Dive Instructor — Whale Shark & Manta Ray Specialty

Responsibilities

• Lead whale shark snorkel and dive encounters during the seasonal aggregation period at Cabo Pulmo and surrounding waters: whale shark encounters require specific approach protocols (no physical contact, minimum distance maintenance, no flash photography, approach from the side not from the front) that the guide enforces for every participant
• Conduct manta ray dive excursions: the Sea of Cortez's giant Pacific manta ray population makes specific seasonal appearances at cleaning stations — the guide must know the timing, the location, and the approach protocol
• Lead humpback whale watching and underwater acoustic dive experiences during December–March season: humpback whale song is audible underwater in Banderas Bay and the Sea of Cortez during the breeding season — the guide who knows how to position divers to hear the song while maintaining responsible whale approach standards is offering a unique sensory dive experience
• Develop responsible wildlife encounter protocols for the operator: the instructor's expertise directly shapes the operator's protocol documentation and staff training for wildlife encounter management
• Communicate wildlife encounter conservation context: the best wildlife encounter guides provide the marine biology and conservation context that transforms a spectacular animal encounter into a personally meaningful experience for the participant — this context generates the donations and conservation support that protect the encounter for future visitors
• Maintain current knowledge of seasonal wildlife movement and abundance

Requirements

• PADI Instructor certification
• Marine wildlife encounter protocol knowledge (whale shark, manta, marine mammal)
• Seasonal Sea of Cortez marine life knowledge: whale shark, hammerhead, manta ray, humpback
• Marine biology and conservation communication ability
• English and Spanish bilingual; ideally German for Los Cabos European market

Benefits

• IMSS, aguinaldo, paid vacation + premium
• Housing allowance MXN 2,500/month
• Seasonal wildlife encounter premium on tip income
• Access to marine conservation network and citizen science programs in the Sea of Cortez
• Career development in responsible marine wildlife tourism

Work environment

Marine wildlife dive and snorkel specialist operation in Los Cabos. Seasonal whale shark, manta ray, hammerhead, and humpback whale encounters in the Sea of Cortez's extraordinary wildlife corridor.

About the role

The whale shark encounter guide who positions 8 snorkelers alongside a 9-meter whale shark moving at 2 knots through the Sea of Cortez — who watches the guide line gently remind everyone to maintain the 2-meter minimum distance — is witnessing something that will be part of every participant's story for the rest of their lives. The guide's job is to make the encounter safe, responsible, and as close to the animal's experience as possible. Everything else follows from those choices.