Career testimonials
Greetings from the pacific ocean. My name is Casey, I am a Divemaster on the Nautilus Explorer and this is my third season coming to Guadalupe island. My passion is for the ocean and everything that lives there. One of my favorite things about working on a liveaboard dive boat is having the chance to get up close and personal with some amazing big animals. In this day and age we usually have to go to remote and protected islands to find the best diving with large animals such as sharks, mantas, whales, and dolphins. Another part of this job that really excites me is getting to know really cool people from all over the world, guests and crew alike, and sharing these incredible experiences in the water with them. Sometimes we have to deal with rough weather since we are doing open ocean navigation, but there is no other liveaboards that I would rather be on than Nautilus. Safety is our top priority, then comes guest experience and amazing animal encounters, finally the crew on these boats are the most experienced and professional people in the industry and I am very honored and humbled to work with them. When you are on the boat with the same people for a month at a time you get to know them and we really become a family by the end, and this is what makes it very fun and enjoyable to work on these boats. I hope to see you soon in Socorro or Guadalupe for some amazing dives and good times!
– Casey, Captain, Nautilus Explorer
It’s 9:30 pm and I have just sat down after working a very long day. That’s the life of a hostess on the Under Sea. It might sound exhausting (and it is), but did I mention my break included a dive with sea lions, sharks, rays and eels!? Did I mention that I have 19 new guests every week from countries all over the world who are eager to fulfill a bucket list dream? I have made lifelong friends here with Nautilus. The work is hard, but it’s also fun. There’s nothing like finishing a trip with guests telling you how much they enjoyed the Nautilus experience and can’t wait to come back. You know that your hard work has paid off.
– Anna Clark, Hostess, Nautilus Under Sea
What is to be a Captain in Nautilus? Well, somebody think that it is a easy job, driving the boat and giving orders to the crew, but there is too much behind this. You have to be a Captain, Mate, Deckhand, Engineer, Host, Dish washer, everything, You are having the biggest responsibility of the boat, so you have to make sure that everything runs perfect. There’s no “I’m the captain and i don’t do this”; you need to be everywhere on the boat helping the crew. Passengers are the priority, so safety and and guests experience should be on your top. All the hard work and the working hours has the reward of seeing guests happy and heard from them that they had an amazing trip and has been one of their best experiences in the life; That means that you have done a good job. And besides that you have the chance of see some of the most amazing animals in the world like Great White Sharks, Giant Mantas, Whale Sharks, Dolphins Whales and a lot more. Dealing with crew is one of the most important things, working with them will depend on how the boat operations run. If you have a good crew, that they know their duties, what they have to and have not to do, you have a little less to worry about, but if you have lazy crew, doing whatever they want you have to be strictly and line them up, no place for friendship, you will be loved or hated, but you are the captain and you know what’s best for the guests, company and boat.
– Vicente Martinez, Captain, Nautilus Under Sea
Hows it working on the Nautilus…I came on to the first vessel Nautilus Explorer when it was fresh coming down from Canada to Baja in Mexico in 2004.There I met the owner and the captain Mike Lever. I stayed for about 4 months but already had work in an other part of the world. 2006 Mike called me and asked if I wanted to be in charge of the diving . I been with the company since with some breaks.How it is to work with this company….well it is a hard work. Owner and the company requieres a lot. If you have the right crew and it is flowing even problems are like a dance. When you have a young Punk with attitude or a person that is on board in some kind of midlife crisis wanting to do something with their life …..well then this is not the right place for you , then a dive resort some where in the caribbien is more your place. I don’t want to waste my or senior crews energy of trying to train this people that I call tourists and know they wont stay here long any way.I prefer to have not only Divemasters I want dive guides, sailors, with good backs man or woman. With open attitude to learn if you don’t know it all from the start. Some one who looks for this as a profession. I got a young kiddo here right now , he does not have the most of experience but is humble and eager to learn. That is ok to. It is a small crew and in the crew we HELP each others, thats how things goes smooth thats how tips gets higher and make us go through 16-18 24 hr straight working if it is neededI been with this company from Clipperton to Alaska and its been 14 years since I first stepped onboard. I have seen many people come and go, Not cause of they are bad or lazy people , because the work is just to demanding. It is not for them. This days I see the work much less heavy then when we started , there is more help on shore and we are more crew.Why I stayed? Cause I have seen so many places and we are always developing and changing and trying new things destinations. The Exploring part is my favorite and over the years I made many friend with crew as well many guests as the often come back over and over again
– Sten Vikingo Johansson, Divemaster, Nautilus Under Sea
A great and very fulfilling experience is how I can define my relationship with this company. Long shifts, long days, big challenges, lots of sweat and sacrifice, is how I can start to describe my contracts with the company. Easy is not a Word that describes any day on contract with the company, nevertheless amazing, unexpected, epic, a day to remember, wonderful, this are words that could describe a lot of days on contract. Just thinking of all the animals, people,sites, nights,sunsets, it’s just to many great things and at the end of each contract going back home the feeling is always good. Also the great knowledge and opportunities have no Price. This is a company were there is room to grow and move up the ladder, again no room for the word easy.
