Before you pack your dive gear, swim trunks and Ray Bans, it is important to realize that the live-aboard life is not for everyone. Many a diver has come on a live-aboard as a guest and left thinking “what a glamorous life-I sure would like to try that”. What those guests don’t see behind the scenes is the long hours, midnight watches, cramped quarters, and mundane tasks that face most live-aboard employees. Guests see crew members diving, supervising the dive deck (and getting a tan in the process), and socializing with guests. It is easy to see how the live-aboard life could be perceived as a glamorous one. Guests rarely consider the fact that someone washes their dishes, unclogs their commodes, and does their laundry. These things all happen behind the scenes but are crucial for boat operations. If this hasn’t scared you into keeping your day job, there are some facts that you should consider before taking the plunge and going to work on a live-aboard.

These facts are not meant to send you packing. Different live-aboards will have different pay scales, job descriptions and different job requirements. There are also hundreds of people who work in the live-aboard industry who love their jobs and wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. In all fairness, there are some facts, which easily explain why so many people do continue to work in the industry.

FACT #1: You Will Be Living in Tight Quarters.
If you are currently living in a spacious apartment, or house, consider the fact that your future home might be a 6’x8' cabin which you will probably end up sharing with another crew member. There will only be enough room for the essentials, so consider renting a storage warehouse for your worldly possessions. While there is no doubt that your cabin will be small, it is important to remember that guests and crew alike will share the rest of your home (The ship itself). If you are the type who needs the wide-open spaces and an ability to roam, you may want to consider a land-based resort.

FACT #2: You Will Work Long Hours.
If you are used to a 9:00 to 5:00 job, working on a live-aboard will require major adjustments in your life. Not only will you be called upon to work at odd hours (perhaps a midnight to 3:30 am watch), but also the actual number of hours that you work will increase dramatically. Ten, twelve and sixteen-hour days are not unusual. Combine that with the fact that you will probably be working six or seven days a week and it is easy to see that life on a live-aboard is not a cushy dream job. It requires a lot of work.

FACT #3: You Must Be A Team Player.
Because you live, eat, work, and socialize with other crew members, it is crucial that you be able to get along with your fellow crew members. Abrasive personalities generally do not fit in well in a live-aboard situation. The spirit of cooperation and teamwork are essential to good crew chemistry.

FACT # 4: You Will Probably Not Grow Rich Working on a Live-Aboard.
Unless you inherit a fortune or hit the lottery, you will not grow rich working on a live-aboard. Working on a live-aboard should be a labor of love and not viewed as a way to become independently wealthy. Salaries are not huge, and tips may vary considerably from charter to charter. Because live-aboard companies generally consider room and board as part of the compensation package, one can experience a cut in pay when making the transition from a land based job to that of a live-aboard. However, keep in mind that since you'll have little opportunity to spend money, you should be able to save a large portion of your earnings.

FACT #5: You Should Not Count on "Just Diving".
Dive master positions where the only responsibility on board is leading group dives and helping divers in and out of the water are few and far between. Most dive master jobs will include helping out in the galley, carrying luggage, cleaning rooms, and unclogging marine heads. During down times you may be called upon to scrape and paint, clean carpets or help install a new generator. The key to success is being flexible and willing to help out where necessary.

FACT #6: Live-Aboards Provide a Great Chance to Meet Fascinating People.
The chances are that you love to dive. What better way to meet fun loving divers with similar interests? Not only will you work with people who have similar interests, but also every week you will meet a new group of guests who also love the ocean and love to dive. Lifelong friendships often develop-friendships between fellow crewmembers as well as friendships with guests.

FACT#7: You Will Experience Some Great Diving!
Probably the main attraction for most people working on a live-aboard is their love of diving. You will get plenty of opportunity to dive, and great diving it will be. Because by there very nature live-aboards ply some of the most beautiful waters around the world, the opportunity for diving these fantastic dive sites is one which is a strong draw to the live-aboard industry. If you love to dive, this may very well be your dream job.

FACT #8: Working on a Live-Aboard is a Great Way to Save Money.
While earlier we mentioned that working on a live-aboard is no way to get rich, it is an excellent way to put some money away. Because most of your expenses are covered (room & board), and the need for other expenses are eliminated (car & car insurance), working on a live-aboard is an excellent way to save money. With a little discipline it would be very easy to put thousands of dollars in the bank every year, something that is difficult to do on land, even with a much higher salary.

FACT # 9: Live-Aboards are a Great Way to See the World.
Because there are over a hundred live-aboards based all around the world, the opportunities to travel and see the world are outstanding. Working on a live-aboard, developing skills and making connections can open many doors for travel. It is not unusual for crewmembers to rotate from vessel to vessel in some of the larger live-aboard fleets. Imagine working in Egypt for six months, Palau for six months, going to Hawaii for six months and then spending time in the Caymans. Not a bad way to see the world. By proving yourself as a valued employee, travel opportunities may become plentiful.

FACT # 10: Live-Aboards are a Great Learning Experience.
The knowledge gained while working on a live-aboard is knowledge that cannot be easily gained in a classroom. Customer service skills, mechanical skills (e.g. how to repair a compressor), nautical skills (knot tying, small boat operations, navigation), and marine life identification skills are just a few of the many skills that are acquired while working on a live-aboard. If you’ve always wanted to learn underwater photography or video, here is an excellent opportunity. If you have aspirations of captaining your own live-aboard someday, the sea time you acquire combined with the knowledge gained by being at sea for long periods of time will make you a great candidate for applying for your U.S. Coast Guard’s mate or captains license.

Now that you have a more balanced view of what life on a live-aboard is like, it will be easier to make an informed decision as to whether this is a lifestyle that may be suitable to you.