OWSI (Open Water Scuba Instructor) First Impressions

Many of you followed my blog for my OWSI Course and IE, so now that I am actually teaching on my own here are some thoughts.
So was it worth it? Hmm, this seems like a silly question but really this is an important one. I have been teaching/training people in one capacity or another for years. As a Dispatcher for an ambulance company in Seattle then a 9-1-1 Center in Winter Park, Fl I trained people to do a critical job that impacted many lives. It was critical to get it right every time and the attention to detail was of utmost importance. I truly enjoyed those jobs. I then moved on to teach dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, and support personnel how to use Public Safety software for two different companies. This period of my life took me all over the country and I even had the opportunity to train people from North Africa. Not all of these people were happy to be put into a class to learn their new way of doing things. Despite the sometimes very hostile environment I still loved to teach them to use their new tools well.
So was it worth it? Yes, absolutely yes.
It is amazing to be able to teach people who are eager, sometimes scared, and ready to learn. But the biggest reward for me is to be able to share this amazing sport/hobby/passion/profession with others. To see the excitement of that first open water dive and the first encounter with a starfish... you say starfish? Yes. Remember that something that may be routine to a seasoned diver is a new discovery to a brand new diver. I have a routine question that I ask at the end of each training dive after the debriefing is done. "What was your favorite part of your dive?" The responses vary from: Wow the whole thing to it was so cool to see and touch that decorator pin cushion sea urchin... Again, yes it was worth it.
Is it hard to do? Yes, it is both physically and mentally challenging, but that is what makes it fun, exciting and rewarding.
Can I get rich at it? Uh, sure that would be nice but it's not likely. The reasons for doing this are spelled out above. Love it, Live it, Share it.
Is it scary to be an instructor? Yes, sometimes. But that is why we prepare, train and follow our training.
What is it like to teach kids? Hehe, fun.
Who is it most rewarding to teach? The person that has not done anything adventurous and is scared and determined to learn. We had a woman come in that was 57 years old, and had not done anything adventurous before. Her sister was a scuba diver for five years and wanted to go on a trip with her to go diving. She wanted to get certified for this trip and was determined to do so. She had plenty of fear about scuba and we started in the pool. While doing skills she choked down panic, sometimes not successfully. We worked very closely with her and got her past her fears. We did so because she was determined to do so. After several extra pool sessions she was ready for open water. She completed her training and was certified. Her sister came down from North Carolina a short while later and they went diving in a spring in north central Florida. Her sister said, "I have been diving for five years and you are a better diver than I am." Now, that is why I do it. I have had an impact in changing someones life for the better. I thank all of those people from the past and those to come for the opportunity to make that impact.
I am responsible for peoples safety first and I balance that with the fun, and there is a huge amount of fun.
If you have any questions please post a comment or question I will reply.
Thank you for the opportunity to live my dreams,
Carl