Do you remember your first impression of diving? Whether you started with Discovery Scuba Diving or jumped right into the Open Water Diver course, your instructor may have influenced how you feel about scuba diving.

PADI Instructors have an important mission - to sustain the industry by educating the next generation of divers. There are a few important qualities you need to possess to be an effective dive instructor. Do you think you are capable? Let's find out below, we discuss the top five signs that you could be a great Instructor.

#1 You love diving!

If you love scuba diving, never-ending underwater time, ocean encounters and bubbles, why not consider a career in the industry?

The instructor needs a lot of diving experience and must be super comfortable in the water, students feel that. If it's fear or insecurity, they'll sniff it out. But if you love the sport, chances are your students will too. The world definitely needs more people who love and want to protect water.

#2 You have great situational awareness.

A plethora of potential problems and frustrations can arise when working as an PADI Instructor. Problems range from seasickness to preventing new divers from surfacing as boats pass overhead.

Situational awareness enables you to prevent these situations from happening while also preventing further escalation. This is how we approach scuba diving as a low risk sport. Therefore, someone with a high level of situational awareness may make an excellent scuba instructor.

#3 You enjoy working/being with people.

Diving is a highly personal business that tests your social skills and patience every day. The ability to work with clients from all over the world and make them smile is what sets the instructors apart.

#4 You are calm and collected.

Diving doesn't always mean blowing bubble rings and posing for underwater photos. As a dive instructor, your job is to be a leader. Your students look at you for help. Leaders are people who work well under pressure. Staying cool, calm and collected in stressful situations is key to being a good coach.

#5 You have a positive attitude?

If you have a positive attitude, becoming a dive instructor will be for you. For clients learning to dive, the day starts early. The best way (besides a mug of coffee) to focus and stay alert is to have someone with a smile on their face show you the ropes.

A positive attitude is the best way to get new divers excited and interested in the activity. The best instructors know how to create a safe and fun environment for their divers.

So, do you have what it takes to be a good dive instructor? We hope that after reading this article, you will know if you are suitable to become a scuba diving instructor.

If so, why not join us in April on our next IDC. If you want to learn more about becoming a scuba instructor, drop an email to Jill via info@waterhoppers.com or click here.