Generally these people offering their services are on holiday; usually they either have two weeks, three months or six months away from home. So, they take their holidays, work for free, in their mind they get free dives and then leave after eroding local conditions. The local divemasters and instructors; that is those who live in that area who are struggling to make a living, support families and pay bills - it is their pay and conditions that have been traded for free dives.
That being said, I wholeheartedly support internships for divemaster trainees; the greater exposure to actual diving operations, guiding certified divers, assisting entry-level diver programs, guiding divers on continuing education, retail sales and boat operations all build divemaster competency. But keep in mind, the divemaster trainee pays their course fee and are a customer of the dive shop, if they work out, they may be offered a job in the future.
If your services are offered for free - that is generally what they are worth.
Have to agree with you, Jeff. Why is the dive industry on such a race to the bottom when it comes to paying fair wages to the employees?
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting situation John, the industry is difficult enough as it is due to new instructors coming onto the market and driving down wages for experienced instructors. This in itself is market forces at work and part of the natural progression - no complaints here.
ReplyDeleteA newly minted instructor has dived with a shop working through the ranks and then wants to be employed there - that is fair enough as new instructors need opportunities. This makes it difficult for the career instructor but market forces can't be ignored.
It is the holiday instructor that damages the industry looking for free dives to supplement the minimum dives they needed to pass the course. We see this all the time in South East Asia damaging local communities by rich westerners looking for cheap holiday diving.