We've spent most of the last month looking for a job. And it turns out it's not so easy to find work as a Divemaster on Phuket. Unless you speak a rare language (like Russian) in addition to English, or speak 3 or more languages (i.e. English, German, Swedish or other Scandinavian) your chances are very slim. Dive centers prefer to hire instructors because they are more versatile and it is easier for them to get Thai work permits (WP). Work permits are required, and they are often checked. The penalty for working without one is jail. You can always try to bribe your way out, but it'll cost you a substantial amount of money (it is said that if you do it early enough 50K Baht should be enough). Sometimes dive centers hire staff on a freelance basis, which moves the responsibility for obtaining a WP from the employer to employee. It is possible for a divemaster to get a WP, but again it costs. You need to set up a company, for which the starting price is 100K Baht. If you are smart or have some luck you could probably do it for 60-70K, but still its a big sum of money for us poor backpackers...
That is why we decided to try somewhere else (anywhere else to be frank). After some time and about 200 applications sent (I love SPAM :D ), we finally managed to interest someone. This someone was Easy Divers on Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand (the other side of the Malay Peninsula). After an interview we were accepted and hired on a freelance basis. We are moving to Samui now:)
