What it was like working as a dive guide in the Caribbean

Working at a summer camp - should you do it?

Want to work at a summer camp or for any tourist company in the Caribbean? Then let me tell you why you should commit and go for it. 

I spent a summer swimming in the ocean and getting tan. Sounds perfect, right? There were defiantly moments of good mixed with some stress. 

I worked from May to August on St. Croix in the USVI. My job gave me housing and food, which was a major win since island life is so incredibly expensive. If you are interested in a similar position, see if the companies you are interested in offer similar situations. If not, check out Facebook and try to find an apartment with roommates, as that helps you save your hard-earned money. 

My job consisted of playing in the waters around the island. I loved it. You learn so much about an ecosystem when you spend days beneath the water's surface. I was responsible for leading groups of approximately 12 individuals around the island. My work week consisted of scuba diving or snorkeling. 

During a snorkel week, I would join two motorized boat trips to Buck Island and end with one sailboat day. I would take these groups on guided tours, explain the fragile coral reef's fragile condition, and identify local flora and fauna. These days were spent floating above the reef and lying in the sun.

Scuba weeks were by far my favorite. I would dive twice a day for five days! I loved the boat captains, and they loved me, so we always went to new spots when I worked. They knew my love for sharks and always seemed to find the most shark-infested part of the north island to dive in. We were never allowed to take any group below the 60-foot mark, but there were times when I would drop to 80 feet to snatch up some trash or cut fishing lines. These days were always less exhausting. I would chat with my group before entering the water, but it was quiet once we got down to depth.  

Now this sounds amazing, right? It was! But like any job, you need to be aware of the risks and dangers that come with working with kids, adults, or both. 

I had divers on numerous occasions signal to me that they were completely out of air while at 60 feet. Those moments definitely make your heart race a bit. Then there were the days when we had to organize evacuations due to hurricanes (they are common in late summer). Having no previous experience with storms as bad as hurricanes, I will honestly say they terrified me. I went to bed crying one night because the wind was so strong it rocked the whole building and threatened to tear off the roof. Working on an island also means accepting the local residents like the evil-looking centipedes from hell that bite and feel like 30 stinging bees or the spikey casha plant that always seems to find a way to stab your feet as you pass. 

So now my opinion. 

Would I be a summer camp guide for kids again? Probably not.

Was the stress, the lack of sleep, the fact that I worked 50 hours a week and barely got any money for my efforts, and everything else actually worth it? Maybe.

Would I work on a tropical island again? YES

Would I work for a dive agency again? YESSS 

Should you try to work for a summer camp or a seasonal job on a tropical island? Yes, especially if money is not an issue for you and you have a great personality!