So, you have completed your STCW, RYA Powerboat Level 2, and the Deckhand/Stewardess course and are ready to embark on a journey. While you may consider working on a yacht in South Africa, you wish to spread your wings and take your skillset to the Superyacht level. What’s not to love about it? Handsome pay, luxurious environment, chances to meet socialites of different backgrounds? It’s all lucrative. Well, while South Africa rarely gets a superyacht scene, there are ways to find a job on a superyacht from South Africa. Let’s discuss that in this article.
How do I find a job on a Superyacht from South Africa?
While you physically cannot find a job on a superyacht from within South Africa, you can do your research. Equipping yourself with essential knowledge is critical in making a future decision.
Related: Finding Entry-Level Deckhand Work in South Africa
South Africa may not have a booming superyacht scene, but the country boasts a rich boating culture. Plenty of well-off South Africans own smaller private yachts for their recreational activities. Apart from that, the country often experiences boating tourism booms.
When there is a rich boating scene, there will be clubs, and South Africa has plenty of them. For research or information purposes, you may consider hanging out in these clubs and ask around. Plenty of South Africans aspire to work or actually work on superyachts. You may consider talking to such people to understand the superyacht scene.
On the other hand, you may consider consulting a training institute—like Skipper Training SA. We are an RYA-accredited training institution in South Africa, providing RYA, Skipper, and Superyacht training courses. Let’s elaborate on that.
Training Institutions in South Africa help you in more ways than one
If you aspire to work on a superyacht, you will likely go through a marine training institution in South Africa.
Because to work on a superyacht, you will require the following qualifications at the minimum.
- The STCW Certification (along with PDSD or PSA),
- The RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course, and
- ENG1 Medical Certification of Fitness.
In this case, an RYA-accredited training institution in South Africa is what you are looking for.
Related: PSA vs PDSD: Which one should I go for my Superyacht Career?
Besides that, if you tell the training institution the purpose of your qualifications, they are likely to advise you to go for a Deckhand/Stewardess course.
Okay, but do they help?
If you are an inexperienced rookie who is new to the superyacht scene, then definitely!
These deckhand/stewardess courses prepare you with the essential knowledge and training required to be an excellent entry-level employee on a superyacht. These courses certainly are not cheap, sure, but they definitely help you stand out in the competition.
Also, having experience in the hospitality or service industry may come in handy too.
- If you have experience in the hospitality or hotel industry, your resume becomes incredibly valuable and lucrative to employers. Added bonus if you have worked on cruise liners before.
- Watersports experiences such as scuba diving, wakeboarding, and wave skiing prove to be valuable for employers.
- Having a natural knack for cooking, or having a rich experience as a chef will dramatically increase your chances.
Training Institutions do not offer placements, however…
The competition in the yacht industry is fierce. However, if you have done your research, you have nothing to worry about.
The training institutions in South Africa may not help you with your placements, but they can help you with visas, CV applications, and general guidance on where you can start applying.
This is usually included in their training program, which makes the deckhand/stewardess courses even more useful and lucrative for aspiring seafarers.
Conclusion
Finding an actual job on a superyacht from South Africa is nearly impossible. After you are done with your research, we highly recommend you visit popular hubs where superyachts are moored.
This process is called ‘Dockwalking‘, where aspiring deckhands/stewardesses walk around these popular hubs looking for recruiters or connections to find a job. Researching is merely just the first part of the game.
If you are looking for a deckhand/stewardess course, feel free to connect with us today. We are here to help you!
