| We've probably all heard the advice 'find a job | | | | demand for good underwater images, partly |
| you love and you'll never have to work again' or | | | | because it's so difficult to capture a great |
| variations on it. Every year hundreds of scuba | | | | underwater scene, but if you have a talent for it |
| diving enthusiasts make this dream a reality by | | | | there are opportunities in this area. People are |
| training up for a job in the industry. There are a | | | | fascinated by the underwater world so films |
| wide variety of jobs available including police | | | | portraying marine wildlife are always popular. If |
| divers, military divers, and positions in the areas | | | | you love wreck diving, there are also opportunities |
| of technical wreck diving, and professional search | | | | in this area. Imagine making a documentary of |
| and rescue diving, but the following are probably | | | | famous shipwrecks around the world, or a |
| the most popular and logical choices for a | | | | feature on creating artificial reefs, by scuttling |
| recreational diver wishing to make a career of | | | | disused ships for use as wreck diving sites. If |
| their hobby. | | | | you're interested you might want to start by |
| Divemaster/guide. Divemasters assist instructors | | | | trying out the PADI Underwater Photographer |
| with classes, lead certified divers on guided tours | | | | course. |
| and conduct scuba review courses for certified | | | | Marine Biologist/oceanographer. Jobs in this area |
| divers. Depending on their training level they may | | | | are varied. You might find yourself tracking the |
| also assist with teaching some specialty courses | | | | habits of marine wildlife, studying breeding and |
| such as wreck diving, or underwater photography. | | | | migration patterns or recording fluctuations of |
| The route to this job varies slightly according to | | | | coral growth and regeneration in a particular area. |
| the organisation you train with. PADI (Professional | | | | Obviously you'll need a relevant degree so the |
| Association of Diving Instructors), for example, | | | | route to the job is a long one, but if you're looking |
| requires certified divers to take an advanced | | | | at college courses or majors right now and you |
| course and then train to be a rescue diver. Once | | | | have a science background and a love of scuba |
| you've achieved these qualifications you can sign | | | | diving, this would be a great career. |
| up to train as a Divemaster. At the time you | | | | Ancillary services. This involves working in the |
| start training you'll need at least 20 logged dives. | | | | scuba diving industry in jobs that don't necessarily |
| Scuba diving Instructor. Once you are a qualified | | | | involve diving as part of the job description. These |
| divemaster you can start Instructor development | | | | jobs would include working in a dive centre |
| training. Again training requirements may vary but | | | | equipment store, crewing on a dive boat or |
| using PADI as an example, you can start training | | | | working in sales and marketing for a dive |
| if you have a divemaster qualification, at least 60 | | | | company. The advantages are free or subsidised |
| logged dives and have been a certified diver for | | | | diving, discounts on equipment and lots of |
| at least six moths. You will progress to become | | | | opportunities. For example hostesses on some live |
| an assistant instructor and then a fully qualified | | | | aboard boats get to dive as often as the clients, |
| open water scuba instructor. You'll need to log at | | | | although they do have to serve food and make |
| least 100 dives by the end of this training. As an | | | | beds in between dives! |
| instructor you'll be qualified to teach and certify | | | | If you are serious about a job in the industry, |
| new divers and will have the opportunity to | | | | remember to log every dive you do - number of |
| continue your scuba education in whichever | | | | dives completed could be relevant to training and |
| direction you choose. You can train to teach | | | | a high number looks impressive on a resume. Get |
| specialty courses such as wreck diving, | | | | as much diving and related experience and |
| underwater naturalism, or search and rescue, or | | | | qualifications as you can. Almost everyone |
| even become an Instructor trainer. | | | | working in the industry will need up to date First |
| Remember as an instructor you will be spending | | | | Aid and CPR training. The websites of the major |
| some time in the classroom and many of your | | | | training organisations usually have a jobs section |
| dives will be all about teaching others rather than | | | | but never be afraid to just push yourself forward. |
| exploring and doing your own thing. However, it's | | | | Ask at dive centres and resorts if there is work |
| a very rewarding experience to be training up | | | | available. A lot of these jobs are advertised purely |
| new people to enjoy this fantastic sport. | | | | by word of mouth and filled quickly. Good luck. |
| Underwater photographer/film maker. There's a | | | | |