Moving to the Caribbean

[Morg]

I feel quite funny reading over this thread again.

Since then I've put that yachting / moving to the Caribbean thought in the back of my head only to bring it back now.

After I put that post up I did take off. However I went to England for 5 or so months and did some traveling and sightseeing. I was lucky and was able to get a lot of diving in and managed to get out to a actual competition as well. I know now I still need a lot of work however.

Now I have just finished booking my flight and my STCW'95 (allows me to work on a yacht). I will be heading down to Ft.Lauderdale this Friday and hope to land a job within 2 weeks from now. I have no idea where I'll be then or where I'll be headed. One thing is for sure is that I'm defiantly not playing it safe. I have a taste and can see the result of when I take off on these trips.

I'd like to thank you all for your advice and your suggestions. I am extremely glad I listened. I am very much looking forward to this trip and I hope I can meet many more fellow free divers from around the world.


Bye for now,
Morg

[WhaleTail]

I'm not sure if this relates to your post really but my husband and I have been living and working in the Caribbean for many years now. (St. Maarten, Grenada, BVI's, Venezuela, Dominican Republic are the ones we worked in to name a few) Getting work permits can be very expensive and difficult if not impossible... depending on which island you apply in of course. (obtaining citizenship or residency can be just as difficult as well) I don't mean to be discouraging but SOMETIMES what you find on the internet is nothing like what you will go through to acheive these "papers" once you start the process. Since you have a specialized trade and a trade that is needed and one that may not take away from the locals opportunity to work, it may be a bit easier for you. It's best to get pre- hired with a company FIRST and have them send you all the requirements for work permits. Some island require by law that your employer submit your permit anyway. The application requirements usually includes things like a police report, bank statements, health records, copies of everything like your passport, birth certificate and drivers license and recomendations of "good character" etc. Good luck and do as much research as possible. It would be even better if you could go to the island in person and live there for three months on a tourist visa if you could swing it financially. That way, you would be more certain of the culture, laws and other goings-on. Take care and I hope I helped.

[Morg]

Thank you very much WhaleTail, that is some awesome advice!

I can see a lot of truth in that because I have taken off a few times without a job. It makes things a lot harder and always stresses me out. However I try and channel that stress into succeeding.

I am down now in Fort Lauderdale finishing up my yachting course. I came down here to locate a job online and I just met a really nice guy. He offered me some temporary work for the time being. I am hoping to land a permanent job soon and be able to visit the Caribbean that way.

[WhaleTail]

That is great! I hope it will all work out for you. With the right attitude, the Caribbean can be your perfect paradise even if you have to work! Good luck and I am so pleased I could help.

Originally Posted by Morg

Thank you very much WhaleTail, that is some awesome advice!

I can see a lot of truth in that because I have taken off a few times without a job. It makes things a lot harder and always stresses me out. However I try and channel that stress into succeeding.

I am down now in Fort Lauderdale finishing up my yachting course. I came down here to locate a job online and I just met a really nice guy. He offered me some temporary work for the time being. I am hoping to land a permanent job soon and be able to visit the Caribbean that way.