Watching Isn’t Doing — And Popular Doesn’t Mean Qualified

Not a rant, just a truth I keep coming back to.

I’m tired of the diving industry turning into a circus of likes, shortcuts, and flashy certifications. This is what I still believe in:

Watching Isn’t Doing — And Popular Doesn’t Mean Qualified

The best instructors are often the ones you hear about last. Why? Because they’re not busy posting videos. They’re not trying to impress you with slow-motion reels and perfect trim shots. They’re busy teaching. And more importantly—they’re willing to lose business if it means keeping their standards high.

They’ll say “no” when you’re not ready. They’ll ask for more effort. They’ll demand that you earn the certification—not just pay for it. And yes, they’ll sometimes lose students to flashier, cheaper, easier options. But they care more about doing the job right than filling a calendar.

The Social Media Trap

Meanwhile, the dive scene is flooded with content creators who are amazing at grabbing attention—but that doesn’t mean they can teach. Diving skill doesn’t equal teaching skill. Teaching is an art. It’s about reading your student’s mind, adjusting the message, reshaping habits, and building real, deep competence. Flashy videos don’t do that. A good instructor does.

Fast, Cheap, and Shallow

But many divers don’t look for that. They go for the fastest course, the lowest price, the most famous name. One weekend and one cert later, they think they’re trained. But training isn’t supposed to be convenient. It’s supposed to change you. If you’re not challenged, you’re not learning.

Cert Collecting Is Not Competence

We’ve built a diving culture where people chase cards like Pokémon. Get the patch, post the picture, move on to the next one. But what do those cards mean if no one ever told you “that’s not good enough yet”? If no one ever helped you fix your mindset, your control, your awareness?

The Hard Truth

Real growth takes time. It’s uncomfortable. It’s frustrating. But it sticks. And the instructors who push you there are the ones you’ll thank later. They’re not selling you a selfie—they’re building you into a diver.

Final Word

If you care about being a solid diver, stop looking for easy. Stop chasing names and algorithms. Find the instructor who’ll tell you the truth. Who’ll demand your best. Who sees teaching not as a side gig—but as a craft. That’s who you want in your corner.

Alain Pocobelli

TDI IT 17063