One of the largest scuba training organizations in the world is called
the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI for short). It has
professional dive instructors in 175 countries and territories worldwide.
It also certifies hundreds of thousands of recreational divers each year.
Salaries depend more on an instructor's proximity to water than their country
of residence. Scuba is international in all aspects: salary, training, certification
requirements and popularity.
Depending on the career path they choose, divers can make a lot of money.
However, divers working their way towards the instructor level can expect
to make very little working at a resort. But there are advantages.
"The industry is wide open for unique individuals with excellent people
skills who are willing to take the job seriously," says Nelson Moore, a head
training instructor. "The opportunities are there."
Shaun Pipes is a marine biologist who also moonlights as a dive instructor.
His work as a marine biologist meant that diving was part of the job description.
He says job prospects for dive instructors are linked closely to the economy.
When times are good, people spend more money on recreation and there is plenty
of work. However, if the economy slumps, diving lessons are one of the first
things people cut out.
Earnings and employment information from the U.S. Department of Labor is
not available for this field at this time.