Australia is one of the best places in the world to be a PADI Instructor; it offers a wide range of employment opportunities across its stunning coastlines and passionate dive communities. Whether you are looking for part-time or full-time work, there is a role to suit everyone, from guiding dives on the Great Barrier Reef to teaching in urban dive centers. The Australian dive industry is known for its high standards, top-tier training, and varied employment options.
If you are passionate about diving and ready to take your career to the next level, Australia is the perfect place to start.
We recently sat down with two Australia-based Instructor Development Course (IDC) graduates who are now working full-time in the dive industry in Australia.
Sidney Nabuurs (PADI OWSI #557708) completed her IDC with Divers Den in Cairns and is now working full-time on the Great Barrier Reef. Jessica Hill (PADI OWSI #554954) completed her IDC at Abyss Scuba in Sydney and is now working full time as an Instructor/Marine Biologist in Sydney.
Sidney Nabuurs – Cairns, Australia
Like many people who visit Cairns, I was just planning to stay for a few days. On my third day in town, I went on a day trip to dive in the Great Barrier Reef. On my fourth day in town, I was supposed to take a bus south. Well, it is now my 254th day in town, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.
I loved the reef so much that I signed up for my PADI Rescue Diver course with Divers Den. I loved Divers Den so much I signed up for the Divemaster program. I loved the Divemaster course so much I signed up to become an Instructor and completed the Instructor Development Course (IDC), passed the Instructor Examination (IE), got a job, and lived happily ever after (well fingers crossed on that last bit).
Of all the diving courses I’ve completed, the IDC was by far my favorite. Over the three-week course, my skills and knowledge grew exponentially, and our group of Instructor candidates became so close. We spent much of the first week in the classroom reviewing our dive theory. I was fortunate enough to have had time for studying beforehand, because wow, that is a lot of content. In the classroom, we also learned to give knowledge development presentations ourselves.
Next, my favorite part, the pool time! We had a quick review of the skills we should have mastered in every course leading up to the IDC. Let me tell you, we did not have all these mastered. Many hours were spent in the pool before class practicing! We also started learning to teach each other the skills. In the group, one person would be the instructor, and the rest pretend students. Each student would give the instructor a problem with their skill, the instructor would correct it and then always give the student a high five after completing the skill properly!
We then spent a busy, intense, but most importantly, very fun three days at sea! We practiced teaching skills in the ocean, which is much more challenging than the pool, with the added difficulties of current and waves. During this trip, I felt our class really grow as a family.
Finally, it was exam time. These days, although nerve-wracking, were easier than we’d expected them to be, thanks to the wonderful preparation of our Course Directors. The feeling of passing after all that hard work was incredible, and celebrating as a group with a fun dive at the end of the day was even better. It was really amazing seeing the whole class grow as much as we did, all thanks to our amazing Course Directors!
Now, the thought “I can’t believe this is my actual job” plays in my head at least 10 times per day. After completing the IDC, Divers Den hired me as a PADI Instructor. I am loving it.
My new favorite thing is to take Discover Scuba® Diving participants into the water for the first time. It is so rewarding seeing people go from extremely nervous to having the best time of their lives. Diving in the Great Barrier Reef is a major bucket list item, and I have the privilege of helping people do this on a daily basis. My first group left me a review saying, “She even gave us high fives after completing the skills.” Of course, I did; that is how I was taught in the IDC!
Working on the day boat, my life has sort of settled into a 9-5 type of routine, except the 9-5 parts are in the ocean, looking at stunning coral and adorable fish. It is still surreal that I just drove home and cooked dinner after finding Nemo, being 2 meters (6 feet) away from a turtle, seeing cuttlefish mate, or spotting a new nudibranch.
Looking back on my third day in Cairns, I could have never imagined I would be here today. I was probably still swimming with my arms back then! I am so grateful that I chose to stay and become a PADI Professional.
Jessica Hill – Sydney, Australia
Becoming a Scuba Diving Instructor was never something I imagined I’d be doing as a career, but here I am, living the dream.
After completing my PADI Open Water Diver course with Abyss Scuba Diving in 2020, I had to return to the UK due to COVID-19. I then pursued a Marine Biology degree. In 2024, I joined the Abyss team as a PADI Divemaster (DM). I wanted to still do something with my love for the ocean, but I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to continue at university just yet.
Doing my DM course, I learned the ropes of the diving industry, assisting Instructors and gaining hands-on experience. After completing my Divemaster, the owners offered me an amazing full-time position and enrolled me in the IDC with our incredible PADI Course Director. I feel unbelievably lucky to have been offered this opportunity at such an incredible shop. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my diving career.
The IDC is a comprehensive program designed to prepare you for the PADI Instructor Exam as well as the practicalities of actually working as an Instructor. The course includes both theory lessons on diving and practical in-water training to refine our teaching skills as well as our own skills. One thing I appreciated about the IDC was that it was offered part-time and full-time. I noticed this flexibility allowed those with other commitments, like full-time jobs, to complete the course on a slightly more flexible schedule.
At Abyss, we rely heavily on our part-time PADI Instructors and PADI Divemasters. They’re a crucial part of the team and ensure that we are able to maintain high standards, but also allow us to run a range of different activities from courses to guided dives every weekend for our customers.
After becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, I couldn’t wait to start teaching full-time in Sydney. The city offers some beautiful dive sites, particularly shore dives, which makes diving very affordable here as you’re not having to pay to go out on a boat every time!
The best part of being a PADI Instructor is seeing people fall in love with the ocean. I get to share my passion for the underwater world with my students, and there’s nothing more rewarding than watching them grow in confidence as divers. On top of that, watching students have wildlife encounters for the first time, that they’d only otherwise get looking through glass at an aquarium, is a truly magical thing to be able to give someone.
One of the many things I love about working in Sydney is the number of return customers. It’s amazing to see students progress through the levels and even become PADI Professionals themselves. In fact, one of the students from my very first solo course has just signed up for their PADI Divemaster course! It’s a really wonderful feeling knowing you’ve helped impact someone’s life in such a positive way. I’ve also been lucky enough to have some incredible opportunities already. One of the most surreal moments was working with Steve Backshall (the UK’s version of Steve Irwin, for those living under a rock!), whom I grew up watching as a child! Being able to not only meet but also work alongside such a legend was an unforgettable experience and a reminder of how many opportunities this career has brought me already.
Sydney’s diving community is amazing. I’ve met so many like-minded people who share my passion for the ocean. With Sydney not only being a tourist destination to come and see things like the beautiful Weedy Sea Dragon, but also a home for so many people who have diving as their hobby, it means you get to meet people from every walk of life and you really get to know them as some of them are around every weekend!
Becoming a PADI Instructor has been a challenging but incredibly fulfilling journey. The IDC prepared me to teach with confidence. I owe that to my PADI Course Director and all of the other incredible instructors I shadowed. Whether you want to teach full-time or just share your love of the ocean on the weekends, the PADI Instructor path is something you won’t regret!
Watch this webinar to hear more about Sidney and Jess’ IDC experiences and life working as a PADI Instructor in Australia.
