The new year has begun and it is looking good! Last year had some great moments and although there were tough times it ended on a high note. I decided a couple of years ago to step away from teaching scuba full time for a while due to personal and economic reasons. I planned to work for UPS and make a bunch of money and get my finances in order and use the excellent health benefits to catch up on routine health care. Well, I have been struggling for 2 and 1/2 years barely getting by on an average of less than 10 days of work per month. Of course I am not complaining much about that because many people fared much worse than I did through the whole economic crisis. Now things are really looking up, I made some good moves in 2009 to set the stage for what hopefully will be a triumphant return to the scuba business. For example, first and most important I got married to Laurie, my best friend and that is the best thing I have done ever. Second, I sold my house so now I have the freedom to make a move back to a diving destination to get back on the front line of the scuba industry, and third, I got a second job that will help me get on tract to pay off the small remainder of debt that I am carrying.
Now, I just have to decide where I will start teaching again? My first choice is to go right back to Catalina Island, I love it there. But I do not plan on making a move until around June so I want to research some other spots as well. Possibilities? Well, perhaps I can give the U.S. Virgin Islands another shot; the last time I tried to work there I gave up too easily and maybe I was wrong to do so. Perhaps I will give a look at Florida and Hawaii too. I heard working conditions in Florida in the Scuba industry are not very good, but I should research that further. I heard work was good in Hawaii but it is hard to live there, well it is hard to live on Catalina Island too, but it was worth it.
Meanwhile I want to take some good dive trips and write some reviews, articles and blogs that will spark some interest for some people and I want to work on my Internet business so that I can have a side income when I start teaching again. My first stop; back to Catalina Island in March for a little lobster hunting and maybe to teach a class or two. Next stop; Florida Keys and diving in Key Largo, Islamorada and Key West. After that, La Paz, Mexico in October to play with the sea lions and hopefully the hammerhead sharks.
So, it looks like 2010 will be a good year with many excellent scuba adventures and fun with good friends.
Tim Sanchez www.vistasbelow.com
Tags: how to be a scuba instructor, learning to be a scuba instructor, scuba diving, scuba instructor, scuba instructor hobby, scuba trip review, teaching scuba, travel, working as a scuba instructor
