DM Question from Chicago

[gangrel441]

Ok guys....I am doing my DM internship as we speak, and have my eyes on eventually going AI, then Instructor. My certs will most likely be both PADI and NAUI, though the DM program I am doing is PADI. I have a question related to the finances of going pro.

Let me start by saying I am not concerned about making a living as a diver. That is what an MBA and a full time Financial Analyst gig is for. I am also not worried about the costs of becoming a DM. That is a one-time cost.

The question is, how difficult is as a DM to break even on the costs of insurance and PADI dues? I am not currently affiliated with a shop, as my internship is through a club. I may consider trying to get on the roster with a shop in my area, but that remains to be seen. Any thoughts?

[DeepDiverBob]

It definitly helps out if you can get into a shop that will pay your insurance for you. But even if they dont, you should get some pretty sweet deals on gear and further classes you want to take. I know the savings I have had on gear purchases has more than offset the cost of my class.

The one major thing I got from going through my DMC class is not found in any of the text books. It is the experience of working and helping with the beginners and working with knowledgable instructors. In my opinion, its all about the experience, which no amount of money can buy.

[gangrel441]

...which is the major reason I have chosen this path. :)

If I get in with a shop, the insurance they provide will only cover me when working as one of their employees. That doesn't help me when I am working with the club, and the club doesn't carry its own insurance. I am just thinking in terms of assisting with shops or charters, picking up $20 here, $20 there...not sure how good the prospects are. If I understand the numbers I have seen, I would need to bring in around $400-500/year to cover insurance and PADI dues. Discounts aren't really an issue for me, I have my sources already. :D

[Atlaua]

...which is the major reason I have chosen this path. :)

If I get in with a shop, the insurance they provide will only cover me when working as one of their employees. That doesn't help me when I am working with the club, and the club doesn't carry its own insurance. I am just thinking in terms of assisting with shops or charters, picking up $20 here, $20 there...not sure how good the prospects are. If I understand the numbers I have seen, I would need to bring in around $400-500/year to cover insurance and PADI dues. Discounts aren't really an issue for me, I have my sources already. :D

That's going to depend on a lot of things. How often you work, size of classes, how much the shop pays etc. As a DM I could pay for that working 3-4 full OW classes. YMMV.

James

[gangrel441]

That may be the answer I am looking for. Thanks! As it is, I am happy to donate time working as a pool rat during open water courses. If 3 or 4 courses per year would cover dues and insurance as a DM, that's pretty managable.

I often hear there is little money in going pro, especially DM. I have no problem with that, I just don't want to be out a good chunk of money as a result of it. :)

[Atlaua]

That may be the answer I am looking for. Thanks! As it is, I am happy to donate time working as a pool rat during open water courses. If 3 or 4 courses per year would cover dues and insurance as a DM, that's pretty managable.

I often hear there is little money in going pro, especially DM. I have no problem with that, I just don't want to be out a good chunk of money as a result of it. :)

Don't get me wrong. A pool rat isn't covering that. When I say working 3-4 full classes, I mean 8 students and I mean classroom, pool and OW dives at Rolla. With my shop that's 2 full weekends.

James

[theskull]

Hi Gangrel,

I am also associated with a shop, but I buy my own individual insurance because I have been known to DM for other instructors, doing so while on business travel and also for some cave classes.

Like Bob & Atlaua, I get paid pretty well when working for the shop with which I am associated (a different one from theirs). However, I have yet to be paid at all by the instructors outside of our shop with whom I have worked! They have shown their appreciation by paying my entry fees, covering my fills, and sometimes by feeding me, which I appreciate and is more than I would have asked for. One even was about to take up a collection of tips from the students so he could pay me before I stopped him and insisted that it wasn't necessary.

Point being, in my experience any way, freelance DMs don't get paid! Get on staff with a shop if you want to have a chance to make back your insurance premium and renewal dues through your skills.

theskull

[gangrel441]

Thanks guys...

I have no qualm with assisting on a full open water class. I don't yet because I am not qualified...

Skull - very useful info. I don't mind volunteering my time a bit, but cost recovery is key. I'll talk to the folks at a few of the shops around here when I get closer to completing DM and see what the prospects are. Do you guys typically get paid by the student, or a flat rate for your time?

[theskull]

Thanks guys...

I have no qualm with assisting on a full open water class. I don't yet because I am not qualified...

Skull - very useful info. I don't mind volunteering my time a bit, but cost recovery is key. I'll talk to the folks at a few of the shops around here when I get closer to completing DM and see what the prospects are. Do you guys typically get paid by the student, or a flat rate for your time?

That can vary by shop. At ours, instructors get paid by the student but divemasters get paid by the class. A related note: my pay for a weekend open water class is less than I will spend on food and gas for that weekend--BUT I would have been diving that weekend anyway, so I consider it money to the good. Plus my hotel, entry fees, and air fills are covered when working a class. :)

theskull

[Atlaua]

Bob and I get paid per student.

James

[juls64]

Our DM's are paid per day for OW, up to 10 days. They also get free air and free entrance. On a good day, they also get tips!

[reefraff]

Combining the discounts and cash a shop can offer, you can probably cover your ongoing expenses. If you haven't already, talk to Mike Cohen at SSL - he'd be a good resource for information about how it works there and in the area in general.

Work outside the shops is scarce and pays next to nothing but can be a hoot.

[gangrel441]

Thanks everyone! I am still pre-dm, but I will definately keep this info handy for when I turn the corner.

Reef - I am not sure who Mike Cohen or SSL are. Can you enlighten me? ;)

[reefraff]

Mike Cohen is a PADI Course Director that works for Scuba Systems, Ltd. Sorry. He's a nice guy who I would trust to give me the straight dope. I'd also talk to Harold Bach (another PADI CD) at Scuba Emporium, though he's likely to put a little more sales pressure on you than Mikey will.

[gangrel441]

Mike Cohen is a PADI Course Director that works for Scuba Systems, Ltd. Sorry. He's a nice guy who I would trust to give me the straight dope. I'd also talk to Harold Bach (another PADI CD) at Scuba Emporium, though he's likely to put a little more sales pressure on you than Mikey will.

Ahh....Scuba Systems...I take it that is the same Scuba Systems that is in Skokie? I am an occasional customer there, though I was more frequent before I moved further west. I don't know Mike Cohen, but I do know quite a few others there (Larry, Nancy, Tony, Mike Straijc, etc.).