For instructors
Scuba instructor jobs worldwide
Scuba instructor jobs cover open-water teaching, specialty courses, certified-diver guiding and student safety in dive shops, resorts, liveaboards and dedicated training centres around the world. Whether you teach PADI, SSI, NAUI, RAID, BSAC or SDI/TDI, the role centres on the same things: clear briefings, calm under pressure, careful student control and guests who finish a course feeling confident in the water.
New instructor roles are added on DiveGigs every week, with most operators recruiting two to three months before their region's peak season. Browse the live listings below, or build a free profile so we can email you the moment a matching role goes live.
Current openings
All jobs →
What dive operators usually look for in instructor candidates
A current PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) or equivalent rating from SSI, NAUI, RAID, BSAC or SDI/TDI. MSDT is preferred for resort and liveaboard roles.
Some operators accept newly-qualified instructors; many ask for at least one full season of teaching, especially for resort positions.
English is the minimum at most operators. A second language (Spanish, German, French, Mandarin, Russian) widens the roles you qualify for.
Nitrox, Deep, Sidemount, Wreck and EFR Instructor ratings make a CV more competitive, particularly for liveaboard and tech-leaning operations.
Reliability, calm guest manner, willingness to support sales and equipment care, and a clean record on student outcomes.
A clear instructor CV makes a real difference
Dive shop owners scan instructor CVs in seconds. They look for active certification number, dive count, languages, specialty ratings, and a clean recent work history at recognisable operators. Generic CV templates bury that information; a dive-specific layout puts it on top where it belongs. Our free CV builder is designed for the dive industry — instructor ratings, specialties, dive count, references and availability all have proper fields. Build yours in a few minutes.
Career notes
Most instructors enter the industry as a freshly-qualified Open Water Scuba Instructor and progress through Specialty Instructor ratings, Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), IDC Staff Instructor, then on to Master Instructor or Course Director. Each step opens new role types — MSDTs are common picks for resort and liveaboard work, IDC Staff and Course Directors lead at training centres. The cleanest career moves usually involve building strong relationships with one or two solid operators rather than constantly chasing new shops.
Common questions
No. DiveGigs is agency-neutral. We list roles for instructors certified through PADI, SSI, NAUI, RAID, BSAC, SDI/TDI, IANTD, GUE and CMAS. Some operators specify a required agency; many accept any major one.
It depends on the operator. Some shops will hire newly-qualified OWSIs for the right cultural fit; resorts and liveaboards usually ask for at least one full season of teaching, often more for senior instructor positions.
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. Some shops hire year-round to cover gaps.
Practices vary by country and operator. Some employers sponsor work permits as part of the package; others expect candidates to arrive with the right to work or to work on tourist visas in countries that allow it. Each listing on DiveGigs spells out what the employer offers.
Often, yes. Most instructor roles also include guiding certified divers, equipment care, briefings, social-media content, sales support and helping with dive shop logistics. Listings on DiveGigs detail the full scope so you know what you're signing up for.
For seasonal and remote-location roles (resorts, liveaboards, island operations), housing and meals are commonly included. For shop-based roles in cities or established tourist areas, instructors usually find their own accommodation. Each listing states what's included.
Yes. Build a profile once with your certifications, dive history, references and CV, then apply to as many roles as you want with one click. Employers see your structured profile rather than ten different versions of your CV.
Build a free profile and turn on email alerts. When a new instructor role matches your certifications, region preferences and availability, DiveGigs emails you the same day. Most strong roles fill within a week, so being early matters.
Related dive jobs
Guiding-focused roles, often a stepping-stone into instructor work.
Instructor roles specifically for PADI-certified candidates.
Boat-based teaching and guiding for week-long charter trips.
Seasonal teaching roles at island and coastal resorts.
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.