Bottom Time
Bottom Time refers to the amount of time a diver spends underwater during a dive. In the professional diving industry, especially for instructors and dive leaders, it's a crucial measurement of experience. When you see this term on a resume, it indicates the actual hands-on underwater experience a person has. Think of it like "flight hours" for pilots - it's a standard way to measure practical experience in the diving industry. The more bottom time someone has, the more experienced they generally are in handling underwater situations, teaching students, and managing diving activities.
Examples in Resumes
Accumulated over 2,000 hours of Bottom Time while leading certification courses
Managed safety protocols during 500+ hours of student Bottom Time
Logged extensive Bottom Time conducting underwater photography sessions
Typical job title: "Scuba Diving Instructors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Scuba Diving Instructors
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Online Communities
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage bottom time for a group of diverse skill levels?
Expected Answer: A senior instructor should discuss planning different profiles for varying experience levels, maintaining safety margins, and implementing backup plans while keeping the dive enjoyable for all participants.
Q: How do you handle emergency situations while managing student bottom time?
Expected Answer: Should explain safety protocols, emergency response procedures, and how to maintain calm while ensuring all divers have sufficient air supply and follow proper ascent procedures.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you plan bottom time for different types of dives?
Expected Answer: Should discuss using dive tables or computers, considering factors like depth, air consumption rates, and student comfort levels when planning dive durations.
Q: What factors affect maximum bottom time?
Expected Answer: Should mention air supply, nitrogen absorption, water temperature, current strength, and student skill levels as key factors in determining dive duration.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is bottom time and how do you calculate it?
Expected Answer: Should explain that bottom time is the duration spent underwater from descent to beginning ascent, and demonstrate knowledge of basic dive planning calculations.
Q: How do you log and track bottom time?
Expected Answer: Should describe proper dive logging procedures, including recording times, depths, and conditions for both personal and student records.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic dive planning and bottom time calculations
- Student supervision in confined water
- Basic equipment maintenance
- Simple dive briefings and debriefings
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced dive planning for various conditions
- Group leadership in open water
- Emergency response management
- Complex diving activity organization
Senior (5+ years)
- Training program development
- Risk assessment and management
- Advanced rescue techniques
- Instructor training and evaluation
Red Flags to Watch For
- Insufficient logged bottom time for certification level
- Gaps in diving activity logs
- No emergency management experience
- Lack of proper certification maintenance
- Poor understanding of safety protocols
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Bad Hires Got You Down? 9 Unexpected Tactics to Turn Your Hiring Disasters Into Wins
From Farewells to Future Allies: Transforming Exit Interviews into Lifelong Connections
Stop the Turnover Epidemic: Proven Tactics Every HR Leader Must Know
