Working as a SCUBA dive leader or instructor is not all sun and sand. The very lives of guests will be in your hands, and you will be expected to adhere to the strictest of regulations concerning how you teach people to dive. You'll work long hours, and you may deal with large groups of people who have only a short amount of time to dive and want to get the most from it.

Perhaps the biggest concern to SCUBA instructors is liability. In the words of a SCUBA instructor who has worked in Mexico and the Channel Islands:

"It's stressful because you've got people's lives in your hands. You've got to teach them the right way of doing things, or it could mean the difference between life and death. It's stressful at first but the more experience you have, the less stressful it is."

Fortunately, when you work as an employee of a resort, liability and responsibility for carrying insurance lie with your employer. Still, there is an inherent risk in SCUBA diving, and as an instructor you'll be expected to keep up-to-date with the latest safety protocol.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that being a dive leader involves much more than just diving. You'll be expected to load gear, to talk to people, and anything else that is necessary to the business of SCUBA diving.

A dive shop owner says newcomers should be willing to pitch in where needed:

"Be prepared to do more than just diving. There are a lot of things that go along with diving that you need to be prepared to do. Your work day can include washing the vans, standing behind the counter, or selling trips. You need to be open-minded and you need to be a team player."

SCUBA Instructor Jobs (Hiring Practices) >>>