Liveaboard work

[Scu8ie]

Hi everyone.

I'm an IDC Staff Instr with roughly 2000 dives and 200 certs. I have about 10 specialties and now its time to get out of the dive center work and try liveaboards.
Does anyone know what qualifications will be useful to make my CV more attractive. Like the STCW, deckhands, etc.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[RJP]

Hi everyone.

I'm an IDC Staff Instr with roughly 2000 dives and 200 certs. I have about 10 specialties and now its time to get out of the dive center work and try liveaboards.
Does anyone know what qualifications will be useful to make my CV more attractive. Like the STCW, deckhands, etc.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

Based on my experience as a passenger, liveaboard crewmembers need to be "jack of all trades" to be of value on a boat. The following things would be of value...

• hospitality industry experience (LOB's are as much floating hotels and floating restaurants as they are dive ops)
• better than average photography/videograpy skills, including editing (esp a week's worth of video in a few hours)
• ability to get along with 4-5 ***holes (some of the crew and the occasional passenger) in a 120' x 22' space, for weeks at a time; if you can't do that... can you fake it well enough that no one else on the boat will know?
• fluency in multiple languages
• ability to fix things like compressors (with only the parts that are ON THE BOAT at the time.)
• MacGyver-like ability to fix anything else on a boat (esp AC, electrical, plumbing, appliances, etc)

 

[diversteve]

A 100-ton Captain's license could be useful...

If you want to stay regional - probably Explorer Ventures or Aggressor are your better options. Although there's a new Nautilus boat coming online soon to dive Socorro so maybe they're hiring. EV and Aggressor have hiring links on their websites.

 

[Scu8ie]

Thanks for the help

 

[nudisusie]

Hi Scu8ie

I worked on Liveaboards in the Red Sea and Philippines and have since traveled on many (just been working for Siren Fleet for 5 years!).

I'd say the STCW-95 is a must have qualification I know SF ask for it and it certainly goes a long way with westerner-owned yachts. I think in the US region it is a requirement.

Much depends on where you re interested in working...
Some places only take couples, other prefer singles
Have you dived / worked in the place you would like to work on the boat? A knowledge of the local sites and customs would be an advantage.
Languages are certainly a plus in terms of communication with the guests. I only speak English and a little Spanish and got by with that.
Photography/videography skills are good. I learned on the job in the Red Sea and had to buy my own equipment and editing software. we sold videos each week but in the Philippines we were not allowed to do video - you are the dive guide and spotter. Many people doing Lobs nowadays have their own cameras and go-pros, so a working knowledge and basic guidance would give you a good grounding to assist guests getting the right shots.
Compressor and/or engine maintenance (i don't have that but I have a husband who knows how which is also useful!)
Ability to drive a dive tender
Willingness to dive 4 dives a day over multiple days without taking a day off!
Marine life knowledge of the local area & ability to ID guests' photos for them

Other things you may want to think about are:
Ability to write well in English - most lobs ask for trip blogs for website and social media (4 years editing them for others has taught me that its a much desired skill!)
Good with accounts - you will probably have to manage all the on board payments & stock

Feel free to pm me if you like any further advice,
All the best,
Susie