Island Scuba Instructor?
Not Always What It Seems! by Frank Slifka, NAUI #7923

ou are basking in the warm afterglow of a great dive vacation and thinking about working as a scuba instructor in the islands. You were romanced by the tropical setting, beautiful beaches, warm sunny skies, clear water and seemingly simpler life style. You watched the boat and dive crew and wondered what it would be like to be paid to go diving. You think, "I am a good scuba instructor and this looks like work I could do. Why not do it for real?" I suspect that this was one of the reasons I gave myself 12 years ago when I first contemplated a career change. Believe me, it is a major career and lifestyle change. Things are not as simple or easy as you might expect, but let's see how you might get a job working at something you might enjoy.

One of the first thing to understand is that in most operations you will be more dive-master than instructor. Most island dive operations are set up to take people diving. Teaching scuba is only a small percentage of their business. Some find this easier and less stressful, but for new hungry to teach instructors this may be a disappointment. As with every situation there are exceptions - some island dive shops are set up to crank out resort course divers by the hundreds. If the thought of diving every day in the same location, in 30' of water or less and doing it all from shore is not appealing to you, then be careful where you apply. Obtain a written job description. Large dive operations have more positions available and they do more teaching. Small operations may be remote or cater to certified divers only. If you really want to teach, you will have to find the right operation. You will still do more resort course teaching than full certifications. Tourists on vacation who try diving usually opt for this approach because most don't want to take the time for full courses or didn't include the additional cost in their vacation budget.

Being a scuba instructor, however, is not usually enough to land a good job in an exciting destination. Most of the people who work in the islands are instructors. Being one does not make you special. Also, if you are not an instructor from one of the major agencies, you will find it harder to land a job. What other skills do you have? Diving makes up only a quarter to a third of your day's work. Scuba tanks do not fill themselves. The dive boat doesn't drive itself. Rental gear doesn't repair itself. The boat and compressor aren't self-maintaining. business reports and preparations for each day's work must be completed. Your halcyon days of teaching simple scuba diver courses will be fondly remembered.

The more experience you have generally means a better job and higher pay. Can you repair scuba gear? I'm not asking if you have had a one-day manufacturer's seminar. In the islands, you will see all major brands of gear including foreign makes and or the two brands that the operation rents.

Can you pilot a boat? This can mean anything from a 15' skiff with a 25 hp outboard to a 48' diesel cruiser. Is a Captain's License necessary? It is a useful piece of paper, but to get one you must have 720 days at sea to qualify to take the test. Except for the live-a-boards, a current U.S. Boat captain's license is not required in most Caribbean Islands. However, U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do require it if you take passengers for hire. Can you handle tools? Are you familiar with air compressors and diesel engines? You do not have to be a mechanic, but being able to do routine maintenance and troubleshooting is important. (I can recall an incident where a dive boat sank needlessly. If the instructor/boat captain had known a bit about boat mechanics, he could have saved the ship by just turning off the engine!) Many small or remote operations must be self sufficient. Mechanics and carpenters are not found in the yellow pages. The more skills you have, the more desirable you are to an employer and the greater your earning potential.

Does this mean that you cannot get employment with few skills or little experience? Not necessarily. Many large operations hire at the entry level, but this usually means a lower salary, few benefits, and a lot of the dirty work. Most employers do not provide formal employee training, so you will learn mostly on the job. This can be fun, but stressful. The inexperienced person will find the work hard, the days long, and the pay low, but the reverse is true as well.

Here is one example of work differing from vacationing. I had relocated to a small remote island a month before as a combination of instructor, boat captain, dive guide and general mechanic. I was just beginning to get a handle on our parts inventory (for boat, compressor and scuba gear). We were expecting a dive group in two days. We had one boat large enough to handle the group, but no back up boat. (Most operations rarely do!) That morning the boat's seawater pump broke. We had no spare, but I knew we could rebuild the pump if we had the parts. There were none on our island or the neighboring island. I was finally able to locate the parts in the States, but could not get them shipped in time to clear customs that day (Friday). Customs closed that night at 5:00 pm and would not reopen until Monday, meaning I couldn't get the boat working until late Monday at the earliest. This would mean a two or three day loss of boat diving for the incoming group. Through a madcap afternoon of phone calls and faxes we were able to locate a member of the group and arrange for him to meet an employee of the parts store at the airport in Miami and pick up the parts before flying to our island. He was arriving earlier than the rest of the group and had the parts for me on Saturday. I was able to repair the pump by early Sunday morning. Very stressful.

