Hi I am hoping you can help me, I want to find work as a Scuba Instructor in Australia. I’m french – 38 years old. I’m filmmaker and cameraman, specialized in documentary films. It’s works well for me. I have a 2 years old child. My wife is a scientist. She has a job proposition in Brisbane, Australia. I am therefore preparing myself to change my life and perhaps my work too !!!

I’m only level 2 / Advanced Open Water with around fifty dives. I need to began Level IV / Dive Master for been trained since I would like to become a diving instructor.

Could you train me ? How much does it costs ? Would you be interested that I work for you and in exchange you would train me ?

Another three months has gone by and another instalment of my amusing stories for your entertainment:

• Rode an Elephant (one hour in the Jungle) they are pretty hairy !
• Seen a Snake Show
• Captured a python which decided to take a nap in our dive equipment room ! – the locals wanted to kill it but we released it into the forest
• Dived with my Son Connor, Certified Connor as a diver and given him a student of the week award !
• Organised a beach cleanup
• Won a contract for the Dive Centre with a website diving / hotel portal.
• Been involved with a Military Coup ! we had a public holiday in phuket, all the action was in Bangkok.
• Rehomed a Cat from a Bar and installed him in our Dive Centre (Nitrox the cat).
• Cleaned up Cat poo(see above).
• Been happy to see the Cat eat the Gekkos (no more cleaning up Gekko poo )
• Fed a Gekko to the cat (very rewarding moment)
• Went to Burma (Myanmar) for a visa run, 15 hours travelling to get a stamp in my passport, I can tell you it wasnt a fun day. Had my passport checked by a visa company worker while on a boat between Thailand / Burma who on completion of his checks asked me if I wanted any ‘erection medication’ or cigarettes ( 200 cigarettes costs £3 !)
• Captured a biting lizard that appeared on the ceiling one morning !
• Stopped looking twice when I see an elephant walking down the road
• Met people or know of people with names of, ‘b’, Poo, pawn, supa pawn, titty porn, 9, 10 (9 and 10 are sisters), wish, windsurf (yes really), boat, airline, bam bam, august, september, cat, boo, mieoww bel, a sugar and sweet (sister again),whale and bambi (both very fat !), cow ( goes by the name of moo !), four, ooh, oi, pear, apple, bum, bean, fone, eek, what, lick, ‘a’ poosack, ping ping, pang pang and pong pong (family of sisters / brothers), bus, golf, ferrari, donut, piano, baby, first, proud, 1, nip, dodi, mill, fun, oak, catchon, jedi, acre, far, can can, chilli, girl (who happens to be a boy) tiger, poocow, poome. forn, mooham, geewho, bebe, junk, hero, toe, cartoon, stingray, pray, cucumber, pain, poewi. tea, nam, moot. nuui . dum, red (dang), porn pimpa ( a Thai Dive Instructor), pay (an accountant !)
• Got an emergency phone call from an Instructor friend that was in the Phillipines who needed the Emergency phone numbers for the Norwegian Embassy in Manilla as one of his friends had been kidnapped !!
• Got an anxious phone call from a Friend that needed to know if I knew how to get to Burma by road ! ( I could only advise him that it was upwards / northwards)
• Now think its discusting to wipe your backside with toilet paper (you use a hose here while sitting on the toilet) and just use the paper for drying !
• Got an emergency text message saying that a dive instructor needed blood (a neg or o neg) urgently as that blood was very rare in asia as he had lost lots in a motorbike accident and wasnt expected to live without it. Between the ‘Dive Community’ we found lots of people willing to donate and they got themselves to hospital’ Dont know the outcome yet .. update heard he had his leg amputated.
• I see on average 1 serious motorbike (moped) accident per week here, on the roads of Phuket in an average month one person Dies every other day. Spoke to a taxi driver about me seeing one accident per week and he says he sees at least one per day, one day he saw 10 !
• Driving in Thailand is a bit different to doing so in the UK, The bad bits : indicators are not used, horns indicate you are there, flashing headlights do not mean I will let you out but they mean I am not stopping. Dogs lie in the road and do not move for cars. Mopeds overtake you on both sides and travel on paths. Mopeds also come towards you on your side of the road. One of the good bits there are better views when driving and you can drive on the left hand side of the road here, although thats a very rough rule!
• When it rains hard here you wonder why the UK has a reputation for rain as the rain here comes so hard and so fast that roads and paths flood almost instantly. Luckily though I havent seen much rain through this low season (also called the green season)
