{"id":352326,"date":"2015-08-19T17:17:44","date_gmt":"2015-08-19T14:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/padiproseurope.com\/?p=6331"},"modified":"2015-08-19T17:17:44","modified_gmt":"2015-08-19T14:17:44","slug":"working-on-a-liveaboard-pros-and-cons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/working-on-a-liveaboard-pros-and-cons\/scuba_news\/","title":{"rendered":"Working on a Liveaboard: Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For many PADI Pros, the thought of working on a liveaboard is a dream opportunity. Maybe you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already toyed with the idea or started applying for that once-in-a-lifetime position, imagining endless expanses of sea and the fascinating dive sites that can only be reached by safari boat.<\/p>\n

Whilst this is certainly a worthy attraction for PADI Pros, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a few lifestyle sacrifices you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll also need to be aware of \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and prepared to make \u00e2\u20ac\u201c to avoid disappointment. Check out the pros and cons below to make sure you know what to expect before heading out to sea on your first job.<\/p>\n

Pros<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

#1 Dive sites<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of the best and most spectacular dive sites of our blue planet can only be reached from a liveaboard. As a PADI Pro, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll undoubtedly experience countless memorable dives that you wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have access to from the shore.<\/p>\n

#2 Experienced divers<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you work as a PADI Pro on a liveaboard, you will accompany many experienced divers on their dives and depending on the level of experience they may even ask to go alone with their dive buddy. This means you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll often only need to guide smaller groups and show them the most beautiful corners of dive sites.<\/p>\n

\"feel4nature-tauchsafari-1\"<\/a>#3 Specific interests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to the previous dive experience often required for a longer safari trip, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s less common to encounter training courses on a liveaboard, and those that are conducted usually focus on developing the specific interests of the group or skills relevant to the type of dives they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll do, such as PADI Digital Underwater Photographer<\/a>, PADI Deep Diver<\/a> or PADI Enriched Air Diver<\/a>. This often means you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be able to apply more of your personal interests and experience over a more relaxed scenario.<\/p>\n

#4 Building relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because you will spend a week or even longer with your guests on a liveaboard trip, there is plenty of time to build up a friendly relationship with the divers on board. Not only does this mean building happy memories from great trips, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also a springboard for creating loyalty amongst customers who will want to come back and dive with you \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and your business \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in the future.<\/p>\n

Cons<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#1 Limited lifestyle<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have ever been on a boat, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll remember how small the space can be, and cabins of liveaboard boats are no exception. Dive guests may only spend a few days like this, but remember you may need to call it your home for several months.<\/p>\n

You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll also need to be prepared to sacrifice comforts such as long showers, internet access and even peace and privacy, as well as the ability to catch up with your partner or friends at the end of each day \u00e2\u20ac\u201c while you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on board, your friends are your customers.<\/p>\n

#2 Need for preparation<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the benefits of liveaboards is the ability to travel to faraway destinations, sometimes several hours away from land. This means you need to be prepared for the journey as you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be able to pop back to shore if you need something.<\/p>\n

From Divemaster training and above, self-sufficiency is emphasised – and bringing extra gear in case you or your guests need something is even more important when liveaboard diving. Double check your packing list to make sure everything is on board, which should include plenty of spare gear, from o-rings to masks, as well as medical supplies such as seasickness tablets.<\/p>\n

\"feel4nature-tauchsafari-2\"<\/a>#3 Physical demands<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a PADI Professional working on a liveaboard, you may be expected to complete multiple dives every day for several days at a time, and there won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be spare Divemasters or Instructors ready to take your place once you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re out at sea. It won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be possible to cancel your guests\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 diving plans just because you feel tired or just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel like diving today \u00e2\u20ac\u201c just like shore-based operations, you are required to support the needs of your paying customers, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your responsibility to make sure you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re fit for duty. If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think you can keep up with the demand, then liveaboard diving might not be for you.<\/p>\n

#4 Diving experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

We already know that liveaboards travel to some of the best diving spots in the world, but quite often these are also the most demanding places to dive. Strong currents, difficult entries, dives in blue water with no reference and potentially tricky surface conditions mean that, as a PADI Pro with guests under your care, you need to have enough experience in the same conditions to be able to safely operate and guide the dive.<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve read the above and think that liveaboard diving is a perfect match for your skills and lifestyle, then visit the Job Vacancy board on the PADI Pros’ Site<\/a> today to start searching for your dream job!<\/p>\n

\n

\"christian_hubo\"<\/a>This article was written by guest blogger, Christian Hubo. A PADI diving instructor, Christian has enjoyed over 4,000 dives whilst travelling around the world. Above the surface, he’s hiked thousands of kilometers across the natural world. Christian is a freelance web and media designer, underwater photographer, social media and marketing consultant and freelance author. His magazine articles and blog, Feel4Nature<\/a>, inspires people to follow an independent, individual and eco-conscious lifestyle.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Working on a Liveaboard: Pros and Cons<\/a> appeared first on PADIProsEurope<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For many PADI Pros, the thought of working on a liveaboard is a dream opportunity. Maybe you’ve already toyed with the idea or started applying for that once-in-a-lifetime position, imagining endless expanses of sea and the fascinating dive sites that … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The post Working on a Liveaboard: Pros and Cons<\/a> appeared first on PADIProsEurope<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5198,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[15731,16806,16807,16808,15853,15724,16809,27,1,11,39,14,52,54,50,31,43,16810,17],"tags":[14775,15310,80,15074],"class_list":["post-352326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-support","category-christian-hubo","category-cons","category-feel4nature","category-instructor-development","category-pro-diaries","category-pros","category-rebreathers","category-scuba_news","category-standards","category-teach-first-aidcpr","category-tec","category-tec-diving","category-technology","category-tecrec","category-tecrec-it-crossover","category-uw-photography","category-working","category-wrecks","tag-careers","tag-guest-blogger","tag-jobs","tag-liveaboards"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352326"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=352326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352326\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=352326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=352326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proscubadiver.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=352326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}