BECOMING A MASTER SCUBA DIVER TRAINER IN ROATAN
After the IDC we offer the Master Scuba Diver Trainer prep course. In this course you will earn 5 PADI specialty instructor ratings. We can teach most specialties, but encourage you to choose the ones that Roatan is most suited for.
Notes from Will Wellbourn, our Course Director:
You can find more information below about the different specialties that we offer for instructor training, including which ones are best to do here in Roatan. However, before we dive into that, I want to be completely honest with you.
Many people who want to become instructors are often led to believe that becoming a Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) immediately after certification is essential to their job prospects. But, I don’t agree with this belief. In fact, when we look to hire new instructors, their certification level is not high on our list of priorities. This is because MSDT certification is often too easily attained by many IDC and CDC centers. To become an MSDT, you need to issue 25 certifications and have 5 specialty instructor ratings. While this may show some teaching experience, getting those certifications by merely paying for them or teaching courses under the supervision of an experienced instructor is not as valuable as gaining the experience in a real-life environment where you are paid to do the job.
Instead, we look at how you became an MSDT, the languages you speak, your work experience outside the dive industry, and the places where you have dived. Most importantly, we want to get a sense of who you are as a person. That’s why we never hire over the internet, only in person. Therefore, I would recommend saving your money on becoming an MSDT and instead spend it on airfare, go to a few destinations where you want to work, and look for a job in person. Even as an Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), you are more likely to get a job than an MSDT applying online.
Furthermore, I strongly suggest considering getting entry-level Tec Diver training. There are very few instructors with Tec training, and having this certification will set you apart from others more than being an MSDT.
In conclusion, become a specialty instructor because you want to teach those courses, not because it will improve your job prospects. Teach the areas of diving that you love and pass on that love to your students.
