Diving - How to Turn Your Passion into a Career

By: Jennifer Dawson – October 30, 2018

Turning Your Passion for Diving Into a Successful Career as a Dive Instructor

The average salary for a dive instructor in Ontario is $89,073.12, but it’s not all about the money. Dive instructors are highly-trained professionals that get the chance to complete hours and hours of underwater training courses in order to later teach students all over the world in various different waters. If you think this sounds like the perfect job for you, or you’re simply tired of the cold Canadian winters, here is how you can make your dream of becoming a diving professional a reality.

Differences Between Various Programs

As a scuba diver, you have a lot of options for great programs that will allow you to become certified. However, in getting professionally certified as an instructor, it will be more important to pay attention to the different methodologies used in a program when delivering the material. When you start considering a career as a divemaster, try to talk to a few instructors from different organizations to get a feel for their methodology. Contact a Course Director with PADI or even an Instructor Trainer at SSI to see if you feel comfortable learning the material, and later teaching it in a similar way to other students.

The Path to Becoming a Dive Professional

Once you have decided on a program, you will need to complete the rescue diver course as it is the prerequisite to enter the divemaster training program. It is important to note that you don’t have to be an advanced open water diver to complete this course. If you have completed navigation dives you can enroll as well. You will also need to be certified in first aid. Once you have completed the rescue course and have 40 dives logged you can enroll in the actual divemaster program. Along with your other achievements, you will need to get a medical exam that ensures you are physically fit enough to dive and you will also have to complete an in-water skills test.

Succeeding in the Divemaster Program

While this course is very challenging, it is also one of the most rewarding things you will likely complete in your life. You will be required to demonstrate a mastery level in 24 skills, which all actually serve to help you refine them as you grow into an instructor. You can expect to do things such as give dive briefings, map a dive site and even act as a co-instructor. Once you become a certified divemaster you can work for six months and then continue learning and cultivating your professional skills by participating in an Instructor Development Course. This will consist of two parts, the Assistant Instructor course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor program. Not only will these allow you to further enhance your skills and knowledge about diving, it will make you more marketable as a professional in the industry.

Other Professional Diving Opportunities

If you love diving but don’t think being an instructor sounds like a good fit for you, you can work at a high-end dive gear shop. As you likely know a lot about the equipment, you will get to work around other divers all day while recommending the best gear for their needs. Or, you can take on a job at a resort as they are often looking for staff that aren’t instructors but are still knowledgeable in the area and can help guests with questions. Whichever path you decide to choose, it is important that you are passionate about it. If you continue to fuel the passion that burns within your heart, you will be able to turn it into a professional career in the diving industry with just a little hard work.