Thorough explanation of diving instructor qualifications, costs, difficulty, job details, and annual income examples!
This page is for scuba diving professionals How to become a diving instructor and basic knowledge Explain!
Necessary qualifications and licenses, their ranks and difficulty levels, job details and annual income examples (salaries) after actually starting work, etc. Information about the diving instructor will be thoroughly investigated.
PADI and NAUI should be taken before becoming a diving instructor Check together with license (C card) acquisition plan information let's go
table of contents
- 1 Flow of becoming a diving instructor
- 2 Diving Instructor Qualifications
- 3 Diving Instructor License Rank
- 4 Expenses for diving instructor courses and examinations
- 5 Job Description of a Diving Instructor
- 6 Annual Income and Salary of a Diving Instructor
- 7 Diving license acquisition course popularity ranking
- 8 Editorial department recommended feature articles
Flow of becoming a diving instructor
Many people who have scuba diving as a hobby For divers, the dream job is to be a diving instructor. The presence of.
" How can I become a diving instructor? I think there are many people who want to know the process and the process.
First of all, Flow from inexperienced diver to diving instructor will be briefly summarized.
1. Participate in a trial diving tour
Surrounded by the sea on all sides As an island country, Japan has many diving spots. Yes, and experience tours are held by diving shops.
Inexperienced diving is aimed at beginners first Participate in a “experience diving” tour Let's actually dive into the sea and touch the charm of diving.
2. Acquisition of diving license (C card)
After participating in the experience diving tour, it is the first step to become a full-fledged diver. Acquisition of diving license (C card) Let's aim for
In each diving instruction organization such as PADI and NAUI, Various grades depending on the diving depth and sea area of diving licenses are available.
3. Participate in a fun diving tour
If you get a C card, it will be targeted for diving license holders Participate in a “Fun Diving” tour Let's try.
Diving license (C card) you hold Select diving points and courses by grade and dive with an instructor can do.
4. Acquisition of instructor license
If you want to become a professional diver after experiencing 1 to 3 Acquisition of Diving Instructor License Let's aim for
As well as a diving license (C card) Certified and certified by each instructional organization such as PADI and NAUI Workshops such as departments and practical skills are held by shops that do.
5. Employment and entrepreneurship at a diving shop
Acquire scuba diving skills and knowledge Once you get your Diving Instructor license, you'll join the ranks of professional divers. is.
Looking for a job at a shop that organizes diving tours Employment and instructor contract, or starting a dive shop by yourself Let's aim for
1 to 5 above from inexperienced Rough flow to become a diving instructor is.
From here Digging deeper into "4. Obtaining an instructor license" I'll try.
Diving Instructor Qualifications
Diving instructors are tasked with guiding divers of various levels and safely conducting tours. scuba diving professional .
Diving is not only fun, Marine sports with many dangers such as the possibility of accidents is.
Therefore, in order to teach diving In addition to experience and skills, it is essential to acquire specialized knowledge about equipment and the sea. becomes.
In addition to a diving license (C card), in order to engage as a diving instructor as a profession, The following qualifications are required becomes.
- Diver (national qualification)
- Instructor Certification License
From here, we boast the top share as a diving instruction organization A detailed explanation of the outline based on PADI I will continue.
Diver (national qualification)
Divers are certified and issued by the Safety and Health Technical Examination Association National qualification is.
It is said that the degree of difficulty to pass is not so high, and in recent years Success rate is around 75% There is data out there.
In addition, since there are no conditions or requirements for taking the exam, Anyone can take the exam regardless of educational background, work history, age, gender, nationality, etc. is.
On the other hand, the license is issued to those over the age of 18, so even if you pass the exam at the age of 18 or younger, Issued after the age of 18 becomes.
Instructor Certification License
An instructor certification license means that as a diving instructor A license given to divers who have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge is.
For example, in PADI, First, “dive master (DM)” and “assistant instructor (AI)” We aim to acquire
After that, it corresponds to the beginner level of the Instructor Examination (IE) Take the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) exam and proceed.
