Advice about Finding Diving Work Abroad

[eckaflx]

Hello everyone!

Been perusing the forums for a while now, but this is my first proper post!

I've been scuba diving since college (for about 5-6 years) and freediving for longer. I really love being underwater, and recently I've been thinking of taking my hobby further.
Basically, I'm fed up with working here in England. All I seem to do nowadays is work/sleep/work/sleep....the weathers always crap and I feel really unhealthy! I've been thinking of trying to find some diving work abroad and was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction....
I've just finished a PADI Rescue Diver certification - would it be best to carry on and get my Divemaster qualification in England, then look for work abroad? I've heard you can somtimes get in with a dive company, and they will train you up in return for work? Is this true? and if so - has anyone had any experience of this? Does anyone know the best place to look for work abroad? Maybe good websites or mags? If there is anyone who has gone to work abroad and would like to share their experiences, that would be great!

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks.....

Ed

 

[Amphibious]

Forget Divemaster, get your instructor.

 

[eckaflx]

Can you do that? Go straight to instructor, I mean.

 

[Amphibious]

not that I know of, maybe in Padi (I'm NAUI). you're far more marketable as an instructor.

 

[Stephan Whelan]

Under PADI you need to be a DM before you can progress to being an instructor:

http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/pro/

 

[eckaflx]

I suppose there are more job opportunities for instructors.....thanks for the advice.

And, yeah - I just checked PADI.com....

 

[eckaflx]

Stephan - Would you recommend that I qualify as an Instructor here in England?

 

[Stephan Whelan]

Well - the choice is yours. Quite a lot of Instructor training centres will take you on after you qualify for your DM, Instructor or beyond, for a while. It really depends on whether you want to learn in UK conditions or go somewhere hot and do it.

My personal opinion is train here, learn in more "hostile" climates then you'll be better prepared for anything that might be thrown at you in "warmer"/"nicer" climates - but the choice is really yours at the end of the day.

 

[eckaflx]

My personal opinion is train here, learn in more "hostile" climates then you'll be better prepared for anything that might be thrown at you in "warmer"/"nicer" climates - but the choice is really yours at the end of the day.

Thats exactly how my Open Water instructor convinced us to jump in Dosthill Quarry for our qualifying dives! (It was bloody freezing!)

I have to agree, to be honest.

Thanks Stephan.

 

[Marc_W]

Hi mate, my sister-inlaw "a pom" now lives in Australia and worked for a time as a dive instructor in Nth Queensland. She now works at the local tafe college, helping people get the right qualifications to work in ie: diving etc.

Give her an email:

julia.wheway@det.qld.gov.au

She will help you out with all your needs, including visa's.

 

[samdive]

I'd say to at least get DM before you get abroad and preferably instructor. DMs are not very employable but you could do what I did and take your IDC somewhere you would like to work - by the time you have spent a few weeks with them doing instructor training, they know you and if they like you, you have a good chance of getting a job.

The more of the following you have on the CV, the easier it will be to earn a living out there - as a DM you will struggle - add Instructor and a few of these and you should be ok

Languages (for the Red Sea specifically you would need probably to be able to teach in at least three languages - German, Dutch, French, Italian, Russian and East European languages are all good), compressor mending skills, boat mending skills, EFR Instructor, kit repair and servicing skills, computer skills, marketing/business/sales experience..... basically anything that could be useful to a dive centre.

