Where can I get a job in Philippines?

[Shady Tady]

Hello everybody.

I am a beginner dive-master, actually I’m just in the middle of the course and planning to finish it till the end of this month. Also I will get a certificate for providing DSD. I have 2 languages – Russian (my native) and English. From my equipment I now only have a dive-computer and mask.

I’d like to go to Philippines and get a job there. For the first month I could work just for food and room. I want the experienced divers, who know this region well, to advice me a nice place to start my search for a job. As I heard from one of the instructors who was working in Ph, there are no job offer in the internet, including padi site, so you have to go down personally to every dive-center, and talk about it eye2eye with the boss. So I’d like to choose a place I will go for that search with your help. In addition to a nice diving resort and beautiful local spots, I’d like this place to have a variety of local girls and probably some infrastructure with malls not very far away.

I also never been in Philippines, so I don’t have any experience traveling it (though I’ve been to other asian countries)

 

[shugar]

times are tough...

for a non-local
with not even a completed DM course
and not enough dive gear to fill in a lady's purse
willing to work for food and lodging
with nice sights
a wide selection of sex partners
nearby malls

the only available job is:

Spoiler

sorry, dude... given what you can offer and what you need the pickin's will be slim at best

 

[eagerbeaver]

Hi Shady,

Working in the Philippines as a DM is going to be tough as the wages tend to be low because there are lot of local divemasters available to work. Their wages may not even be enough to cover what you consider room and board[although they support a family of 5 on it!]

Definitely you need all your own equipment - even the local guys have that.

Language-wise I'm not sure that Russian is a great deal of help as there's a limited number of Russian tourists here. But worth talking to Russian travel agents about where they send customers as they might need Russian speakers.

There are some job offers on the internet, the PADI site often has ads for the Philippines so worth a look - but your friend is right, it's better to meet face to face.

Sabang in Puerto Galera is probably the busiest location with the most chance of finding freelance work and getting your foot in the door.

HTH and good luck.

Matt.

 

[DevonDiver]

Go to Thailand, your language skills will be a competitive advantage there. There are Russian tourists and you find work in specialised Russian language dive shops. There isn't anything like that here in the Philippines.

As Matt said, Sabang is your best bet.... but even then, it can be difficult for fully equipped, well experienced instructors to get work (even dive leading).

 

[Scott L]

There should be several dive centers serving tens of thousands at Subic Bay Naval Base and Clarke Air Base. Oops! Forgot they were closed and operations exported to other nations in region.

 

[DevonDiver]

Still get a lot of U.S.Navy visiting through Subic Bay, but their fleet commander won't let them dive...

 

[Scott L]

Still get a lot of U.S.Navy visiting through Subic Bay, but their fleet commander won't let them dive...

That's wimpy. Maybe that's why our Army calls them butt pirates.

 

[Tortuga68]

I think there would easily be more people diving in the PI now than there were when the bases were operational...

But as far as getting paid DM work goes, the other guys are right - for someone with no experience and an ambitious wish-list, it's going to be a struggle

 

[DevonDiver]

The problem here (PIs) for foreign instructors and DMs is that the local population mostly speak excellent english. That means they can compete for jobs in the dive industry. Not only do the locals develop an outstanding appreciation for the dive sites, over a long term, they require much less salary to do so and most have amounted a huge amount of experience.

Philippines dive industry is not like other Asian countries.

 

[Shady Tady]

Thanks all for your replays. I've got the exact same answer on a Russian forum, so I have decided to get the job in Thailand. The are many Russian tourists in some areas, like Pattaya for exp, so I can easily find a job there. It is always nice to do a online research before going somewhere.

So on a changed subject, what are the best dive spots in Thailand in your opinion? (and please note the number of russian tourists you have observed in the area)