Medical Officer / Yacht Medic

Most of the job is ordinary clinical work. Cuts from lines and galley knives, sprains, seasickness, sunburn, ear infections from diving, dental pain and the odd chest pain at 0300. You hold the medical log, keep the drug safe and controlled drugs register, check the defibrillators and oxygen, and restock against the flag state scale. You also handle crew medical paperwork, ENG1 expiry dates, vaccination records and the occasional repatriation.

With guests aboard the focus moves to them. You join the pre-trip brief, read any health notes passed through the captain, and plan around diving, jet skis and shore excursions. On some yachts you shadow the watersports team or the tender on long runs. With the owner off, the work turns to training: first aid drills, man overboard and casualty scenarios, and helping officers keep their MCA Medical Care competence current.

Hiring captains want proven emergency experience. Most medics come from ambulance services, emergency departments, intensive care, the military or offshore oil and gas. A UK HCPC paramedic, an NMC registered nurse with emergency or critical care background, or an equivalent registration from Australia, South Africa or the US is the usual baseline. Some yachts want a doctor. A second skill helps: dive medicine, a PADI Divemaster rating, or the ability to cover as a steward or safety officer.

Few yachts carry a dedicated medic, so jobs are scarce and turnover is low. Many people start as a steward or deckhand with a nursing background, prove themselves, and move into a pure medical role on a larger yacht. From there the paths lead to bigger programmes, fleet medical roles with management companies, telemedical services, or shoreside safety and compliance work. Keep your home registration active. Letting it lapse ends the career fast.