People aspiring to work in the scuba diving industry come from all over the world to get their instructor training at Pro Dive International in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 

Dave Lawler, Marketing Director for DAN (Divers Alert Network), leads a sizeable team using management skills he says he obtained at Pro Dive. Here he reflects upon his early beginnings.

In his home town of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Dave was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed snowboarding and other adventure sports activities. He took an interest in diving and became certified as a young teen.   

While still in high school, Dave decided he would seek a career in the dive industry. "I phoned every dive school I could find for information. Believe it or not, Pro Dive was the first and only school to respond promptly. I was impressed with the professional yet personal follow-up and ended up enrolling in Pro Dive's Rescue Diver Training program." 

The warm waters of Ft. Lauderdale convinced Dave that an instructor position in the Caribbean was just what he needed. 

Following his training completion, Dave found himself with $100 in his pocket and wondering where to go from there. Thanks to Pro Dive's job placement program, he immediately received an offer and was off to Martinique as an instructor for ClubMed, then on to Tahiti for another instructing stint. 

After that, Dave returned stateside to work with Pro Dive. For the next seven years, he worked in nearly every aspect of operations, becoming Pro Dive's youngest course director at 21.

"I grew up at Pro Dive," said Dave. "Thanks to Pro Dive, I've been able to see the world, teach others and gain the skills needed to further my career in the business of diving."  Dave still maintains close ties with his Pro Dive network of friends and associates.  

On the other side of the globe, is former Pro Dive student Paul Shepherd, owner/operator of Rising Sun Dive Centre of Zanzibar, Tanzania in East Africa. With a permanent staff of 14, the centre runs 2 to 4 trips daily from 4 boats.

Paul started diving at the age of 10 while vacationing with his parents in Kenya.  Traveling often with his parents, Paul noticed that the people having the most fun at the resorts were the dive instructors. So, at age 18, during a summer break from his teaching job in Tanzania, he was offered a job / training internship to earn his Dive Master certification.  

Paul then returned to his home in the United Kingdom, where he set out to find the best instructor school he could. Pro Dive was recommended to Paul. 

"I called and spoke with Jayne Haas, who is the most fantastic woman ever!" said Paul. "She wouldn't marry me, though," he kidded. "But, seriously, the professionalism of the operation was apparent from the beginning." 

"Pro Dive takes the training that extra distance to provide students with the tools needed in the industry," said Paul. "Anyone can teach you to be an instructor, but if you want to excel, you need to learn more, and Pro Dive does that for you."

 Paul lauds Pro Dive's Resort Operations Specialty program and makes a point of hiring Pro Dive graduates whenever possible. "ROS is a great way to prepare anyone to work in the industry," said Paul. 

Anyone interested in pursuing a career in scuba diving can contact Pro Dive International at  www.ProDiveusa.com or call 1-954-PRO-DIVE or toll free in the U.S.  1-800-PRO-DIVE.