– Joel Ibarra, Mate, Nautilus Under Sea
For me working as divemaster for Nautilus was something I wanted to do for years. The two diving destinations are absolutely amazing. During my short time with the company I have enhanced many of my skills and learned many new things. Of course about the respective marine life, but also skiff driving, compressor use, equipment maintenance, how to clean a boat, how to drop an anchor and much more. And I hope to learn many more things. I work one month on, one month off and this suits me well. I like Mexico and the atmosphere between the crew onboard has always been great. The chain of command is transparent. The work onboard involves long days without many breaks, sleeping in crew bunks and can be physically challenging. To be flexible to respond to unexpected happenings is important. The diving conditions can be tough too, so you should be a solid diver in all conditions and able to take care of a group in those conditions also.
– Jessie Hug, Divemaster, Nautilus Under Sea
8 years with the company has taught me a lot about the work at sea. Very good training to be safe outside and to keep our guests safe and happy. Working like a team is one of the most important things what on board and always do your best.I can mention many things, but it is to much to write down and I don’t want to be a newspaper. I am happy here. I hope I stay for more time learning to be better in my job and to become a better person.
– Hernan, Nautilus Under Sea
I being working with the company for almost 3 years, never been on the dive industry before so for me working here has being amazing and chalenging since day 1 and icant describe how gratful i am for my job. I learned a lot about excellence on guest service during this time, meeting a lot of wonderful people on every trip, being able to work with a very solid crew and also having some diffulties once and while. As a hosstes we need to be on top of the game, some times with long shifts and with the resposability of take care of our guest needs, the rewarding part is to see our guest happy to choose nautilus. I start diving because of this job and i love it. Its a hard job but the reward is worth it.
– Nubia Guardado, Nautilus Explorer
Working with Nautilus has given me more professional experience and skills. I love the life at sea. I always gives you new challenges to defeat. Working in diving is something new for me. I discover a new world under water and its amazing.
– Oscar, Engineer, Nautilus Explorer
Before I start working here I never worked on a boat before. Working as a Divemaster at a dive school doesn’t count. As a hostess your main responsibility is to take good care of the guests. I learned a lot on board. Time management, how to deal with people from all over the world, people who have complains, problems or need anything and how to do many things at the same time without rushing it or leaving a mess behind. It is a tough job, you are always busy with something. If it is not giving the divers drinks after the dive, being at the bar or doing dishes, you will be doing the laundry or preparing for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In the mean time you always have to keep your eyes on the guests. The long hours, the many things you have to do at the same time and being a longer time away from home are not the easiest things. But in your breaks you are free to go and jump in the water and dive at two of the most amazing dive places in the world. The sunrise and the sunsets are also giving that little feeling of peace. After all you will appreciate the little things and enjoy the experience you have on board.
– Lieke de Smet, Hostess, Nautilus Explorer
Is amazing 13 years working for the company, and I am still learning. There is always something new to learn. I get to know different people from different cultures all year. I enjoy every trip. I will never forget Alaska and Port Hardy trips. I have been lucky to get this job that has improved my family life.
