How to get a job as a scuba instructor

So you want this to be your new office?

What a moment of elation you felt when they gave your Open Water Scuba Instructor certificate at the end of your IE (Instructor Exam), after all the blood sweat and tears of the IDC! But what now? How do you actually get a job as a scuba instructor?

Here are 5 expert tips to get you on the way to a fabulous professional scuba career.

1. Write a killer CV, even if you don't have much experience as a scuba instructor

When you are looking for a job, any job, you need a good CV, the diving industry is no different; just like in any job your CV needs to be spotless, free of spelling mistakes or typos, clear and to the point. Including a photo where you look professional (not too formal, not too relaxed and not underwater) and essential info like your nationality (for visa reasons) and languages spoken are a given. If you are a newbie instructor, fear not! You probably have many transferable skills that are useful in the dive industry. Experience in teaching, marketing, content creation, secretarial work, human relations, hospitality, or travel will all make you a valuable candidate for a dive centre; they may ask you to do some non-diving tasks in parallel of dive instructing, as you increase your dive training experience, but that usually spells extra money (which is nice).

2. Scroll facebook and the PADI website for job offers (but exercise caution)!

Facebook has a number of pages dedicated to job postings, type in 'diving jobs' or 'dive jobs' in the search box and you will see many appear. The PADI website also offers job postings. In both cases, if you apply for a job, remember your work is of value and you should be paid (correctly) for it. Dive centres offering you to work for free to gain experience are probably cutting corners and will probably not be a great place to start a career. A good dive centre should be happy to hire a paid instructor and have people around who can take on a mentoring role to help you excel as you take your first fin kicks as a diving teacher. Make sure you check working conditions thoroughly before you fly over. Many a dive instructor has arrived after an expensive flight to a new country only to discover that their accommodation is a shack, their working visa is not a reality or that they are also expected to clean the toilets and/or various other unpleasantness. If possible, try to speak to a current or ex-member of staff before you commit o anything.

3. Talk to your course director/ IDC staff instructor

During your IDC, try to strike up a good relationship with your Course Director and IDC Staff instructor. First, if they like you, they may just have an opening and get you hired. Second, if they don't have an opening, they probably have a pretty extensive network of dive professionals and dive centres, and if they send you to someone they know, they are vouching for you. The best introduction ever for a newbie instructor.

Most people land a job through word-of-mouth

4. Go for a drink, mingle, get known, meet other dive pros.

The way most dive pros get a job is by going out drinking. Ok, maybe not entirely true, but people introduce and recommend people they like and want to work with. Having a few beers, mingling, going to gatherings, beach clean-ups, snorkel tests etc and getting known as a new instructor looking for a job will often pay off. If an opening comes along, your newfound friends will put your name forward or immediately let you know.

5. Pop by and offer to freelance at local dive centres

Another common way to get a job is to pop by dive centres and have a coffee with the manager or owner, tell them what a wonderful person you are and offer to teach a course or two as a freelancer to prove it. Many dive centre owners like to see how you work before they offer you a long-term contract and, in certain cases, an expensive work visa. Freelancing is not a long-term solution if you are a foreigner and need a visa but might allow you to cover a few times when dive centres are stuck for staff and may well land you a job. Make sure you are on time, get orientated first so you know where everything is, don't cut corners and show them your best professional self!

Being a scuba instructor is a real job

Final words of wisdom for job-searching dive instructors

*Most dive jobs are found by word-of-mouth, make as many contacts and friends as you can.

*If you apply for a job posted online, make sure you research it thoroughly and ask all the right questions before you rush into any commitment.

*Being a dive instructor is a real job, you should get paid for it and have the documents needed to work legally in the country you are in.