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How much is a dive instructor internship, and what do you actually receive for your money?
The Ocean Tribe Dive Instructor Internship costs $6,399. This includes professional dive courses, approximately 150 dives and a personal dive-equipment package.
If you bought everything separately, the estimated total would be $14,800. That is a difference of $8,401—but the value of the internship goes beyond courses, equipment and time underwater.
Here is the complete breakdown.
If you begin as a complete beginner, the internship can take you from your first underwater experience all the way to becoming a qualified dive instructor.
| Course | Individual price |
|---|---|
| Open Water Diver | $499 |
| Enriched Air Diver | $150 |
| Navigation Diver | $199 |
| Deep Diver | $299 |
| Night & Limited Visibility Diver | $249 |
| React Right | $120 |
| Diver Stress & Rescue | $499 |
| Divemaster, including Dive Guide and Science of Diving | $999 |
| Instructor Training Course, Instructor Exam and Specialty Instructor ratings | $2,599 |
| Total course value | $5,613 |
This is a complete progression through recreational and professional diving.
You begin by learning how to dive safely and confidently. You then build experience in areas such as navigation, deep diving, night diving, emergency response and diver rescue.
The Divemaster programme develops your leadership and dive-management skills. Finally, your instructor training teaches you how to introduce other people to diving and develop the next generation of divers.
By the end of the internship, you will not simply have a collection of certification cards. You should have the knowledge, experience and practical skills required to begin working as a dive professional.
Most Ocean Tribe interns finish with approximately 150 logged dives.
A standard two-dive day costs around $100 when purchased individually. Reaching 150 dives would therefore require approximately 75 two-dive days:
75 diving days × $100 = $7,500
This means the diving included in the internship has an estimated individual value of $7,500.
The number of dives is important. There is a big difference between passing a course and becoming a genuinely experienced, confident diver.
Regular diving allows you to improve your:
These skills cannot be developed in a classroom alone. They come from spending time underwater and learning from real situations.
The internship also includes a personal dive-equipment package.
| Dive equipment | Individual price |
| XDeep Zeos | $499 |
| Mares 15X Dual Regulator Set | $499 |
| Mares Puck Lite Dive Computer | $249 |
| Mares Dive Mask | $50 |
| Mares Snorkel | $25 |
| Ocean Tribe Wetsuit | $70 |
| Mares Dive Boots | $40 |
| Mares Avanti X Fins | $70 |
| Mares Compass | $60 |
| Mares Dive Knife | $30 |
| Mares SMB and Reel | $80 |
| Slate | $15 |
| Total equipment value | $1,687 |
Having your own dive equipment gives you the opportunity to become completely familiar with it.
You learn how to assemble it correctly, use it comfortably and look after it properly. That familiarity is especially important for professional divers, who need equipment they understand and trust.
It also means you leave the internship with the essential personal equipment needed to continue diving and begin your professional career.
The complete Ocean Tribe Dive Instructor Internship costs $6,399.
Here is how that price compares with the estimated cost of buying everything individually:
| What is included? | Estimated individual value |
| Recreational and professional dive courses | $5,613 |
| Approximately 150 dives | $7,500 |
| Personal dive-equipment package | $1,687 |
| Total estimated value | $14,800 |
| Ocean Tribe internship price | $6,399 |
| Difference in value | $8,401 |
The internship price is less than half the estimated individual value of the courses, dives and equipment included.
You pay $6,399 for a package with an estimated value of $14,800, giving you an estimated $8,401 difference in value.
However, this calculation only covers the items that can easily be given a price. It does not include the value of the practical experience you gain by becoming part of an operating dive centre.
A dive instructor internship is not a six-month diving holiday.
You become part of the Ocean Tribe team and are expected to contribute to the daily operation of the dive centre. In return for the training, diving, equipment and experience you receive, you will help with the work required to keep the centre running.
Your responsibilities may include:
Your responsibilities will grow as you progress through the programme.
At the beginning, you will mainly help with practical tasks and learn how the dive centre operates. Once you become a Divemaster, you can begin taking on professional responsibilities such as leading certified divers, giving briefings and assisting instructors.
Successful interns are reliable, proactive and willing to help. Strong diving skills are important, but so are punctuality, teamwork, communication and customer service.
We also want you to be fun and outgoing. Diving is a people-focused industry, and customers should feel relaxed, welcome and excited to be part of the experience.
Completing courses gives you qualifications. Working inside a dive centre teaches you how to use them.
During the internship, you can gain experience in:
This experience can be valuable when you apply for your first professional diving job.
Dive centres are not only interested in the certification you hold. They also want to know whether you can work with customers, contribute to a team, manage responsibilities and behave professionally.
If you begin as a complete beginner, the internship lasts for a minimum of six months.
This gives you time to progress from Open Water Diver to instructor level while building the dive experience required along the way.
Becoming a dive instructor is not simply about completing courses as quickly as possible. You also need time to practise, develop confidence and demonstrate that you can perform consistently at a professional standard.
If you already hold diving qualifications, the duration will depend on:
Someone who is already a Rescue Diver with a good number of logged dives may need less time than a complete beginner. We can assess your current experience and help determine the most suitable pathway.
The $6,399 internship price covers the listed courses, approximately 150 dives and the personal equipment package.
You should budget separately for your travel and everyday living expenses.
These may include:
Accommodation starts from approximately $250 per month. The final price will depend on the type, location and standard of accommodation you choose.
For a six-month internship, you should budget at least $1,500 for accommodation, although more comfortable options will cost more.
Your food budget will depend on where you eat and whether you prepare meals yourself. Local food and self-catering will normally cost less than eating regularly in tourist restaurants.
Check which visa you require, how long it allows you to stay and whether it can be extended. Visa requirements and costs will depend on your nationality and length of stay.
You will need to budget for return flights and any transport required to reach the dive centre. Prices vary according to your departure point, travel dates and how early you book.
You will probably want to explore the area and enjoy activities outside the dive centre. Include some spending money for socialising, excursions and personal expenses.
Suitable diving and travel insurance is essential.
We recommend Divers Alert Network, or another insurer offering appropriate cover for diving activities and professional-level training.
Always check the policy carefully. Make sure it covers the depths, activities and level of training involved in your internship.
So, how much is a dive instructor internship actually worth?
At Ocean Tribe, the internship costs $6,399. The courses, approximately 150 dives and personal equipment package have an estimated combined value of $14,800 when purchased separately.
That gives you an estimated $8,401 difference in value.
The real value, however, is not limited to the numbers.
You will progress through a complete professional training pathway, gain substantial experience underwater, receive your own dive equipment and learn how a working dive centre operates.
You will also develop the leadership, customer-service, teamwork and problem-solving skills needed to work successfully in the diving industry.
In return, you must be ready to commit your time, contribute to the team and take your professional development seriously.
For someone who wants to turn a passion for diving into a career, the Ocean Tribe Dive Instructor Internship offers a practical and cost-effective route from beginner to employable dive professional.
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