For PADI Pros
PADI instructor jobs worldwide
PADI is still the most-requested agency in dive industry hiring, and PADI instructor jobs are listed every week on DiveGigs from dive shops, resorts and liveaboards across South East Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and beyond. Active PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors, MSDTs, IDC Staff Instructors and Master Instructors all find roles here.
Operators specifying PADI usually run PADI student materials, hold a PADI dive centre or resort affiliation, and want continuity for their existing course pipeline. New PADI roles are added regularly. Browse the live listings below, or build a free profile to be notified when matching roles open.
Current openings
All jobs →Strong dive roles fill within days. Build a free profile and we'll email you the moment a matching position opens up.
Get email alertsWhat PADI dive centres usually look for in instructor candidates
OWSI minimum, MSDT preferred for resort and liveaboard work, IDC Staff or Master Instructor for senior roles. Status must be in good standing with PADI.
Five-plus PADI specialty instructor ratings (Deep, Wreck, Sidemount, Nitrox, EFR Instructor) significantly increase your CV appeal, particularly for MSDT-track roles.
Some shops will hire newly-qualified OWSIs; resorts and liveaboards typically ask for at least one full season of paid PADI teaching.
English minimum. A second language broadens the role pool substantially — German, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Russian are most in demand.
Reliability, calm guest manner on busy dive days, willingness to support sales and shop logistics, and clean student-outcome history.
A focused PADI CV travels further
PADI dive centres scan instructor CVs in seconds. Active PADI member number, current status, dive count, list of specialty ratings and recent paid teaching experience are the things they need to see immediately. Generic CV templates bury those details deep in the document. Our free CV builder is designed for the dive industry, with proper fields for every PADI rating, dive count, languages, references and availability. Build yours in a few minutes.
Career notes
PADI Pros typically progress through OWSI → MSDT → IDC Staff Instructor → Master Instructor → Course Director. Each step opens different role types: OWSIs and fresh MSDTs are the bulk of resort and shop hiring; IDC Staff and Course Directors lead at training centres. Many PADI instructors also branch into specialty teaching (tech, sidemount, deep), liveaboard cruise direction, or dive industry operations and management roles.
Common questions
For roles listed under PADI specifically, yes. Your PADI status must be in good standing, with current renewals. Many operators verify your status with PADI before offering a contract.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) is the entry point. MSDT is preferred for most resort and liveaboard postings. Specialty ratings (Deep, Sidemount, Wreck, Nitrox, EFR Instructor) make a stronger application.
Crossover ratings are accepted by some operators but not all. If your active teaching status is PADI, you qualify; if your active status is with another agency and you are not actively renewed with PADI, the role may not be a fit.
Yes. Several operators offer paid divemaster work bundled with subsidised MSDT progression. These are usually filed under instructor or divemaster postings — check listing details for internship language.
Hiring follows the season. Most operators recruit two to three months before peak. South East Asia liveaboards crew up August to October; Caribbean resorts hire September to December; Mediterranean operators recruit February to April.
It varies. Some employers sponsor work permits as part of the package; others expect candidates to arrive with the right to work or to operate on tourist visas in countries that allow it. Each listing on DiveGigs spells out what the employer offers.
Yes, almost always. Most PADI instructor roles include certified-diver guiding, equipment care, briefings, social-media content, sales support and dive-shop logistics. Listings detail the full scope.
Build a free profile and turn on email alerts. When a new PADI instructor role matches your certifications, region preferences and availability, DiveGigs emails you the same day.
Related dive jobs
All-agency instructor roles, including PADI, SSI, NAUI, RAID and more.
Instructor roles for SSI Pros and crossover candidates.
Divemaster roles — many include PADI MSDT internship pathways.
PADI instructor and divemaster roles on week-long charter trips.
Build a profile. Get the early call.
Strong dive roles fill within days, not weeks. Build a free DiveGigs profile and email alerts will reach you the moment a matching role goes live.