Dive instructor, be careful with your wishes.

Preamble. "Men are wanted for dangerous travel. Salary reduced, penetrating cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success".

 The indomitable Irish explorer Ernest Henry Shackleton placed this announcement recruiting men for one of his expeditions. The announcement intuits what the candidate will be exposed to if he embarks on that adventure! Although this announcement does not reflect the life that awaits an instructor, I subscribe as a notice to navigators: It will not be easy.

This article starts from my personal experience. This does not reflect the entire group of diving professionals, but it is sure to be quite close. That is to say, almost all of us have experienced something similar. In my particular case I will not enter how or because I changed my life, I left everything and became a diving instructor to live in this profession. If this is the case, although it sounds strange to some, it is a profession and I will explain in detail later why.

I radically change my way of life and others can do it too, even the one reading this. It does not require any special power, characteristics, training, physical strength or a lot of money (well, something if) simply attitude, confidence in yourself and a bit of luck.

Some elements are basic: Listen to your body (you do not feel happy, motivated by your state or situation, etc.). Choose your new goal, plan it well and be very persistent. The mind will play tricks on you all the time, especially after hearing a lot of well-intentioned people, or not, who will tell you at all times that the decision to be a diving instructor and live off that is silly.

Where do I begin? Becoming a Dive Instructor requires some dedication, curiosity, physical and mental effort and money. In the diving industry there are many certifying agencies, some with more success than others but basically very similar in terms of training content. And why does it happen? Because there is an international organization that requires minimum standards for each level of diving, which certification agencies must comply with in their training programs. Here the first doubts begin to arise. Which to choose? Well, it will always be our purpose that will determine our choice. If it is about becoming an instructor and making this our way of life, we must be a little more careful and be well informed. It is important to know which or which are the dominant agencies (it is understood as dominant among the diving centers, in their geographical area), because obviously if we certify ourselves in one of them, it will be easier to find a job, and that is the purpose final.

Where and with whom? Once the election is made, the next steps are where and with whom. Faithful to our intention to make this our new way of life with which we will have to pay the bills from now on, it is a good idea to do it in a place where there is a real possibility of starting work as soon as possible, once the course. There is an important detail that I would like to share. The course itself is quite stressful for some people and if we add, do it in a language that we do not master with ease, is an unnecessary burden that can lead to extra problems as I supposed. The disbursement of an instructor course can range between € 2,000 and € 2,500. Failing one of the parties can result in paying hundreds of Euros in many cases, and having to repeat that part. Do not take it lightly! Inform yourself, investigate, take your time, ask questions, ask for references, visit the centers and ask to speak with the instructor who gives the course, ask, express them, collect the data and draw your conclusions. We are talking about an investment of important money and your future!

Certificate achieved and now what? Well, to work and recover my investment ... Not so fast! A freshman instructor needs at least to acquire the most demanded specialties of the industry. The important thing is to understand that your training has to continue a little more, with the consequent cost that it has.

Languages ​​are, if possible, more important for the market, than having many specialties. These are inescapable and inherent to this industry, which you will surely develop working and living in several countries. For that reason, English is intrinsically compulsory. Stop right here if you are not able to communicate fluently in this language, learn it and continue. German and French will open many doors to better paid positions, Russian and Chinese are also highly valued, but their learning curve is long.

Knocking on doors "Who Dares Win" (Who risks wins). Start repeating the motto of the British SAS as a mantra, this is no place for timid people. The traditional way to find your first job and the most effective for newcomers is to go to each center, introduce yourself, leave your CV and be seen, get a few minutes to chat with the person in charge and act with normality, education, humility and attitude . Do not miss the goal you are looking for works do not forget!

Another way is through the website of your certifier, there is a lot of activity, check it frequently, and social networks are also very active and important. Whichever means you choose, prepare to be rejected dozens of times, most of the time without any explanation, simply disappear. So stand your ground and have some savings to keep you going for months, if I said those ... months!

Goal achieved, I have my first job! Now the action begins and where the idea that it would be to work in a paradisiacal environment with sun, beach, beautiful tanned people, little clothes and I do not know how many more things, gives way to a somewhat different reality. Intense physical work, endless hours, time to eat is a luxury you will not have, rules to follow, seriousness, demands from bosses and clients, labor contracts, non-existent rights and social security. External ear infections and contractures in the back will be your common companions in this dream of work that some certifiers have dared to call "Zero to Hero" (From zero to even hero). Do not forget that funny as it may seem, the level of responsibility is very high, because the lives (if it is so!) Of other people are in our hands, and the consequences of losing concentration at some point making that premise fall in Oblivion can be disastrous for everyone.

So, wages must live up to that responsibility? You will ask, then, no, the salaries are very little or nothing according to the work performed. Some entrepreneurs in the sector will tell you that this profession is a "lifestyle". It's funny because they will repeat it with vehemence every time you ask for salary improvements. It seems that this "lifestyle" is immune to the payment of bills at the end of the month, which curiously, you will still have

Then why choose this? Being frank I would have liked to have more real information about the diving industry before embarking on it and if I had read something similar to this, I would still continue in my work miserable, but better paid, counting the days, cultivating a sadness and withering . There is only one life and I do not say it, choose your path and do what you like, in that way, and if the money is enough to cover your needs without losing your dignity, maybe, and I say just maybe, you will be happy and it will be worth it. Personally I would do it all again, but this is just my opinion...