PADI Course Director Training Course Prep (CDTC)

PADI Course Director CDTC Prep Course Koh Tao in Thailand

PADI Course Director Prep Course Tailored to your Needs

Prices for our CDTC are based on your current level of experience and the course is tailored to your individual needs.

• Staffing credits – Staff 3 entire IDC’s
• PADI Certs – Team teach to meet CDTC prerequisite PADI certs & conversion ratios
• Support of PADI AWARE – Participate in our Marine conservation program
• Support for Business Plan & Success Agreement
• Introduction to PADI Regional Manager

Our PADI Course Director Training Course Prep is tailored specifically to each Master Instructor’s individual needs in order to meet the CDTC prerequisite criteria. Our objective is for you to produce a successful application and be accepted on the Course Director Training Course (CDTC)

Who can Enrol on the CDTC Prep course?

A renewed PAD Master Instructor (MI)

What is included?

IDC Staffing Credits

You will staff 3 entire IDC’s. We will focus on further developing your ability to organise & conduct IDC training sessions in a timely and efficient manner.

We will also ensure your evaluation skills are in line with PADI staff to adequately prepare you for your evaluation sessions on the CDTC. You will conduct the final counselling sessions with the candidates prior to the IE.

Teaching Experience & Continuing Education Ratio

We will review the number of PADI certifications you hold and calculate your continuing education ratio as defined by the conversion ratio of entry-level divers to higher levels of training. (i.e. Adventure Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Specialties, etc.)

This will enable us to tailor a team teaching Internship focused on increasing your continuing education ratio to a level that will ensure you feature in the top 20 % when compared with other applicants, as measured by PADI.

This team teaching Internship may include Adventure, Advanced & Rescue courses as well as specialty courses.

Marine Conservation Commitment

As part of your CDTC you must demonstrate your support of the underwater environment and the PADIAWARE Foundation. During your CTDC Prep course you will participate in our Marine conservation program.

This program far exceeds the requirements of the CDTC application, so you are not just ticking the boxes but we are giving you a level of knowledge above and beyond what is required for marine conservation by PADI but what, in reality, should be expected of any successful PADI Course Director.

We will help you to:

• Create and maintain a My Ocean profile on PADI AWARE’s online conservation platform to document the above actions.
• As a 100% AWARE Partner you can promote the PADI AWARE version of the PADI Certification Card during your time with us.
• Undertake Dive against Debris survey/s and submit data online. https://padiaware.org/home
• Lead an Adopt A Dive Site.
• Teach the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver and/or Dive Against Debris Distinctive Specialty.
• Promote 10 Tips for Divers to Protect Our Ocean Planet.

Why IDC Koh Tao?

At IDC Koh Tao, our PADI Course Director Preparation program is designed for one purpose: to develop highly capable, confident professionals who are fully prepared not only for the PADI Course Director Training Course (CDTC), but for long-term success at the highest level of the dive industry.

Our approach is built on a foundation of personalised development. Every Master Instructor arrives with a different level of experience, teaching background, and certification history. That’s why our CDTC Prep course is tailored specifically to your individual needs, ensuring you meet—and exceed—the prerequisite criteria required for a successful CDTC application.

Rather than following a fixed, generic structure, we assess your current standing, identify areas for improvement, and build a customized pathway that strengthens your application and your real-world capability as a future Course Director.

One-to-One Coaching That Drives Real Progress

A defining feature of our program is the level of one-to-one coaching you receive. Throughout your preparation, you work directly with experienced PADI Course Directors who provide detailed, honest, and continuous feedback. This includes refining your evaluation techniques, improving your ability to conduct IDC training sessions, and developing your leadership and mentoring skills.

You are not just observed—you are coached.

This individual attention allows you to rapidly improve in key areas such as:

• Instructor candidate evaluation
• Classroom and in-water teaching delivery
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Professional communication and leadership

By working closely with industry-leading educators, you develop the confidence and clarity required to perform at Course Director level, rather than simply meeting minimum standards.

Real Instructor Development – Not Just Meeting Requirements

Many CDTC Prep programs focus purely on ticking boxes for the application. At IDC Koh Tao, we go far beyond that.

Our goal is to prepare you to succeed after the Course Director Training Course. This means developing your ability to mentor instructor candidates, run effective IDC programs, and uphold the highest standards of the PADI system. You will gain hands-on experience staffing multiple full IDC programs, allowing you to refine your organisation, evaluation, and instructional techniques in real training environments.

This level of exposure ensures you are not just prepared on paper—you are prepared in practice.

