I Wish I Knew THIS When I Was A New Dive Instructor! My Best Advice For Beginner Instructors

[@BlueHorizonDiving]

Thank you mate for having us. As always it was a pleasure.

[@benjaminschaffer4461]

My family and I had a great time diving with you during the KSC week at Mayan Princess. Thanks for mentoring Jacob. Hope to share more vacation time with you 2 in the future.

[@brandonsdi]

Cannot agree more with all you said here, we are at FlowState Divers having a very similar approach over at Tenerife with the main goal of erasing all the BS from recreational as well as technical diving and to provide individualized programs for those who really want to get better and not just have the next cert. Nice one James

[@johnraymond7189]

Wow! Talk about perfect timing. I am a USA born diver living in Florida just north of Miami. I will be retiring to Masbate, Philippines with my filipina wife. My father-in-law has a small resort there and is anxious for me to bring this wonderful sport to the resort. I am going to do my IDC in Roatan in June and then retire in October in the Philippines. Great advise James. I've been your #1 fan since the "Death Mask" episode. Continue to provide the industry with such useful content. Cheers

[@kiser5333]

Scanned that QR code 2 weeks ago on your dry box after a Spiegel dive. Now binging your videos! 👏 👏 thank you for this awesome content!

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for your support! Dive safe.

[@jr3628]

fantastic advice for anyone. "own your brand" can be applied to almost any business any where in the world! thank you @divers ready for the knowledge, the motivation and drive to get it out there.

[@doubleontherocks]

Own your brand. This applies to any business endeavour. Nowadays people tend to gravitate towards a business where the owner(s) themselves are visible and very much involved

[@meridiandive]

This is great advice and something I have been saying for years!

[@fnnyacuna]

Sabina! Best instructor ever! Yes she is my cousin but I visited sabina and joe in portland a year ago. And as she mentions cold water diving (especially if you come from a warm country like Mexico) it take you out of your comfort zone and Sabina is great in keeping you safe and having fun at the same time! Hope to visit them in Utila soon!

[@Lucas.Piccinino]

Thanks james. i completed it today. This is all i need!!

[@wolfshack4930]

Marks a great instructor!

[@dclangst]

I wish someone told me how hard getting pool time was. I’m so glad you said the domain thing. Nothing looks flybynight like a gmail business address. This is dead on. People see my shirt and ask where is blue tarp scuba and I say right here!

[@johnjones9387]

I’m on my way, and at 55 I have to say I’m excited about a second career. Hopefully by the end of the year or next year I’ll be there. I love your videos.

[@josipkolakovic7927]

Thank you souch for this video. I'm finishing dive master course and planning to be instructor down the line and this was mind blowing. I never thought about being professional in this way. This was such eye opener and I know it will help me when I start progressing as a professional. I love watching your videos and looking forward for more advice like this

[@DarkKoffee]

This is by far the best and most practical advice ever! We could potentially implement this in any other businesses! Thanks so much James for your awesomeness!! 😎😆👍🙂

[@Wazza_333]

Bloody fantastic. Thank you for that. This was actually how I wanted to do it rather than just work out of a dive shop as one of their instructors.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Excellent advice. I'd not thought about this at all. I was doinf my Dive Master ten years ago and I was looking for a job, see what I could earn. As you say, that is no longer required, a fully qualified instructor has everything they need to start their own brand/business.

[@hawaiimike2678]

That’s so cool Sabina is my instructor!! Lol we have my drysuit class starting on the 4th

[@martinnielsen4831]

Great video James! And advices 💪. Its also some good points you come with!.. Like you said! Angencys you work for? padi/ssi/GUE! No they work for you not the other way round!. One could be a damn good instructor, but forced to stick with one angency, because you have to be connected with a dive center like SSI. Where PADI you don't ned to.. You are independent!.. I get that you have to pay fees. For exams in their name, or school materials, but I feel like its rubbing instructors for their self thinking and independence. By only using them! Instead of just being a good teacher/instructor/mentor Be free and independent, be "you" "your brand" 💪

[@lakispattalis2506]

James, why do you have be so far away! I have almost finished my BSAC Dive Leader course then hoping to continue on as assistant instructor etc. I am blessed with my instructors, who are not only advanced dive instructors, but are always on hand to pass on the little bit of knowledge that only true experience with teach. Despite the distance and difference in certification, the fundamental teaching is the same, but your vids are always spot on. All the best from the UK. And maybe, one day, will have the pleasure to dive with you. Take care.

[@DiveCuracao]

Thanks James for acknowledging the giant pink elephant in the room! Awesome breakdown and great advice because "our industry" professionals need to hear this more than ever! 💙 See you both soon!!

