When you think of the December holiday season, you probably think of family reunions, catching up with friends, downtime from work, and overindulging in food and drink. Well, that is if you are NOT a scuba diving instructor. In which case you probably think of non-stop teaching and diving, cramped boats at full capacity, and – if you are lucky – lots of tips from happy customers.
That’s because Christmas time is “peak season” in many diving locations around the world including here in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
If you don’t work in the diving industry you might think that being a PADI instructor is one of the easiest jobs in the world. I mean, we are getting paid to scuba dive! But working as a dive instructor can be incredibly hard work. You are responsible for your customers’ safety in a potentially dangerous, unpredictable, environment. You work long hours, yet must be cheerful, energetic, and attentive at all times. Sometimes you get on well with your divers but other days you think that they must be PADI spies sent to test your self-restraint. And you end most days rinsing stinky wetsuits that other people have peed in!
So whilst there are definitely worse jobs out there, we can sometimes lose sight of why we chose to work as a scuba instructor. So this blog post is here to remind you. There are many more, but here are my top three reasons to love being a PADI Instructor.
1. The Active Lifestyle
A while ago, the World Health Organization issued a warning that a sedentary lifestyle could very well be among the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world. As a diving instructor you will be outdoors and active most of the time. Diving itself is physically active, but if it’s also your job you will be likely loading and unloading tanks, lifting and helping others with their gear. Spare a thought for those poor folks sitting behind a desk all day who then have to pay gym membership to do all their exercise after a full day in the office.
2. You’re a Transformer
No, not the Autobots from the movies. As an instructor you transform people’s lives. Take another look at the PADI Professional’s Creed in your Instructor Manual, and reflect on the moments where you have changed a student’s life for the better. Remember the times when you have felt the excitement through the water when your new divers are pointing at all the cool marine life they see on their dives. Or the times when your student has shed happy tears at finally being able to clear their mask after all the effort you put in to help them overcome that obstacle.
3. Amazing Workplaces (and Workmates)
As a PADI dive instructor, I am lucky to have worked in some amazing places on this planet – Honduras, Curaçao, Galapagos, Philippines, Mexico. Travel is a wonderfully enriching experience and working in new places will mean that you meet people from all different walks of life and cultures.
Even if you don’t work as an Instructor in some exotic location, you still meet people from diverse backgrounds, and get to visit some beautiful locations on dive trips.
Plus, it may be a cliché but its absolutely true. You have the ocean as your office! You are getting to explore the underwater world, and be close to nature. Every dive is unique and you never really know what you will see on each dive. As a dive instructor you will be introducing many people to your underwater world and you have the wonderful opportunity to inspire your divers to be a positive influence in protecting our oceans.
But what if you’ve lost your dive instructor mojo? How can you regain the love?
Choosing to take your Instructor Development Course (IDC) to become a PADI Instructor is different to other career choices like wanting to become a doctor or a lawyer. I doubt that anyone develops a pastime of operating on people and then decides to become a surgeon. But if you are a dive instructor then certainly once upon a time scuba diving was a fun hobby or vacation activity for you. You loved diving, that’s why you chose it for a career.
So it can be heart-breaking to feel that you’ve fallen out of love with scuba diving. But don’t worry, the love can be rekindled! Here are a few suggestions:
Dive for fun
It might seem like the last thing you want to do when you have spent the last weeks and months doing nothing except diving. But when you dive to enjoy your surroundings and don’t have any customers to look after, it can remind you of what it was about diving that you fell in love with originally. Diving for fun is kind of like your “date night” with the ocean.
Diversify
Variety is the spice of life, so they say. Do something different, both personally and professionally. For example, take a course in technical diving, or freediving. Being the student again can give you more empathy for your own students who struggle with aspects of their course. Plus you will gain knowledge and skills that will carry over into your “day job” such as situational awareness, dive planning, and relaxation.
You can also teach more flavors of diving, not just the vanilla Open Water, DSD, and Advanced courses. If you like wreck diving, get yourself qualified to teach the Wreck Specialty and promote it. You will enjoy it and your students will feel that passion and have fun too. If you’re passionate about a particular type of diving or location, and a Specialty doesn’t exist in that area, consider creating your own. You can write your own Distinctive Specialty through PADI and can then offer your students something unique while also indulging yourself.
Don’t Quit Diving! – Take a break
Being a dive instructor can be a demanding job, and its OK for you to get tired. Recognise it early and ask for some time away before it gets too much. While there will always be those peak times when its really not possible to take a break, use those busy periods to save up for the low season. Take advantage of your free time to travel, visit some friends or family. That way you will come back feeling refreshed and ready to fall in love again with the best job in the world.
And remember that a change is often as good as a break. One of the best things about being a PADI Instructor is that it is a truly international job with opportunities to work for more than 6,000 dive centers and resorts in over 180 countries and territories. Check out PADI’s Job Board or social media sites, and explore a new workplace.
Give back
There is evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness, and boost your self esteem. Acts of altruism can also encourage others to do the same. So if you can, get involved in a local community project, volunteer in a coral restoration project, or check out PADI AWARE Foundation for ways to get involved and take action wherever you are.
So the next time you’re having a bad day at the office, or missing friends and family at the holidays, don’t despair. There are many reasons why being a PADI dive instructor is one of the best jobs in the world.
What do you think about my 3 reasons to love being a PADI Instructor? What are yours? And did you ever fall out of love? Let us know by leaving us a comment below
The Go Pro Family is PADI Platinum Course Directors Angel Navarro (from Spain) and Jo Armitage (from the UK), and their team of pros. Together, they have personally trained over 900 PADI Instructors, and have issued over 4000 professional-level certifications. Based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, The Go Pro Family offers professional-level scuba training as well as technical, cave diving and freediving.