Scuba Diving Industry Market Data
Survey: The Economics of Being a Scuba Diving Instructor
Dive Industry Market Study on Remuneration and Costs of Dive Instructors Announced
Darcy Kieran is the author of “Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor” and unique advanced logbooks & checklists for scuba divers, divemasters & instructors.
February 6, 2025 — The Business of Diving Institute and InDEPTH Magazine are seeking dive instructors to participate in the 2nd edition of the dive industry survey on the “economics” of being a dive instructor.
“Dive instructor” includes scuba diving instructors, instructor trainers, and course directors who were active in 2024.
Dive instructors are the gateway for water enthusiasts to discover and experience the underwater world.
We can discuss the ideal structure and business model of the industry, and the role of local dive shops, but dive instructors will always remain key to our successes. Therefore, we thought it was important to better understand the life and economics of dive instructors and determine how viable and sustainable their work really is.
The life of instructors has certainly been romanticized in dive industry advertising. Instructor training is often promoted as “living the dream.” It will be interesting to get a read on how romantic it is from an economics perspective.
We are also very interested in the transition from recreational instruction to tech diving instruction, and from instructor to instructor trainer, and what that looks like, financially.
Dive instructors are the “front line”. The more we understand what is happening with their career, the more we can support them and advance our industry.
Improving the consistency in the quality of the experience is key to our growth. And it’s in the hands of the instructors on the front line!
Our industry suffers from a lack of data and hopefully, this study will help plug in some gaps.
This study is a joint effort between Darcy Kieran (Business of Diving Institute) and Michael Menduno (InDEPTH Magazine). Numerous dive training agencies and scuba diving publications have jumped on board to help with this survey. We are looking forward to thanking everybody at the end of the study.
We thank the following scuba diving industry leaders for directly supporting this initiative: Shearwater, DAN Europe, and GUE.
You may have a look at the results of the 2021 edition of this survey on the economics of being a dive instructor here.
You could help the dive industry by taking part in other ongoing scuba diving industry market surveys. Results from our past scuba diving market studies are available here.
Also of possible interest to you:
- Handbook: Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor: How to Make a Good Living Out of Your Passion for Scuba Diving.
- Logbook: Advanced Scuba Diving Logbook with Checklists for certified scuba divers, divemasters & dive instructors.
- Handbook: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To Scuba Diving: How to Increase Safety, Save Money & Have More Fun!
- Logbook: STARTER Scuba Diving Logbook with Checklists while getting your open water diver certification!
- Reference book: Scuba Diving Industry Market Size Research Report (2nd Edition).
Side note: During your surface intervals, have a look at novels with a scuba diving twist, starting with “Mystery of The Blue Dragon.”
Don’t be left out! Subscribe to Scubanomics: The Dive Industry Compass to be the first to know about new dive industry market data & insights. Otherwise, be our “dive business buddy” on LinkedIn, Facebook, and elsewhere.
What now? Have a look at the complete Scubanomics Table of Contents.
