How to Establish a Scuba Diving Career

So you have taken the plunge and become certified in scuba, and now you have gotten hooked. In fact, blowing bubbles is all you want to do. What could be better than going scuba diving? How about making a career out of it? Gear up, shuffle to the back of the boat, and take the biggest giant stride of your life, and read on....

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 
    

   If you haven't gotten certified, you better start there. If so, log some dives. Go to a variety of dive sites. Dive in fresh water and salt. Warm and cold water. In other words, get some experience. No one will feel safe with a dive leader that just got certified a few months ago and has less than 100 dives.

2. 
    

   Once you have logged some dives and become completely comfortable in the water, you have two choices. One is talking to your local dive shop. Typically, there will be someone on staff that can train you to whatever certification level you desire. In order to make a career out of scuba, you will at least want a divemaster certification, even if you don't intend to lead dives and would like to do something such as photography. This is because some of the things you learn on your way to professional levels will greatly benefit you and make you a safer diver.

3. 
    

   Your other option is to find a dive center that has professional dive training courses. These can be found all around the world. This type of course will be a full time class, just like going to college; except you do a ton of diving. This will be a quicker route to getting a professional certification, but it will also be more costly. You will get a lot of experience in a short amount of time, but the training will be well worth it. One place to check out is International Career Institute at Halls (http://www.hallsdiving.com/career2/index1.htm) This is where I became a dive instructor, but there are many others out there.

4. 
    

   Once you get your professional certification, network with those that you have met on your way up the certification ladder; I have had more opportunities presented to me this way than any other. If you strike out this way, there are websites that are specific to scuba professionals. http://www.diversjobs.com/ is one place to start. The career institutes should also provide placement assistance.

Tips & Warnings

• While going through your certification courses, get out and dive for fun!
• Do your due diligence and research all of your options. Be sure the course you chose is instructed by someone that has a lot of experience in the area you are training for.

[rjspindle]

on 3/5/2009 Sound advice for wanna-be fish. Haha. Great job 5*

[WaterSprite]

on 2/23/2009 This is an awesome article! I've always wanted to do this - thanks! 5*