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Dive Boat Captain Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Snorkel Guide / Crew

Koloa, HI · On-site

$16 - $26/hr

Guide shore snorkel and zodiac boat snorkel tours with a strong focus on safety and guest ... Work closely with captains, guides, office staff, and management to ensure smooth daily operations.

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Dive Boat Captain information

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$5

$25

$48

How much do dive boat captain jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for dive boat captain in the United States is $25.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $30.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a dive boat captain do?

A Dive Boat Captain is responsible for safely operating a boat that transports divers to and from dive sites. Their duties include navigating the vessel, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew, managing the boat’s equipment, and often briefing divers on safety procedures. They may also be responsible for maintaining the boat and coordinating with dive guides to provide a smooth diving experience. Dive Boat Captains must have specialized maritime licenses and in-depth knowledge of local waters. Their role is crucial to ensuring safe and enjoyable diving trips.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a dive boat captain?

To thrive as a Dive Boat Captain, you need a strong background in seamanship, navigation, and dive operations, typically supported by a captain’s license and relevant diving certifications. Familiarity with GPS systems, marine radios, emergency equipment, and boat maintenance tools is crucial. Leadership, situational awareness, and effective communication are essential soft skills for managing crew and ensuring passenger safety. These abilities are vital to guarantee safe dive trips, compliance with maritime regulations, and a positive experience for divers.

What are common challenges faced by dive boat captains during dive excursions?

Dive Boat Captains often navigate challenges such as rapidly changing weather conditions, ensuring passenger safety, and maintaining clear communication with dive teams. They must manage time efficiently to accommodate multiple dive sites while adhering to strict safety protocols. Additionally, Captains work closely with dive instructors and crew to coordinate logistics, handle emergencies, and provide a positive experience for divers of varying skill levels.

What is the difference between Dive Boat Captain vs Dive Instructor?

AspectDive Boat CaptainDive Instructor
CertificationsCaptain's license, CPR, First AidOpen Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver, Instructor certifications
Work EnvironmentOperate boats, oversee dive trips, ensure safety at seaConduct training sessions, lead dives, teach students
Employer & Industry UsageMarinas, dive tour companies, charter boatsDive shops, training agencies, resorts

The main difference is that a Dive Boat Captain is responsible for operating the boat and ensuring safety during dive trips, while a Dive Instructor focuses on teaching divers and leading training dives. Both roles require certifications related to safety and diving, but their daily duties and work environments differ significantly.

Is being a dive boat captain worth it?

A dive boat captain is responsible for safely operating boats and guiding divers, often requiring certifications such as a USCG license and diving certifications. The job offers opportunities for outdoor work and travel but can involve long hours, physical demands, and variable income depending on location and season.

Is there a demand for dive boat captains?

Demand for dive boat captains remains steady in popular diving destinations, especially during peak seasons. Employment opportunities depend on factors such as certification levels, experience, and the tourism industry’s health, with many positions requiring commercial boating licenses and first aid certifications.
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What cities are hiring for Dive Boat Captain jobs?

Cities with the most Dive Boat Captain job openings:

What states have the most Dive Boat Captain jobs?

States with the most job openings for Dive Boat Captain jobs include:

Infographic showing various Dive Boat Captain job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,531 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Specialized SCUBA/Commercial Diver

ACRT Pacific, LLC.

Fort Lauderdale, FL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

EnviroScience, Inc.Full time Regular

EnviroScience, Inc. is currently seeking a commercially trained SCUBA Diver to support our growing marine services division. This position will be specific to an upcoming long-term project (5-7 years minimum with options to extend based on project needs) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This position will be transferrable to full-time employment on our current diving team at the conclusion of the project if it is deemed agreeable by both the employee and EnviroScience. This position will require the employee to relocate (if applicable) to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and maintain a full-time residence in the project area.

Responsibilities of this position include regular diving and tending duties on a daily rotational basis, basic maintenance and upkeep for diving equipment and work as part of a top side vessel crew. This position includes regular standard 5-day weekly work of no more than 10 hours per day planned and occasional weekend work as needed. Some tasks will require strenuous fieldwork and work during inclement weather. This position is based out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Compensation will be based on candidate qualifications, diving credentials, and other applicable experience.

EnviroScience, Inc., an ADCI member company since 2006, has conducted a variety of diving operations since 1998. EnviroScience offers ADCI and IMCA-compliant surface supplied diving operations, including but not limited to underwater inspection, underwater construction services, potable water diving, contaminated diving, as well as support for biological studies. While this particular position and project do not require ADCI training, it is advantageous for any candidate to have been commercially trained at an ADCI accredited facility in addition to any specific accredited SCUBA organizations.

Key Benefits of EnviroScience

  • Be part of an established, growing company that places the highest value on safety, its employees, and quality work.
  • Be part of an exclusive team of experienced divers doing interesting work on a long term project.
  • The backing of a fulltime marketing and business development program, an established team of commercial diving professionals, and a company resume full of successful diving projects.
  • Access to a large inventory of top-notch, well-maintained diving equipment and vessels.
  • Opportunity for continued education and certification in the professional diving field.

We are seeking individuals who are:

  • Passionate about protecting aquatic and marine resources.
  • Comfortable working outdoors in challenging field conditions.
  • Interested in combining commercial diving with environmental field services.
  • Motivated to continually develop both their technical diving and environmental science skills.

Responsibilities / Attributes

  • Diver / Tenders / Top Side Support
    • Performing safe and efficient diving and tending duties, including but not limited to basic underwater water inspection and general equipment maintenance tasks as well as top side diving support.
    • Perform topside support of diving and project-related activities, including tending, setup/breakdown and daily maintenance / housekeeping.
    • Ability to routinely lift up to 50 pounds.
    • Ability to dive to 70 FSW.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 5+ years of related experience
  • Strong diving and communication skills
  • Advanced open water SCUBA certification
  • 5+ years Nitrox experience
  • Medically cleared to dive to up to 80 feet
  • Ability to work well in a team environment


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Higher level dive certification(s) such as rescue diver, master diver, dive medic as well as a current ADCI or IMCA commercial diver / tender certifications or ACDE diploma are strongly preferred. A USCG captains license is also desired.

Other qualifications include:

  • Valid driver's license.
  • Ability to pass a background check.
  • Valid diving and DOT physical
  • Valid advanced open water SCUBA certification and logbook
  • Valid CPR/First Aid card
  • Valid 02 provider card
  • Valid ADCI dive card (preferred)
  • 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER 40 hr. (preferred)

Additional Information:

  • Department & Division:Marine Services; Commercial Diving Operations
  • Exempt Status*:Non-Exempt
  • Reports to**:Commercial Diving Operations Manager
  • Works with Inside Company:Marine Services employees, Other practice area staff as needed, Administration
  • Works with Outside Company:Clients, Agencies, subcontractors, technical support as needed
  • Working Conditions:Position is approximately 80% fieldwork and 20% office work. Be prepared for long hours, weekend work, and strenuous fieldwork in various weather conditions.
  • SupervisorResponsibilities: Project superintendent
  • Physical Requirements: Ability to lift 50 pounds, sitting and standing for work on both land and boat/water settings.
  • Travel Requirements:Ability to travel extensively to field sites, with routine extended deployments.

*This position is classified asnon-exempt based onthe jobduties.

**The company reserves the right to make changes to the reporting structure for this position due to business needs.

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at hr@acrtinc.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e-mail address.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Company: EnviroScience