Building a Competitive CDTC Application

The PADI Course Director Training Course is highly selective, with candidates ranked based on experience, performance, and overall readiness.

Our program is specifically designed to position you within the top tier of applicants.

We support you in:

• Increasing your continuing education ratios
• Building relevant certification experience
• Strengthening your business plan and success agreement
• Demonstrating leadership in marine conservation and professional development

By aligning your experience with PADI’s evaluation criteria, we maximise your chances of acceptance while ensuring you develop the skills expected of a future Course Director.

Learn from Proven Industry Leaders

IDC Koh Tao is led by a team of highly experienced Course Directors who have trained thousands of PADI professionals and developed multiple Course Directors within the industry.

This depth of experience matters.

You are learning directly from professionals who understand exactly what it takes to progress through the PADI system, succeed at the CDTC, and build a long-term career in dive education.

A Program Designed for Your Success

Ultimately, our philosophy is simple: we don’t produce average candidates—we develop industry-ready professionals.

Through personalised coaching, real-world instructor development, and a clear focus on long-term success, IDC Koh Tao provides a Course Director Preparation program that goes beyond expectations. You will leave not only with a stronger application, but with the confidence, knowledge, and leadership ability required to succeed at the highest level of PADI professional training.

If your goal is to become a PADI Course Director, the quality of your preparation matters—and at IDC Koh Tao, that preparation is built entirely around you.

Please bring the following materials with you.

• PADI Guide to Teaching
• Diving Knowledge Workbook
• PADI Quizzes & Exam Booklets [Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster]
• Open Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver, Divemaster course Instructor Cue Cards
• PADI Course Director manual
• C/W & O/W evaluation slates
• Laptop

In addition you’ll also need a copy of the PADI Instructor Manual. The Instructor Manual is available as a free down load for all PADI Members that are renewed from https://www.padi.com/mypadi/

To become a PADI Course Director you must

• Be a certified PADI Master Instructor
• Have issued at least 250 PADI certifications – at least 50 continuing education certs, 5 rescue certs, 5 Divemaster certifications and 15 specialty certs
• Have staffed at least 2 Instructor Development Courses in full after IDC Staff Instructor course
• Have participated in 3 PADI seminars
• Be able to demonstrate support for PADI’s efforts within aquatic conservation
• Be an EFR Instructor Trainer
• PADI Dive Centre or Resort work experience
• For 12 months before the course start date:

– Have no verified quality assurance complaints.

– Conducted all PADI certification courses and experience programs using methods consistent with PADI Standards and philosophy as outlined in the PADI Instructor Manual and PADI’s ‘Guide to Teaching.’

– Used the complete PADI System of diver education exclusively, including all appropriate PADI educational materials.

– Taught PADI Diver courses exclusively. Exceptions: students referred from other certification organisations for completion of entry-level training or certain technical, commercial and other courses not currently offered by PADI.

Selection Criteria for PADI CDTC Applicants

All applications for the course are thoroughly reviewed and ranked.

The top ranking applicants are then selected to attend the course. The criteria listed below are used to evaluate each applicant’s experience, philosophical background and readiness to be trained as a PADI Course Director by demonstrating:

1. Understanding of PADI’s business of Instructor Development as defined by the Business Plan and Success Agreement and the interview conducted by PADI staff.
2. Support of PADI, its programs and PADI AWARE as defined by affiliation with a PADI Resort and Retail Association Member, attendance at PADI sponsored seminars (programs conducted by PADI staff), i.e. Business Academy, IDC Staff Instructor Update, Business Development Webinars.
3. Leadership in ocean protection through PADI AWARE i.e. Dive Against Debris surveys, maintaining an active My Ocean account, promotion of the AWARE C-Card, becoming a 100% AWARE Partner, organising a Finathon or My Ocean Challenge, teaching the AWARE Shark & Ray Conservation Specialty and / or the Dive Against Debris Specialty, etc.

The candidate’s past interactions with PADI and PADI AWARE staff are also taken into consideration. Additional credit will be given to live attendance vs. online programs.

1. Use of PADI’s educational philosophies as defined by the conversion ratio of entry-level divers to higher levels of training. (i.e. Adventure Diver, Advanced OW, Rescue, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Specialties, etc.)
2. Experience as a PADI Instructor as defined by the total number of PADI certifications issued.
3. Experience with the PADI Instructor training process as defined by the total number of IDC staffing experiences after certification as an IDC Staff Instructor.

Note: Prior Quality Assurance history and written examination scores will also be taken into account during ranking.