Living and working in Bali as a dive instructor and marketer

I’m Liz Heesters, 23 years old. And very honestly? For a long time I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I had plenty of interests and I liked all kinds of things but I didn’t have anything concrete, one clear path.

What I did always feel was a kind of itch when it came to living abroad. Living in another country, another rhythm or another culture. Only I also found that exciting, I didn’t dare to go alone any time soon and was very insecure about it. Like taking a leap without knowing exactly where you land.

From minor to remote life

For my minor, I had the opportunity to go to Bali. Here I did the minor in Mindful Leadership and Inspirational Coaching and Leadership for the Creative Business program. This is a broad marketing and management course focused on the creative factors. This was not a random choice; I always knew I wanted to do something with leadership or responsibility. And Bali, that’s where my parents used to get married. I’ve been here before as a child and Bali has always had something special because of that. This felt like a kind of “safe option,” this seemed like a perfect place to start. That minor felt like a test to me. Is abroad really for me, or does it only sound romantic in my head? Soon I knew the answer. Yes, this is it.

I felt freer and more independent. I got to know myself better because I was out of my familiar surroundings. During those months it became increasingly clear: if I can choose later, I will choose abroad. And here, in Bali, my diving story also began. In fact, I am currently a diving instructor in Bali.

Working as a dive instructor in Bali

I already had a feeling I would love this. The sea has always attracted me. But I didn’t have a big plan, I didn’t think: this is going to be my career. I will never forget my first dive. The moment of falling backwards from the boat into the water, the silence once you are underwater and the feeling of weightlessness. This felt like a peace I had never experienced before.

After that dive, my instructor said to me, “So, this was my workplace.

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That phrase stuck. Having your workplace underwater, how special is that? What started as two courses became a course. I was completely sold and expanded my diving courses. Within seven months I went from beginner to Divemaster. From zero to hero. It was intense, studying a lot, also pursuing my minors and keeping up with my social life. I found it very hard to make mistakes, but I have never felt so much motivation. It didn’t feel like something I had to do, but something I really wanted. In retrospect, that was the moment my life took a different direction.

Living a working in Thailand

After my education, I decided not to choose a permanent job in the Netherlands. I wanted to go out to sea and I wanted to make this my job. I left for Thailand to get my instructor certificate and work there as a diving instructor. That was a new step and more responsibility.

Learning how to teach someone how to dive safely is different from being able to dive well yourself. You have to stay calm, explain clearly, assess situations. You are literally responsible for someone’s safety underwater. But there is nothing more beautiful than someone who nervously enters the water and surfaces with a huge smile. That you see: this is a moment they will never forget.

Thailand was special, I grew tremendously but it was also uncertain. Visa rules changed which made getting papers complicated. And at an unexpected moment we were even denied entry into the country because we had received the wrong visa information. Suddenly the planning had to be completely reversed and that was intense. You build up something and suddenly everything comes to a halt but in retrospect it was also a tipping point.

(Remote) working in Bali

Bali was always the final goal only now it came earlier than planned. Coming back nevertheless felt like something positive. I now work here as a diving instructor and can honestly say: this is my favorite place. The dive sites here are so diverse. Coral reefs full of color, wreck dives, manta rays gliding past you. Every day is different and you never know exactly what you’re going to see. That’s what makes Bali so beautiful and interesting.

My work consists of more than just diving. I give theory lessons and accompany beginners who find it exciting. I reassure people when in doubt, but I also check equipment and continuously monitor safety. Sometimes I am an instructor, sometimes a coach, but sometimes just someone who says, “You can do this. Breathe calmly. I’m here.” Underwater I feel a calmness that I don’t always find above water. Everything becomes still and that feeling remains special, even after hundreds of dives.

My first remote experience as a marketer

Recently something new has been added. I now also work remotely for WorkingRemotely.com. For the first time, I am doing truly location-independent work. I help with content and online work. That means that sometimes I put on my wetsuit and go out on the boat in the morning, and in the afternoon or evening I flip open my laptop to write and work. I really enjoy that combination and it lets me develop multiple sides of myself. I had been wanting to do something besides my diving for a while, to still earn an extra penny on the side. I basically just started googling options for remote work and what I could do with my background. I answered a number of job offers with my experience, resume and cover letter. Then I came to the website workingremotely.co.uk where I saw all the job postings about different remote options. And completely coincidentally, Alieke herself was looking for someone who could help her with her social media. This was right up my alley, and I enthusiastically signed up. This eventually led to a great remote marketing job.

But it’s not always easy. After a long day of diving you are physically tired and then crawling behind your laptop requires discipline. Wifi does not always work perfectly here and the time difference with the Netherlands sometimes means starting early or continuing later. It really has its ups and downs. But I notice that I like working hard. If I do something, I want to do it well. Rather one project I’m proud of than half a job. I am now learning the importance of planning and overview and I find it extremely valuable to be able to develop this at Working Remotely.

What a remote life gives me

For me, this is not just about working abroad. It’s about relying on yourself. I’m 23 and living on the other side of the world. Sometimes that’s exciting and sometimes uncertain. But it has made me more independent than I ever thought I would be. I’ve learned to deal with plans that go differently.

And perhaps most importantly, I learned that you don’t have to know everything in advance. You may discover as you go along, and if I were to pass something along to someone who also has doubts:

Don’t wait until everything is perfectly settled because that moment will not come.
Arrange your papers and visas as best you can and talk to the right people. This will save stress.
First, build experience in what you want to do. Make sure you can provide value.
And dare to change direction when something is no longer right.

Right now I am in Bali. I am working as a diving instructor and slowly building up my remote work. The plan is to actually live here and build a life together with my boyfriend. I don’t know exactly where I will be in five years. Maybe still here. Maybe somewhere else with an ocean nearby.

But one thing I know for sure: foreign countries will remain part of my life. And so will the sea.

Want to follow my diving adventures?
Follow me on Instagram & TikTok.