Looking for a new place to work . . .

[ooblydee]

So, let's see, first I should probably clear something up. I'm posting this in the travel section because I want responses from travelers, not employers. I'm looking for suggestions on a new place to live and work, so if you've been somewhere that might be cool, let me know. Everyone is welcome to reply, as this is just the research phase.
So a little about me: I am an open water scuba instructor with a fair amount of experience and a 50T USCG captain's lisence. I'd be an MSDT if I had the money to blow on it. I'm twenty five, male, a USA citezen, and single. I work at a typical resort shop but I am hoping to find something a little more like me.
I want to find a place where the staff is like a family, but a really big family. Maybe an all-inclusive that incorporates a dive shop very closely. I would even go so far as to want to live on site at the resort. I want to work somewhere warm, with diving that is at least fair. Last, I think, I want a place where I can either surf, rock climb [indoor would do], longboard, or anything really. I just want some diversion other than diving close by. Oh, I forgot the most important thing: A GOOD BAR WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.
I don't care where I go or what the money is like as long as I can survive. I've done the lotsa money thing and the poor thing and I can't really tell a difference in my happiness. What I do care about is the right lifestyle.
I know this is a bit of a weird post, but if anyone has any suggestions, either about a general location, specific resort, or chain of resorts, please let me know.
P.S. I'm not looking to move for at least six months, so please no job offers. I'd feel rude if I didn't say that, because I don't want to waste anyone's time.
Thanks in advance folks, OoblyDee

 

[simonds]

You might check into the Club Med in the Turks and Caicos. You live on-site, lots of stuff going on besides the diving. The diving here is good and, of course, they have a bar. The staff becomes like family. Windsurfing is quite good there too. Pay is pathetic, food is very good and included as is the room. You have to eat with the guests, act like a host. Staff of young people, about 100 of them total.

 

[ooblydee]

Thanks. Thats a great idea and you ddescribed it very well. Have you worked there or vacationed , or both?

 

[robint]

there are lots of places that would meet your needs..
we have met several guys in your situation over the years of dive travel -all liveaboards, Palau liveaboard and land-based dive ops, Roatan and Utila land-based all come to mind. I have heard that Truk is another great option, as well as Guam.

Some countries make it difficult for Americans to get employment, they prefer locals. Bonaire is one place that I have heard it is almost impossible to get a job (preference goes to locals and Dutch), though it would be so wonderful to do it there. My husband keeps saying he wants to retire there and teach in his spare time.

If I were a single guy, 25, I would be begging for a job on a liveaboard. Our trip on one in Palau, we had a DM who was taking a few years off college before starting Med school. What a fantastic idea! He was able to live the dream, on a boat in south pacific doing nothing but diving, and save up money for his big career. When we were there he had just gotten his acceptance letter from UNC. Another one of the DMs was a Brit guy, young party animal, and he was transferring off the liveaboard to a land-based op there in Palau... he loved Palau diving, but not the 24 hour a day job on the boat away from his girlfriend.

I have heard there are numerous other dive destinations in the Pacific that want Americans but I can't tell you where. I am sure others here will give you names of places.

robin

 

[Hank49]

SE Asia is a good place. And it's a lot cheaper to live than the Caribbean. I lived in the Philippines and Malaysia. About half the cost of living in Belize.

 

[knotical]

...the most important thing: A GOOD BAR WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

Please let us know where you end up, so I can avoid it.

I'm not usually confrontational on this board, but your statement suggests a couple of things:
You are probably a conscientious drinker, one who knows it's better to walk than drive after drinking – that's good.
You are probably a conscientious drinker, and therefore sometimes still under the effects the next morning < it's hard to avoid this entirely, unless you really limit your intake > – one who I'd rather not have involved with my diving.

If I've misjudged and it is simply an attempt at humor, there are probably other folks besides me who do not find it funny.

 

[cappyjon431]

Consider Bocas del Toro, Panama. It is a virtual heaven for 25 year old males. Great surfing most of the year, an incredible nightlife, cheap food and accomodations, and pretty good diving too. bocas attracts thousands of backpackers from all over the world who are in your age bracket.

There are many US citizens who live and work here, but the biggest drawback is that if you come via tourist visa you have to leave the country every 90 days for 72 hours. Ex-pats here have mastered hopping on a bus and going the 20-something miles to cross the border into costa Rica for their border runs.

There are four dive shops in town, although none of them have very large staffs. Our staff is quite stable and I don't envision any employment opportunities in the forseeable future, but you can certainly check with the other operators when the time comes.

You might want to check out BOCAS DEL TORO - Tourism in the Panama Caribbean region for some decent basic info on the area.

 

[ooblydee]

Thank you to everyone so far, especially Cappyjon431. Your info on Bocas Del Toro is perfect, I'm definately going to look into that some more. It sounds perfect. To Knotical, I do drink, but not that often or that hard. I just like bars. Its nice to have a place to hang out and have a beer with friends, don't you think?

 

[Hank49]

Please let us know where you end up, so I can avoid it.

I'm not usually confrontational on this board, but your statement suggests a couple of things:
You are probably a conscientious drinker, one who knows it's better to walk than drive after drinking &#8211; that's good.
You are probably a conscientious drinker, and therefore sometimes still under the effects the next morning < it's hard to avoid this entirely, unless you really limit your intake > &#8211; one who I'd rather not have involved with my diving.

If I've misjudged and it is simply an attempt at humor, there are probably other folks besides me who do not find it funny.

You're being a little hard on the man, aren't you?
I'd say he's a normal 25 year old looking to have a good time at the end of a dive day.
When I working on Boracay most all the divers would gather at some bar for a few beers late in the day. They're on vacation.

 

[Doc]

I'm with RobinT on this one, don't waste that license- go advance the process by getting hours on a liveaboard.

Any fool can be an OWSI, I am proof. Learn how to rebuild compressors, keep building on the USCG ticket. You are on the road to being highly marketable.

Indoor rock-climbing will have to wait.