Aug-Sep in Mexico

[dakar]

Hello to all,

I am a DM, 28, looking to stay in mexico for about 2 months (Aug-Sep 09)
I would like to work as a DM, find a nice place to stay and learn the job, while having fun... the plan B is to go for an IDC (as I was planning on taking it sometime).
Never been to Mexico, from what I read here, Playa del carmen seems like a great place.
Any offer,advise or help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Dectek]

Might be tough trying to dive into a job down there right now. Many many people lost jobs due to a little virus. Many dive shops that usually had several DMs working everyday are doing rotations like 3 days on and 3 off just to keep spreading what little money that is coming in around. Others have just had to let go most of the support employees until times get better. I was talking to one dive op on Monday that told me they went 3 days without sending out a boat and at 4pm....I was the first customer in the shop that day. Hell....I bought a T-shirt I didn't even want just as a quilt sale. Then again...I may have been the 45th First customer that day.

 

[driftwood]

Also there is the little matter of getting the right permit from the Mexican government. I think it is called FM-3. Unlike the US, if you get caught working without one, they put you on a plane and bar your reentry for several years.

 

[dakar]

Is there any other country in the region that you would recommend instead? the main 3 things I am looking for are: Good warm water diving, Spanish speaking, cheap.
Any recommendations will be a great help! the 1 thing I am willing to negotiate is the Spanish...

Thanks guys!

 

[robint]

Is there any other country in the region that you would recommend instead? the main 3 things I am looking for are: Good warm water diving, Spanish speaking, cheap.
Any recommendations will be a great help! the 1 thing I am willing to negotiate is the Spanish...

Thanks guys!

Utila or Roatan, Honduras.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

I think you'd love Playa del Carmen, but driftwood's right about the FM3 working visas. They just don't hand them out. Secondly, let me tell ya as a 6 year Playa del Carmen full time resident....it's not cheap. On the flip side, the diving here is the best I've seen around and we have Coz and cenotes just a 45 minute ride away. If you did get a job, it would be more likely in a shop that's in an all inclusive hotel doing free pool demos and barely guiding. But you'd have a good salary. Guess it all depends on what you want to do really.