Diving companies throughout the tropics and other popular beach areas like Australia need instructors as well as assistants who keep facilities clean, provide transportation and carry equipment. You need to be qualified as a PADI divemaster to work as an instructor, and you should have a lot of dive experience and good people skills. For avid divers, though, it's a dream job.
Learn the culinary arts of a country with a cuisine you love. Finding a job ahead of time can be tough, but if you're creative and flexible, you probably can find an opportunity when you arrive. Plan to visit the country, explore your options and help out at a restaurant with traditional food. Consider exchanging your services for food and board if you're in a poorer country, suggests Sarah Gordon in "Top Ten Travel Ideas."
Learn about gardening and nutrition while helping out an organization that works to provide healthy food for local communities. Some organizations pay; others, like those you'll find through World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, provide room and board. The Communicating for Agriculture Exchange Program, Stablemate and Ninukot Itd: Farmwork in Iceland provide gap year farming opportunities, according to the website Transitions Abroad.
If colder climates are calling to you, consider working as a ski instructor at a resort. If you don't have the experience to be an instructor, apply for another job such as housekeeping, maintenance or food service. If you love the sun, apply at a tropical resort. Either way, apply early because these jobs are in demand, and resorts often hire well in advance.
Work as an au pair, or nanny, to earn a nice living while having room and board, food and possibly your travel expenses provided. You could find work with a local or expat family living in the country where you'd like to live, or even a family traveling on a long holiday. Websites such as InterExchange provide listings for au pair positions abroad.
Teaching English abroad involves lots of work, just like teaching in the United States. Carefully selecting the institution to work for is crucial; ask to talk with previous teachers about their experiences. A well-chosen English teaching job could let you develop strong connections with a local community and learn a new language yourself.
