Now that you have successfully passed your PADI Instructor Exam, it’s time to start looking for the perfect scuba job in paradise and many dive jobs are exactly that, however to use an old cliché, it’s a veritable minefield out there, and if you’re not careful, the wrong job may well cost you an arm and a leg. For this reason, it’s worth approaching prospective dive employers with a little bit of caution before gallivanting half way across the world with your dive kit.
One important thing to note is that very few of the available scuba diving jobs are advertised over the internet or at least for very long. For PADI instructors, an employment forum is available on their website but a quick look will tell you that only a handful of positions are listed, and most of those are posted by dive center employers who have very specific requirements, such as the ability to speak more than one language, or possession of an associated diving-related skill such as a boat captain’s license.
Do not fear, however! Although they might not be so heavily advertised, the perfect dive instructor jobs are out there, you just have to look a little bit further than the classified ads to find them. One reason for this is that although there is a large community of traveling dive professionals, it can be rather a small world, and so if a position becomes available, then a “friend of a friend of a former employer” might be on the telephone to tell you all about it. Put two instructors who have never met in the same room together, and it’s very likely that they will soon discover they have shared mutual friendships and experiences. Word of mouth counts for a lot in the dive industry, so if it’s your first time, then here’s how to go about finding your dream job in diving.
Firstly, exposure is the key – rather than waiting for the jobs to come to you, start by contacting as many dive centres as possible in the locations you wish to work. You might be able to find their contact details from a local tourist website, and dive centres often advertise any vacancies they might have on their own websites, rather than on a dedicated employment forum. Make sure you write a good cover letter full of enthusiasm and attach a well-constructed CV, one that stands out from the pile when the operations manager starts looking for potential new dive staff.
When it comes to CVs, you can be sure that jobs offered in popular locations will have many applicants and your personality needs to shine through on your professionsal dive CV as well as in real life. If you write “hard working and dedicated with good inter-personal skills” then so bit it – but be warned that everybody puts that on a CV, and it is by default required for the dive industry, so managers don’t need to know what they already expect of you; instead tell your prospective employers why they should employ you, as opposed to all the other hard working instructors out there.
If it’s possible, having face-to-face contact with prospective dive centres may well enhance your chances of success, especially if you plan to work in an area where there is a large contingent of freelance staff. The advent of Skype has made this process a little easier, but don’t forget that Internet coverage in tropical “developing” nations might not be as technically advanced as we have become used to in Europe and America. If you do find yourself traveling through an area that interests you, it certainly can’t hurt to spend a few days wandering around the local dive centres with copies of your CV. Don’t worry though – although it’s nice to be able to put a face to a name, dive operators are well aware that it’s not possible to travel half way around the world just for a job interview, but if you can’t be there in person, then make sure you stand out from the crowd when communicating over e-mail.
Research the locations you wish to work carefully, and make sure you understand the cost of living in those areas. If you don’t already have a job to go to, you may find that you spend a few weeks with no income and having to find yourself guest accommodation, so it’s a good idea to have enough money behind you to be able to comfortably exist in your destination of choice without pay. Think of it as a holiday!
Also make sure you understand the work permit requirements of the country in which you wish to work. In most cases, you’re allowed to enter the country on a tourist visa and then look for work, but try to find out in advance. Many dive centers will give you that advice even if they don’t want to hire you right away, and if you already have a job to go to, then the employer should be able to help you with obtaining the work permit, or at least point you in the right direction if you need other paperwork to be completed before you arrive.
In terms of qualifications, the best chance of gaining employment in the first place is to be certified as an instructor. There are positions for divemasters out there, but they tend to be apprenticeships – as in, you work unpaid but receive your instructor training at no cost – and unless you have the financial backing to work through this sort of apprenticeship, it’s far better to extend your stay at a Career Development Centre and work towards becoming an instructor before you start looking for work. Also, make sure that the agency under which you have qualified is relevant to the area in which you will be teaching. For example – NAUI has a big presence in America, CMAS is big in Europe and BSAC is the British agency, but they have very little outlet in some of the more popular resort locations, where PADI and SSI have pretty much saturated the market. If you plan to travel with your trade, make sure you’re employable in the countries you wish to visit!
Consider the MSDT (or equivalent) rating – as in PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. This is a Scuba instructor who is able to teach continuing education courses such as specialties, beyond the basic Open Water courses (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Divemaster, for PADI instructors). In many locations, the focus is on intro-dives and beginner courses, in which case the basic Instructor rating will be fine, but the specialties are not difficult to come by, and add a number of feathers to your cap. It’s also in your interest to be able to add some variety to your working life, because repetition in any job – even in paradise – can take the shine away just a little, and being able to show off more of your skills just makes your dive students want to come back!
As you will learn during your Instructor training, there are many things that can add to your list of things that make you a more valuable employee. These include the ability to speak more than one language fluently, perhaps some experience sailing boats or repairing diesel engines; ability to work with computers and maybe some sales experience. All can be useful, although these are secondary skills, and not necessarily required in order to secure gainful employment. If you have them, add them to your CV anyway!
But – the most important asset you require to get a job is an ability to shine through as a competent, confident, knowledgeable and entertaining dive professional. On your first day at work, don’t sit around waiting to be told what to do – get stuck in and help out as if you’ve been working there for a year already! If you want to work at a dive centre but you don’t have a job, try to spend a day with them – you might be given a free ride on the dive boat – for example, and here’s a chance for you to prove your worth. Engage with the other customers, perhaps you’re able to solve a small problem while the other instructor is busy, even assist a diver who has a bit of a wobble under the water. Help with the gear and the tanks, demonstrate your knowledge and talent.
You might not be given work straight away, but if you stand out, then chances are you’ll be first on the other end of the telephone when the operations manager needs to cover for a sick instructor, or a sudden upturn in business, and dive centre managers talk to each other, so when another manager phones a friend asking if they have any spare instructors available, the reply will be “no, but I know somebody you might like to try out”.
It might take a little while to get established, but once you get your first job, demonstrate that you are passionate about your work and stand out above the crowd, there’s no better set of references than positive feedback from your customers, and once you find you’ve got your foot stuck firmly in the door, you’ll find that it quickly opens to a whole world of diving possibilities! Good Luck!