I love diving. Is it possible to make a career out of diving?

Yes. There are two avenues you can pursue: 1) activities associated with recreational diving, or 2) occupational diving.

What are the activities associated with recreational diving?

These include instructing or dive leading. An "instructor" is typically a highly experienced diver who has been trained and certified to teach other people to dive. Potential students could be first-time scuba divers, or they could be qualified scuba divers seeking advanced certifications such as deep diving, wreck diving, cave diving, etc.

Depending on the certifying agency, a dive leader might be called either a Dive Control Specialist, Divemaster or a Dive Supervisor. These people are trained and certified to work with other certified divers. They might be hired to perform such activities as coordinate diving activities on commercial charter boats, give pre-dive briefings, log divers in and out of the water, and even escort qualified divers underwater. Divemasters / Dive Supervisors are also utilised as assistants by diving Instructors.

What's involved in becoming a Dive Control Specialist, Divemaster / Dive Supervisor?

Potential Dive Cons, Divemasters/Dive Supervisors need to be experienced divers who have logged many dives in a variety of conditions. Once they have enough diving experience, they begin a course which is similar to an apprenticeship. During the internship, they receive in-depth safety and rescue training, plus hands-on experience leading qualified divers or assisting Instructors. Once all required skills have been successfully demonstrated, they are awarded their Dive Con, Divemaster / Diver Supervisor certification. Providing they keep their certification and professional insurance up-to-date, they can be employed as a Dive Con, Divemaster / Dive Supervisor.

What's involved in becoming an Instructor?

Typically potential instructors are experienced divers with many, many dives under their belts. They must also like working with people, and they should have a keen desire to share diving with new divers. Once they have enough diving experience, they begin an in-depth internship, usually working up through the ranks of Dive Cntrol Specialist, Divemaster / Dive Supervisor, then Assistant Instructor, finally becoming a candidate for Instructor certification. Potential instructors are thoroughly trained in all aspects of safety, first-aid, rescue and the art of teaching. Final certification is carried out by internationally recognised training agencies such as SSI (Scuba Schools International), PADI (The Professional Association of Scuba Diving Instructors) and others. Graduation is not guaranteed and many people have to try several times before succeeding. To maintain instructing status update procedures, certification and insurance premiums must be renewed every year.

I'd like to work in some exotic overseas destination. What training would I need?

While opportunities exist for Divemasters / Dive Supervisors, most advertised jobs are for Instructors. Many resorts also require skills in equipment servicing/repairs and boat handling experience. Oftentimes, a Coxswain's certification is also required.

What is an Occupational Diver?

Occupational divers are people who need diving skills to carry out their professional duties. This could include scientific research, abalone fishermen, underwater construction or working on oil rigs. Occupational diving is regulated by the Australian Government and occupational dives are carried out very differently to recreational dives. The training for Occupational certifications is much more intense and demanding than recreational certifications, and there are fewer operations qualified to train to Occupational Standards. Your job description would dictate which level of Occupational certification you would require. Not all Apollo Dive Centres are qualified to train to Occupational standards, but if they are not, they can refer you to another operation that can.

How can I find out more?

Glad you asked! Your local Apollo Dive Centre can tell you everything you need to know.  Click here for the Apollo Dive Centre closest to you.