Of all the careers for divers, a career in equipment sales and maintenance may be one of the easiest to come by, and also one of the most in demand. If you like the idea of having access to the latest and greatest diving equipment, plus having the opportunity to live just about anywhere equipment is used, rented, or sold, then this just might be a good choice for you. With part time and full time opportunities available in a variety of locales all over the world, this is a good way to finance your diving and provide yourself the opportunity to interact with other people who share the same interests you do.
Diving Equipment Sales
Everyone who dives eventually wants or needs new equipment, and equipment from top manufacturers nearly sells itself. People working in equipment sales either work for manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers – three distinct opportunities that provide a variety of opportunities for advancement, along with good pay and benefits. In order to work in any kind of sales, you need to be personable; learn to understand what people need, and learn how to deal with a variety of different personalities. While you might do most of your work over the phone or online, you will occasionally need to meet with clients, provide product demonstrations, and do a little fancy footwork to influence consumer choice. The amount of actual selling you’ll need to do in this field depends greatly on whether you’re working with suppliers or with end consumers.
If you work in a retail environment, people might come to you for advice about which equipment to choose; a good working knowledge of diving and equipment is certainly a precursor to employment in the field. General sporting goods knowledge is also a plus; some retail locations sell a variety of sporting equipment and need well rounded employees. If you have previous sales experience and you know about diving equipment, your chances are even better.
Diving Equipment Service
Just like everything else we rely on, diving equipment needs to be serviced regularly. Regulators need to be serviced annually, or more often if they are used on a regular basis. If you have good mechanical aptitude and enjoy working with your hands, then servicing dive gear can be a fun way to make an income while living in an area where you can spend your days off logging bottom time. There are opportunities in all sorts of places. Service technicians work in dive shops where people buy and rent gear, they work on cruise ships, and they work at resorts. Some work for the companies that manufacture gear, refurbishing and repairing items returned to manufacturers for a variety of reasons.
As all equipment used by divers is basically life support equipment, it is very important that repairs, adjustment, and testing be conducted by formally trained technicians. A variety of specialized courses are available, and training generally takes anywhere from as little as a few days to as long as a few weeks to complete. You can find partial training online, however you will need hands on courses from an accredited training facility prior to gaining employment in the field.
Fun and rewarding, with opportunities for advancement, these are two careers that don’t require advanced certification, and they are good stepping stone careers toward greater advancement in other dive oriented fields. You can learn more about these careers by visiting manufacturers’ websites to see what kind of experience is desirable, and by talking with people who already do the jobs you are considering. Keep on diving, and learn all you can about equipment in the meantime. One of the most in-demand jobs in the industry could soon be yours.