PADI IDC Koh Tao • Common Questions
As with most things in life, there always a few little things that come to mind when reading through lots of information. Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions that we get from our prospective Pro Level Internship candidates.
The list is by no means exhaustive and is intended as a guide only. We prefer to communicate directly with our potential candidates via our active social channels, email or through live chat. Over 20 years we have established a strong reputation for building lasting relationships with our candidates so please message us with any questions.
How do I get to Koh Tao
Koh Tao is the smaller of 3 of the main islands known as the Samui Archipelago. It is around a 90 minute high speed ferry ride from either Chumphon on the mainland or Koh Samui and Koh Phangan islands. There are airports at Surat Thani, Chumphon and Koh Samui that are all served by Bangkok on an approximate 1 hour flight.
Is accommodation included
We are partnered with Black Turtle Dive Koh Tao’s award-winning PADI Dive centre and also Ananda Villa, one of the island’s newest resorts. Accommodation is offered to all IDC Koh Tao candidates at discounted rates, covering all budgets.
What does your pass guarantee mean
In the highly unlikely event you are unsuccessful on the IE we will pay for your second IDC & IE. This is exactly as it says. We are so confident that our Instructor Development Course will prepare you for a successful Instructor Exam that we will cover the expense of re-taking if there are any issues.*
*So far, this hasn’t happened..!!
What is a CDC Centre
CDC stands for “Career Development Centre”. This is the highest award given by PADI to any diving resort/centre to recognise first-class levels of Pro Level training. Here at IDC Koh Tao we are very proud to have achieved this level.
How do I become a PADI Instructor
We have fully inclusive Diving Internships which can take you through from being a recreational diver to fully qualified Instructor. Message us for more specific details as the information is dependent on your current diver rating.
Where is Black Turtle Dive and IDC Koh Tao
We are affiliated with Black Turtle Dive Koh Tao and share the extensive diving facilities located on the beach only a 2 minute walk from the main pier in Mae Haad. This is the pier you arrive at on Koh Tao.
What about making payment for bookings
We generally accept a 10% deposit to confirm bookings for any of our IDC courses by payment button on this website. However, please confirm any bookings by email, website message or direct communication with our IDC team led by Matt Bolton beforehand.
When is the PADI IDC on Koh Tao at Black Turtle Dive
Our PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is scheduled to take place each month – please download the schedule from the website for full details.
When is the the best time of year to take my IDC
IDC Koh Tao is fortunate in that its location in the Gulf of Thailand has a consistent climate throughout the year. November | December is recognised as our ‘rainy season’ but this is rain for short bursts only and temperatures remain high. Sea temperatures will drop a couple of degrees to around 26 + degrees so we enjoy diving all year round.
What is the 'Flexi - Schedule' system that you operate
At any given time, our pro level student divers are all at different stages of their courses or internships. So we provide a ‘Flexi – Schedule’ system meaning our Internships are tailored to an individual’s requirements. This gives you greater flexibility with your arrival dates and planning and does not tie you down to a specific date.
We provide you with the best value and the highest standards in diver training worldwide. Our diver training standards are recognised throughout the industry and we have been awarded many ‘Diver Trainer’ Awards by PADI.
What are the PADI fees and are these included in my booking
The short answer to that is no, PADI fees where stated on any of our website pages are paid separately direct to PADI (normally by card). The exceptions to this are our ‘Lifestyle Packaged Internships’ that are great value and the most competitive prices anywhere in Thailand.
Please communicate directly with us for clarification on your choice of ‘package’ to avoid any unnecessary surprises as you progress through your training.
Most Competitive Rates Anywhere in Thailand
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