becoming a divemaster in caribbean

Question
Hi James,

I a 32 year old living in Turkey as a marketing manager in a large conglomerate.

I got really tired of this kind of living, stressful and so on so I am thinking of relocating and do another things in life.

I have a PADI Advanced open water diver certificate and I am getting my Rescue diver course in two weeks time. I have over 100 hours of logged dives.

I do not plan to become an tech instructor but to become a divemaster to become a guide in a resort or in some facility. maybe an instructor later

I want a laidback life where diving could become a job and meet international people. I have no high expectations about money. just a decent place to live, stress free life and enough money to live in peace

I am willing to relocate, I speak English fluently, understand a little french. I have a valid Turkish passport and touristic visa for USA, Europe (schengen) and U.K

Is there any chance that I can make this work in Caribbean? what about work permits? what locations would be most suitable?

Do you have any suggestions where I can seek for available jobs?

I thank you in advance, it would really be a great help.

Best,

Can

Answer
Hi Can,

I did exactly that.

I wore a tie to work every day (I was living in Guadalajara, in Mexico) and was bored to death, escaping on weekends to dive in Puerto Vallarta or the Mexican Caribbean.  I was 29.

I don't have any magic answers for you, because it really depends on you alone, but it's important for me to encourage you.  Reinventing myself in this way was the best thing I ever did.  Now I'm happily married with a woman I met in this new life, with two young children.

Try to get your French working better!  This will be very helpful in some areas, and will get you hired more easily.  Perhaps you can get started in a location where Turkish tourists go, where your language will help you get working on your diving, build experience (it is everything, wrt diving) and then go where you really want to be.

some final words!  

Experience teaches you effective control through anticipation and preparation  (taught to me by Bahama Ben Cook)

Breathing = Buoyancy = Relaxation   (my rule of diving)

You cannot manage what you cannot measure.  (don't remember where)

If not now, when?  (ditto.  it means, basically, tomorrow never comes)

No one is going to thank you for not doing it.  Go for it, and enjoy your life!

saludos,
James

(and have to add.... you will be taught to put too much weight on your students/customers.  it is unwise.  learning to properly weight the divers under your control, and manage that during the dive, you will avoid many problems, and your divers will become MUCH better, MUCH faster, since over-weighting is the most performance degrading condition for new divers.  They must learn that breathing=buoyancy=relaxation, however, which is easy to teach.)