[@SummersideDiver]

Wonderful suggestions and content! Thank you for putting this together - I'm several steps away from being a professional diver, but I am on my way there, and the content you share is making that path more guided and easier. So again, thank you!

[@ceisele1080]

Well done sir. Well done

[@shakascuba]

While I don't teach full time as I already had a career, I did much of this when I completed my IDC several years ago. I wish I'd done ALL of this, I hope someday I do so I can make this a career as I'd love it to be. Great content, keep it up!

[@SeminoleScuba]

Great video James, I would love it if more Instructors coming from IDC or the equivalent would do this and know their value. Much more valuable to employers and the industry that way.

[@jacquesvanwyk6411]

This is very good advice. I consider myself in that 2nd group and would love to stay in the dive industry for as long as possible. I started my "brand" and social media presence about 2 years ago, and my advice on this advice is to be patient during this process, as getting a following and building that foundation can take long and it gets frustrating at times because it is such a niche market, and you start to question yourself. I am now in a position in my life and career where I feel like I have run my course on working as an instructor, and has managed to build up the necessary skills and confidence to take the next step with my brand, and transition it into a fully fledged business within the next 12 to 18 months, and even though I feel like my foundation might still be quite small, but if I can put on the same effort that I put into other peoples dive businesses then I have reason to be optimistic.

[@comptegoogle511]

When you look at the time it takes to break even with an instructor's salary vs Dan fees, IDC cost, airplane tickets cost, equipment cost.. You realize that the only ones able to do it are the ones with a dady with deep pockets.

[@giulianogiordano100]

Great video as always! For the sake of completeness, I wonder whether there is third group, in between, of dive pros who already have another career they don’t plan to abandon, yet plan to work as instructors as a side gig for the long term…

[@susanhallenbeck8229]

This was me for the first four years I was an instructor. I realized over time that I was way more fulfilled teaching scuba than doing my “real” job, and I eventually quit the corporate gig. I now teach scuba through a local dive shop, and work part-time at the shop as well. Much more fun, and I love the interaction with students and other divers. My “brand” as an instructor is to be thorough, fun, encouraging, and highly safety-conscious. I want to be the instructor that other instructors recommend to their family and friends. I’m seeing my students come back for additional courses, and recommending me to their family members and friends, so I think my “brand strategy” is working :)

[@billkirksey4866]

James, thanks for your informative and awareness perspective on what it takes to be an exceptional instructor and what students should look for in searching for course instructors. This video is must view for instructors and students as you mentioned. This brings a question to this dive student….. How do I find an independent exceptional instructor for a desired course. (Asking at a brick-n-mortor store doesn’t get you there?) Does anyone have any insightful suggestions? IMHO, you clearly are an independent exceptional instructor.

[@samco63]

Love this. Though I’m nowhere near this stage (I’m just about to do my advanced haha). But from a students point of view this is so spot on. One of my instructors on my OW course totally put me off - he was a wealth of knowledge, but he was impatient and condescending. I could tell he loved diving, he lived for it. But his heart didn’t seem to be in instructing anymore. Since then, I’ve spent my time getting to know other instructors, and that’s how I chose who to do my advanced course with - the people who gave me the time of day, and knew their stuff, and had a great personal brand got my attention. I ended up following them to the dive school they teach through. But it was their personal brand that sold to me.

[@comptegoogle511]

Unfortunately, too many times the instructor status will put some kids full of hormones on an egotrip. They will expedite the average Jo course to have more time to spend with the fresh meat that just arrived on the dock.

[@praveenbk21]

100 percent agreed

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for your support!

[@echols2010]

Review the garmin G1

[@DiversReady]

I just received it from Garmin!

[@sadagat]

Great video, thanks James

[@RobertBoshaw]

This is very timely. I finally got off the fence and decided to pursue ny Dive Master here in Vancouver. Thanks for this video. A lot of what you are saying here apply to the music business, and for that matter, any business where you are hiring yourself out for a service.

[@hawaiimike2678]

How far in are you? Vancouver Washington or Canada??

[@RobertBoshaw]

@@hawaiimike2678 Did Rescue a few months ago, led a few dives. Ready to do more training. Diving the waters of British Columbia is amazing. Looking forward to trying tropical at some point to see what the buzz is about.

[@kevindavison6019]

It'll probably be a while before I get to the instructor level in scuba I I have had a career in Aviation and have been an instructor in several capacities working for others and for myself. There is some satisfaction in teaching but it really depends alot on how the student themselves takes to receiving instruction. Personally I feel like I really love diving and would like to share that with others and I could do so as an instructor but I would like to keep it small scale. Also I am not really a social media person so that aspect would be difficult for me.

[@nickhavard1522]

Thought I recognised the young girl in the second zoom call. She was on the junior dive panel at the dive show in the UK a few weeks ago.

