How To Become A Professional Scuba Diving Instructor
Becoming a professional scuba diving instructor can lead to one of the most rewarding careers in the world. It can involve travel to exotic places, a work schedule that is designed around your life, rather than a life that has to be fitted in around your working hours, and the chance to teach people who are genuinely interested in hearing what you want to say and learning from your experience.
In order to become a qualified scuba diving instructor it is necessary to combine some classroom learning with diving experience. PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, runs a large selection of courses for professionals as well as for those who simply want to learn to dive for their own enjoyment.
The first stage in becoming a professional scuba diving instructor is usually to take a Divemaster level course. It is necessary to be able to dive yourself before you can begin training to teach others. In order to join a PADI Divemaster course, it is necessary to have passed three lesser qualifications to become a qualified Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver. After qualifying as a Divemaster and logging at least 100 dives, it is then possible to find work as a PADI Instructor, although with only limited responsibilities.
In order to become a fully qualified PADI accredited scuba diving instructor it is then necessary to take wither the PADI Instructor Development Course (or PADI IDC ) or to take both the Assistant Instructor Course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor Course. At the end of this training, candidates for full instructor status will need to take and pass the instructor exams.
PADI scuba driving instructors can also train in specialized fields. There are more than 40 different PADI specialist course to choose from, according to your interests and career goals. PADI specialty courses include such options as digital underwater photography and coral reef conservation. As a qualified PADI instructor, it will also be possible to take other continuing education courses in order to keep your skills honed and to advance in your chosen profession.
The PADI system allows everyone to train at their own pace, and ensures that there are many different choices that can be made along the way. Courses can be taken in different locations around the world, and different pathways can be followed in order to reach the same ultimate goal of becoming a fully qualified PADI diving instructor and get a job teaching other people how to dive. Qualified PADI accredited diving instructors can apply for jobs at PADI dive centers and diving resorts, and they will find that their qualification is held in the highest regard by all employers looking for diving instructors.
