Adventure Sport Instructor

In this career guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about adventure sports as a career, from roles and responsibilities, to work environment and roadmap to becoming an Adventure Sports Specialist / Adventure Sports Instructor.

Who's an Adventure Sports Instructor?

Love the idea of climbing tall mountains, swimming with marine life or jumping out of a plane and watching the ground get closer? For any other person, that’s just a special adventure, but for an adventure sports instructor, it’s a part and parcel of their daily life!

Adventure sports instructors, as the name suggests, train and guide enthusiasts for all kinds of adventure sports activities. These could be land activities like rock climbing or snowboarding, water activities like river rafting or scuba diving, or air activities like bungee jumping or sky diving. As an adventure sports instructor, you may choose to specialise in a particular activity and train people to attempt these activities in challenging areas.

As an adventure sports instructors, you could work with various sports clubs, tourism firms and companies that specialise in adventure activities. You could also start your own adventure sports organisation. Your primary job will be helping people get their adrenaline fix through adventure sports.

Do you love going on adventures? Want to pursue it as a future career option? Explore a day in the life of an Adventure Sports Specialists- Mrs. Dipti Thakoor and Mr. Chandan

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What will you do?

Conducting research on adventure sports.

You will have to learn all about the sport you are specialising in, from the risks involved to the training required for it. You must be well-informed as these sports can be life-threatening.

Example: A lot of people believe that deep-sea diving requires you to know how to swim, as a specialist, you would help people understand what is required and what is not and train them accordingly.

Analysing the geographical area of the adventure.

You must know the area where your sports activities are conducted well so you can avoid getting stuck in bad weather conditions, being attacked by wild animals or other hindrances that could come in the way.

Example: A paragliding expert would gauge the weather to check if it is suitable for flying. You would have to ensure that there is not too much wind nor signs of rain to ensure safety.

 

Analysing the risks involved.

All types of adventure sports activities come with their fair share of risks. You will have to ensure the safety of the people you train or work with.

Example: A skydiving trainer would need to know the risks involved with people who suffer from high or low blood pressure and warn people of these risks before they take on the activity.

 

Maintaining equipment.

Equipment such as ropes, slings, mittens, helmets, tents, carry mats, etc., must be checked, tested and kept in top-notch condition. Remember, any fault in the equipment or even a small glitch could put your and the client’s life in danger.

Example: As a deep-sea diver, you will have to ensure that the oxygen cylinders are stocked and filled at all times.

 

Conducting administrative functions.

You will ensure that all the clients have duly filled the forms required and signed on any other declaration forms required for the sport.

Example: Most adventure-sport firms require you to sign a form that lists the risks involves and ask you to declare that if you happen to get injured during the activity, you cannot hold the firm responsible.

Training participants.

Every adventure-sport activity involves the use of certain skills and techniques that you need to put into use to ensure you enjoy the sports while also being safe. Before starting off the activity, you would brief the participants on the skills and techniques they need to use to enjoy the activity to the fullest.

Example: If you were involved in diving, you would be taught to use certain signs to communicate with your comrades underwater.

Take the Mentoria career assessment, to find out how well-suited you are as an Adventure Sports Instructor.

Where will you work?

Land

If you specialise in snowboarding and rock-climbing, you would work with adventure-sport firms that offer these services. Here you would train people and partake in the activities yourself

Sky

If you specialise in skydiving or bungee jumping, you would spend most of your time at training grounds and jumping out of planes. 

Oceans

As someone who specialises in water-related adventure sports, you would spend most of your time at or under the ocean. River rafting, diving, etc., are some of the sports you would train people in and partake in. 

How do you get there?

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

You can opt for any stream at this level. However, start looking out for centres and schools that provide diploma courses for adventure sports.

STEP 2: Diploma/Certificate Course

Obtain a diploma or certificate degree in an adventure sport of your choice. India offers lots of courses at various adventure destinations that could be one-week long or one year long. a few places that offer diploma courses in adventure sports include Pune University, Flyboy Institute, Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure, Dive India, etc.

STEP 3: Graduation

Although a graduate degree is not necessary, you can obtain one in travel and tourism to know more about the main market you will be working in. Pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Travel from colleges like Agurchand Manmull Jain College (Chennai), Indore Professional Studies Academy (Indore), Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Baroda), etc.

STEP 4: Land a Job

Once you have completed your diploma course or your degree, you can start working at adventure firms as a trainee. Congratulations, you are now officially an adventure sports instructor!

 

Thinking of a career as an Adventure Sports Instructor? Take the Mentoria assessment & talk to our career counsellors to get personalized step-by-step guidance for your future career path.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

You can opt for any stream at this level. However, start looking out for centres and schools that provide diploma courses for adventure sports.

STEP 2: Diploma/Certificate Course

Obtain a diploma or certificate degree in an adventure sport of your choice. India offers lots of courses at various adventure destinations that could be one-week long or one year long. a few places that offer diploma courses in adventure sports include Pune University, Flyboy Institute, Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure, Dive India, etc.

STEP 3: Graduation

Although a graduate degree is not necessary, you can obtain one in travel and tourism to know more about the main market you will be working in. Pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Travel from colleges like Agurchand Manmull Jain College (Chennai), Indore Professional Studies Academy (Indore), Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Baroda), etc.

STEP 4: Land a Job

Once you have completed your diploma course or your degree, you can start working at adventure firms as a trainee. Congratulations, you are now officially an adventure sports instructor!

