When started diving, you likely heard your PADI Instructor continuously saying that it is important to continue your education. And, you did exactly that – otherwise you would not have become a PADI Professional. But what is “Continuing Education” and why is it so important for yourself and the diving Industry in general? If you are familiar with the PADI system, you should know and understand that continuing education is vital to diver development.
The Power of Continuing Education (ConEd)
The power of the PADI system of diver education is its diversity in courses. From entry level all the way up to the professional levels:
- All are standardized
- All aim to improve specific skills
- All are specialized to improve the market value
With so many courses to choose from, there are enough choices for every type of diver. This also adds variety in teaching, meaning you are not stuck teaching only the core courses, like the PADI Open Water Diver course, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course or the PADI Rescue Diver course.
Specialty courses can create different tracks to follow for each diver, and they are beneficial to your diving business. For example, specialty courses can prompt additional diving equipment sales or open a road to a Master Scuba Diver rating and the associated course sales.
How Many Specialty Diver Certifications Do You Have?
Being able to teach PADI Specialty Diver courses is one reason PADI Instructors are very successful in the diving industry. The more specialties you can teach and the more languages you can speak, the more valuable you will become to your current or next dive center.
Specialty Instructor Training is recommended for every PADI Professional. Not only does this build up your confidence and give you new insights into specialized types of diving, it also means you expand your teaching skills. The more specialties you can offer, the more courses you will teach and the bigger your income will grown.
In addition, being able to teach a wide range of PADI Specialty Diver courses shows potential employers that you understand the PADI philosophy. Plus, with the new Elite Instructor program, this enthusiasm may also be recognized by PADI.
How Can You Apply To Become a PADI Specialty Instructor?
There are two ways to obtain Specialty ratings:
- The first is by completing a PADI Specialty Instructor course with a PADI Course Director. This reduces the number of dives you must have (10 versus 20) showing experience in the specialty area.
- If you already have the experience (min. 20 logged dives), you can apply directly to your PADI Regional Headquarters. You will find the Specialty Instructor Application on the PADI Pros Site.
Why Teach Specialty Diver Courses?
PADI Specialty Diver courses trigger the lust for more – more gear, more courses and more adventures. And at the end of the day, you will have more satisfied customers and happier staff.
PADI Continuing Education courses are the foundation for business success!
