Ever thought of earning while doing something you love? For the aquaphiles out there who love to mix water and adventure, a paid dive instructor internship abroad gives one an opportunity to immerse in a structured training program, earn certification, gain hands-on teaching experience, all while receiving pay!
Turning passion into a career is a noble endeavor to tread. It is an excellent opportunity to earn while doing something you love. And doing it makes more than a living; it makes life worth living. Here are eight easy steps on how to score a paid dive instructor internship abroad:
From Diver to Instructor
First, it is important to know the actual path to becoming a licensed dive instructor. From Open Water to Advanced to Rescue Diver to Divemaster to Instructor. All of these require rigorous training and investments of time, effort, and even money. However, why bother spending when one can improve track record and earn at the same time? A paid internship leverages and eases the process while offsetting the costs.
Setting goals and aiming targets
Looking for paid internships is like treasure hunting. Not that it is rare, rather it requires a deep dive on websites and promos, among others so you can find one. Alternatively, there are also cost-neutral internships available where your training fee is subsidized in exchange for work. Simple Life Divers, Koh Tao (Thailand) offers a seven-month Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) instructor internship. Benefits include housing and job placement after certification. Lord Howe Island (Australia) provides free Divemaster internship with perks like arranged accommodation in exchange for dive shop service. Ocean Tribe (Kenya) provides shorter instructor internships for advanced divers.
Platforms and networks
There is a plethora of media on how one can find and secure a paid dive instructor internship abroad. Just a few clicks and surfing (pun not intended) on the web, you’ll arrive on different platforms that provide the opportunity you are looking for, and they help expand your network, too! Goabroad.com lists international scuba internship; PADI Job Board is the official dive industry jobs and internship; Facebook Groups/Forums are also a good method of looking for internships as you can interact with divers and diving instructors from all over the world; and dive centers in mall shops are also adequate platforms for direct contact.
Choose your “Here”
Getting a paid dive instructor internship matters where you are from and where your destination is. Rates, lessons, and packages vary on different geographic locations and economic conditions. Koh Tao in Phuket, Thailand is good for budget-friendly travel with myriad dive centers. It is also a hotspot for foreigners with one of the biggest expat communities in the country. Lord Howe, Australia is where you find the wonderful Great Barrier Reef. They boast world-class and exquisite coral displays along with stricter guidelines and regulations. Moreover, if accommodations and victuals are not included in your paid internship, you must be ready for the high cost of living. The Caribbean region is also home to comprehensive paid dive instructor internship — Bonaire, Cozumel, and the Bahamas, are great diving spots and its market is driven by tourism which may widen your network.
Meet eligibility requirements
Before anything else, one must ensure that you, yourself are eligible for this type of activity. Usually, it is required that the intern must be of legal age i.e. 18+ years old. Moreover, this activity requires physical stamina thus medical form and clearance are needed. For swimming, you must be comfortable in water, usually tested through 200m swim and 10-minute float test. Furthermore, some internships accept total beginners, others require at least Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver.
Be strategic
Application for internship, especially the paid ones, are as tough as job application competition. To make sure you stand out, you write a short (or long) professional letter introducing yourself, explaining your motivation, and plans for the future with this activity. It’s important to attach your diving resume/logbook, should you have one. Finally, be flexible! Dive centers value interns who can also help with customer service, social media, or equipment maintenance.
Evaluate, elevate
As you secure a slot as an intern for dive instruction, you must evaluate the offers and benefits. Ask questions like “What’s included?” Dive centers vary according to their demands and needs—certifications, some might provide gear rentals, some offer accommodation and meals, among others. Ensure that your internship is truly paid and not work-for-training (or as you please). Be knowledgeable of the workload as well as their assistance in securing a job after certification. If you are not satisfied, find other options. You deserve what’s best for you, bestie.
Maximize your internship
It’s nice to have more, and give more on your internship. When available and capable, you can take on extra roles like marketing, underwater photography, and gear repair among others. This helps dive centres better their facilities and offerings, and may just help you get that job. It’s also important to network with instructors, other employees, and tourists for they are afterall, your future employers.
Documentation is also a way to preserve the memories and experiences, may it be through social media, personal blogs, or even your portfolio which will come handy in the near future. And most importantly, use your internship as a launchpad: many interns land full-time dive jobs immediately after certification, as it is not the destination but the tool in becoming the best you.
Final thoughts
More than a training program, a paid dive instructor internship abroad is a passport for a life-changing adventure. It is the passageway to make your passion a profession. Just remember the eight easy steps like your ABCs so that you can secure that slot. Afterall, skills and certifications are not only incentives but the doorways to global experiences and meaningful connections.
Take the plunge! Being a paid dive instructor intern is not just earning while learning—it’s the true life worth leaving.