Next, Ranks provided for diving instructor licenses Let's take a look at
Diving Instructor License Rank
diving instructor's Various ranks are set for licenses It has been.
From here, Introducing diving instructor licenses set by PADI for each rank I will continue.
Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
In order to be recognized as a diving instructor, OWSI the first license is.
To qualify for the exam, you must have already acquired a Divemaster (DM) or Assistant Instructor (AI).
It is held as leisure by acquiring OWSI To be able to carry out from "experience diving" to "dive master course" will be
Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT)
MSDT is After acquiring 5 or more PADI Specialty Instructor qualifications It is a license of a diving instructor who can take the exam.
again, 25+ PADI Instructor certified divers is given to
To be eligible, you must already be an Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI).
IDC Staff Instructor (SI)
SI is Diver who has completed the IDC Staff Instructor Course Diving instructor license given to
It is required to grasp the whole picture of the PADI instructor development course, After acquisition, PADI Assistant Instructor Course will be held independently can.
To be eligible, you must be a Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT).
Master Instructor (MI)
MI is Highest rank among PADI diving instructors Deserving Diving Instructor License.
Being a diver with experience of implementing all programs as an instructor, Strict conditions must be cleared there is.
In addition, violation of standards, etc. No history of violations within the past 6 months is a condition for obtaining MI.
Course Director (CD)
CD Coaches PADI Dive Instructors Diving instructor's license given to trainers is.
Participate in the PADI Course Director Training Course by PADI Headquarters in the USA and experience and achievements in training diving educators.
This CD is one of the best diving instructors in the world. Only given to limited divers This is the most difficult rank.
Diving Instructor License In addition, "Specialty Instructor (SPI)" And so on.
In addition, to acquire knowledge such as rescue " Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) "or" Rescue Diver (RD) etc. will be required.
If you are looking to become a diving instructor, First of all, get "Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)" Let's aim.
Expenses for diving instructor courses and examinations
" How much does it cost to become a diving instructor? I think there are many people who want to know the expenses.
In conclusion, until I became a diving instructor Costs a lot of money becomes.
For example, if you are a completely inexperienced person aiming to become a diving instructor, Approximately 1.5 million to 2 million yen is required in total It is said that
The breakdown is
- Acquisition of diving license (C card)
- Obtaining a Rescue Diver (RD)
- Obtaining an Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI)
- Acquisition of Dive Master (DM)
- Take the Instructor Development Course (IDC)
- Instructor Exam (IE)
Costs and fees for acquiring various licenses vary depending on the shop and school you attend. About 1 million yen up to the "Instructor Exam (IE)" .
It is also most important as a professional diver. Many fun dives are required to gain "experience" becomes.
Additionally, using Purchase cost, maintenance cost, consumables cost, etc. for a set of diving equipment Considering the above, the above-mentioned 1.5 million yen to 2 million yen is a minimum required calculation.
Even if we only consider the monetary aspect, Becoming a diving instructor requires considerable preparation It is necessary to keep in mind to say that
Next, An example of a diving instructor job description Let's take a look at
Job Description of a Diving Instructor
" What are the duties of a diving instructor? "or" Is your job tough? I think there are many people who want to know how to actually work.
Of course I get a job Working styles vary depending on the policy of the diving shop is a major premise.
From here, An example of a diving instructor job description I'm going to put together.
- Diving tour guide
- Instructor guidance
- general store operations
When I hear about diving instructors, the first thing that comes to mind is " Diving tour guide "it might be.
Conveying the appeal of diving to tourists and novice divers This is probably the most attractive part of being a diving instructor.
Also, new Training and education to develop instructors and staff It is also my job as a diving instructor to do.
and many diving instructors The work that takes the most time is store work is.
Maintenance and management of diving equipment, customer service sales, guest transportation, updating SNS and website, etc. Diverse operations on land over.
Annual Income and Salary of a Diving Instructor
" How much do diving instructors earn ” is an important point when actually working.
Although it varies depending on the business situation and scale of the shop where you work, Often not high income That said, there won't be much of a difference.
