Scuba Diving as a career

Garima Upadhyay Rawat

For Mithun Chakravarty, a day without a dive is impossible. In his career spanning years of dives, he has become so attuned to it that he cannot imagine a life away from his passion. "The thrill of it is enough to keep me going and wanting for more," says Chakravarty who runs a diving institute at the Havelock Islands in Andamans, which boasts of some of the best beaches in the world.

Havelock offers some of the best diving sites in India, after Goa and Lakshadweep. Not just Indians, but many foreigners also prefer this destination to dive. Silver sand beaches with clear blue water add to the charm of checking out corals and marine life. Says Chakravaty, "The profession is extremely satisfying. If you love marine life and get excited at the idea of spending hours deep inside the ocean, it will be worthwhile giving this profession a try."

According to him, no other profession in the world can offer you the benefits, which diving can. "Trainers are offered free accommodation, food and time-off along with a handsome pay package. We are generally free by late afternoons, so they can have their evenings to themselves. On the top of it all, diving locations in the world are among the most beautiful, and working here definitely boosts up your productivity. We make new friends almost every day and enjoy every bit of what we do. How many of us are lucky to have a work life like this?" he asks.

While it may seem to offer good career prospects, many might have doubts about seasonal flow of revenue. Dousing such thoughts, Chakravarty says, "Since scuba diving is catching up with water sports enthusiasts worldwide, there is no one season to mint money, as people keep coming to us throughout the year. Many come for a one-time dive, but there are few who come to train as divers and spend some months with us."

Adrenaline junkies and marine lovers can consider building a career in diving. With an underlying dare devilry element, scuba divers live life on the edge, and they love it! "Every day is a different experience. We meet different people, battle difficult climate conditions and work in the most hostile space (ocean). Even then, for those who dare to be different and want to live their passion... nothing can beat the experience of diving and exposing others to the riches of the sea. As far as the takeaway is concerned, when our customers laud our efforts and tell us that they have had an amazing experience, which they'll remember forever. Well, that, is what we earn, not just money but love and respect," he signs off.

What do divers do?

Diving instructors train people to dive and stay under water. To make a career as a diver, you need to attain various levels of certifications. As a part of your basic training, beginners are taken a few metres down to orient them to underwater world. You are taught how to breathe with the help of the oxygen cylinder and what to do in an emergency situation. The theory part of the training (progresses with each level) involves understanding the basic physics of what happens to human beings/diving equipment when under water. They explain how human body is affected with an increase in the pressure. Advanced levels again deal with theories of physics and how to provide first aid and rescue along with more detailed theoretical understanding of how equipment functions. Certifications are a must to qualify as divers and instructors. There are various bodies that can get you the certifications.

A day in the life of a diver

6.30am:Start the day at the dive shop by checking the number of divers and start setting up equipment accordingly

7.30am: Load the boats with equipment and refreshments

8pm: Start for the diving site

8.30am: Prep up the divers for their dive.

9.30am: Start the dives. Two dives with an hour of mandatory rest

2.30pm: Reach the dive shop

3pm: Clean and service the diving equipment and make it ready to use for the next day

4pm: Leave for the hotels to train wannabe divers to swim underwater

What are the returns?

In India, the diving season lasts seven months, from October to April. However, in countries like Thailand or the Philippines, one can remain employed for 12 months. An instructor can be paid anything from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000 a month, plus free food and good accommodation. Later, with experience, one can also start their own school. Big tips can come in from grateful diving students...

Have you got it in you?

• High level of skills as a mature diver - you have to be well-prepared where your lessons (both practical and theory) are concerned
• Lot of patience is required since you are dealing with people who could be afraid of drowning, darkness, and sea creatures
• Sound knowledge of marine life so you can point it out to people/your students when you take them diving
• You should be good with the concepts and theories of physiology and physics

So you wanna be a diver?

To become a SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diver, one requires international certification. Once you start diving, you can slowly add points and proceed to the instructor level. You get certifications from PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), based in SantaClara, California, USA); BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), SSI (Scuba Schools International), and CMAS (French Diving Federation)

Some of the Institutes which you can consider are:

1. Gold India Diving Resort
2. Lacadives India
3. Barracuda Diving India
4. Dive Goa
5. Dive India
6. Barefoot India

Other interesting reads:

- From a mediocre student to a medicine topper

- Animation careers for people who can't draw