The DEJEPS Diving: My Journey to Becoming an Instructor through Apprenticeship

At 24 years old, I am proud to be a state-certified diving instructor! Water has always been my element: fishing, freediving, spearfishing, scuba diving… It’s impossible for me to imagine my life away from the sea. My first dive at 8 years old was the start of a passion. I climbed the ranks: level 1, 2, 3, 4, up to the DEJEPS subaquatic diving option at the CREPS in Montpellier.

This training, essential for being a paid instructor in France, represents a significant investment. Luckily, several funding options exist: Pôle Emploi, CPF (personal training account), regional aids, and the apprenticeship contract, which I chose.

Apprenticeship: a royal road to instructor status

Motivated and determined, I left my job as a cook to fully devote myself to diving. I validated the PSE1 (team first aid) and the coastal license, prerequisites for the DEJEPS diving. Once registered, it was necessary to find funding and a dive center for internships, alternating between CREPS and company.

In 2020, at the Paris Dive Show, I met the team from Espace Mer, at La Tour Fondue, Giens peninsula (Hyères – Var). After presenting my motivations, they offered me a two-week internship during my summer vacation. Diving, kayak rental, water taxi, discovering Porquerolles and the Golden Isles by old rig, Hyères islands circuit, cetacean outings… I was captivated by the diversity of activities. They agreed to finance my DEJEPS through an apprenticeship contract. Enrollment in the selection tests and the long-awaited start of the training was finally possible!

The tests included a motivation interview and a written test. The subject? « What does the young audience represent for diving to you? » I discussed the physiological adaptations in children and the importance of retaining young divers, future actors of our discipline. The interview highlighted my passion, motivation, knowledge of the curriculum, and competence units (UC). A piece of advice: avoid talking about projects for installation outside DROM-COM or PADI courses, as metropolitan needs are a priority. I was accepted!