Gili Air, Indonesia, 2019White sand beaches, a laid back atmosphere, plenty of cosy drinking and eating venues, and a mind blowing underwater world… You have to agree, there are less idyllic workspaces in the world. It's here, on Gili Air, a tiny Indonesian island just a stone's throw away of neighboring Lombok, that Pierre en Morgane found their dream job between the swaying palm trees. In the company of an amazing sunrise they stroll barefoot through the sand towards their 'office'. They fill the day with a dive or two in the gigantic open air swimming pool called 'the ocean' and in the evening, they're enjoying a breathtaking sunset with a cold beer in hand. The French couple, who are in their early thirties, work as dive instructors at Blue Marine Dive, one of the many diving schools on the island. Pierre started diving in 2016, and Morgane by the end of 2017 but both have at the time of writing already a track record of approximately 250 dives. "This is it! This is my purpose! It was really 'love at first sight'!" When and where were you guys bitten for the first time by the diving virus? Pierre: "The first time I dived was on Corsica, but frankly, I was quite disappointed. I even found it boring. Eventually I gave it another go on Mabul, a small Island just offshore of Malaysian Borneo. And it was amazing! There was so much more to see under water. It blew my mind. I gained my ‘Open Water’-certificate there, that’s the first step that everybody wishing to dive, is required to follow. Next I got my ‘Advanced’-degree on the Perhentian Islands, Northeast Malaysia, … and today, here I am." Morgane: "Me, I made my first dive in Thailand. That was during my trip through Southeast Asia. I knew it the moment I had a peek under water. This is it! This is my purpose! It was really 'love at first sight!'. I took my ‘Open Water’ and immediately went on taking all the next courses till I became a 'Divemaster' and 'Dive Instructor'." From the first moment on, you knew that you wanted to become a dive instructor and have this as a job? Morgane: "I did, yes! And like I said, from the first moment putting my head under water. There I was, at the right place at the right time and it felt like coming home." Pierre: "After I achieved my ‘Advanced’ on the Perhentians, I returned home for a while back into my job and daily life. But I kept thinking about diving and really missed doing it. So, I took a break from my job, gained my ‘Divemaster’ and went to Australia. There I really got that feeling of 'this is it, this is what my life should look like'!" Becoming a diving instructor, it doesn’t happen overnight? And we presume it ain’t cheap either? Pierre: "It takes the least 6 months when you take all courses back-to-back, but of course you can spread it over the period you like. All courses together cost me around 6000 euros." Morgane: "Then you still have the cost of your personal gear. Count an extra 1500 euros if you invest in proper regular, reliable stuff. Prices do go up when you’re looking to buy higher quality or specific gadgets." … which you, as a professional diver, obviously desire. Pierre: "Of course! Myself, I’m getting a new diving computer (looks like a wristwatch) soon. One that comes with more options and data registration. The one I have now I will sell on as second hand." After your instructor’s course, did you immediately apply for a job or start work? Pierre: "Yes! We were already here on Gili Air." Morgane: "…we also met each other here on the island by the way! We applied together at all the dive centers of the island with three invites as a result. But before we started working, we took a break of a couple of weeks to recover from the intensive training. Eventually, started our new career here at Blue Marine Dive and haven’t had a day's regret since." So you only applied on Gili Air? Why here? Morgane: "Do I need to explain? Look around you? It’s paradise here! No cars, a relaxed vibe, constantly good weather, incredible diving spots and nicely warm water!" (We need to agree that there are indeed worse places to have your office) "No cars, a relaxed vibe, constantly good weather, incredible diving spots and nicely warm water!" How do you actually find a job like this? Are there any specific online platforms for jobs like this? Morgane: "At PADI (one of the leading international diving associations) you’ll find plenty of online job opportunities as well as on Facebook-groups focused on diving. But I think you would be better of applying on the spot, just like we did. Then they instantly know with whom they’re dealing with and so do we." Pierre: "Sometimes, diving centers are looking for instructors who can speak a specific language, such as Russian, German or Mandarin (Chinese) because they have a bigger public from those countries. Most of the diving instructors stay in one place for about 2 years and then move to another spot, while others stay and start their own diving school, hostel or something similar." Tell us, how is it to work on such a small island? Morgane: "Very nice! It looks small, and it is small, but there is a big divers community here and you keep on meeting people from all corners of the world. There are close to 600 expats living on the island. From the moment your working day finishes, there is always something to do. Eating together at sunset, there is always a little party happening where you make new friends. There is always entertainment, never