• Have been told off for showing the soles of my feet in public! (not acceptable in thai culture)
• Now use tiger balm for any cuts / burns / sprains just like the Thais
• Realised the real value of money
• Seen poverty (most Thais live in huts and earn next to nothing) / greed (fat german sex tourists) / corruption (bent corrupt thai police) and sin (german sex tourists)
• Lost a Mask and Snorkel (big surf on the beach at the end of a dive) thought about it afterwards and realised that the snorkel was the one that Mum and Dad bought me 3 years ago before I had even tried Scuba so was a bit upset about that.
• Got a bit fed up of eating out in restaurants / cafes / bars ! ( I have only eaten lunch / dinner once in a house in 6 months)
• Been an extra on a Film (the Tsunami Film made for tv called ‘the aftermath’) Look for me in the Airport scene with Tim Roth (behind some girls he talks to) and in the Metropole Hotel Bar Scene (sitting at a table and walking around on my mobile) and in the hospital scenes (im in a few scenes there I think). I hope they all dont get cut out !
• Realised why the Big hotels out here have signs outside saying ‘no durian’ If you didnt know its a fruit and the smelliest thing you ever came across. While on my 2nd trip to Kuala Lumpur I passed a stall 2 streets from my room, the smell is strong at the stall but it drifted into my room and didnt go away after 24 hours, it must cling to the fabric or something ? Anyway I tried one also and they are like eating nothing else you have ever tried, not my bag but the Malay people seem to love it, went past a table of 6 girls all tucking into them
• Eaten a Pigeon (was on the menu next to frogs) and it was tasty
• Haggled over a £3 taxi trip (30 mins in Kuala lumpur)
• Not seen my Son Connor for 6 months Although he is coming out here on Wednesday 16th for 3 weeks with my Mum
• On the road seen an elephant warning sign
• On the road overtaken an elephant (two actually)
• Seen a Buffalo in someones garden
• Driven a moped
• Crashed a moped
• Been to Thailand
• Been to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
• Been up the Petronas towers (twin towers)
• Met Vietnamese / Thai / Malay / Laos people
• Eaten Sushi from those moving platform things (In Kuala Lumpur)
• Stayed in the YMCA (it wasnt much fun)
• Taught a dive course
• Guided a group of divers
• Got paid for diving !
• Run a Dive Centre
• Promoted a Dive centre
• Received a tip (for diving courses and guiding)
• Found a lizard (about 40cm long) in the office ! (quite a shock)
• Found a frog in the office (bigger shock as it was late and dark as I didnt have the lights on)
• Cleared up lizard poo (see above)
• Cleared up Frog poo (see above)
• Bought some dog food (for a dog that sleeps outside my house)
• Paid off (bribed ?) the police (work permit not available)
• Threatened with Prison by the corrupt thai police (see above)
• Experienced incompetent Lawyers
• Been overtaken by 3 people on a moped
• Seen 5 people on a moped
• Been asked for my card
• Been offered work (4 offers in one day !)
• Found a frog in my house
• Stayed above a bar.
• Stayed in a thai house
• Seen a leopard shark / Manta Ray and a ghost pipefish in the same day.
• Been happy to be paid £9 for a days work
• Been asked where I was from after knowing someone for 3 days!
• Met people that cannot speak 1 work of English
• Seen some fantastic sunsets / islands
• Been to Phi Phi (The beach film)
• Gone away without insurance !
• Had an ear infection (dirty pool water probably)
• Not work socks or boxers for 3 months !
• worn only sandals for 3 months
• Seen Dolphins in the wild
• Seen dead sharks
• Filled up a tank of petrol for £15
• eaten dinner for under £1
• Seen a gaggle of ladyboys
• Been introduced to a Ladyboy ! (you will be pleased to know there is no more firsts involving Ladyboys)
• Driven a pickup
• Travelled in the back of a Pickup
• bought a tshirt for £1 and felt ripped off
• arranged visa documentation in a malaysia travel agents on a wireless laptop via skype with someone I didnt know
• Missed a flight (my flight back to UK was on the 14th April)
• Not known my occupation when asked
• Rented a room for £60 per month
• Rented a house for £120 per month
• Seen a seahorse
• Lost a dive buddy ! (luckily not for long)
• Seen a dog have sex with another dog (not a bitch, thai gay dogs ?)
• Not reacted when geckos (little lizard things) climbed up walls in house / dive centre (its normal here !)
• Become dependant on a laptop (wireless) / Internet for work / entertainment / communication
• Eaten an Indian on a Banana Leaf
• Stood in line on an underground train in Malaysia (yes they queue in lines to get on trains)
• Had a tab at a bar.
• Taught a Gold Miner and a Film Director how to dive (new Tsunami film being filmed here now).

