We’ve compiled this list of Frequently Asked Questions to assist prospective applicants in the hiring process. While this list is not exhaustive, it can answer some of the most common questions we hear from our applicants.

I am part of a team/couple – can we apply together?

  No. You will each need to apply individually. However, our application form does ask if you are part of a team and who your partner is.

  We must have two positions open on a particular yacht, river cruise, or signature lodge, and both parties of the couple must qualify individually for an available position. The other issue we must deal with is the vacation rotation. We cannot guarantee both individuals will have the same vacation schedule. If management positions are involved, this is even more difficult as the operation standards do not permit a Captain and Cruise Director or Captain and Engineer to be off simultaneously. When a couple leaves their position, we then have two vacancies to fill instead of one. Communication, trust, and integrity become essential when the end of an employment relationship approaches where a couple is involved because the transition poses many challenges.

I am a new Diving Instructor; will you consider me?

  Congratulations on recently completing your OWSI certification. It is a significant accomplishment and a huge step toward beginning a professional career in the recreational scuba diving industry. Not only does this certification allow you to start teaching, but it is also the minimum requirement to obtain a work permit in many foreign destinations we consider the best diving in the world.

  Our Liveaboard yachts can cater to the experienced diver. As such, we look for instructors with at least one year of experience and prefer hiring instructors with 25+ certifications under their belts. We must know you have found “your voice” when teaching a class. That “voice” can only come from experience and having certified several students. It is also essential for us that you be able to teach specialty courses. At the top of the list are Enriched Air/Nitrox, Deep Diver, and Night Diver. U/W Naturalist and Fish Identification are also popular courses on our yachts. A Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) certification is a rating that we find highly desirable in candidates for instructor positions.

What documents will you need that I can prepare in advance?

  Once the yacht owner makes an offer of employment, it is conditional upon being able to obtain a work permit in that country (if required). To facilitate this process, you will need to provide the following documents:

• A police background report obtained within the last 6 months
• Two passport photos
• A medical clearance (issued within the previous 12 months)
• Scanned copies of all your marine and diving certification cards
• A scanned copy of the photo page from your passport

How much do the positions pay?

  The yacht owners believe that compensation is a private discussion and will vary according to the environment and regulations of the country you are working in. All staff members receive a weekly salary, tips, commission, and room and board for the weeks (or trips) they are on board and working. Additional benefits vary by yacht but may include professional liability insurance, dive accident insurance, and government-provided health care in the country in which you are employed.

  Staff members are typically able to save quite a bit of money simply because you have little to no expenses. Room and board are provided when you are at work. Since you are at sea, there is little to spend your hard-earned money on during the week.

When do we get time off?

  A Liveaboard operates 24/7 during trips. While on charter, our staff members are on call 24 hours a day, which may differ from working on a cruise ship. The work is not easy, and most yachts run back-to-back charters where guests disembark in the morning, and new guests come on board late in the afternoon. A typical work rotation is eight weeks on, followed by two weeks off.