boring. In France I was bored very often because people stay at home after work and placed themselves in front of the TV. Everyone there is leading their own, more isolated, life." Is there a big difference in the local and western way of working? Morgane: "Yes, a huge difference! Especially the locals are more relaxed. They’re less stressed and less focused on performance. Do your job and enjoy yourself. In France, there’s always a boss looking over your shoulder and when there’s a calmer moment, then there’s always ‘something’ that needs doing. When there’s a moment of ‘nothing’ to do over here, you do nothing. Except enjoying the moment, having a chat, play some volleyball or master the 'Slackline'." Are you able to make a living from this job? Morgane: "If you live a simple local lifestyle, easy. If you don’t want to give up some western standards like drinking alcohol every night and eat western food all the time, it probably will be possible too but you won’t save any money. You won’t get rich from the job anyway. The best thing to do is to have some savings set aside, just in case. A plane ticket back to France or somewhere else doesn’t come cheap either and you have other costs to think about, like work-permits. But it all depends on your lifestyle." Pierre: "In the high season you’ll be able to earn more because you work is commission based, allowing you to save up some money. You need those savings to bridge the low season." A question probably many readers are asking now: What about the future? Are you building up any pension? Can you save for your retirement? Do you have any back-up plan? Pierre: "I have an apartment that I rent out, so I can fall-back on that. But you aren’t building up a pension over here as you do back in France." Morgane: "I’m lucky to have some savings from an inheritance. Also, I have my income as a dive instructor and also have an extra income from an online job, but you won’t be building up a retirement fund here indeed. All this together is our back-up plan for now. We do play with the idea to open our own dive center, hostel or little resort in the future. Maybe even in or closer to Europe, who knows? We don’t worry about the future now, but our back-up gives us options." Don’t you miss France? Do you often return? Pierre: "Only for the food." Morgane: (Shouts) "Cheese and wine! ...but nothing else really. We did go home for 6 months after the earthquake here last year. You know, you make new friends all the time and real friends stay friends for life. Some of them come to visit us from time to time, while others we see back after a year or so and nothing has changed. You learn who your real friends are …" "In France I was bored very often because people stay at home after work and placed themselves in front of the TV." What are the pros and cons of working abroad? Morgane: "The pros …? Everything! The way of living. And the cons, hmm, except the lack of good cheese and wine…, visa formalities, administration, handling with official instances, … and of course being far away from family and hometown friends." Back to diving. What is your most memorable dive ever? Morgane: (Excited) "I was recently surprised by a gigantic 1.5 meter Marble ray. Suddenly, it was there. I yelled, I screamed, I cried, … so many emotions went through my mind. Pure happiness!" Pierre: "Me on a boat in Koh Tao, Thailand, preparing myself for a dive, when suddenly the captain yelled: “Whale shark! Whale shark!” I was the first one in the water!!! The non-dangerous creature of at least 5 meters long stayed and even played with us for 45 minutes. I just hung there watching and watching. Some 20 meters underneath me, there were also at least 40 gigantic triggerfish active. Whale shark on top of me, triggerfish party underneath me …what a day! Sadly, my tank went empty and I had to go surface again." What's still on your underwater bucketlist? Morgane: "Oh, everything I haven’t seen yet. The list is infinite. Whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, Giant Manta rays, Seals, Dugongs, Dolphins, …" Pierre: "The Hammerhead shark hits the top of my list. Especially the bigger creatures carry my favor." Why should people at least dive once in their lives?
Morgane: "Because there is a totally different world under water. A world that is accessible to everyone. The moon is very expensive and hard to get to, but the underwater world is affordable for everybody. On land, we do see a fraction of our little world only. There is so much more in this big blue swimming pool. And above all, so much is still to be discovered! And diving has become really safe which was totally different back in the early days. My grandmother, who dived with the legendary Jean-Jacques Cousteau, told me stories of how the gear they used wasn’t that reliable and many accidents did happen in the old days. Mainly how they needed to calculate everything. Today, your diving computer informs you on everything you need to know during your active dive." Pierre: "…and if you don’t do it for yourself, then do it for me! (Laughs) It is so relaxing. It is like walking on the moon." Do you have any last advice to readers who may want to become a dive instructor or who fancy a job abroad? Pierre: "Try it and enjoy!" Morgane: "Quit thinking about what society thinks or expects from you. Let it go! Only you know what will bring you happiness."
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