My name is [potential dive centre employee], and I’m writing to express my keen interest in applying for any diver vacancies that you might have at the moment. I have experience working as a diving instructor in a diving school in Bulgaria and have already obtained certificates and qualifications such as: TDI – Decompression Procedures Certified Diver 150fsw /45msw, Certificate of Competency Skipper of Seagoing Vessel up to 20 ft, and a CMAS International Certificate Diver * *. Furthermore, I possess excellent interpersonal abilities and passion for outperforming through hard work, enthusiasm and flexibility. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
I am looking forward to discussing a potential dive instructor vacancy with a dive centre.

We’ve got big plans for 2012, and look forward to hearing about more new Instructors going out there teaching new students and diving all around the world. In addition to training new divers in the pool, our IDC Guide Course Directors are active divers and are usually our diving at every opportunity – normally it’s just the big holidays they like taking off. That means whether you just want to come out and dive for fun, or continue your dive education, there’ll be a time that they will be available that fits in with your schedule. If you fancy something a bit more special, why not get in touch with our IDC Guide Dive centres and book up some Holiday diving? Perhaps you can buy someone a dive trip for a special Christmas present?

If you’ve been considering buying some new dive gear, but the cost has been prohibitive (let’s be honest, dive gear isnt cheap), this is the perfect opportunity for you to get your hands on quality equipment at discounted rates as the end of season dive sales normally begin in January. If you already own gear, then having the odd spare is useful too. If you are looking for Wetsuits, BCDs or Regulators then contact your local dive centre to see when their sales begin.

If you need advice on where to take your equipment locally, or you’d like to use the service engineers your local dive centre is the place to go, just contact your instructor there or if you dont have contact with your local dive centre then now is a great time to make contact. We are great believers in having a relationship with your local dive centre to keep your skills and interest in diving maintained. So take your dive gear (Regulators and BCS) to your local club now – don’t wait until you’re ready to dive again!

I am a CMAS level 3 dive master (with my card). I recently decided to do my PADI dive master which I successfully did in the Philippines. I filled all the forms, passed all the tests, physical, academic at the dive center. My application was sent to PADI who refused to process it because I cannot prove I am a CMAS level 2 diver.

So you can see I am quite distressed. You have on your web site an equivalence table that shows that CMAS level 3 is similar to PADI dive master and yet I have PADI who insist I need to prove I am an advance open water diver. This is just a joke !

As I was surfing on the net, looking for the best place to do my diving education I found your web site.

I am a female, 29 yr old. Living in Norway.

I am in for changing my life. I am Padi Open Water Diver certified, and I am interested to become a dive instructor. My question is relate to jobs and cost of the course.

1.       Total cost of a course from OPWD until Padi IDC IE, including all fee? ( so there are no hidden cost left, I am on a very strictly budget)

2.       Is it easy to get a job as instructor in Asia? (specialialy in Thailand or The Philippines. These are places where i would like to live.)

3.        What is the average monthly income, as instructor? (not that i want to become rich by that)

4.        I have diabetic, but it is in control by strictly diet and medicine. Not insulin!! Will that be a problem in getting a job?

5.        I am very active woman. Will my age be drawback for getting a job? Do they want more experienced divers?

6.       Will the cost of any PADI IDC I chose include a place to live for the duration of the course?

7.        Do you get job requirements from firm seeking instructor? ( An intermediary job). What kind of help do you give to students who want to work as a scuba instructor

8.         Is there any web site where there are job adverts. I would like to be sure of job possibility’s before I quit my job her. I can never get vacation for such a long time. Once I am out, I have to seek for a new job when I come back. So, my plan (my wish) is that I want a diving job asap. If I come back  to Norway I have to start all over again, and start looking for a job for living cost and a place to live.

So I don’t want to come back to Norway, and then seek for job from here. I won’t have much saving left after that I have paid for the PADI IDC course.

I have also been told that it may be internships where I can stay and get work?

That will be the best way to get into diving business.

I do speak fluent English, Norwegian, Swedish, Pakistani and Indian. And understand very well Danish.

Just think after completing your PADI IDC with one of the top Course Directors in the world from this website you could one day be in the position of writing something like these enquiries below that will potentially lead you on to working anywhere in the world as a Dive Instructor.

