Thomas(34)

In the Netherlands I worked as a dive instructor at a dive school in Zeeland — but only from May to September. The rest of the year I lived on unemployment benefits and side jobs in hospitality. At thirty I decided I wanted to do what I love most all year round. Lanzarote, with its crystal-clear waters and volcanic underwater landscapes, was the perfect destination.

I applied to three dive schools on the island and was hired at a PADI center in Puerto del Carmen. The employment contract — a contrato indefinido — was essential for my NIE application and registration with the Seguridad Social. My employer arranged everything. The salary of €1,600 net per month sounds modest, but tips from satisfied divers can amount to €400 extra per month in high season.

Lanzarote is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and you notice it everywhere. César Manrique's building rules ensure there are no high-rises and everything is white with green or blue doors. The island feels authentic and unspoiled compared to Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Rent is also lower: my studio apartment in Puerto del Carmen costs €550 per month.

The Canary Islands tax system via IGIC (7%) is favorable. Additionally, groceries are cheaper than on the mainland because many products fall under a reduced rate. My monthly expenses — rent, food, fuel for my old Seat Ibiza — amount to about €1,100. I save €500 per month and I could never have done that in the Netherlands.

The dive community on Lanzarote is international and close-knit. We dive at the Museo Atlántico — Europe's only underwater museum — and at the Papagayo coast where you see octopuses, rays and sometimes even angel sharks. In my free time I surf at Famara, one of the best surf beaches in the Canary Islands.

My advice to seasonal workers: find a destination where you can work all year round. The Canary Islands have a unique climate that makes tourism possible year-round. Life here is simple — I don't need a car in the village, I eat fresh fish from the market, and my office is the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes the best career plan is simply doing what makes you happy.