[Taiwan Diving – Dylan Chen Column] 3 Essential Qualities of a Competent Divemaster Assistant Instructor (The Second-in-Command)

The Importance of a Divemaster as Second-in-Command Is Greater Than You Think

To gauge whether a company is capable of growing, don't look at the CEO — look at the second-in-command. The question is whether that person can perfectly support the leader in every aspect, and whether they have the ability to step up when needed, rather than letting all the work fall on the CEO's shoulders.
The same logic applies when assessing whether a dive shop or an instructor can handle large-group teaching: look at their second-in-command — the Divemaster (qualified assistant instructor). Being able to teach students doesn't mean you know how to develop Divemasters; those are entirely different skill sets. So if an instructor can cultivate a great Divemaster, it means the number of students they can train — and the quality of that training — improves dramatically.

3 Essential Qualities a Divemaster Must Have When Serving as an Assistant Instructor

When a Divemaster serves as an assistant instructor, they should embody three qualities: a steady mindset, sharp eyes, and a warm way with words.

1. A "Steady Mindset"

Throughout a course, the Divemaster must learn how to support diving students — improving safety, increasing efficiency, and making the class more enjoyable.
In doing so, they need to understand that the role of second-in-command can sometimes be harder than the instructor's own job. You must maintain a steady, grounded mindset: fulfill your duties as an assistant, support the instructor's decisions and approach, never overstep, and never be absent when needed.

2. Sharp, All-Seeing Eyes

What do you think an assistant needs to do?
The answer will probably frustrate you, because it's essentially everything. You need to anticipate what the instructor requires and provide it before they even ask.
Be a great adviser — address the instructor's needs before they arise, give students what they need, and deliver even more than expected.
For example: overseeing the distribution and retrieval of equipment, keeping an eye on students the instructor can't attend to at that moment, handling logistics, and leading underwater tours.

3. The Most Important Thing — A Warm Way with Words

From my perspective, the most critical role a Divemaster plays in a course is being the bridge between the instructor and the students. Instructors can't always attend to every single student — that's when the Divemaster steps in to help, relaying student performance feedback to the instructor and helping students work through learning difficulties.

To make each course more fulfilling and enjoyable, you need to do more than just assist with the teaching — you need students to get to know you and like you. That comes down to your approachability and genuine care for every individual. When every student who walks through the door feels the warmth of the atmosphere, and senses that both the instructor and Divemaster truly care about them, it makes an enormous difference to the learning experience. That, I believe, is the greatest value of the Divemaster course — and it also means you get to make more friends along the way.

Finally, Make Students Remember Your Name

Professor Ping-Cheng Yeh once said, "Your most important label is your own name." No matter what title you hold right now, you must perform that role well — because what we want people to remember is who we are as individuals: what kind of support we provided, how we made ourselves known, and how we made our presence felt.

Don't become someone who is expendable — someone who provides no real assistance throughout the process, shows no concern for any of the students, and can't even remember the students' names. How can you possibly expect students to remember your name, or feel warmly toward it, if you don't make that effort?

No one is a second-in-command forever. One day you will stand in the position you've been working toward. But at this stage, what you need to do is embody a steady mindset, sharp eyes, and a warm way with words — and in the meantime, build your skills, forge your personal brand, and develop the capacity to do every single thing well.

Related links:

• 【Taiwan Diving – Dylan Chen Column】When Planning a Dive Trip, How Do You Choose a Dive Shop?

• 【Taiwan Diving – Dylan Chen Column】Before Advancing to the PADI Divemaster Course, There Are 3 Pitfalls You Must Avoid

• 【Taiwan Diving – Dylan Chen Column】If You Want to Become a Divemaster, You Can Start Preparing in These 3 Areas Right Now

• 【Taiwan Diving – Dylan Chen Column】Divemasters and Instructors Are Everywhere — How Do You Stand Out from the Crowd?

• 【Taiwan Diving – Dylan Chen Column】How to Deliver a Dive Briefing That Students Actually Understand

• Director Dylan Chen's Personal Facebook

• Taiwan Diving Official Website