While you can learn the basics of scuba diving at a surf shop or on a cruise, becoming a scuba instructor will require months of hard physical training, money to invest in swimming equipment, and the ability to travel to different bodies of water to train in different weather conditions. You must obtain your scuba certification from a recognized training facility. To apply to become a scuba instructor in many places, you must be at least 18 years old. While no two scuba instructor certification programs are identical, they all have the same basic requirements. Above all, you’ll need to log hundreds of hours of diving in a variety of conditions.
To begin, you’ll need “entry level” scuba diving lessons before you can become a scuba instructor. This fundamental course is frequently offered at the aforementioned surf shops or on cruises. In many cases, they provide all of the necessary equipment for the duration of the course, and you can be in the water in as little as two days. A short written exam is usually required, and you’ll practice diving in a lake, swimming pool, or the ocean if necessary.
However, when it comes to becoming a scuba instructor, this is only the first step. You can start your scuba diving lessons in a heated pool, but you’ll need to dive in open water to become a scuba instructor. The Scuba Educators International (SEI) diving school certification, for example, requires 10 hours of diving to depths of more than 80 feet (24.384 m). It also necessitates diving in a wetsuit, diving in just your skin, driving in both salt and fresh water, low-visibility water, and diving at night. You must swim 2,625 feet (800 meters) with only a snorkel and fins to complete the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) course.
As you can see, to become a scuba instructor, you’ll need to be in good physical shape or train to get there, and many schools will require you to have a doctor’s certificate stating that you’re in good health. In addition to the physical requirements, you’ll have to take extensive written tests or even give lectures on becoming a scuba instructor to ensure that you understand the concepts behind dive theory. Before you can become a scuba instructor, many scuba certification courses require you to assist in teaching others for a certain number of hours. Finally, in order to be prepared for emergencies and keep your students safe, you’ll need to be certified in first aid and CPR.