[@mancewicz]

Thanks James! I just finished IDC and passed my exam a month ago. Any tips for someone who want's to be a good instructor but isn't ready yet to jump full time and want's to do it part time (I'm in Edinburgh not much option here to do it full time!) Can you tell us more about how you do your logistics around equipment, boat etc for your students, if you don't own any tanks, boats and other stuff?

[@robmichaels4728]

Ziggy is not an employee. He is the owner.

[@DiversReady]

She thinks she's the boss, for sure!

[@jacobhicks7959]

I don't think you could just apply to a job at this point, it would have to be a business deal owner to owner

[@N4jss]

love the vid

[@jonnywoolstenhulme3098]

where can I buy a Miami Technical Diving T-shirt

[@exploratorians]

How do I go independent when students have to rent gear? Do you buy the courses and sell them the code after you’ve purchased it?

[@DiversReady]

Yes and yes. I have built up a small selection of rental gear for my students. However, if you don't choose to do that, you can always work with a local shop and have your students rent gear from them, for use under your supervision.

[@pinnacledivingco]

100% of group 2 instructors are NAUI. ;)

[@DrippyWaffler]

I don't think I know more than 2 Naui instructors lol

[@WeiseGuy91]

What do you put on your business card and stickers? You mentioned a QR code but curious what’s too much versus too little on a business card and sticker.

[@eprohoda]

greetigs~ insane ,see you later! Divers,

It's a verry nice vidéo ! Actualy i'm trying since two years to follow this direction "creating my brand" as dive instructor, so i realy agree with you :D Thanks for sharing so much tips ;)

[@JURASSICDIVERUK]

Great information on so many levels that can be used also in other industries!

[@lozzol1887]

NEW dive pro.... Just shows. These clowns think a 2 day course makes them competent. I disagree

[@JustinPhillipsScuba]

James this is one of the best videos I have seen so far. Thank you so much for doing this. Although I am not a Dive Master yet or beyond nothing wrong with getting things started now.

[@devinreyes4904]

Will you do a video with the SeaLife Scuba case for smartphones and compare it vs. GoPro Hero 10?

[@aaroncrumbley62]

As a fellow dive pro and a long time follower, yet another excellent video! I must say yet again, thank you for great content! Keep up the excellent work!

[@remcovanhal6336]

Just started Remco Diving in Spain for myself! Got my website, google bussiness, car decals, bussiness cards printed. Just need the clients now ;). Gonna be a great summer!

[@pablojacebal6569]

the branding advice is spot on ie: I am traveling to Cabo San Lucas next week an diving with Cabo Private Guide check out their web presence

[@theveryfirst]

Guess what. It is the same in many other industries. E.g. IT.

[@CrimsonCru]

I'm hoping to complete my DM license soon and this really helped paint a clearer picture going forward. Awesome content as always.

[@CrimsonCru]

@S M yep! sorry bout that, rlly shud proofread these huh

[@Ickythekid]

Your stickers aren't on your swag site. Ordered a shirt. Love the videos.

[@DiversReady]

Awesome thank you! Dive safe.

[@alexbrylske8913]

James, I just wanted you to know spot-on this video is in making a vital point about the future of our industry. In fact, I believe it's of such significance that I'm now requiring all of my ECO PRO students to view it as part of an in-depth class discussion. I am confident it will be an enormous wake-up call to many, and confirmation to others who are already on this path. I wish the rest of the industry had your clarity of thought and insight. Congratulations.

[@brockmorrell]

Another great video James! Keep them coming!

[@francisbevacqua8014]

Hello James, as a new instructor, this information is amazing! Already taking your advice “own your brand” Thank You my friend!

[@barryinkpen6026]

So true so true! I am not a dive professional but after 50 years of diving I have seen the "two types" so many times and I have seen friends and family take dive courses that were absolute crap! When someone asks me where to take a course now, I tell them a shop and a specific instructor. They are much more likely to "happily" keep diving if they get good instruction from a passionate instructor who's in it for the long term..

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Thank you been waiting for videos like this for a long time

[@ramytk1]

Great video James. Great info for someone on the path to becoming or already a professional.

[@Baumerts]

Great video, James. Thanks for sharing these insights and takeaways.

[@lidewijvos]

It couldn't come at a better time, I'm starting my DM course in 3 months

[@MrEmerchua]

Hi James, I wonder if you have seen the news on the 4 missing divers that were lost off the coast of Malaysia, I think this incident could be used to reiterate safe diving practices, once the full report is released to the public of course. From a fellow concerned diver.

[@MrEmerchua]

@S M all the more an important time to remind divers the safe practices as more countries start to open up their travel lanes

[@dylonswiatek]