Surfing Waves

hi all,
im a PADI Dive instructor currently working for a cruise line, but looking to go back on land soon. i love to surf so dont want to end up somewhere with great diving, but no surf at all. does anyone know any spots that are great for both? i cant work in the states...too much hassle getting green cards and have already had my australian work visa. im british if that helps. ive worked all over the carribean, bahamas and australia. im looking for somewhere with a similar vibe. if anyone knows anywhere that might suit please let me know. ill also hit some of the dive forums with the same q's

The Gold coast will be a great place to surf

dont get me wrong, i would love to go back to australia, but my work visa has expired there and i can only have one unless i get sponsorship from an australian company, and seeing as divers are a dime a dozen out there its very unlikely.
im thinking about costa rica or fiji, somewhere along those lines, anyone been to these places for diving/surfing or just to work. would appreciate any info.

Hi there,

I am living since one year in the Dominican Republic in Cabarete. The DR offers pretty good surfing and there is a good surf here on the north coast at Cabarete. In Sosua which is close by you can find several dive schools (North Coast Divers for example) and the diving is not bad.
For the surfing, the best periode is the so called winter season which is from Oct - April. We usally get some really good swells coming in and the surf can be very very good here. Summer season the waves are usually a bit smaller but still there are waves nearly every day. The main and most consistend surfspot is called Encuentro and is located at Playa Encuentro right next to Cabarete.

Apart from the surfing we have world class conditions for Kitesurfing which is a great sport as well and easy to learn.


Surf and relax - Hooked Cabarete

my first dive job was in dom rep in punta cana working for scuba caribe, although the diving was ok it wasnt great and it was difficult to go anywhere without getting hassled 24/7 whether buy the drug dealers, cops, or prostitutes. so didnt have a great impression of the DR, ive also been to samana on the ships and again wasnt too impressed so i dont think ill be going back to work there.
im looking into costa rica more and more, if anyones been on a surf or dive trip there let me know the ins and outs.

What kind of job do you have in mind? What job did you have in Australia? That may narrow down your search. Why not go back to Europe?

i was a dive instructor in australia and thats the kind of work im looking for, or dive photographer/videographer, europe would be nice, especially portugal as i go surfing there every year, but in europe languages are a huge problem, most places ive looked at wont hire an english only speaking instructor, they want atleast 1 if not 2 or 3 other languages.....
i know it appears that im being really picky but it seems really difficult to find somewhere i can work as a diver and still surf.

Have you thought about the US? They speak English there and places like Florida has good diving, or go to the Caribbean.