So, for lots of reasons, the wife and I decided to "go pro" and become divemasters... figured out real quickly that the DM rating was almost worthless if you want to travel and work in the dive industry - most places won't even consider hiring a divemaster... So, we decided to work through up to our divemaster ratings while we were still in the states, and do our IDC in Utila, at Utila Dive Centre... Amazing place, amazing program... Cost a ton of money, but, we moved there for 3 months, spent 1 month working as DM's and re-learning everything for the IDC, then the IDC, then we interned as instructors after the IDC/IE... We also got some specialty instructor ratings out of the way while we were there - mostly the ones that you can't self certify in...
getting close to our 3 month mark, we started browsing PADI's employment boards and found our current jobs here in St. Croix... We found a place we love - granted, we won't be here forever, but we are super happy here... We make a decent living, but our needs are much simpler than when we were in the states.... no expensive cell phone plans, real crappy island car, etc... we've been here 15 months and I've personally done over 1000 dives and taught almost 200 students, as well as hundreds of discover scubas (not in the pool, in the open water)... our apartment is on the dive shop property and is small, but nice - rent is subsidized by the dive shop, which is definitely a bonus... even though we don't make much, we still have more money saved up now than we ever did when we were in the states...
the dive shop property is on the beach so we can walk to the beach (100 yds from our house) any time, we can shore dive any time, and, if you can drive a boat, you can borrow one of the two smaller boats, provided it isn't in use at the time...
all of this being said, between the two of us, we make about 1/3 of what I made in the states, plus tips... for us, its just the wife and I with no plans of kids for a long time, if ever - you simply can't take kids with you on an adventure like ours...
since moving here to St. Croix, I have also gained my USCG captains license, so that makes me a little more valuable...
my typical day (when I captain our big boat):
wake up 7:00, at the shop 7:45 (its a 2 minute walk)
go pick up the boat @ 8:00 (she is 15 minutes away from the shop)
load divers at 9-9:30
two dives, unload divers 1:00-1:30
park the boat (or maintenance time)
back at the shop 2:30ish, then sometimes I have stuff to do around the shop - fix regs, lead a shore tour, etc
if nothing is going on by 3:30 or 4:00 then I leave (unless its my night to close, in which I am there until 7), if it is busy, I'll be there til 5 or 6, depending...
if I am not captaining and working in the shop, same morning routine, usually help load the boats if I'm not busy, then go on to teaching, leading shore dives, etc...
responsibilities:
teach
lead certified divers
discover scubas
captain
maintenance (boats, shop, gear)
reg repair
I am sure there is so much more I am leaving out, but if you have any questions or want any advice, I can definitely provide it...