JobMonkey’s Job Center is the web’s #1 free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure — and a paycheck. And it doesn’t get more adventuresome than diving for living — except, perhaps, for diving internationally for a living, which is what I’ve got for you this week. Three hot diving jobs in even hotter locations around the globe. To learn more about underwater jobs, visit JobMonkey’s extensive section on diving jobs. And be sure to check out Kevin’s in-depth post from last week about becoming a PADI-certified dive instructor (and the dream jobs it can lead to in Australia and Thailand.)

1. DIVE COURSE INSTRUCTOR JOBS (English and German Speaking), Pro Dive Cairns, Cairns, Queensland

Pro Dive Carirns is seeking fluent English and German-speaking instructors to offer all PADI Dive courses conducted on Pro Dive vessels. Instructors must have PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor or higher rating, a current AS 2299 Diving Medical, a valid Senior first aid certification, a valid/current (12 months) certification in Oxygen Resuscitation, a valid motor vehicle driver license, held at least three years, and Instructor specialty rating in night diving, deep diving, and/or underwater photography. In addition, candidates must have excellent communication and sales skills, be customer-oriented, and be able to work effectively without direct supervision.

2. JOBS WITH PADI, Professional Assoc. of Diving Instructors, Various Worldwide Locations

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors is seeking divers, instructors or other related positions. Click the link for a list of openings on the PADI site.

3. Dive Center Technician – Time to Dive, National Association of Underwater Instructors, Hasselt, Belgium

The National Association of Underwater Instructors is seeking a technician to be responsible for the repair department of the company’s dive centers. Job responsibilities will include assisting with sales and helping out in technical projects. Applicants must be NAUI Divemaster level, or willing to work to that level during employment.

If you didn’t find the job of your dreams on our hot jobs list today, be sure to check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

As a PADI Instructor you’ll get to do things others can only dream about but you might need to take the first step to becoming a PADI diver first. Many people choose PADI (Professional Association of Scuba Diving Instructors) because their certification card is recognized and welcomed globally; there are others out there but check they are internationally recognized before signing up. Learning to dive isn’t difficult but you’ll need to invest a little time and effort. The most popular first course is the PADI Open Water Diver course which is flexible and can be taken over evenings, weekends, or in around four days, costing as little as £180 in Australia. (to do this course in the UK just Google search open water diver courses in your local area)

The next step is PADI’s Advanced Open Water Diver course, where you’ll gain experience and fine-tune your dive skills. After this course you need to follow up with the challenging and rewarding PADI Rescue Diver course which gives you valuable experience in emergency management. After this you work through PADI’s Professional levels from the Divemaster Course, followed by Assistant Instructor through to becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. Prices for all these courses vary depending on where in the world you are so check up before you travel by contacting PADI dive centres local to you or at your planned destination.

Cairns, Australia has been made famous by hundreds of backpacker bars offering endless deals, but these cannot compete with the stunning Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately parts of it have been damaged due to the swarms of tourists that pop on their Speed boats to visit the stunning fish and coral. However, these tourists bring lots of work opportunities. Every boat that takes out an average of 30 people requires staff members to ensure the safety of the passengers whilst underwater and on the boat. All you require is the PADI Open Water Certificate or equivalent and a pair of bathers. If you choose to do a diving course in Australia, it’s great to do it away from the most populated areas, in terms of scuba diving, as the Great Barrier Reef is well worn from tourists and divers. Coffs Harbour, for example, is brilliant to explore as the reef ends there and provides you with an awesome array of wildlife, and is not as damaged as other parts of the coast.

Work visas are easy to apply for in Australia, costing approximately £90 and allow you to work for up to 12 months (but only six months for one employer). You need to be between 18 and 30 in order to apply for such a visa and you can only get one once in your lifetime so make sure you definitely make the most of it!

Australia is not the only place to offer such opportunities for scuba adventurers – Thailand’s underwater life is out of this world. The island of Koh Tao is a focal point for all international scuba divers, with numerous companies providing courses and one-off dives, and excellent après-dive action enabling you to party till dawn. The most effective approach is to wander into shops and businesses that offer diving trips, as it is hard for them to know when they will need individuals since busy parts of the seasons always vary slightly. As well as Koh Tao, there are the infamous Similian Islands (one of the best dive sites in the world), along with Hin Daeng/Hin Muang and Koh Haa. Koh Tao is unusual in that it has a year-long diving season, whereas the other areas mentioned are best between October to May each year. Although the most appealing aspect of traveling and working is the freedom to go with the flow, wherever and whenever you feel, it is definitely worth keeping track of the months to avoid missing work opportunities.

