Not surprisingly, many divers enjoy the pastime so much that they begin to seriously consider making a career out of a favorite hobby. Imagine going to work each day, looking forward to what lies in store, and rarely setting foot in an office; the benefits that come with an active lifestyle could be yours, and perhaps even better, compensation for dive professionals tends to be more than adequate. Let’s take a quick look at ten top careers for divers – one may be a great fit for you.
Professional Dive Instructor
You already know you love to dive, and if you like the idea of interacting with a variety of different personalities on a daily basis, you may be well suited to a career as a professional dive instructor. As an instructor, the opportunities are limitless. Dive instructors are in demand worldwide; so whether you want to stay in your own community, or move to a remote location, there are plenty of opportunities available. Depending on where you work and which specialties you teach, you could find yourself working part time or full time, and compensation will vary. High end resorts offer excellent pay and benefits; however you’ll be spending a lot of time teaching the basics.
To become a PADI dive instructor, you must first become a PADI dive master. Whether you choose to learn in your free time or travel to a location where you can finish all your coursework in a short amount of time, you are certain to enjoy an interesting and rewarding career.
Liveaboard Crew
If you’ve ever enjoyed the services of a liveaboard, then you know that the crew performs a variety of tasks; depending on which company you want to work for you may need to learn how to navigate a boat, operate onboard electronics, and interact with other vessels as you make your way to and from some of the world’s most incredible dive sites. You’ll get to dive, too – often with groups of skilled recreational divers who want to see things that are out of reach to everyday vacationers. You’ll need to be able to deal with different personalities, plus you’ll need to be suited to life in small spaces onboard a moving boat. More exciting than working in some other areas of the dive industry, this job is both demanding and lucrative.
Cruise Ship Dive Leader
Many cruise lines keep a staff on hand specifically for leading dives and instructing beginning divers. If you like the idea of taking to the open sea, working with a variety of clientele, and relaxing poolside during your free time, this could be a great job for you. Pay and benefits tend to be competitive although in some cases, work is seasonal. Different companies have different requirements, which are normally listed in job postings. The greater your skill level, the better your chances of finding employment as a dive leader on a cruise ship.
Maritime Repair
Ships and boats require ongoing maintenance, and it can often cost owners less to hire divers than to undergo a complete haulout at a shipyard. Divers specializing in maritime repair learn skills such as underwater welding, dredging, burning, and rigging. In order to make your way into a career in maritime repair, you will need to take a variety of commercial diving courses from an accredited school. While some of the coursework may be completed online, much of it is hands on. A demanding career, in which close attention to detail is required, Maritime Repair can be rewarding both financially and personally since pay and benefits tend to be competitive and teams work closely with one another.
Police Diver
An exciting and demanding career, and one that requires both an excellent background with a clean record, work as a police diver or public safety diver (PSD) entails training in everything from search and rescue to evidence collection and corpse retrieval. Often, police divers are sworn members of their departments, and in many cases they perform a variety of collateral duties, sometimes patrolling waterways on police boats and at other times hitting the streets with other line officers. In order to become a police diver, one must have what it takes to pass both written and physical police pre-employment tests and make it through police academy in addition to taking a series of professional diver courses depending on the needs of the department. Some departments rely on commercial divers to assist with the occasional underwater investigation, while others employ a full complement of police divers.
Search and Rescue Professional
If you’re not afraid of risking your life in the service of others, consider becoming a search and rescue professional. Depending on where you want to work, you may be able to join a team of volunteers, or you may even be able to make a full time career out of it. Search and rescue divers tend to work under conditions that are often less than favorable, and in many cases, they find themselves returning with victims who have already passed away; still, providing closure is an important and vital function. In order to be an effective part of a search and rescue team, you should be physically fit and ready to work in unstable situations. The greater your level of training, the more effective you will be, and the greater your chances of finding paid employment in the field.
Dive Equipment Sales and Service
If you love gadgets and gizmos, enjoy interacting with people, and want to get the opportunity to try out new dive equipment on a regular basis, then a career in sales and service could be for you. A good working knowledge of basic equipment is a real asset, as is an interest in customer service. Anywhere you can find dive equipment for sale, you’ll find people working in both retail and wholesale as well as equipment maintenance and repair. You’ll be able to dive during your off time, and enjoy great pay and benefits in many cases.
Salvage Diver
Salvage divers work all over the world, sometimes saving expensive vessels from becoming the newest dive sites by using equipment to raise sunken boats from the bottom. Both exciting and challenging, this job also entails containing and preventing hazardous materials, such as fuel and oil, from escaping from wrecks, and in some cases, salvage divers use cutting torches and other equipment to retrieve expensive components and cargo from wrecks which cannot be raised. While some salvage companies are locally based, most salvage divers find themselves traveling long distances to a variety of sites. If you are interested in working as a salvage diver, look into commercial diver courses designed to provide the necessary skills – many assist with job placement as well.
Marine Construction and Maintenance
Marinas, harbors, and other structures don’t just magically appear – they take serious skill to erect and maintain. For divers interested in construction and hands on work, this can be an excellent career choice. Working for a public entity, such as a city, county, or state, can be lucrative, as can working for a private company which provides commercial diving services. Requirements vary by location.
Marine Biologist
If you love science and diving, a career as a marine biologist could be right up your alley. Studying organisms from marine worms to whales, conducting underwater surveys, and teaching the public about conservation are just a few of the functions marine biologists perform. Often, there is plenty of laboratory work involved, as well as writing and publishing findings. Marine biologists command excellent salaries and benefits in many cases, and find employment in both public and private sectors.
These are just some of the many careers available to divers wishing to spend their working hours doing what they love. While dedication is required, the rewards are countless. If you are ready to say goodbye to the office, and hello to a whole new outlook on life, check into diver career training.