how can i become a golf ball diver

So You Want to Be A Golf Ball Diver?

1. First, you have to be a certified, professional diver with training in first aid and dive rescue.
2. You’ve got to understand that just because you like diving the reefs off the Virgin Islands doesn’t mean you’re going...
3. Recovering used golf balls is hard, often uncomfortable, work. Lugging around heavy equipment and 65 lb.

Full Answer

What are the requirements to become a scuba diver?

Golf ball divers must be at least 18 years old and be certified for unrestricted commercial scuba diving. Certification may require up to 200 hours of dive experience, including low visibility diving, underwater navigation, and search and recovery. Divers may become certified through an accredited scuba diving program or on-the-job training.

How old do you have to be to scuba dive a golf ball?

Golf ball divers should be at least 18 years old and be licensed for unaided commercial scuba diving. Such licensing might need up to 100 hours of dive experience, comprising low-visibility diving, underwater direction-finding, and recovery and search.

What is it like to work as a golf ball diver?

Golf ball divers normally work part time and have additional jobs. The income and work are not always stable. The job also requires you to do something like inspecting bridges or cleaning boats in between diving jobs. Divers at times organize for numerous diving jobs in different cities to let for more opportune conditions year round.

How much can you earn diving in the golf industry?

Buyers include the golf course, retailers, and golf ball companies. Anecdotal information suggests that divers earn about $200 a day. But, as independent contractors, divers must account for taxes and benefits (such as insurance, paid leave, and retirement savings) from that amount.

How much do golf ball divers get paid?

between $50,000 and $100,000 annuallyOver the past couple of decades, golf ball retrieval and recycling has become a multimillion-dollar industry, in which hardworking divers can earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on the economy and a diver's stomach for harsh conditions. Still, the wealth does not come cheaply.

How do I start a golf ball diving business?

0:144:32How To Start A Golf Ball Retrieval Business - Through The Internet ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse all right and go into a local course. And what you can do is you can build a relationshipMoreCourse all right and go into a local course. And what you can do is you can build a relationship with the owners all right as a third-party outsource. For retrieving the golf balls.

Can you make money picking up golf balls?

Generally you'll be paid between 6 and 12 cents per ball selling them wholesale. If you're good at collecting, that can add up to hundreds of dollars daily. If you're not a diver, or you don't find more than a few hundred balls at a time, you might consider retailing the used golf balls yourself.

How do you become a golf ball diver UK?

Two of the essential conditions for becoming a golf ball diver include a certification (entry-level) from any viable diving agency and active liability insurance. The other requirement is that you need to have a bit of experience before being considered a viable golf diver.

Can anyone dive for golf balls?

Golf ball divers must be at least 18 years old and be certified for unrestricted commercial scuba diving. Certification may require up to 200 hours of dive experience, including low visibility diving, underwater navigation, and search and recovery.

How much do golf ball picker uppers make?

$90,482. How accurate does $90,482 look to you?

Can you sell golf balls you find?

Selling Golf Balls Offline If you're looking to sell your retrieved balls offline, you could take them along to your local golf course or practice facility. The driving ranges may need restocking, in which case the owners will take the balls off your hands at anywhere between $0.05 and $0.15 apiece.

Do golf balls expire?

You can usually get about 10 years out of an unused golf ball, again, provided that it is stored properly. The best temperature for golf ball storage is around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can you take golf balls from a golf course?

There's no simple answer, but the short answer is “no”, it is not illegal to hunt for golf balls, as long as you respect the owner of the course and don't bother anyone while doing it.

How many golf balls are lost each year?

300 million golf ballsAn estimated 300 million golf balls are lost or discarded in the United States every year, according to research by the Danish Golf Union. Because it can take golf balls 100 to 1,000 years to decompose, scientists say, they present a major environmental risk to the planet.

How much is a golf ball?

