Picture this: You’re back on the dive boat after an amazing dive. Your instructor is smiling at you like they always do; the same smile they’ve given you since your first breath underwater. You’ve built a history together: your first mask clear, your first deep dive, your first certification card.
Now I’m telling you to fire them.
If you’ve been diving a while, that might feel like betrayal. But before you defend them (or threaten to unfriend me), hear me out.
I’ve Been That Loyal Student
I trained with the same instructor from my Discover Scuba Diving experience all the way to becoming a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. That’s a long journey together; hundreds of dives, countless hours, and a lot of trust.
These days, I run my own dive center and spend most of my time training new divers, Divemasters, and instructors. I love my work. I love being the “favorite instructor” for many of my nearly 400 certified students.
But here’s the thing:
I tell my students, “Don’t take all your courses from me.”
And sometimes, I flat-out refuse to teach them.
Why? Because Loyalty Can Limit You
A scuba instructor isn’t just a teacher; they’re a mentor, a role model, and in some ways, a lifeline. Your survival is literally in our hands. We help you feel safe, we cheer for your milestones, and we’re there when you need us.
That bond is powerful… and that’s exactly why it can hold you back.
When you only learn from one person, you’re limited to their way of doing things. And diving is far too big a world for just one perspective.
The Many Faces of Scuba Instruction
Over the years, I’ve met /and learned from all kinds of instructors:
- The Gear Guru who can customize a setup for any dive style.
- The People Whisperer who can calm the most anxious beginner.
- The Depth Junkie who thrives on technical challenges.
- The Marine Life Encyclopaedia who can identify everything down to its Latin name.
- The Photographer who sees the ocean as an art gallery.
- The Old-School Traditionalist who still uses RDP tables.
- The Gadget Lover who tests every new tech toy before anyone else.
None of them are “better” or “worse” than the others; but each offers something unique. If you only stick to one, you’ll never know what the others can teach you.
Breaking the Cycle
Here’s what I recommend:
- Mix it up. Take your next course from a different instructor.
- Travel and explore. Visit other dive centers, even locally.
- Bring it back. Share your new skills with your original mentor; they’ll probably love it.
You’re not “cheating” on your instructor. We’re not your hairdressers, and we won’t turn off your air because you learned Enriched Air elsewhere. The best pros want you to grow, even if that means learning from someone else.
From the Other Side of the Mask
As an instructor, nothing makes me prouder than seeing a former student come back with new skills, new stories, and maybe a different fin kick style. It means they’re building their own dive identity; not just following mine.
That’s the goal: not just to make confident divers, but to help you become independent, adaptable, and endlessly curious.
So go ahead! Fire your favorite.
Not forever. Just long enough to explore new waters, meet new mentors, and expand your horizons. When you come back, you’ll have more to share, more to learn, and more reasons to keep falling in love with diving.
Comments
1 Comment
Burcu I love this Thank you
My story has been very much different people and places for each level of my experience – on one hand this is great – the flip side not all instructors are good ones – you are exceptional and I loved learning from you. However, there are some Companies who offer courses and do them without the same skill but ‘suggest’ they have it.
Please whomever you use do your research first. Then absolutely see the world one company at a time
You don’t learn best from one style and one person you learn from multiple disciplines in the same field.
Peace out