scuba diving instructors

How long would it take to become a certified scuba instructor?

I’m going to become certified shortly and my eventual goal is to make a career out of scuba diving but I was wondering how long it takes to become an instructor? I think you need a certain number of dives or hours or something like that. I’m hoping that once I was certified I could work at a dive shop while I work on becoming an instructor. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for me? Thanks.

As little as 6 months for some of these “vacation/internship” programs to as long as it’s going to take you when starting from an OW. There’s a learning ladder you have to climb, gaining not just knowledge but actual experience. The more time you commit to learning and doing, the faster your climb will be. The following are the levels associated with most training agencies.
1/ Open Water diver
2/ Advanced Open water diver
3/ Start taking specialty courses, like peak buoyancy or wreck etc. You can do some of these right after your Open water cert.
4/ Rescue Diver. After this you may jump to Dive Master or take some time to be a Master Diver (highest rate non pro scuba). At Advanced ( but more likely Rescue) and above you may also tinker in the “black arts” of tech diving. It’s not required as a Scuba Instructor but many will give it a shot.
5/ Dive Master ( now you’re officially a professional diver and can make money helping Instructors or leading dive groups)
6/ Asst. Instructor
7/ Instructor
8/ Various levels of Instructors are what’s left. Everything from a Master Diver Trainer to ( in PADI) Course Director.

In answer to working at a dive shop while going for your Instructor cert. Yes. Some dive shops will take on an Advanced, Rescue or DM as an intern. Obviously if you’re Rescue or Advanced, you won’t be helping teach any class, but will work in the background supporting that class. You may be a “victim” in a class scenario etc. A DM on the other hand will be right in there assisting the instructor and being the gofor (aka boat b|+ch) whilst they learn the ropes. Part of your own class will be actually teaching under supervision of your Instructor. How you intern will depend on the relationship you have with the dive shop. Some will offer you a discounted Instructor training in exchange for your work, others may not and consider it part of your training period. One thing that will enhance your employment prospects after your training, no matter what, will be having a second language under your belt. Not everybody on the planet speaks english and if your goal is to work at a resort, having that second language will be a bonus to a potential employer. If you have any hospitality industry courses, that too will set you above other candidates in a resort type setting or even a liveaboard.

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