High salary with hard dive jobs | Australia part 1/3
from 2017–08–02 12:07
Does it feel sometimes after a diving season your bank account is lower than before the season?
I was pretty much broke after a diving season in 2015. I worked two seasons as divemaster spending more money than scuba diving brought in. A month ago I had just paid my IDC. That took the last savings of my account.
I was just able to pay my flight ticket back home. There, I got a summer job in a production company. It was frustrating. I had a crappy apartment with shitty room mates. The summer job was demoralizing and repetitive. I had to skip all events and parties over the summer because I could not afford anything. Not anymore I thought.
I checked out areas in the world where the pay as dive instructor is high enough to save money.
With three short articles, I share with you how to make your bank account a bit more happy by a high salary with hard dive jobs in Australia. This is even possible for brand new instructors with the right attitude and a professional appearance.
Salary
I worked in Cairns. That is in the far northeast of this massive country. Over there the pay ranges between 160 AUD per day up to 240 AUD per day in 2015 for a dive instructor. In a month I made between 3300 and 3900 AUD.
Often, Australian wages get paid weekly or fortnightly. This means, shortly after you start working you have money coming in.
A few things you need to work in Australia:
- Bank account
- Tax file number aka TFN
- Tax declaration at the end of the year
- Superannuation account
Australian bank account
Easy to set up when you have a working visa. I used the bank called NAB aka National Australian Bank. They had a free of charge bank account including a visa debit card in 2015. You need to check for changes.
Australian Tax File number aka TFN
You get it online and free of charge. As of 2016 and 2017, the Australian taxation office is in a changing process of the law for foreigners working with a visa subclass 417. Check government websites for up-to-date info.
Tax return
Make sure you lodge a tax return declaration after your working period in Australia. I paid a tax service office 100 AUD and they did it for me. Saved me lots of hassle and they gave me tips on which expenses I can declare. Easy, fast and effective. It would have taken me days to read up all that stuff. I got back around 4.000 AUD.
Super
Your employer has to pay superannuation on your behalf in certain cases. When you start working you can choose your super from a list of suppliers. I got the necessary documents from my employer. You can claim it back after your stay in Australia if you meet the requirements. Changes apply since 2017. My super was not that high.
I did not claim it back yet because the super-office told me that once I claim it back I can never claim it back a second time in life. Since I consider to move to Australia one day I thought it is a good idea to not make use of this single shot I have. I was told I can always claim it back later if the law does not change.
Living costs
The living costs are higher than in lots of other countries.
Housing
However, I lived in a shared house which made it noticeably cheaper. You will pay your rent per week. In the Cairns area, a week costs approximately between 130 AUD and 180 AUD per week. It depends on the living standard you want. There are even shared houses available for 100 AUD per week.
I met people who lived in hostels for the first few weeks after arriving in Cairns. The nights they were on the boats they put their belongings in a storage room and did not have to pay.
Once they found a job they got a shared apartment close to work. They bought a bicycle and saved all the money for the fuel.
Remember, in Australia, it is mandatory by law to wear a helmet. The fines are extremely high and with Australian police officers, you will try to negotiate only once.
Freebies
There are many free activities available in greater Cairns. At public places you often find barbecues. They can be used by everyone. There are quite some
• waterfalls
• lakes
• tropical forests
• public workout stations
• running trails
• a mountain to climb
• sightseeings
You can have many free fun days.
Since around 2015 there is also a climbing club in Cairns. It is very affordable and for all levels of experience.
Food
Food is quite expensive. Therefore, I was shopping at grocery stores and cooking at home. This also makes it quite cheaper. I know if you live in Asia and you are used to not cook at all this could be a bit of a culture shock. It started being fun and saved me quite some cash.
Alcohol
Alcohol is very expensive. But hey, your expenses depend on your lifestyle. That is the same everywhere in the world. I managed to cut the alcohol back and it saved me lots of money.
Takeaway
The high salary with hard dive jobs in Australia is enough to make good savings every month. The high living costs can be bypassed with a decent, yet enjoyable lifestyle.
In the second part of these three articles, you will learn the visa requirements and what skills you can learn while you are working in Australia.
In the third and last part, you will be able to read tips on how to find work and find a list of dive centres in Cairns. Also, I will let you know how much savings are possible to make with six months of work.
I really hope this article helps you to find dive jobs with great dive shops.
Write your expertise, experience, and questions in the comments.