The average cost of a golf ball is around $2. Of course, the golf balls can go much higher in the $4 range, and sometimes you can find the balls for less than $2 as well.

Are old golf balls worth any money?

Because of the age and the craftsmanship put into these balls they are among the ones that have the highest price tag of collectible golf balls. These balls are referred to as antique, and goes for sums upwards of +$5000! See example from eBay below.

How much should I sell golf balls for?

After you've cleaned the golf balls, grade them by condition. "A" golf balls should be nearly perfect. Sell them for $1 to $2 each depending on what brand and model they are.

What can you do with used golf balls?

Ways To Reuse Old Golf BallsChristmas Ornaments. Whether it is an elf, a reindeer, or your initials, there are endless possibilities for how to upcycle them into cute ornaments. ... Massage Therapy. ... Insect Garden Art. ... Vase Filler. ... Potted Plant Drainage. ... Table Cloth Weight. ... Tool For Tenderizing Meat. ... Emergency Sink or Bathtub Plug.More items...•

How do you collect golf balls from a pond?

Using a polypropylene rope, users pull it across the bottom of water traps. It rolls through the sand/mud, not unlike a farmer's discer, collecting balls between its discs as it goes. Users just pluck out the golf balls at the end of each drag, then put it in again.

How old do you have to be to be a golf ball diver?

Divers might have to work when the course has nothing else planned, so they should be accessible any day of the week. Golf ball divers should be at least 18 years old and be licensed for unaided commercial scuba diving.

Why do golf ball divers work in groups?

Golf ball divers work in groups for security reasons. They might face danger from the environment like with alligators, and from substances hidden under water. And scuba equipment is heavy, so difficulties like fishing lines can drown and trap the divers. The responsibilities are also physically tiring.

Do golf ball divers have to work part time?

Golf ball divers normal ly work part time and have additional jobs. The income and work are not always stable.

Can you see your fingers in water?

You’ll be groping around in almost zero visibility, barely able to see your fingers. The water can be usually icky, typically polluted with numerous fertilizers and pesticides, and thick with mud and dirt.

Do you need gloves when diving golf ball?

As a golf ball diver, the hazards you’ll face are real which is why you need to wear heavy work gloves. Several ponds are scattered with broken flasks, which can scrape the hands of the driver or cause any other serious injury. Golf ball diving is simply executed for monetary reasons and is by no means a fun action.

How old do you have to be to dive golf ball?

Golf ball divers must be at least 18 years old and be certified for unrestricted commercial scuba diving. Certification may require up to 200 hours of dive experience, including low visibility diving, underwater navigation, and search and recovery.

How much do golf ball divers make?

Buyers include the golf course, retailers, and golf ball companies. Anecdotal information suggests that divers earn about $200 a day.

How do two person dive crews work?

Roller. Two-person dive crews may work with a roller, which consists of metal discs on wheels. The roller’s metal grooves grasp balls as it moves through the water. Crewmembers stand on the ground at opposite ends of the pond and guide the roller by pulling on a wire connected to it.

Why do golf ball divers work?

Golf ball divers work in crews for safety reasons . They may face danger from wildlife, such as alligators, and from objects hidden underwater. And scuba equipment is heavy, so obstacles such as a fishing line could trap and drown divers. The tasks are also physically demanding, repetitive, and tiring.

Why do golfers dive?

Golf ball divers enjoy working outside. Because golf courses are generally well maintained, the manicured landscapes are attractive and designed for comfortable walking. But the conditions that draw golfers to the course are often the ones that challenge divers.

What do you need to know before you start working at a golf course?

Before beginning work at a golf course, they meet formally with its owner or manager to agree on the terms of the job. For example, the course charges the diver a fee for the opportunity to harvest the ponds.

Do divers work on their knees?

For example, divers are often on their knees in mud when searching for balls. A diver's work schedule depends on golf course events. Divers may have to work when the course has nothing else scheduled, so they must be available any day of the week. Employment and wages.