuba diving instructor do?
As a scuba diving instructor, you will teach students how to safely dive underwater in a relaxed and supportive learning environment. You will make sure that they understand the skills, equipment, and techniques needed for scuba diving according to their level of expertise and the course they are enrolled in.
In addition to knowledge and skills development, you will also be responsible for your students’ safety and progress monitoring, as you lead dives in both pool and open water environments.
Roles and responsibilities of a scuba diving instructor
Below is a summary of your roles and responsibilities as a scuba diving instructor:
- Teaching diving skills through classroom knowledge development and practical training sessions;
- Planning and leading open water dives;
- Ensuring diving safety by conducting pre-dive briefings, monitoring student dives, and managing underwater incidents;
- Equipment maintenance, including student training on proper use and care of scuba gear and making repairs on equipment as needed;
- Evaluate students, provide feedback for improvement, and certify students;
- Develop environmental awareness to students to protect underwater habitats; and
- Promote professional development by attending refresher courses and staying updated with the latest diving techniques and technology, as well as safety protocols.
Essential skills needed to become an effective scuba diving instructor
To be an effective scuba diving instructor, you need to possess the following skills:
- Technical diving knowledge and expertise;
- Teaching, communication, and interpersonal skills;
- Adaptability and cultural awareness;
- Leadership qualities;
- Safety awareness and risk management;
- Decision-making abilities;
- Sound physical health and stamina; and
- Environmental awareness and conservation efforts.
What are the benefits of becoming a scuba diving instructor?
If diving is your passion, becoming an instructor will bring you fulfillment. You will also get to explore beautiful places around the world and expand your network of friends, fellow dive enthusiasts and professionals, environmentalists, and travelers.
When you become a scuba instructor, you can work full-time or part-time, freelance, or as part of dive centers and dive resorts. You can even pursue setting up your diving shop in the future.
How to become a PADI scuba diving instructor
In your journey to becoming a diving instructor, you must first be a Divemaster, then take the Instructor Development (IDC) course.
PADI Divemaster
Taking the PADI Divemaster course is the first step to becoming a diving professional. This course will train you to lead underwater tours, assist in scuba classes, and improve your scuba diving skills.
To take this course, you need to be at least 18 years old with the following certifications:
- Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification)
- Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification)
- Completion of Emergency First Response® Primary and Secondary Care training (CPR and First Aid training) in the past 24 months
- PADI Rescue Diver certification (or qualifying certification)
- Minimum 40 logged dives
- Medical clearance to dive (within 12 months)
If you are younger than 18 but at least 15 years old, you may enroll in the PADI Junior Divemaster program as long as hold PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver certifications.
PADI IDC
If you are already a certified Divemaster and have completed at least 60 logged dives, you may enroll in the PADI IDC course.
The PADI IDC is split into two parts. The first part is the Assitant Instructor (AI) course, where you will be trained to assist other instructors in classroom and water training sessions. Once completed, you can then take the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) course, where you will learn to instruct PADI courses to students independently.
Learn more about PADI IDC here.
Where to take the instructor course
You may take your course in any diving school you want considering your budget and the following factors:
- Certification agency: Choose your desired diving agency. Do you want to be a certified instructor for PADI, SSI, or another agency?
- Location: Diving instructor certifications are recognized worldwide, so you don’t need to train where you want to pursue your career. Just be sure that your certification is accepted in your preferred place of work. It would also help to get certified in a location that matches the environment where you want to work to help you gain practical experience.
- Dive center reputation: Be sure to read reviews about different dive centers and choose the best training quality and the best feedback from students.
- Job opportunities: Finally, choose a dive center where dive spots are prominent and with many job opportunities. Some centers also offer post-certification opportunities where they help graduates with job placement.
Scuba diving instructor Philippines: career outlook
Working as a scuba dive instructor in the Philippines is promising. With various dive activities and multiple dive spots spread all over the country, job opportunities are numerous. The demand for diving and tourism growth in the country will also help ensure a steady demand for diving instructors.
When it comes to salary, the amount can vary widely according to the region in the Philippines or the resort/dive spot you will be working on. It can also vary depending on the season. You will receive higher earnings and more tips during peak tourist season and lower during non-peak season. Generally, your earnings may be lower in the Philippines than in Western countries. However, the cost of living is also low, allowing you to live a comfortable life.
Takeaway
Advancing your interest in diving and making it a career is an exciting and fulfilling endeavor. As long as you have completed the required certifications, in sound physical health, and are dedicated to your passion, you can share your knowledge and skills with other dive enthusiasts.
To learn more about the scuba diver instructor course, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
