5 Benefits of Becoming a Specialty Instructor / Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Working as a scuba diving instructor in paradise sounds like a dream job to many divers, so it may sound odd to hear instructors complain about being bored after working the dive industry for several years. But let's face it: teaching the only open water courses day in and day out can become a little tedious for most people after a while. Yet, there are scuba instructors who have made life-long careers out of diving and still have the same enthusiasm as when they started. How do these instructors avoid burn out? By keeping life interesting, continuing their own education and teaching the courses that they really enjoy. Becoming a specialty instructor and gaining PADI’s Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) rating is a great way for instructors to spend more time doing the underwater activities that they enjoy and to pass that love and enthusiasm on to others.

Speciality Instructors

There are 3 ways to become certified as a specialty instructor:

1.  Take a specialty instructor training course offered by a PADI Course Director. With this method, instructors gain teaching tips, marketing ideas and hands-on experience while fine tuning their own skills and teaching techniques.
2. Apply directly to PADI for a speciality instructor rating. This method involves showing a certain amount of experience in the specialty area (20 logged dives) and requires the instructor to have issued at least 25 core PADI certifications before applying. This method is not available for all specialties, and a number of specialties have additional prerequisites, such as the Cavern Diver Specialty Instructor rating for which instructors must also have a full cave diving certification.
3. Write a Distinctive Specialty. PADI has about 25 standard specialty courses available, but instructors can also write a program on a special area of interest and have it approved by PADI. There are guidelines on the PADI website for those interested in authoring a program.

Master Scuba Diver Trainer

The Master Scuba Diver Rating is the 2nd rung on the PADI's instructor ladder, and denotes an individual who has a certain level of experience and has invested in their own professional development. To apply for the rating the instructor must be able to teach at least 5 PADI specialties and have issued at least 25 PADI diver certifications.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Specialty Instructor or Master Scuba Diver Trainer?

1.  Income. Being able to teach specialties increases an instructor's earning potential. Most of the specialty courses can be run over 1-2 days and involve less contact time for an instructor. 
2. Employability. Many dive centers, particularly those who rely on training courses as a mainstay of their business, require the MSDT rating as a minimum for their instructors. By doing this, the dive centers ensure their instructors are versatile and able to provide the required service for their customers, and that they will be selling and teaching specialty courses.
3. Job Satisfaction. There really is nothing better than doing what you love everyday and, as a bonus, being paid for it. Being certified to teach the specialty courses that you love allows you to do this everyday.
4. Personal Development. Many instructors have the philosophy of taking a dive course for themselves every year. It reminds them what it is like to be the student, but also gives them the opportunity to try new areas of diving and new equipment like sidemount, underwater photography and diver propulsion vehicles (underwater scooters).
5. Prerequisite for Further Instructor Training. For instructors who are interested in taking their training even further in areas such as professional or technical training, the MSDT rating is often a prerequisite. For example, to enroll in the IDC Staff Instructor course (learning to teach instructor courses), or many of the Tec instructors ratings, candidates must be an MSDT. 

The Take Home Message About Learning to Teach Scuba Specialty Courses

One of the most exciting things about diving is that it is continually evolving. New technology and equipment is being introduced every year, and new locations and activities are almost always being explored and discovered. There is always something new to try! Scuba diving is a diverse sport, offering something for everyone and every interest from technical diving to conservation and research. As a specialty instructor, you have the opportunity to specialize in the areas that interest most and share them with your students. Students will also appreciate and enjoy taking those courses from instructors who clearly enjoy what they are doing and are enthused by what they are teaching. So get out there – explore the world of diving and help others to do the same!