Scuba Cat, a company based in Phuket, offers a program that takes you through from the basic Open Water level to Instructor and requires minimal experience, which is an advantage for those of you that have not had the chance to explore too much of the underwater world. As with all popular dive spots, 90% of companies in Thailand take on individuals to train up to Dive Master level and often beyond, but sometimes costs arise if you need to do an instructor course (which can happen if the company does not want to fork out for it).

Work visas for Thailand are a different story! There have been many individuals that believe they are popping over to Thailand for a holiday or a few months working, but the infectious vibrant culture and country itself draws them back. Sooner than you realize, you can no longer keep on extending the date of your flight home! Many think they can get away with simply having a tourist visa and working on that, but this is illegal and the government are cracking down on the practice. You have to leave the country every three months to renew your tourist visa anyway, and a spell in a Thai prison or a fine that would gobble up your entire budget is not worth it, so taking an extra five minutes to complete a couple of forms is worth it. You are able to enter the country with a basic tourist visa, but then once you have found work, have it changed to a non-immigration visa for business. This enables you to be flexible, as well as law abiding. If you are certain that you are going to work and know who for, then get yourself a work permit from the beginning.

1. Entry Level Diver Jobs in Various Locations
The Underwater Construction Corporation is seeking entry level divers who have successfully completed an accredited commercial diving program. Candidates should be willing to travel and possible relocate. Drug testing is required for all employees.

2. Tenders Diver/Tenders & Divers in Boca Raton, FL
American Inshore Divers Corporation has several openings for reliable, hardworking Tenders, Diver/Tenders and Divers. All candidates must pass a background check and drug screening, plus possess a valid driver’s license and be a US citizen or hold a valid work visa. Candidates must also have a valid ADC Tender, Diver/Tender or Diver Certification Card, plus have an updated physical, First Aid/AED Certification, CPR Certification and Oxygen Provider Certification. Salary is commensurate with experience.

3. Dive Master Job in Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions in Australia is seeking a Dive Master with PADI instructor license and liability insurance. Candidates must have a restricted coxswains ticket or higher, as well as certification in oxygen equipment use. Candidates must also have successfully completed the dive procedures examination.

We appreciate your service to your country.

Now, on to the Monday morning job profile! Are you sick of your 9-to-5 job? Do you want more out of life than a lackluster view of the cubicle next to yours?  SCUBA diving jobs offer you the opportunity to travel, earn good money, and experience adventure… plus you never have to see another cubicle as long as you live! If this sounds like how you’d like to spend a year or a lifetime, check out the JobMonkey’s section on Diving Jobs. Here’s a quick run-down on some of the better opportunities in the field:

Commercial Diving Careers
Commercial diving is one of the most lucrative and adventuresome diving careers. Pay can be as much as $80,000 for 160 days — the typical length of a work year for a commercial diver. The down time is essential to decompress your body. Offshore commercial divers are typically involved in underwater welding, inspections, salvage, oil exploring or drilling, and testing. There are also commercial diving opportunities onshore, including work in lakes, harbors, streams, and even sewage pipes! To become a commercial diver, you will need to be a master diver with certification from a commercial diving school (the course is typically four months long) plus a high school diploma.

Oil Industry Diving
Technically a form of commercial dining, oil industry diving a very specific subset with extremely demanding work conditions — and even more lucrative financial rewards. Oil industry divers live a largely nomadic life, hired by oil exploration companies to travel the globe and dive on and offshore. Most gigs, which typically include setting up or repairing pipelines and oil rigs, are contract assignments, with several weeks or even months of downtime between them. Entry level divers earn up to $1,5000 per week; experienced divers can earn as much as $80,000 per year — and remember, you only work about 20-25 weeks out of 52.

Scientific Diving Jobs
Are you a scientist first, novice diver second? Do you year to discover the creatures lurking in the depths of the sea or help to convserve underwater ecosystems? For scientific divers, SCUBA diving is how they gather data and study their subjects. Marine biologists or geologists by training, most underwater scientists earn $25,000- $30,000 per year. While the salaries don’t compare to those of commercial divers, scientific divers are typically rewarded with more lucrative academic careers after their research work is completed.

These three diving professions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to career options for the master diver. To learn more, check out JobMonkey’s extensive section on Diving Jobs.