 

Thinking of a career as an Adventure Sports Instructor? Take the Mentoria assessment & talk to our career counsellors to get personalized step-by-step guidance for your future career path.

What skills would you need?

Communication Skills

Communication Skills

Communication and interpersonal skills are very important while dealing with patients. You will have to guide certain people about a procedure or treatment. You may need to provide them with some serious information about their fertility and treatment progress. Hence these issues would need to be handled sensitively.

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Problem-solving Skills

Problem-solving Skills

Patients will be coming to you with different issues with fertility. You must be able to assess their problem, analyse the reason and work on coming up with a solution.

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Technical Skills

Technical Skills

As a marketer, you will work on different platforms to communicate with people. If you don’t understand how they work, you won’t be able to come up with the best strategy. You will also use various kinds of software like Google Adwords, MailChimp, SurveyMonkey, etc., during your promotions. You need to know how they work, and how to use them to your advantage.

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Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Working with eggs and embryos is a very tedious task. Every little detail matters when you are observing them. If you are good at giving attention to detail, then your job at the laboratory will be made much easier.

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How do you make it to the top ranks?

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Trainee

You will be involved with observing and learning the ropes at this stage. You would help with the maintenance of equipment, assist the trainer with sessions where you can be used as an example of what should and should not be done. Your main focus must be on learning.

 

Assistant

At this stage, you will perform more administrative tasks such as keeping client records, collecting forms, handling applications, etc. You could also take on training session and activities under the supervision of your seniors.

 

Specialist

You will lead your own groups of people into performing different sports activities. You will train them, prepare them, help them understand the risks and join them in the activities from time to time.

Administrator

Once you have gained a couple of years of experience, you can be involved in planning activities, deciding adventure spots, procuring equipment, etc. You can even start your own firm or training school.

Pursuing your career locally VS abroad

To become an adventure sports instructor in India, you don’t really require any formal qualification, but experience earned is unparallel. Register yourself for a course at any institute offering a certified training course in India. Pursuing adventure sports in India gives you a good idea of the market here and would help you get a job easily. With lots of adventure startups, holiday resorts, commercial recreation centres, athletic clubs setting up in India, there is a good demand for adventure sports instructors in the country. Top institutes from where you can pursue adventure sports training in India are Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Darjeeling, Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, Winter Sports Skiing Centre, National Institute of Watersports, Wings and Flights, etc. The duration of these course range from a few weeks to months. The fee for a certified adventure sports course ranges from anywhere between INR 14,000 – INR 20,000 depending on the duration and the university you are getting trained from.

Pursuing adventure sports training overseas would give you an opportunity to travel and explore the world and also interact with the people there. By building a good network, you can always look to get a job in the country you are pursuing the course from. Top universities from where you can pursue adventure sports training abroad are the Northeast Bay State College, Granite State College, Granite State College, Southern Vermont College, Salem State University, etc. The duration of these course range between two to six  months, depending on the area of specialisation and university you have opted for. The cost of pursuing the course abroad is anywhere between INR 4,00,000 – INR 10,00,000. Pursuing adventure sports overseas helps you learn various techniques and skills that would help you enhance your knowledge in the field. From handling equipment to interacting with clients, the courses abroad help you touch base with everything that you require to establish a successful career in this field.

How much would you get paid?

The exact number will depend on which activity you specialise in, your location, skill-set, etc. But here's a rough idea.


What are your career options?

Adventure Tour Facilitation

An adventure tour facilitator is a professional expert in executing fun and challenging adventure sports activities for the tourists/campers. You would assist in developing safe sports activities and also in preparing documents of operation, safety and emergency procedures. Your job would also involve identifying and reporting potential risks associated with the operation of the camps adventure programmes.

Adventure Camping

Adventure camp counsellors are responsible for creating a safe, positive, energetic and enjoyable environment for the campers. You will be required to follow all safety and operational procedures as regulated by the organisation. You would assist the guides in performing various sports activities such as mountain climbing, rock climbing, rafting, etc.

Trekking and Mountain Guidance

Trekking and mountain guides escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours on mountains. You would guide participants on basic techniques of climbing on rocks, snow and ice. You would need good knowledge of map reading, navigation, mountainous areas and medical hygiene. There is a huge demand for trek and mountain guides in India as the mountains here offer good cultural and heritage site tours.

 

Adventure Tour Guidance

Adventure tour guides lead groups of tourists on different outdoor activities such as snowboarding, camping, skiing, rafting, backpacking, etc. You would need good knowledge of all the sports activities and should have effective communication skills. You would also need to have strong risk management policies in place and a thorough understanding of administering first aid to help tourists in case of any health emergency.

Water and Aero Sports

This is one of the best career options for people who love water and air sports. You can opt to become a rafting or paragliding specialist, provide training or guide tourists on how to do the activities. You will need to go through a rigourous training course to be qualified to get a job in this field.

 

Gear Designing

If you enjoy adventure sports and have a knack for designing, you can establish a career in the field of gear designing. Your job would involve designing adventure gear and accessories that are lucrative as well as safe to use. There is a huge demand for gear designers due to varying sports activities that involve using gears and equipment for safety and fun purpose. A degree in fashion technology or fashion designing would help you here. You can pursue these from the National Institute of Fashion Technology or Pearl Academy in India.

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