Great Barrier Reef Job: find work on the Reef!

Want a job with a difference? We take a look at how you can go about finding a Great Barrier Reef job...

The best place to find a Great Barrier Reef job is in Cairns. It is here that most tour operators and dive expeditions depart. Jobs exist for captains, skippers, dive masters, hospitality crew, instructors and deck hands.

Other employment hotspots on the Reef are Port Douglas and the Whitsundays. Although the reef is further from the shore at Port Douglas than it is at Cairns, Port Douglas is quickly becoming a rival to its southern neighbour. It has re-branded itself as a stylish resort town, full of luxury boutiques and fringed by perfect golden beaches. Reef cruises here tend to cater to a more mature, sophisticated crowd, and the job opportunities reflect this. Expect to find vacancies for experienced crew, glass bottom boat operators and silver service hospitality staff.

The Whitsundays take in the most southerly points of the Great Barrier Reef. Day trips to dive spots and the islands (particularly Whitehaven Beach) are popular with an array of travellers, and job opportunities exist for boat staff, tour guides and catering assistants.

Extended sailing trips on the Whitsundays are mostly aimed at the backpacker crowd. This is your best chance of getting work on the Great Barrier Reef if you don't have any experience. Most boats have two members of staff - the captain and the deck hand. Deck hands are often employed on short term contracts - and the high turnover rate ensures that there are plenty of opportunities available.