– Kiki, Chef, Nautilus Explorer
I came here as a mate in December with the desire to learn more about the industry and move up to Captain. The opportunity to move up came much faster than expected. Immediately after i moved up, I had a message from the owner letting me know he would assist me with anything I needed during the transition and beyond, and he has. There are long days, days of heavy lifting, and some days you feel you just need to escape for a moment from guests and crew, but there is great reward. The reward is beautiful! It comes in the form of a manta playing with you on your dive. Sometimes it is sitting in awe of a giant whale shark just gently swimming by, or even sitting in a cage watching great white sharks swim around you. The crew aboard quickly become a close knit family. The help you through the hard time aboard, and the great times. It has been a huge blessing to me and my family to join the Nautilus Family.
– TJ McKelvey, Captain, Nautilus Explorer
Almost 2 years…. Its been so nice and so good working with Nautilus family, specially now been the DM how has been lucky working last month at the Belle Amie, Undersea and now Explorer…. thank you for a such nice opportunity to share my knowledge and hard work with all crew members on every ship and trip. I hope to had the chance to move up on the company and keep learning from the people has been longer time than I had. I am happy to work here even with those long days at sea of diving and keeping the ship look nice and clean,,, I feel so proud last year when I work on NBA all month and see her sailing looking beautiful going to Guadalupe Island,,,,, but the best is,,,,, beside to see the big marine life in Revillagigedo islands and Great White Sharks in Guadalupe island is to see all the GUEST HAPPY for wonderful time onboard, and big smile on their faces…. Also…. the fun and happiness i have in my life been here is just priceless, thank you again and i hope to be here for long time…..
– Hector Peredo, Divemaster, Nautilus Explorer
I have been working for this company as mate for a year, I had never served on liveaboard boats before. I have been sailing in some commercial routes and have encountered natural beauty on all of these journey, but nothing compares to the remoteness and peacefulness of these islands so I am able to enjoy every time I jump into water, one thing I like about working here is safety culture of company (first of the 3 cornerstones of company) as safety officer I feel confident because we provide to all our divers with a personal marine rescue GPS “Nautilus Lifeline, ship complies with national and international safety/environmental codes and shore managers back me up regarding any safety matter. Something else I like is to see divers come up after a dive with a huge smile on their faces saying: “best dive ever” because also my best dives have been in those two sanctuaries (Revillagigedo archipelago and Guadalupe island). Work on a liveaboard is not an easy thing; long days, physical work, short breaks, be away from family and friends, … but all that is worth a thousand times.
– Zamir, Mate, Nautilus Explorer
I love my job, I love the people that I work with and I love helping guests with their diving vacation. I’ve been working for the Nautilus for over 6 years. The best part of my job is I never stop learning! There is always something new to learn every day. I work with a great team, everyone works hard to keep the boats running safely and to make all of the guests happy. There is never a boring day in the office.
– Jill, Boat Operations, Head Office
I work with Great White Sharks! Ok well I don’t technically work with the sharks but it sounds pretty cool when people ask me what I do! At the end of the day it’s a pretty awesome place to work. Why? There are so many reasons. But mainly, because I get to make people happy. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve spoken to someone who says “this trip is on my bucket list”. And for us to be able to fulfill someone’s bucket list is a great feeling. Guest experience is one of the cornerstones of our company. We strive very hard to make sure that all our guests are well taken care of. What I truly love about Nautilus is that each and every one of our staff have the same goal and are all working together as a team to make the “apple cart” move forward (or in this case, the boats) to give our guests the best experience possible. It’s true Teamwork makes the dreamwork and at Nautilus it rings true!
– Jen, Boat Operations, Head Office
I love to work in Nautilus because I am always learning something new, the best part of this job is that you have the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people who are always sharing you their experience and you can know more about their culture, work with sharks have been the most exciting thing that I have done in my life,sharks are an amazing and beautiful animals.
– Julio, Captain, Nautilus UnderSea
To work at Nautilus Liveaboards means that you will be sharing your office with the most amazing animals, talented crew members and guests who will become friends for life! You will be wearing big shoes from all those who managed to bring it to the edge the safety and excellence in guest service through all these 20 years of operation. Very often at the end of the trip, you will know that you are in one of the most special scuba liveaboards when your guests tell you: “Thank you so much for the best holidays of my life!”
– Felipe, Divemaster, Nautilus Belle Amie
