Liveaboard Volunteer

[FishDiver]

I am interested in volunteering as a DM or galley slave on a liveaboard dive boat. I know several boats in Australia's Great Barrier Reef including Mike Ball and the Taka offer free dive trips in exchange for labor.

Has anyone out there done this? Please share details of the experience. Would you do it again?

 

[almitywife]

hi FD

i know one lady that went up to Mike Ball a few months before christmas to get some work experience as she had just finished her DM's and didnt know what next

she came home with an offer to work there, so she now working out of cairns (i think its cairns) and she on the boat currently as a DM & assist with other duties and is planning on working thru to her instructors at some point

cheers

 

[robint]

I am interested in volunteering as a DM or galley slave on a liveaboard dive boat. I know several boats in Australia's Great Barrier Reef including Mike Ball and the Taka offer free dive trips in exchange for labor.

Has anyone out there done this? Please share details of the experience. Would you do it again?

Do you want to stay in that area or are you willing to relocate to another diving destination?
Most liveaboards I have been on want their crew to be at least a Divemaster, instructor level even better. There are always dive boats looking for crew members.
I spoke with a boat captain about it (for a friend who was thinking about the same thing as you) and he gave me lots of insight. My friend decided not to do it (his girlfriend talked him out of it) but if I were a 20-something yr old guy I would do it. My husband says the same thing, it looks like a great adventure for at least a year or two.

 

[FishDiver]

My intent was to travel to different locations and do a two to three week stint on the boat every six months or so for a few years. The goal is to subsidize dive travel by substituting labor for cash.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Don't know if that's feasible. I'd think most of them would want you on for more than one or two trips for if nothing else just to learn their ops. It might be hard unless you have actual commercial boating experience just to learn all you'd need to know about the boat itself let alone working as a DM or instructor in a couple weeks. I'd expect 3 months minimum as an unpaid intern which is basically what you want to do. Perhaps if you get some real time you could do the fill in type stuff afterwards. But as others have said if I was in my 20's or just unattached I'd be gone in a second to work one.

 

[robint]

My intent was to travel to different locations and do a two to three week stint on the boat every six months or so for a few years. The goal is to subsidize dive travel by substituting labor for cash.

don't think so. As a representative of the company, they would want you to be more commited and trained in their procedures.

 

[Damselfish]

as a passenger on a boat, while of course there is almost always someone new on a boat being trained, I'd much rather crew that had been there a little longer and knew more about the boat and sites than I did...

 

[Mike Veitch]

starting salary on most LOB is around $1000 US a month plus tips commissions etc, that is for dive crew, need to be DM or instructor.

why would you volunteer when you should get paid?!?

 

[robint]

My intent was to travel to different locations and do a two to three week stint on the boat every six months or so for a few years. The goal is to subsidize dive travel by substituting labor for cash.

Mike - looks like he only wants to do it for a few weeks. No dive op is going to hire him to do that.

 

[FishDiver]

Mike - looks like he only wants to do it for a few weeks. No dive op is going to hire him to do that.

I beg to differ. My interest in this was initially piqued when I met two divers that are volunteering for a Mike Ball GBR trip for two weeks. I checked out the Mike Ball site and indeed the initial mutual commitment is for one or two weeks. Employment - Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - Expedition Crew Information and Application Form

I reasoned that if Mike offered this perhaps other operators did as well. Hence the OP.

Thanks for all the comments.