Imagine waking up each morning to the sights and sounds of a tropical paradise, then spending part of nearly every day diving some of the best sites the world has to offer. The people you dive with love being in the water just as much as you do; plus, their enthusiasm has a way of making each day seem even more special. There are not a lot of job descriptions that can quite match up with this one; and coveted positions as dive instructors on liveaboards can be very hard to come by. Nevertheless, there are jobs available, and more are likely to open in the future. Let’s take a closer look.
The Liveaboard Life
It takes a special kind of person to live at sea. Spaces, including dive instructor berthing compartments, tend to be tight on liveaboards, making this lifestyle one which is not suitable for those who require a great deal of personal space. You’re in motion most of the time, and if you are the sort of person who gets seasick easily, then this may not be the best job for you. These are the largest obstacles to enjoying life on a boat that travels to a variety of tropical destinations; if you can overcome them, then the lifestyle might be a good fit for you.
Most liveaboards travel to a variety of destinations, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, Fiji, the Maldives, Utila, the Dominican Republic, Belize, and many other fantastic places. Often, celebrities and professional underwater photographers spend time relaxing on special charters; you never know who you might meet. Unlike diving instructors on cruise ships or at resorts, those working on liveaboards have the opportunity to get to know their clients a little better. If you really like people, then this could be a wonderful career choice.
As you might imagine, instructors on liveaboards have a variety of collateral duties. As crews are small, each crew member must be able to navigate the boat and operate all radio and other equipment; everyone must be physically fit, and ideally, every crew member ought to possess at least basic first aid skills.
Finding Employment on a Liveaboard
Luckily, if you make yourself marketable by adding valuable skills to your resume, you can find employment on a dive oriented liveaboard fairly easily. The more SCUBA certifications you possess, the more attractive you will be to a potential employer; someone who can wear a lot of different hats is definitely in a better position than someone who has a limited set of skills.
In order to find employment, you’ll need to check out job websites that cater to the maritime community, or go to liveaboard websites themselves to see whether they are hiring. You will increase your chances even more by taking employment on a local charter or with a professional fishing crew; while the work can be dirty and is often not diver oriented, it will provide you with essential skills that will make your resume even more appealing.
While this isn’t a lifestyle that is suitable for everyone, it is great for those who have a limited sense of attachment to their material belongings, and who have an interest in sharing their skills and knowledge with vacationers who are similarly attracted to the sea. If you’re willing to start at the bottom and work your way up, there are opportunities available.