I work in world’s deepest oceans – you can make £700 a DAY & get free accommodation but it’s not for the faint-hearted
A SAILOR who has worked in the world’s deepest oceans has revealed how she rakes in the cash and lives a life of luxury – but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Larkin Bohn, 44, has sailed the seven seas for more than 12 years and has even visited the notoriously treacherous North Sea and the hair-raising Mariana Trench.
Although the “dangerous” job involves “greasy and messy work,” those onboard the ships get free accommodation and can make a killing, Larkin told The Sun.
She worked predominantly as a deckhand on both research vessels and cruise ships – meaning she was part of a team responsible for managing the boat.
She told The Sun how she’s able to easily make £60,000 a year with no bills and free accommodation – and has heard of some sailors making “six figures” or £700 a day.
During Larkin’s longest stint at sea she “didn’t see land for 60 days” – but this didn’t faze her due to the five-star treatment onboard.
Larkin told The Sun: “The food is fantastic. They feed you multiple times a day because it’s a 24-hour operation.
“We had all different types of cuisines available and every Friday they would also have a special day where they would highlight a special area of the world.
“There was a French day. There was an Italian day. There was a Filipino day.”
And it wasn’t just the “fantastic” food on offer – Larkin could make use of many other swanky amenities including a gym and a movie room.
She said although the job involves messy work, the crew ensure they “work hard but play harder” and take part in talent competitions, karaoke and team building exercises.
“We’d always watch the sunrise together at the end of the day,” Larkin said.
“People would, play music together. It’s like it’s our own little world.
“You get grubby and dirty during work but then you take your shower and can order a hot chocolate or lava cake, especially prepared by the chefs.
“They really treat you well.”
Although there are many perks to Larkin’s job, she does admit it’s hard work and can be a challenge.
She said: “It is a dangerous job. It’s a very dynamic job where you are doing things that involve safety.
“You’re working with cranes working with heavy equipment, putting this equipment in and out of the water, tying up the vessel, working with lines.
“It it is very physically demanding and you’re carrying heavy things.”
I would go into full fire gear. You can’t call the fire department, you are the fire department
Larkin Bohn
And the days are also long, with everyone being on a 12-hour rotation and sharing a room with a partner on the opposite shift pattern.
Larkin revealed how the most terrifying moment of her career came when the auto pilot of the boat failed in the middle of the ocean and the team had to work together to manually steer the vessel.
She said: “I’ve definitely come into rough seas where the waves are coming over the bow. It’s wild.
“It can be scary, but it’s also invigorating. In a way, it’s also very exciting.”
According to Larkin, one of her worse case scenarios as a deckhand would be a fire onboard.
This would see her having to “snap into action” and double as a firefighter.
She said: “I would go into full fire gear. You can’t call the fire department, you are the fire department.
“I get out of my uniform and put on my my fire gear and my oxygen.
“I would have another deck hand who would be with me, and we would go into the fire.”
You get grubby and dirty during work but then you take your shower and can order a hot chocolate or lava cake, especially prepared by the chefs
Larkin Bohn
Larkin’s job has taken her around the world including locations in Japan, Russia, Alaska and even the Mariana Trench – the deepest part of the ocean.
Larkin was given he crucial task of shadowing the movements of the world’s deepest diving submersible in a small boat on the surface of the water.
The sub would collect information from the Mariana Trench and radio their stats to Larkin who would relay the message back to a main larger vessel.
The job isn’t only physically challenging but Larkin has also faced sexism and has even had equipment taken out of her hands because it was deemed to heavy for her to carry.
Larkin's adventures
Larkin has sailed all around the world, including in the notoriously treacherous waters of the North Sea. Here's where she's been:
1) Hawaii
2) Alaska
3) Sea of Cortez (Baja, Mexico)
4) Panama (including through the canal multiple times)
5) Costa Rica
6) Bering Sea
7) Norway
8) In the 80th parallel (Svalbard, Norway and beyond through ice sheets)
9) Above the Mariana Trench
10) Guam
11) Philippine Sea/Trench
12) Japan
13) Russia
14) Gulf of Mexico
15) North Sea
16) Greenland
17) Iceland
18) Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy, Greece)
19) Just a few degrees from the equator in the South Pacific
20) Canada
She said: “There have been many times where I am the only woman on board, and many times where I am the first woman that has come on board.
“When that happens it really puts me in an interesting position.”
Larkin wants to encourage more women to enter the offshore world and break the stereotype that associates physically demanding jobs with men only.
She said: “If I had seen more women in roles like the roles that I’ve been in I feel like my whole life would have been different.”
Larkin explained how her work gives her “total freedom” and said it’s still possible to have a family life even in her field of work.
She added: “Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. But if you also wanna have those things and a career like this, that’s also possible, too.
“There are women in this field that are having children that have successful marriages like all sorts of things. So really it’s 2024, and anything’s possible.”