I have recently returned from a two month spell in Vietnam working as a Staff Instructor and I am looking for another position in the dive industry that will benefit both myself and the dive centre that I will be working for. As well as being a qualified staff instructor I also have experience from working in a diving retail shop for a couple of months.

Im very motivated to became the very best Scuba Instructor that I can become because every day im more and more in love with the ocean I will like to live this passion teaching people diving in the amazing underwater world, im currently a CMAS 2 star diving and PADI Divemaster; I finished this year in Egypt, diving every day for 4 months with almost no days off. I completed around 190 dives in that time. I first completed my PADI Openwater certification in Honduras 4 years ago, but I did discovery dives (DSDs) before that (3 dives) I have dived in the following locations: Honduras, UK, Florida, Mexico, Kenya, Caribbean, Spain, France, Thailand (phuket and samui) and Egypt.

I am a 30 year old English Female PADI Instructor I’m looking for a long term job, and want to get higher with my diving career to the IDC Staff Instructor, or more.
I am Enthusiastic, friendly with people, and love diving more than anything, I can begin any diving employment within a short time.

The ocean, diving and water in general is a way of life for me already. It is inspiration, it is a link between people, and it is my passion.  Ever since the beginning of my diving career I have aimed to reach the highest level of this profession. I love the ocean and diving and the career I have chosen. I wish to learn as much as possible and I wish to gain as many skills as I can.

I find working with people interesting and fulfilling, as I learn from them and provide them with the unique experience of diving like I have enjoyed.

I came to Egypt as a divemaster, but on that level was and is it almost impossible to get employment. A friend of mine, a Swedish Instructor and tour guide on a day trip boat of the DSDs, recommended me to take the opportunity  (in low season) and join an IDC.

That’s exactly what I did and since year I am an Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) as wel as being an EFR and Specialty Emergency Oxygen Providing instructor. In addition I am an instructor for Nitrox /Enriched Air.

During the time as a DMT and to fulfill the 100 dives to get prepared for the IDC, I spent all the time on the above mentioned boat and support my instructor underwater (pool and open water) as well as on board. Several days when he got his days off or holidays, I stood in for him as a Tour Guide to all the dive spots around Sharm el Sheik (Egypt)

Since July I’ve been working in Honduras, for a 5 star resort hotel. During this time I did a lot of courses starting from Bubblemaker, DSD to AOW, including about 100 Scuba Reviews and Orientations  Checkdives, apart from that, during the trips to the dive sites, I was set in as the boat leader. Although I never expected by myself, I was the dive centers best seller for two months running.

I am a professional, highly motivated, enthusiastic and absolute reliable teamplayer, who loves to keep customers coming back with memorable experiences. I follow PADI standards and safety comes first all the time. I also don’t have any piercings or tattoos.

[dive student] This is just written to inform you my husband is a diver.He have passed some courses in recreational / sport diving as well as some interest in commercial diving. He is now a PADI Divemaster in Iran.
I have read on scubaboard that you are such a great Dive Instructor and  so I decided to write some information about my husband due to come to your spot for passing special courses there.
My husband has PADI Rescue Diver and CMAS *** qualification. Now he is a diver in one the diving club in South of Iran.He wants to come there to pass other courses but he needs your advices in order to have the chance to get the best degrees.

I want to know about your professional courses.If you arrange a plan for him to come there ,which countries will have the vacancy for his career?Is it possible for him to work abroad?  My all efforts about diving courses are making him ready as professional diver to have chance to work in other countries.

Would you please do me a favor and reply my mail? I want to do everything upon progressing him in his profession so your regards will be appreciated.

[dive center] Now in order to train your husband to be a dive instructor, he must go from PADI Rescue Divers / Divemaster to PADI Instructor (OWSI) and / or CMAS *** star diver to CMAS * Instructor. To begin with with this level of training he can work in any country that recognizes PADI / CMAS but he will have to pass an equivalent level in any country he wishes to work in (crossover course). The other option you husband has is to train as a PADI Instructor which will open the door to most of the world as a dive instructor. He must however be fluent in English or it will be difficult to secure a job, unless he caters for the Iranian market abroad (which although is small now could increase).

