Why did I become an instructor?

Old Life - New Life Sign

Originally, I was a BSAC diver, for me it is a great organisation and I thought that was it as far as diving was concerned.

However, I knew something was missing and as the saying goes when the student is willing the master appears. The masters appeared in the guise of two PADI instructors who had a huge influence on me and I aspired to be them one day.

The next thing my crossover to PADI Divemaster become a reality and then a gradual move on to become a PADI Instructor.

Do I regret it, absolutely not.. since qualifying I have taken many people on a journey, introducing people to a sport I love, watching them go from nervous apprehension to being fully engaged in the sport is the best thing ever.  Including taking myself on a journey I could not have anticipated.

And I have A GREAT OFFICE! being able to teach and coach people to dive for me is a vocation and a passion, nothing else gives you several emotions all in one 40-minute dive. Fear of the unknown, confidence that you know what to do, resilience to keep at it no matter what the student throws at you, Inner Peace experiencing the underwater world. It challenges my inner demon to push myself to be every day in every way better and better.

In fact I don't believe I am an instructor, I'm a coach and I believe that my role is to provide positive enforcement.. maybe hold your hand and at times wipe away the tears… some of frustration, some of wonderment but best of all are the happy tears when someone thought they could not do something and they did… 

Someone asked me recently if I had to overcome any fears, challenges or obstacles to get where I am now in my diving career?  It’s funny but if I had said no you would think that’s arrogant, but let me explain from the moment my head went under the water everything melted away and I knew in heart this was where I should be and what I should do.

Beforehand yes, I did have to really pull deep into my belief I could do this and build my confidence but the funny thing is when you are ultimately focused on your goal there are no obstacles, you only see where you want to be. Which when coaching my students my underlying philosophy is mind over matter, you shouldn’t mind because the challenges don’t matter there just things to do to get you where you want to be.

Ask yourself how would you convince a non-diver to learn to dive?
I believe inside every person is a diver desperate to surface and go ahead. Listening is a key factor, understanding what that person’s hot buttons are then light a fire in their belly about the prospect of learning to dive. People are naturally curious but if you have empathy and understand what fears they may have. Enthusiasm on fire is always better than knowledge gone cold.

Be genuine, never criticise and above all love what you do and people will just want to learn.

I have meant many people along the way, and many are still true friends.  Its great bringing out the best in people.. everyone can dive, you just need that special person in your life … your diving instructor, no sorry your diving coach.

Want to know how to do this, then come and join our unique Instructor Development Course where with Dive Rutland staff and our Course Director, we will provide you with all of the tools - no sorry we do not do that, you already have the tools.  We just show you how to use them, then off to the Instructor Exams and the rest as they say is history.

Written by Tracey Roberts..

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