Once you are a DM, you can use the PADI Employment Boards to search for jobs.

best of luck

Sam

 

[immerlustig]

hi,

quote:
"Forget Divemaster, get your instructor."

i personally have to strongly disagree. after more than 15 years in the diving business i have observed that those who go for instructors without ever having worked as a dm are quite useless on average. the reason being that they don't have the experience of what certified divers are doing. when working as a dm you actually see for yourself the sorry state of the so called quality courses that are offered everywhere. dm experience usually helps future instructors to be a lot more responsible towards their students and the courses they teach are generally a lot better. if you are half into doing a decent job go and work as a dm for half a year. that will definitely be very beneficial in your future teaching career.

i wouldn't generally say that instructors are finding jobs easer, that probably depends very much on location. for example here in egypt it's dead easy.

i do agree that doing a course and diving generally in less than optimal conditions is very good for developing your own diving skills. experience is always helpful.

be aware that basically everyone is selling you something. making you a good diver is not necessarily included in the package. you have to make an effort yourself for that.

again, just my opinion.

regards,

roland

 

[samdive]

I agree Roland - I spent about 6 months as a full time DM in UK waters before I went to Egypt and it made the IDC and my first open water course a walk over... the contrast between that and the people who had done all the courses up to IDC in one quick run was immense.

from my time in Egypt though I would say that it is a lot easier to find work that will pay you enough to live if you are already qualified to teach - so maybe get the DM work somewhere you can afford to live cheaply for a while (I had to go back to living with my parents which was kind of awkward at 28! but well worth it to get the experience)

 

[island_sands]

ecka
try www.euro-divers.com

also, i would recommend that you work as a DM for a while before you become an instructor.. it will give you a sound knowledge of operations and what's needed. You can do an internship as a DM and then get a special offer on your AI (Assistant Instructor) here in Dubai (PM me for details)

Also try Pro-Dive in Cairns Australia.. and also Thailand.. there is stax of DM work, don't expect great money but the experience is great.

Extra EEC languages are always helpful and if you work in Maldives it's essential.

There are loads of dive centres who will give you your DM for free in exchange of work.. it's hard work but will keep you fit, make sure that you have a proper agreement signed up beforehand to make sure that they actually do give you your DM cert at the end of your training...

Do searches on DM internships.. there are loads about.

Also, if you have knowledge of boat handling you can get jobs on liveaboards as a dive guide with just your DM certification.. that's also great experience and will give you good training for customer handling.

Don't rush into becoming an instructor, do the ropes, it will help more in the long run.

I'd say to at least get DM before you get abroad and preferably instructor. DMs are not very employable but you could do what I did and take your IDC somewhere you would like to work - by the time you have spent a few weeks with them doing instructor training, they know you and if they like you, you have a good chance of getting a job.

that's what i did too... and ended up working 8 months in the maldives solid after that... was great!

Cheers, and good luck!

Sara

 

[mishu1984]

thats all nice and dandy, but if you want big bucks and diving to be involved, you will need to become a commercial diver. average rate for stand-by is $1500 per day easily more.

 

[Stephan Whelan]

thats all nice and dandy, but if you want big bucks and diving to be involved, you will need to become a commercial diver. average rate for stand-by is $1500 per day easily more.

That's true but the work is much tougher and more dangerous - hence the larger per-day rate of pay - plus it costs quite a bit to be certified as a Commercial Diver.

 

[mishu1984]

very ture Stephan, as a matter of fact, i believe that commercial divers are the second most dangerous occupation, after coal mining. also, it should not be mistaken for the regular diving that most of us think of as when we hear the words SCUBA-diving. there are no pretty little fish to pet, or hot tourists to photograph (or pet, whichever works for you). the works is tough, dangerous, but it pays darn good. we had this one dutch diver and we paid him $3000 a day, diving or no diving. the more you know and the more experience you have will warrant higher paychecks.

 

[eckaflx]

Thanks to everyone for the valuable advice. Its great to be able to hear from people who have actually done it!
Commercial diving seems a little hard-core for my liking! (Although the $ seems tempting!) Although I'm totally comfortable in the water, I feel as though I'd like to get a few more dives under my belt (I've only done 50 or so). And gain a little more experience before I properly go for it. I think I'll get my DM here in England and then follow some of the leads you guys have left...
Anyway, got a weekend of diving ahead of me that I need to prep for!....thanks again, Ed.