PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Master Scuba Diver Trainer Instructor Internship in Thailand

• 5 PADI Instructor Specialty training courses
• Team teaching 2 PADI courses alongside experienced PADI Master Instructor

The PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) program is made up of two parts:

Part 1 – ‘Prep’ course – consisting of 5 PADI Specialty Instructor courses

Part 2 – the Instructor Internship program – a team teaching Internship allowing you to earn your first 25 PADI Diver level certifications as a PADI Instructor. Each additional course taken costs

Who can enroll on the MSDT?

A renewed PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)

What will you learn?

The MSDT Prep & Internship program has two distinct sections.

What is the MSDT Prep Course?

During the MSDT Prep course at IDC Koh Tao, scheduled over 5–6 days, you will learn how to effectively organise, conduct, and market PADI Specialty Diver courses across five different specialty areas. This program is designed to build on your existing Instructor skills while expanding your teaching capabilities and confidence in delivering a wider range of courses.

Throughout the program, you will complete Knowledge Development presentations similar to those undertaken during your PADI IDC and Instructor Examination (IE). These sessions are focused on refining your teaching style, improving your delivery, and ensuring you can confidently present specialty-specific content. You will also complete a detailed standards review, tailored to the PADI Specialty courses you have selected, ensuring you fully understand course structure, requirements, and best practices.

In addition to classroom-based learning, the course includes practical in-water workshops linked directly to each specialty. These sessions allow you to practice and refine the key skills you will be teaching, ensuring you are comfortable demonstrating and supervising them in real diving conditions. By combining academic development with hands-on experience, the MSDT Prep course prepares you to deliver high-quality specialty training and take the next step in your professional diving career.

What is the MSDT Internship?

Once the Prep is completed its time for you to start Part 2 – the ‘team teaching’ Instructor Internship. Teaching all levels of the PADI System of diver education you build on the knowledge and skills gained during the PADI IDC.

Team teaching alongside our team of experienced PADI Master Instructors, you slowly build confidence and all round teaching abilities dealing with REAL life students participating in REAL life PADI courses.

Step by step, we allow you to teach more as you progress through each course, building confidence and competence teaching medium sized groups of diver level students.

Our ultimate goal is for you to become a confident and competent dive educator, organized and timely, able to teach the entire PADI system with the necessary experience that prospective employers are looking for. This program is sure to make you a more employable PADI Instructor!

What’s included?

• 5 PADI Instructor Specialty training courses
• Team teach 2 PADI courses alongside experienced PADI Master Instructors **

** Additional team teaches, subject to availability will be charged at 3,000THB per course

PADI Materials – please bring the following materials with you. You received these as part of the IDC Crew Pack

• PADI Specialty Course Instructor Manual (CD-Rom)
• PADI Guide to Teaching (Paper version or CD-Rom)
• Diving Knowledge Workbook
• PADI Quizzes & Exam Booklets [Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster]
• Open Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver, Divemaster course Instructor Cue Cards

In addition you’ll also need a copy of the PADI Instructor Manual. As of 2010, the Instructor is available as a free down load for all PADI Members that are renewed from https://www.padi.com/mypadi/

2026 PADI Fees

There are a number of application and examination fees that must be paid directly to PADI as part of your professional development.

• PADI Specialty Instructor Application: AUD $145 per specialty
  (Minimum of 5 specialties required)
  Standard Total: AUD $725
• PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) Application: AUD $195

At IDC Koh Tao, we aim to provide as much value as possible throughout your training. When you submit your application with five specialties at the same time, one of the specialty application fees is waived, meaning you only pay for four. This reduces your total from AUD $725 to AUD $580, giving you your fifth Specialty Instructor rating at no additional cost.

In addition, when you complete both your IDC and MSDT Prep program with us, your PADI MSDT application fee is also waived. This is part of our commitment to supporting your progression and helping you move into the next stage of your professional diving career with reduced overall costs.

To be certified as a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, you must also have a minimum of 25 PADI certifications. Gaining real teaching experience is a key part of this process, and additional team teaching opportunities are highly recommended. Two team teaches are included as part of your program; any additional team teaches are subject to availability and are charged at 3,000 THB per team teach.

We strongly believe in performance-based training. Our philosophy is not focused on simply achieving certification numbers during your program, but on developing you into a confident, capable dive educator. Quality of teaching, professionalism, and real-world experience are what truly set you apart in the dive industry.

Ideally, you will have the opportunity to team teach across all PADI core diver-level courses, as well as a selection of the specialty courses you are qualified to teach. This well-rounded experience ensures you build both the confidence and competence required to succeed as a professional instructor and progress toward higher-level ratings.