Trip to Australia..

[oren413]

then to New Zealand, but for now, I need all the info i can get on Australia. I haven't done much research (except for searching) but figured this was the best place for answers.

I've been living in Israel for 2.5 years now after volunteering for the military here (moved from Chicago). Anyway i've been scuba diving ever since i moved here. I've got a little over 100 dives and got my Dive Con and Assistant Instructor through SSI here in Israel. Anyway, i'm out of the army now and doing my instructors course. This is where Australia comes in. As soon as i've got my instructors license and some experience i want go to Australia for a good 3-6 months. I figure i can get a Work and Holiday visa with my American passport.

I want to dive the great barrier reef as much as possible and work as an instructor or guide there. ANY advice or info is helpful. If it helps i've got all my own equipment. A good amount of money saved up. And plan on traveling in January or February. As far as living conditions and what not goes it doesn't really matter to me at all.

Anyway, anything tips on where to start would be great. Thanks.


Oren

 

[oren413]

i should probably also mention i've done specialty courses in Deep Diving, night diving, navigation and certified nitrox.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Hi Oren,
I don’t blame you for wanting to dive the Reef as much as possible. Having an Instructor certification will certainly help, but with SSI you are more limited work wise than PADI. I really don’t want to get into the whole PADI vs SSI thing, but to work here you will need to know a few things. I can only speak about Queensland (where the Reef is) as that is where I am based. Here you will need a work visa, Workplace first aid course to Australian Standards, Australian Professional Dive medical, and also Oxygen administration certification.
You are better off being in a town and seeing the dive stores rather than sending e-mails as there are always plenty of instructors here looking for work, and no one will employ someone out of town without seeing them.

You can get volunteer work on some boats as a “hostie” where you work in exchange for dives. A few of the overnight boats do that.

Best of luck

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Discount dive travel to the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea - live aboard and day trips.

Cairns Discount Dive Trips - Great Barrier Reef Diving - Australia

 

[oren413]

Thanks for the info. I've done the first aid React Right course, i wonder if that counts. If not, i dont see a problem doing it there.