Scuba Diving Instructor

Teaching classroom theory, pool sessions and open-water dives; checking students' skills and safety; leading guided dives for certified divers; looking after equipment and boats; keeping dive logs and records.

A day in the work
A typical day may start early with a boat check and a briefing for students. You might spend the morning in a pool teaching breathing and mask-clearing, then take a group of certified divers to a reef in the afternoon. You finish with the dive log, the gear wash and a talk with the next day's guests about safety.

1. Step 1 · Class 7–10Learn to swim well. Most entry courses ask for a set swimming distance without aids, and the first certificate is open to students from about age 10. Ask a doctor for a fitness check before you start any dive course. (reported — check with the official body)
2. Step 2 · Class 10 or afterTake a beginner certificate such as PADI Open Water Diver or SSI Open Water Diver. It usually takes a few days, with classroom study, pool sessions and four open-water dives, and allows diving to about 18 metres with a buddy.
3. Step 3 · Around age 18Build experience and take the professional courses. For PADI Divemaster you must be 18, hold advanced and rescue certificates, have a current first-aid and CPR certificate, and have logged at least 40 dives to start the course and 60 to finish it.
4. Step 4 · DivemasterWork at a dive centre or resort as a Divemaster. You guide certified divers and assist instructors while you build the logged dives and skills needed for the next course.
5. Step 5 · Instructor courseTake the PADI Instructor Development Course and the Instructor Examination, or the equivalent SSI instructor course. PADI asks for at least 60 logged dives to start and 100 to sit the exam, plus an emergency first response instructor certificate.
6. Step 6 · Work in IndiaCheck local rules before you open or join a dive business. The Andaman and Nicobar guidelines say a dive centre must have at least one instructor certified by an agency such as PADI, CMAS, NAUI, BSAC or SSI, and must follow safety, depth and insurance rules.

• PADI routeOpen Water Diver, Divemaster, then PADI Instructor Development Course and exam.
• SSI routeSSI Open Water Diver, then SSI Divemaster and instructor training. SSI has a training centre in Goa.
• RouteBeginner-to-pro programmes at some dive centres take you from first certificate to instructor in one run, though PADI says the full process takes at least six months of diving.

Fees from: National Institute of Water Sports: Courses and Fees · Dive Goa price list (private dive centre, reported). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Pay varies a lot. New instructors often earn less and work seasonal jobs, while experienced instructors, course directors and those with senior roles at busy resorts or abroad usually earn more.

• Class 7–9Ask your PE teacher or a local municipal pool about swimming lessons. Aim to swim steadily without stopping for a few minutes.
• Class 10–12Read the Indian standard for recreational scuba training to see what a basic diver must know about safety, depth and equipment.Open link ↗
• College or afterTake a first-aid and CPR course through a school, college or the Red Cross or St John Ambulance. Dive instructors need this certificate.

• Your first diving certificate is not the same as a teaching job. Instructor status needs many more dives, courses and exams.
• Students under 15 usually get a junior certificate with depth and supervision limits. The full adult certificate starts at 15.
• Diving rules differ by state and by island. Depth limits, boat rules and dive-centre registration are set by local authorities.
• Instructor certificates need yearly membership renewal and regular emergency first aid refreshers.