Discussion on becoming a scuba instructor

Rich Synowiec   Sep 23, 2023

Hey there, one of the five people I write things for! The most awesome scuba enthusiasts in the world,

In an effort to get my message across with all of the bottled up enthusiasm for scuba that I have, I am trying out something new. I turned on my microphone and camera and shot a conversation with myself in the old style of my car podcasts. Essentially you are reading a transcript coming to you straight from my car, rolling towards White Star Quarry for some winterization duties. Time is a big factor in everything I do so I took the conversation, had an AI bot, transcribe it and then had an AI Bot turn it into this blog that helped me be less random. As we officially closed the scuba concession, it's time to put things away and reflect on some thoughts. I thought I'd share these ramblings with you – a sneak peek into what I'll be tossing up on Patreon soon. (the whole unedited rant is available on patreon now if you are interested)

Lately, I've been ramping up my social media game, trying to stay relevant in a world where I sometimes wonder if us older guys with dad bods and minimal talk about being Gen Xers still matter. But today, I want to dive into a topic close to my heart, something I've touched on in the podcast before – the world of becoming a scuba instructor.

I have been a member of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (that's PADI for you acronym enthusiasts) for a good chunk of my life. In the world of social media, whenever anyone posts about becoming an instructor, the response is wild. There's this misconception that you can't make decent money doing it, and I'm here to call that out as complete BS. Sure, you might not be buying a yacht anytime soon, but I've seen plenty of peers do darn well for themselves.

Let's get real. Not everyone can be an NBA player if they're five foot ten, just like not everyone will be a scuba millionaire. But here's the kicker – you don't need to be extraordinary; you can be downright mediocre and still pull in a good living as a scuba instructor.

I get it; everyone's out there calling themselves an entrepreneur or a social media influencer. But for every influencer bombarding you with posts, there's a small podcast like mine with a handful of listeners. Yet, if just one person gets the message that you can build a life around scuba diving, it's worth it.

Now, diving has its challenges. It's like trying to sell cars in an area where everyone already owns one. But there's a solution – find your niche. For me, it's dry suits. Nobody's into dry suits up here, and that's my ticket to standing out. In my world when everyone puts their gear away for the winter we just switch gear out to the cold weather stuff. Because of it, I have a following.

Here's the deal. If you're willing to give up your weekends and adjust your lifestyle a bit – maybe skip the Rolex and settle for a good watch – dive shops will throw money at you. I've had to turn people away this year because I didn't have enough instructors. The demand is there; you just need to be willing to dive in (pun intended).

The secret sauce is finding an instructor development center that aligns with your vibe. Don't chase the warm, tropical dream if you're living in colder regions. Trust me; there's plenty of diving within a day's drive from you. You don't need to produce a gazillion open water divers; aim to create divers you want to dive with.

And speaking of diving, there's a ton of it to be done in your local area. People aren't just looking for a dive; they want a social experience. Diving is the catalyst, but the hangout afterward is where the magic happens.

So, to all you aspiring scuba instructors, here's the scoop – it's not about where you want to go; it's about where you are. Dive into your local scene, and the rest will follow. And for those who doubt you can make a living out of it, tell them to take a plunge into the reality of passionate divers who love what they do. Cheers to making a living doing what you love!