For example: When I was a new employee, my monthly income was about 120,000 to 150,000 yen. , It seems that there are many cases where the monthly income is about 200,000 yen even if you become a veteran.
Since it is not a job that can expect high income, it is not only a main business There is also a way to engage in diving instructors as a side job It seems that it is common.
The appeal of the job as a diving instructor is not the high income but the low income. “The joy of working in diving, which I love,” is more important I don't think so.
Diving license acquisition course popularity ranking
Finally, the first step to becoming a diving instructor Popular plans for "diving license (C card) acquisition course" ranking format I will introduce you.
Please refer to the venue, tour details, fees (price) and service content, as well as reviews and word-of-mouth experiences to help you compare and consider plan selection.
- 4.0
- (109 reviews and experiences)
The number one Google review for the Okinawa diving keyword! *As of April 2025, according to a survey by the Review Rating Institute. This plan allows you to enjoy trial diving in the Kerama Islands, which boast some of the world's most transparent waters. The first trial dive will help you get used to the underwater world, and the second dive will see you searching for sea turtles! With two dives, your chances of encountering sea turtles are significantly higher.
- 4.3
- (86 reviews and experiences)
Ranked #1 in Google reviews for Okinawa diving keywords! *As of April 2025, according to a survey by the Review Rating Institute. Don't worry if you can't swim! Shop staff will provide full support! Trial diving will be conducted at a depth where the coral looks its best. You will first practice on the surface before going underwater, so you can enjoy diving with peace of mind!
◎This half-day plan will take you to Ishigaki Island's scenic spot, Phantom Island, and even beginners can enjoy snorkeling and introductory diving or skin diving in 3 hours. For snorkeling and skin diving, you will swim using equipment such as a mask, snorkel, and fins. For introductory diving, you will dive equipped with heavy diving equipment.
- 4.9
- (28 reviews and experiences)
We have received many reservations saying, "I chose you because of the quality of the photos and the reviews!" Thank you very much to all our guests and repeat customers, as well as for your reviews and referrals. If entry-level divers are interested in adventure diving, such as underwater photography and fish observation, we are the place to go for a PADI diving license step-up.
This is a course for people who have never dived before, who are getting their first diving license, and who want to step up from trial diving. Since our founding in Okinawa, we have had no accidents and have trained more than 300 beginners to get their licenses every year, producing many divers. We offer friendly and thorough training and short, focused sessions with no waste.
This is the first course for non-divers to take to obtain a diving license. By studying online in advance, you can spend more time on practical training, and become a safer and better diver! It takes two days to obtain your license (held on the beach on both days), and you can obtain your diving license in as little as three nights and four days. Photos taken during the course will be kept on file.
Ishigaki Island License Acquisition (2 days) Open Water Diver Course
At Tom Sawyer, you can get a great deal on the PADI license course, which allows you to dive in the oceans of the world! Why not invite your friends, partner, or family to start diving? Let's dive together! Lowest price on our website! Course in beautiful ocean! PADI Open Water Diver license course. Those who obtain their license at Tom Sawyer will receive a special price from their next visit.
This is a diving-only shop, so customer satisfaction is the highest! ・The number of licensed divers is over 3,000 ・Equipped with classrooms, shower rooms, toilets, and powder rooms ・Free rental of diving equipment ・Absolutely safe! Small group size (1 to 4 people) ・Open every day of the year! Naha city pick-up and drop-off included ・Free video data of your memories during diving
[Okinawa Blue Cave] PADI license acquisition course [1 day ~] Underwater photography & free gifts!
- 5.0
- (2 reviews and testimonials)
How about getting a diving license to commemorate Okinawa? ! A dated card will be a keepsake. Also, for those who want to start diving in earnest, we aim to become independent divers while enjoying the contents of the course! * Even if you are new to diving and are not good at swimming, the veteran staff who have held license courses more than 500 times will fully support you.
Diving license acquisition in 2 days! The sea of Izu is fun because there are many fish! I had a great time diving this year! To you who say (It is also possible to acquire it from inexperienced diving.) Why not take advantage of that experience and start full-scale diving? This license course is for those with experience diving! Shorter than general training