Fortunately, I had been in the islands for six years and had practice with these kinds of situations. If the boat had not been repaired the vacationing divers would have been disappointed and upset. The operation's staff would have had to bear the brunt of their frustration. Later in the same week our air compressor broke down. Fortunately, I was able to fill tanks at another operation. This meant a lot of additional tank hauling, but our divers never missed a dive and few were aware of the extra effort made. Murphy's law is a normal part of life in the islands. Boats, compressors and scuba gear all seem to fail at the worst time. Operations that are more self sufficient will usually weather the problems better than those that depend on the outside help. A more experienced staff usually means the difference when problems arise.

After mechanical problems, the next most frustrating thing is the visiting divers. How good are your interpersonal skills? Can you get people to listen to you without offending them? Most vacationing divers are inexperienced. Many are taking their first dive trip since certification. Others, more travelled, think they are highly skilled and need not pay attention to your briefing or safety requirements. Some island countries have rules dive operators must follow. Can you make everyone happy and still adhere to the safety rules? Simply put, No. Some vacationing divers will make the work harder because of their self important attitude. While most will follow the rules, be prepared for those who will not - they will never be pleased no matter what you do. Safety is still the most important concern. Fun and good diving usually follow if safe practices are observed.

What is it like living on an island that is a foreign country? Usually, before you can work you will have to apply for and be granted a work permit. Your employer is responsible for filing the application, but you must provide such information as a current police report (most island countries will not allow a convected felon expatriate to obtain a work permit); a current medical report including blood work (HIV test, etc.), chest X-ray and physical; letters of reference and a valid passport. The paperwork in each country differs, but much of the same information is required. You will have to wait to work until your filed permit is approved. Most work permits are granted for one year and thus most employee contracts are for a year. Usually the employer is required to pay for the permit (average for active instructor is $1000.00 - $1500.00) but may pass this cost on to the employee. Be sure to inquire about this.

Living on an island can be far different than visiting. The cost of living is usually higher than back home. Many products are imported, shipped in by boat or plane. Most countries assess duties on these imported goods, raising retail prices. The currency in other countries is usually not the U.S. Dollar, so money can be lost in the conversion. Find out about other government regulations. Must you pay local taxes? All of these things make island living more expensive. To compare, milk can cost upwards of $5.00 a gallon. Gasoline can be $3.00 a gallon. If the vacation that gets you started thinking about being an island dive instructor is “all-inclusive” you may not be aware of the higher cost of living that is common on most islands. Many dive instructors share accommodations. This helps split high rent or is necessary due to limited housing. Many remote islands provide room and board with the job because there is no other housing. In such cases your salary will be lower. On some islands there are no grocery stores or restaurants other than the resort’s. Some islands have limited medical facilities. (Is our operation’s first aid kit adequate for the guests and for the staff?) Many countries do not have readily available TV. A large resort in a remote location may have a satellite dish but it would be rare for you to have it in your accommodations. Most countries allow you to bring in personal items but there are limits. I occupy my off time reading books and magazines. If you are not an avid reader or letter writer, you may find off time very boring.

Vacationing on an island versus living and working there are quite different. The job may be different than you imagined. Lugging tanks across a long dock and loading a boat in the hot sun is a lot different from being a vacationing diver. The job does have it’s rewards. You will meet interesting people and be able to spend part of your day diving and learning about the ocean. You will become familiar with another culture. You may open a whole new world to some visitor. You may enjoy the life style, get hooked and stay for as long as I have. It is not a job or a life for everyone. Study the island and the operations. Talk to the staff and get a feel for what they do. Meet local people. It’s their home. In a country that is not a U.S. Territory or protectorate you are the foreigner. The first island you visit may not be the right one for you. Take your time. You may acquire additional skills while searching for the right opportunity. Your time spent in the islands should be fun. Just as in diving, a little pre-dive planning will go a long way toward making a career there more rewarding and enjoyable.

Sources - Spring 1996 copyright 1996 NAUI. All rights reserved.

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