Into the depths of opportunity

By ESTELLE SARNEY

Megan Morris had her doubts about doing a beautician's course. Then she heard an ad on the radio for an outfit that would teach her how to be a diving instructor.

Today the 20-year-old Dunedin woman regularly travels to Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound to dive as part of her job with the University of Otago.

She recently finished working on a project between the university and Meridian Energy, during the company's building of a tunnel between its Manapouri power station and Doubtful Sound.

Morris and two other divers would stay at the sound for two weeks at a time, diving several times a day to check that silt from construction wasn't damaging valuable marine life such as black coral.

Now she dives for any of the university's departments that needs samples gathered, or sensors placed for experiments.

Morris had only snorkelled before starting a 16-week full-time diving course with Adventure Education in Auckland last year.

"But the first time I dived, the experience just clicked. I loved it - doing the course was the best thing I've ever done."

She plans to return to Auckland this summer to raise her qualification from assistant instructor to advanced instructor, making it easier for her to pick up work anywhere in the world.

"Diving for a job is enjoyable. You're not just doing it for the money, and it can give you such a cool lifestyle," says Morris.

Another diver who has taken advantage of the lifestyle opportunities is Howard McCawe. He'd tried a range of jobs, including being a policeman, bank worker and a farmer, before deciding to turn his hobby of diving into a career.

Since gaining his advanced instructor's qualification six years ago, the 44-year-old has worked at an exclusive resort on Orpheus Island near the Great Barrier Reef, taken trainee divers diving near Cairns from a tall sailing ship, and has been the dive manager of a big dive company based on Fiji's Beachcomber Is.

McCawe is now back in New Zealand as training manager of Adventure Education's Pakuranga facility - one of 17 it runs throughout the country.

"I love showing people that there is more to the world than what they see on land," says McCawe. "My biggest thrill is seeing someone come up after their first dive, and they're so ecstatic and elated they often don't know what to say. Helping others overcome their phobias is very rewarding."

He thinks the most important prerequisites for becoming a dive instructor are simply being able to get along with a wide range of people, and communicate information to them in a way they all understand.

Rob Comer, who was a fireman before doing an instructor's course and then becoming Adventure Education's business manager, says most of his students have only snorkelled before doing a course.

Their backgrounds range from corporate executives tired of the rat race to school leavers on the dole. They can do a 16-week full-time or 36-week part-time course to gain a dive controller certificate, qualifying them to be an assistant instructor, or a 53-week full and part-time course to become an advanced instructor.

"You don't need any academic qualifications to become a dive instructor, just a fun, outgoing personality and a love of the outdoors," says Comer.

"Our students become role models too - they're safety experts, leaders, conservationists and counsellors to people who are unsure about diving. Those skills hold them in good stead for jobs in other adventure activities."

Diving is not just a singles' game - resorts often advertise for couples to run their dive operations.

Comer says the pay varies widely - from $26,000 for a junior instructor to $60,000-plus for those with experience.

Overseas resorts often provide airfares, accommodation and gear, and once you start earning Australian or American dollars, your income escalates.

Gaining an instructor's certificate is also a ticket to a more exotic OE - South America or the Red Sea, anyone?

If you are considering a career change to diving, McCawe says the hardest part is making the decision to do it.

"After all the different jobs I've done I think I've found my forte. I should have done it years ago."

DIVING'S THRIVING

A wide range of jobs for the qualified:

* Dive instructor or professional or recreational diver.

* Underwater photography or videography - some beach resorts offer guests videos of their diving trips.

* Guiding and instructing at tropical resorts.

* Working off luxury launches or cruise ships.

* Working for zoos and aquariums.

* Monitoring, research or conservation work.

* Working with construction companies on projects near water.