If you are one of those divers which after obtaining a entry level certification and gone diving and something within you clicks and you just cant seem to get enough of diving, its like a drug, you are inextricably hooked to the activity.Consider yourself blessed!
Mainly there are 2 categories of recreational scuba divers, either you are among those who just go on a dive trip occasionally,few times a year,enjoy the experience then return to what it is you do to eke out a living or the other category of divers who after learning how to dive, discovers an affinity to it and unleashes a passion for an activity within themselves that hitherto have been lodged in their psyche, Similar to many of the adrenaline seeking junkies and what they chose to satiate their thirst for the fix. Sky diving, surfing, automobile or bike racing,to name a few.
Scuba diving to a lesser degree has similarities with a slight edge over these sports in that it isnt as extreme and physically or psychologically as demanding as the requirements needed for the other extreme sports.
It caters to all niches.from students to businessmen, children to senior citizens,all alike can enjoy this activity without apprehension provided of course that they have been properly trained in the knowledge and inwater skills necessary for a complete underwater fun experience.
Or the adventurous in spirit , there are so many avenues in scuba diving open to exploring the underwater realm,be it seeking out ship wrecks, looking for new reefs to research , treasure hunting on the sea bed. search and recovery of lost objects.
Even for the extreme sports seekers who are constantly on the lookout for something to push themselves to the limits,dicing with the fine line between fatality and adrenaline rush gratification,it can be found in diving.Tecnical diving , treasure hunting salvage diving. etc
There have been many professionals who were searching for an additional recreational activity,like golf, something to have fun with when they can spare the time from their hectic lives,then does a entry level dive course,discovers a whole new world and awakens an awareness of a new perception of a whole different exciting realm that is available to them , and their lives as they know it, just suddenly ups and abandons their cosy,cushy lucrative careers to becoming a dive professional after realising just how gratifying the feeling can be ,going scuba diving.
Because, it is so simple to meet the requirements needed to becoming a dive pro! Just 60 dives logged and verified and one can start training to be a Divemaster, 1st level that qualifies one to actually get paid for recreational scuba diving. DM's are trained to guide and plan dive excursions underwater , know to take precautions when guiding divers, and know how to react to underwater emergencies if such situations arise.
So from the very 1st certification of open water diver,then continuing training to becoming an advanced open water diver ,
the next step is to have a basic 1st aid certification,CPR etc which qualifies the diver to train as a rescue diver,learning how to handle diving emergencies and life saving skills in water. And coupled with a verified dive log of 60 dives enables the diver to train as a Divemaster.
Then if a year has lapsed from the time of the entry level certification and 100 dives logged, the DM can register for a assistant instructor and instructor course conducted in numerous locations around the world. After which there is a exam
testing the theory knowledge and inwater skills of the candidate and when all goes well,another fully qualified scuba instructor joins the industry to teach others how to dive safely and appreciate and admire the wondrous underwater realm.AS it turns out,usually the ones that become instructors are usually those who have developed a passion for diving and desires to dive as often and in as many locations as possible.Making money is a secondary concern,as long as one can earn enough to eke out a living and pay for expenses,being a scuba instructor is reward in itself. It isnt a big bucks industry,for the individual dive pros,yet it can still pay the bills plus some.. Can be a part time job amongst other professions or full time
job working for a dive resort or dive shop.or a full time freelancer going island hopping wherever there is a demand for instructors to help teach. That is one of the advantages of being a dive pro affiliated to a international certification agency tha is acknowledged worldwide. Structure of the dive courses and the materials for training and certification are exactly the same everywhere.