If you believe that there a big enough iranian market then he could work for us and teach PADI and CMAS courses to Iranians until his English is fluent and continue his education to 2* or even 3* or go down the technical training path

[dive student] Think you are such an efficient person to reply quickly,it shows your high kindness. As you know my husband is so enthusiastic in learning new things in diving courses and I really want to help him in any way to improve a lot .
He really believes that under your observation he can have good future in diving courses.It is good to know that he is a diver in Iran and makes costs of living through his job. He doesn’t really like to do other activities but all kinds of tasks related to sea, diving or fixing diving equipment.

Anyway, I want you to help him to be one the best divers in divers society but he needs your training and strict observation.
Would you please tell me how he can come to your club to train special courses and also be one of your Divers to make money there? He knows Engligh and he can improve there too.I  just want his progress .Lots of people knows that you are knowledgeable person, so it would be a big chance for him to be one of your employees.

I am really happy cause of your qualified position.I really adore you.

 [dive centre] Well he first needs to come over to Thailand before high season to pass is Instructor levels. We also need to talk how we can develop the Iranian market here in Phuket so he can actually teach courses or assist me on instructor or technical diving courses until he is qualified to teach them himself.

The key point for him to earn money here in Thailand is to break in to the Iranian market and iranian dive clubs. Do you have any suggestions about this? How can we work on that?

[dive student] Is it possible to let me know how much money should I pay?
I have heard that you are great dive instructor trainer so I want to know if so, my purpose is sending my husband to learn them.
I need your help, can I come to your land with my husband to work and make money and my husband passes the special and the best system that you offer?I want to do any kinds of activities that my husband can learn and may work for you. Please help me to make the wishes come true. I can work cause I have lots of energy and abilities,now I am working in Iran as a teacher, translator and the marketing executive in a company and I know lots of things about diving cause I am the working in my husband’s dive club as a interior manager for women, I can prove them all with enough documents. So would you please read my mail carefully to help me to make money there to help my partner to pass the courses? I am waiting for your nice reply.

[dive centre] In order for him to complete his Instructor ratings (CMAS and then crossver to PADI) he needs the following:

CMAS 4* Diver
Crossover -> PADI Divemaster
CMAS 1* Instructor
Crossover -> PADI Instructor (he requires good English or a translator)

CMAS 4*  will take  15 days
PADI DM crossover 4 days
CMAS 1* Instructor  10 days
PADI Instructor crossover  12 days

Dive Agency Crossover details

All these courses have extra fees in terms of books, agency fees, certification fees and exam fees.

Once he has these basic instructor levels he can start to work in Thailand if he has a work permit, or if he work for us he can use a Student status (in which case he must get student VISA and then apply for student card from TDA)

We must promote CMAS and PADI in Iran in order for him to get the customers visiting Phuket, because we never have Iranian customers walk in to the shop previously we have only had them book diving and courses via email from Iran directly.

If he really wants to do the PADI recreational program to start that will help a lot if he moves on to pro diving. But he must start pretty soon now in order to be ready for high season. If he came in August he would be finished by end of September which leaves us some time to promote Phuket to Iranian clubs and divers.

[dive student] I want to know if it is possible for us to come there to start my husband’s diving schedule then work towards finishing the courses there.
The real fact is that I want to establish a company there in Thailand to do a business there ,do you have any information upon that? Would you please help me if it is possible for you?
Would you please do me a favor and help my husband to finish his courses and start to work in your club.In fact we want to move to Thailand cause I really am tired of working here in Iran. Please let me know when We should come there to visit you. I really want you to train my husband, because from your website I think you are a great instructor and I really  believe in you.

Here is an impressive resume of a PADI ‘Platinum’ Course Director that is also an EFR Instructor Trainer

Over 25 years ago I took my first breath underwater in Europe and since that day diving has become my passion.  Before working in diving, I was employed by the United Nations in countries such as Honduras, Mozambique, Cambodia and South Africa.

At the time, they were two things I really enjoyed: “Teaching and diving”. Certainly the best I have ever done in my life was becoming a PADI Diving Instructor. My PADI Instructor card took to marvellous places around the world, such as: Mexico, Australia, Europe, Belize, Honduras, Cayman Islands, UK, USA California, Egypt, The Philippines, Malaysia, Sipadan, Indonesia, The Maldives, Vietnam and  Thailand.

During all these years I have made contacts all over the world. These contacts are precious for the Scuba Cat IDC candidates when they are looking for a Job.

Early in 2002 I became PADI Course Director, and from that time I have concentrated on PADI Instructor Levels and supervising Professional Internship programs and in these years I received many awards from PADI. Since 2006, I have been in Thailand conducting IDCs and specialising in the English, French and German market.