SDI Instructor Jiawen Zhou -

Jiawen Zhou

Stories from Diving with an SDI Instructor

Name: Jiawen Zhou (Sam)

Country of origin: China

Place of residence: Dania Beach, FL

Dive club / dive center: Coral Diving Club

Highest diving certifications: Adv Mix Gas CCR+Adv Trimix

Highest instructor certifications: SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer

How do you remember your first course as an instructor?

I will remember my first course as an instructor forever. My first course as an instructor is an Open water course. I only got one student. This student is not only my first open water student but also my good friend right now. I did basically all his training from open water to adv trimix class. He is also an SDI instructor now. It feels really great to grow together with my students.

What motivates you to keep teaching diving every day?

I really love diving, whether it’s a shallow reef or a 300ft shipwreck. This gives me the most important motivation as a diving instructor. Secondly, teaching students gives me a sense of accomplishment that is very valuable to me. Each class brings completely different but distinctive students, and in the process of teaching them, I often learn important lessons from them. All of this makes me love teaching.

What do you think is the most important skill a student should master before being certified?

I believe that the most important skill for diving students to master before getting a certification is neutral buoyancy. I not only teach SDI courses, but also TDI technical diving courses. Regardless of the course, good neutral buoyancy ensures that divers have a safe and efficient diving experience. Furthermore, good neutral buoyancy is an important fundamental for all advanced courses. Even as an instructor, I’m still mastering my neutral buoyancy skill every day.

What message would you give to those considering becoming dive instructors?

Becoming a diving instructor is truly a meaningful and challenging endeavor. Diving instruction is not only about teaching and making sure students meet standards. It’s also about helping people fall in love with the ocean and enjoy diving. As a diving instructor, I have seen a lot of students fall in love with the ocean and begin to protect it, which makes me feel that every lesson I teach is truly meaningful. At the same time, it is a highly challenging profession, as you have numerous responsibilities and duties. You must constantly push yourself to improve and ensure you have the necessary skills to guarantee the safety of your students. I believe this is the true charm of being a diving instructor. Therefore, becoming a diving instructor is undoubtedly an excellent choice! Don’t forget, you always need to love the ocean!

Why did you choose SDI as the diving agency you work with?

I enjoy working with SDI/TDI. I have collaborated with many different organizations, but only SDI provides the support and services I need. To me, SDI is not just a diving training organization; it feels more like a family—a family that cares about every member. It is not a commercial organization focused solely on profit. Let me share an example that really resonated with me. When I needed to contact the agency for support or assistance, I could simply call the headquarters or use the online customer service to get help. This is something other organizations simply cannot do—they often leave me waiting endlessly or navigating through AI menus. SDI truly prioritizes helping instructors resolve issues, which has further solidified my decision to choose SDI as my primary training agency. Choosing SDI is definitely the right choice!

Which courses do you enjoy teaching the most and why?

I thoroughly enjoy teaching any technical diving course. Among them, the one I probably enjoy teaching the most is the O2ptima CM Helitrox Decompression course. This is an introductory course for CCR, and it’s the course where I help technical divers transition from one underwater world to a completely different one. From the course itself, I really enjoy helping students learn to use a rebreather and seeing them enjoy their diving after the course is very rewarding. During the course, the underwater environment is very quiet, allowing both myself and the students to fully immerse ourselves in the underwater world, feeling our own breathing and the natural changes around us. These experiences are what make me love teaching this course.

What has been the most rewarding moment in your career as an instructor so far?

The most rewarding moment for me was when my first recreational diving student completed the Adv Trimix 330ft course. The transformation from being a beginner in recreational diving to being able to complete the most advanced technical diving courses is incredibly satisfying and touching. He actively shares his diving travel plans with me, such as some famous technical diving sites he plans to visit. This makes me feel that I have truly helped someone fall in love with the ocean and become a responsible diver who can take care of themselves and others. This is the most rewarding moment for me and has always influenced my love for the ocean and teaching.

1 reply

Nicole Heath says:
October 15, 2025 at 11:37 am

Sam is an awesome instructor, I have seen him out on the boats here in Pompano Beach and he is very professional and always takes great care of his students!
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