1

And the poor things are too late,

for the cybernet café bubble.

So now back to the college loan scam.

2

Are you saying that you have experience as an instructor Billy or that you wish to become an instructor somewhere?

From what I have seen personally, there was never a 'bubble' to burst other than the belief that there was a high demand to begin with. When I lived on the Greek island of Rhodes (and have the most first hand knowledge of the diving industry there) wannabe instructors were a dime a dozen as far back as 1993. Supply of qualifed instructors always outstripped demand.

Some 'jobs' always seem attractive to people. Whether it is scuba instructor, windsurfing instructor, ski instructor, etc. etc. they sound great if you say them fast enough. Then you run into the reality of all the others who think the same thing.

3

Diving instructors can and do work, obviously. But it is one of those industries than is not what you know but who you know.

A lot of dive instructors I have met, speak two or more languages, have some other skills, such as being able to drive the boat (professionally).

Also you have to consider that a lot of local divers are now getting qualified. Why pay a westerner with all the associated visa hassels, when its easier to use a local?

4

Good point Scuba_Albany.

This is an interesting thread. It sounds like one of those romantic jobs that a lot of people want. I agree you probably won't find that job online or anything like that. But I bet if you put in the leg work and start talking to companies that might hire western SCUBA guides, you would have better luck.

Or how about some of the international resorts around the world. Club Med, Sandals, or Four Seasons? They would be a good foot in the door to hospitality. For example, I know the people who worked on cruise ships selling Shore excursion tours. They were always networking with local tour companies including SCUBA companies. That obviously is a good way to get in touch with the people making the decisions.

5

It's a simple question of numbers mike. Go to any resort area where diving is done or windsurfing etc. at the beginning of their season and you will find dozens of wannabes looking for that 1 job. Often they aren't even fully qualified and expect to get their qualifications while on the job. Even if they do have instructor level qualifications, the numbers are still against them.

That isn't to say no one should try for it but it's one of those things where you either have to know someone as Scuba suggests or you have to really stand out from the crowd somehow. ie. hold the world free dive record and I would guess it wouldn't be hard to get hired. They'd use you to advertise their business.

Getting back to the OP's question though I simply don't think there was a bubble to burst in the first place. It was always a job with more applicants than positions available. That the OP is asking the question is perhaps indicative of something about the OP. I'm still waiting to hear if he has spent the last decade that he refers to, as an instructor.

6

I am also not sure that there was a bubble other than the one they tell people about before they sell them the $2,000 IDC class.

7

At least dive instructors received a recognized qualification before being overtaken by yoga "instructors" and "qualified" life coaches!. Oddly it proved to be a qualification that was too easy to get and is now 10-a-penny. The qualification is taken for granted so now you need connections, personality, languages etc etc to put you in front...doesn't mean you can't do it of course....

8

Yup, I will be agreeing with #5 that this is an oversaturated market to get involved in. At least until I hear otherwise from someone who is doing it.

9

Every time I have gone diving in Papua New Guinea (quite a bit, amaaaaaaazing diving), there's always discussions about needs for other instructors. Lifestyles can be difficult, with travel in the area crazy pricey, security, etc. so there is quite a bit of turnover. HOWEVER, if you want some of the best diving ever and are willing to take the jump to PNG, look into it. :)

10

Most instructors I have met in Asia have tended to be uneducated westerners who can't make it in their home country but feel they can be super cool elsewhere. Reality is they are screwed after they are no longer wanted.

11

To put peoples mind at rest, it was not myself I was talking about but my son. He is 15 and looking to the future for himself.
Maybe something else more lucrative like politics or banking might be better! Yes its an over subscribed profession indeed. One can dream though.

12

LOL, a 15 year old planning for the future. That's a novel thought.

There is nothing wrong with dreaming Billythefish. It can either just be an unrealizable dream or it can be a dream that proper planning can turn into reality.

I happen to know a guy from Edinburgh who your son could perhaps decide to emulate. He got a degree in Marine Bioligy and at the same time spent his summers getting Scuba Instructor certification and his Offshore skipper sailing certifications. During those same summers he spent as much time as he could crewing on sail boats and diving wherever he could in order to gain experience and hours in his 'Log Books'.

After graduating, he then left home and found crew positions in various places around the world. Since he had real experience and real qualifications he did not find that too difficult. After several years as crew he eventually managed to get a job as a skipper on a sailing yacht. Over the next few years he skippered several different yachts for their owners.

When I met him it was as the guest of the owner of the yacht he was skippering. I spent 2 weeks sailing around Corsica with him and his wife. He met his wife who was a cordon bleu chef when she was the chef on one of the yachts he skippered. From then on they worked as a 2 person team.

After about 10 years of this kind of work they had saved enough to buy a flat in Edinburgh which they rented out through an agency to vacationers and visiting business people. They would then stay in it themselves in between jobs or on their 'holiday' breaks from their job.

I have kept in touch with them (I'm originally from Scotland myself) and know that at around age 40, after about 15 years 'at sea' they quit the yachting and settled in Edinburgh. He teaches both sailing and diving there and she keeps house and raises their son who was part of the reason they quit the yacht industry.

So yes, it is entirely possible to turn a love of the sea into a career of some worth. As a couple they were earning around $100k US per year in their last few years.

However, I see one problem with all this Billy. First, I've yet to meet a 15 year old with an attention span that goes beyond 45 minutes. Second, YOU get to pay for all that is required to get him to the position he needs to be in when he leaves University and heads out looking for that first job.