Your Scuba Diving Instructor Career & Job - Business of Diving Institute

Review: “An important book every current and would-be dive professional should read.”

“This book should be required reading for anyone thinking about becoming a scuba instructor. In fact, even if you’ve been a scuba instructor for over half a century, like me, you still should read it.

It’s a comprehensive and brutally honest discussion of just about every issue imaginable affecting dive professionals, which makes it unlike any other book out there. And although Darcy’s unabashed honesty certainly won’t endear him to some diver training agencies and some other industry elites, this is exact why the book is such an excellent resource—it tells the truth: To grow, the dive industry needs a completely different business model.

The chapter, “TEACHING FOR SUCCESS” I think is especially masterful. Frankly, I stopped teaching recreational divers and instructors a long time ago, but I still teach course in sustainable tourism and marine environmental education to dive professionals, and portions of this book will become part of my curriculum. Keep ‘em coming, Darcy, we need more like you speaking truth to power.” ~Alex Brylske

Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor

Tired of working “9 to 5” and considering “living the dream” as a scuba diving instructor traveling from one tropical paradise to the next? It’s possible, if you play your cards right. Most instructors don’t because they “wing it”. They dive headfirst before checking the depth of the pool or even if there is water in it!

This book is your companion to success as a dive instructor or divemaster and a valuable reference book for dive store and scuba diving resort owners and managers.

It is focused on providing information, tricks, and advice for scuba divers looking to earn a living in the dive industry. Yet, part-time scuba diving instructors will also find information to make this adventure a better one financially, be much safer, have more fun, and be more fulfilling.

This book is about going beyond being “a” professional to being professional and successful.

It won’t give you an MBA or any other kind of business degree, nor make you a dive instructor! This book is about helping you merge scuba diving, career management, and business management to identify a path leading you to “living the dream” while simultaneously making enough money to live.

It is also about “raising the bar” in the scuba diving industry to put us on a path to growth.

It is best to read this book before starting your scuba diving instructor course, but already certified dive instructors will also find plenty of food for thoughts and ideas for growth post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Have a look at the comprehensive table of contents below on this page!

Get It Now!

Editorial: “The most valuable book you can read.”

“I want to stress must read. I’m serious when I say that this will be one of the most eye opening books about being a dive professional that you’ll ever read. And, it will also be the most valuable book you can read as it pertains to the business side of diving – specifically how to make money and enjoy life by being a dive professional.” ~Tec Clark

Review: “Honest insight into the SCUBA industry’s dysfunctional and outdated business model.”

“The SCUBA industry has many disparate stakeholders, resulting in an incredibly fragmented business. As a consequence, the customer experience is inconsistent. This book provides an honest and compelling insight into the business and sets the foundation for much needed disruption to the model…” ~Lee Byrd

Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor

Table of Content: Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor

A career management book for scuba dive instructors and divemasters looking for a good job or a good living in the dive industry. A reference book for dive store owners and scuba diving resort managers.

Have a look at the comprehensive table of content:

SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS
1. A Backstory That Says It All
2. The Good About Being a Dive Instructor
3. The Bad About Being a Dive Instructor
4. Remuneration Expectations
5. Instructors As Tour Guides
6. Being Professional & Being A Professional
7. The Prerequisites
8. Formula For Success: R=(K+S)*A
9. What Skills Do I Need To Develop?
10. Is it for me? Do I have what it takes?
11. Your Toolbox For Success
  .
DIVING INTO THE DIVE INDUSTRY
1. The 6 Businesses Inside a Dive Center
2. The Size of The Dive Industry
3. The Outdoor Industry
4. The Adventure Travel Industry
5. The Dive Industry Stakeholders
6. The Different Kinds of Dive Centers
7. The Current Dive Industry Business Model
8. Noticeable Dive Industry Trends
9. The Future of The Dive Industry: An Octopus Strategy
10. The Future of The Dive Industry: What It Means For Your Career
  .
UNDERSTANDING & INTERACTING WITH YOUR CUSTOMER-DIVERS
1. Customer Experience & Satisfaction
2. Expectations
3. Socio-Demographic Profiles of Scuba Divers
4. Participation Rates: Core & Casual Divers
5. Diver Retention, Drop Out Rate, and Quality
6. Providing Services to Different Generations
7. Providing Services to Kids
8. Providing Services to Women & The Sex Appeal
  .
LEARNING FOR SUCCESS
1. Your Level of Dive Skills
2. From Zero to Hero: How much?
3. From Zero to Hero: How long?
4. Which Training Agency?
5. Which Dive Center or Instructor?
6. Instructor Courses & Internships
7. Specialized Diving Skills
8. Tech Diving Skills
9. Freediving Skills
10. Snorkeling SkillsTankless Diving Skills
  .
TEACHING FOR SUCCESS
1. Teaching vs. Issuing C-Cards
2. What To Do Once You Have An Instructor Card
3. How To Teach the OW Course Alone
4. Teaching The OW Course vs. Creating Divers
5. About Providing Scuba Try-outs or Discover Scuba Diving (DSDs)
6. Prep Sessions
7. Using Online Learning
8. Gearing Up For Success: The Store Uniform
9. Gearing Up For Success: Your Dive Gear
10. Gearing Up For Success: Their Dive Gear & Rental Gear
11. Computers & Dive Tables
12. The Mask Issue
13. The Snorkel Dilemma
14. Dealing With a Panic Diver or a Bad Experience
15. The Teaching Environment
16. Visualize This!
17. Instructor Trainer: To be or not to be?
  .
YOUR MARKETING SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
1. Dive Industry Brands
2. Your Brand
3. Location, Location, Location
4. Pricing
5. Specialization & Niches
6. A New Client vs. A Repeat Client
7. Competitors, Partners & Communities
  .
YOUR COMMUNICATION & SELLING SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
1. Rule Number One: Always Hold Your Breath
2. The Selling Steps
3. Product Knowledge
4. Dealing With An Unsatisfied Client-Diver
5. The Pre-Skill Briefing Format
6. Positive Reinforcement
7. Scuba Diving Lingo
8. Answer the phone!
9. Preferred Mode of Communication
10. Website & Social Media
11. Facebook Ads
12. Google
  .
YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
1. The Environment
2. The ROI of Your Instructor Skills & Assets
3. Costing of Your Services
4. Independent Instructor vs. Dive Center Staff
5. Employee or Contractual?
6. What to Negotiate With Your Employer
7. How To Select The Right Dive Center & Job
8. Tips or No Tips
9. Buying or Opening a Dive Center
10. Alternative Employment in The Dive Industry
  .
QUALITY & SAFETY FOR LIFE
1. The Buck Stops Here
2. Liability & Liability Releases
3. Teaching Defensively
4. Normalization of Deviance vs. A Culture of Safety
5. The God Complex
6. Peer & Mentor Pressure
7. Say No When No is The Answer
8. Checklists, Drills & Habits
9. Plan Your Dive & Dive Your Plan
10. Briefings & Emergency Readiness
11. No Divers Left Behind
12. DAN
13. Where is the O2?
14. The Bends
15. Where is this air from?
16. Cylinder Fills & Handling
17. Hygiene & Wetsuits
18. Diver Control & Assistants
19. Your Own Health & Safety
  .
YOUR CAREER: WHAT’S NEXT?

Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor

TWO WAYS TO READ IT:

Other Dive Industry Resources

Check our other dive industry books and our ongoing scuba diving market surveys & research reports. More scuba diving industry studies, reports, and reference books are in the works. Subscribe to be kept in the loop!