Diving Careers: Why I Became an Instructor but Do Not Teach

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Becoming a scuba instructor was never part of my life plan. For most of my adult life, I worked in a comfortable nine-to-five office role in the UK. Diving and living overseas was something other people did — confident people, adventurous people with no ties.

A turning point in my life made me realize that life was too short to let fear dictate my choices. I had already taken my Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water courses to make it possible to go on shark-diving trips. The next step — one that felt impossibly bold — was to go all in and train as both a Divemaster and a Dive Instructor.

I wanted to grow as a person. I wanted to see what I was capable of outside the boundaries of my office job. And I wanted the chance to join the diving community fully — to travel, to connect with people who shared my love for the ocean, and to step into a completely different life built around diving careers that could take me anywhere in the world.

Have you ever wondered where a single decision could take you — and how it might change not just your work, but your whole way of living? 

This is the story of how becoming a scuba instructor opened doors I never expected, and why I chose a different path in the dive industry.

From Fearful Diver to Confident Instructor

I began my Divemaster training in the UK's cold inland waters, followed by a Divemaster internship and instructor training in the warm, clear waters of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. 

By the time I became a Diving Instructor, I had completed dozens of dives. Somewhere in those dives, I had crossed a threshold: the fear that had followed me underwater for years was finally gone.

The process of learning to teach was powerful, and helping students through their own challenges was deeply rewarding. I loved the idea that I could play a role in helping someone else discover the magic of the underwater world.

And yet, after qualifying, I realized that full-time teaching was not the right long-term fit for me. The skills I had gained were invaluable — but I sensed my contribution to the dive industry might take a different shape.

Read More: Explore other ways to build a life underwater in Diving Jobs You Did Not Know About - Beyond the Instructor Role 

Choosing a Different Path

At that crossroads, I looked at the many diving careers available — and how each one offered its own way to live and work in the water. Teaching was one, but there were so many others: guiding, marine conservation, liveaboard crew, underwater photography, equipment sales and servicing, marketing, expedition logistics, research, dive travel…

I could have chosen to stay in Egypt or moved to a tropical island dive center. But another opportunity pulled me in a different direction — to return to South Africa, where I had previously spent time, and work as a great white shark cage diving guide and wildlife tour guide.

That role combined shark diving, education, and conservation. Every day, I spoke with guests about the reality of great white sharks, their importance to marine ecosystems, and the threats they face. In many ways, it was teaching — but in a very different classroom.

Finding My Voice Through Writing

While guiding in South Africa, I discovered a new passion: writing. I started with small conservation updates and trip reports, then built up to more substantial articles. When I was not on the boat, I was at my laptop, writing about marine life, shark conservation, and the travel experiences diving makes possible. 

It was a doorway into another side of diving careers — one that let me share the ocean through stories rather than skills courses.

At first, I wrote for free to gain experience. Over time, I became a professional dive travel and marine conservation writer, contributing to publications like BBC Wildlife Magazine, scuba diving magazines worldwide, and online dive and travel platforms.

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Building a Career Beyond the Water

That writing path grew into something bigger. I learned the craft of content writing, copywriting, and search engine optimization. I developed my marketing skills and began working with dive businesses on their websites, campaigns, and brand stories. Eventually, I became a global marketing consultant for the dive industry.

It is a role that allows me to work from anywhere in the world, stay deeply connected to the diving community, and keep learning as marketing and communications evolve — especially now, as AI reshapes how we share stories and reach audiences.

I do not spend every day in the water anymore, but my work still supports the same ocean that inspired me to dive in the first place.

The Diving Careers I Did Not Take — and Why That is Okay

Looking back, I could have followed many different diving careers after becoming an instructor. Guiding on liveaboards, resort management, marine conservation expeditions, and more.

All of them are valid, exciting diving careers, and part of the richness of this industry is knowing that no single path is the "right" one.

Part of building a career in diving is recognizing where your skills, passions, and lifestyle needs intersect. 

For me, that intersection was in writing, marketing, and conservation — not teaching. And that is the beauty of the dive industry: becoming an instructor does not lock you into one role. 

The skills you gain — communication, problem-solving, teamwork, situational awareness — are transferable to a huge range of roles both in and beyond the water.

Learn More: Discover how to turn your passion into a profession in From Passion to Paycheck: How to Land the Best Dive Jobs Around the World 

Why Becoming an Instructor Was Still the Right Choice

Even though I do not teach, becoming an instructor was still one of the best decisions I have made. It gave me confidence I did not have before. It introduced me to lifelong friends. It opened doors in the industry that I could not have imagined when I started.

Most importantly, it showed me that it is okay to change direction. The training was not wasted — it was a launchpad. Without it, I would not be where I am now.

A Career That Still Feels Like Diving

Today, I write about many topics in the dive industry. I help dive businesses tell their stories and connect with divers around the world. And I still get to experience that unique sense of community that drew me to diving in the first place. 

It is proof that diving careers can evolve in unexpected directions while still keeping you connected to the ocean.

My days look different from those I imagined when I first signed up for my diving instructor course. But I am still part of the same ocean family, still contributing to the industry I love — just in my own way.

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Your Diving Career Can Be Anything You Want It to Be

If you are considering a career in diving, know this: you do not have to follow a single, straight path. You might teach for decades. You might guide, photograph, research, market, or advocate. You might, like me, start in one area and find your long-term home in another.

What matters is finding the work that keeps you connected to the water and the community — in a way that is sustainable for you.

Ready to Explore Your Own Path?

From teaching to guiding, conservation, media, and beyond — there is a whole ocean of possibilities. 

Explore SSI's Global Diving Jobs Portal to see where your skills could take you.