PADI Diving Instructor Development Course

Best Dive Instructor Course on Koh Tao – Learn to Teach Scuba Diving

 

IDC Koh Tao – Diving Instructor Training Course Koh Tao

Located at Black Turtle Dive dive centre, IDC Koh Tao provide Instructor candidates with a structured, effective and very successful IDC experience.

Our IDC program has evolved over the last 20 years into the best IDC training program across Asia Pacific and is led by our award winning PADI Course Director team.

Koh Tao is recognized as the perfect location to learn to teach scuba diving and our custom training program has successfully delivered thousands of professional level diver courses.

If you like people, have a passion for scuba diving and want to travel the world seeking adventure and exciting experiences then you have found the right place.

IDC Koh Tao Thailand is an Award Winning PADI Diving Instructor Development Course based on tropical Koh Tao.

Teaching people to scuba dive allows you to share your love of the aquatic world while doing what you enjoy – being in, around and under water.

IDC Koh Tao provides you with the best diving instructor course training available.

  • 14-day program followed by 2-day Instructor Examination on Koh Tao
  • Emergency First Response Instructor course
  • 2 Day IDC Prep Course (theory and skill review)
  • Pass Guaranteed! – In the highly unlikely event you are unsuccessful on the IE we will pay for your second IDC & IE.
  • FREE Dive Against Debris Instructor course

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor’s are the most in demand dive professionals in the world. This is because they’ve completed the world’s most progressive and popular scuba diving instructor course, the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Our diving instructor course Koh Tao sets the standard for training dive professionals.

You earn a PADI Diving Instructor course rating through hard work, commitment and dedication.

You are rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching your own.

Course Price: 41,900 THB

Course Price: 41,900 THB

The Diving Instructor Course Structure

The PADI Diving Instructor Course Thailand (IDC) is made up of two parts – the PADI Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program.

Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an PADI Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification.

Dive professionals who hold an instructor rating with another diver training organisation are eligible to enrol directly onto the OWSI program.

This program recognises prior instructor training and provides a path to become a PADI Instructor.

Who Can Enrol on the PADI IDC?

A PADI Divemaster who has been a certified diver for six months, may enrol in the PADI Diving Instructor Development Course.

You also need:

  • At least 60 logged dives to start the IDC and 100 dives to attend an IE.
  • Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
  • A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.
  • You will also need to become an Emergency First Response Instructor which is included on our PADI Diving Instructor Development Course.

As a 5 Star PADI Career Development Centre, candidates completing the PADI IDC with IDC Koh Tao are permitted to enter the IE with less than 100 logged dives. PADI will process teaching status once the 100th dive has been logged.

Course Price: 41,900 THB

What does the Diving Instructor Course on Koh Tao teach you?

Our 14-day program will teach you how to conduct all PADI core courses. You’ll be able to organise and present information as well as conduct skill development sessions and open water training dives.

You will become a better public speaker, develop first class underwater demonstration skills and learn how to supervise and control student divers whilst ensuring diver safety.

We will teach you how to anticipate and solve common problems that occur when training divers, as well as correct positioning so you are always close to respond.

Our PADI Instructor Development Course will give you plenty of practice, in a role playing environment.

The revised PADI Instructor Development Course has two parts; online portion and Course Director led portion.

The online section includes the following subjects within the IDC e-learning part of your digital IDC Crew Pack.

It is recommended you complete this section prior to arrival. If you don’t have the time, we have scheduled the first 5 evenings of the IDC for you to complete the e-learning as homework.

The e-learning curriculum contains the following subjects that are all completed online.

  1. Getting started
  2. Dive Theory for dive leaders
  3. PADI System overview
  4. Learning, Instruction & the PADI system
  5. Discover Scuba Diving & Experience programs
  6. The PADI Open Water Course
  7. Risk Management & Legal Consideration
  8. Managing Risk
  9. PADI Quality Management & Licensing
  10. Introduction to Teaching Presentations
  11. Conducting & Evaluating knowledge development
  12. Confined Water training
  13. Open Water training
  14. Continuing Education & Leadership Courses
  15. The Business of Diving

The rest of the IDC curriculum is Course Director led and consists of the following subjects:

  • Orientation
  • Dive Theory Workshop
  • PADI System Workshop
  • Learning and Teaching Workshop
  • Discover Scuba Diving Workshop
  • Open Water Dive Course Scheduling and Set Up Workshop
  • Risk Management and Licensing Workshop
  • Knowledge Development Presentation Workshop and Candidate Knowledge Development Presentations
  • Skill Development Workshop
  • Confined Water Training Workshop and Candidate Confined Water Teaching Presentations
  • Open Water Training Workshop and Candidate Open Water Teaching Presentations
  • Continuing Education Workshop
  • Advanced Open Water Diver Course Workshop
  • Rescue Diver Course Workshop
  • Sales Techniques Workshop
  • Course Close

Additional IDC Training Workshops

These are workshops we conduct above and beyond what is required by PADI

  • CESA – How to conduct the Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent in confined and open water
  • Ascents & Descents (in Open Water)
  • Ascents & Descent Lines – how to set up at an open water dive site
  • Adventures in Diving – Search & Recovery Knots & Lift bags – PPB clinic – Navigation & compass handling
  • Rescue Diver – exercises 1–8 (in confined water)
  • Social Media and online marketing
  • Developing your dive resume

IDC Schedule & Dates

What does the Diving Instructor Course in Thailand include?

  • PADI Instructor Development course
  • Pass Guaranteed! – In the highly unlikely event you are unsuccessful on the IE we will pay for your second IDC & IE.
  • Emergency First Response Instructor Course
  • Dive Against Debris Instructor course
  • Free Prep Course – 2 days duration
  • Lunch during the IDC
  • Free T-Shirt
  • Dive equipment – It’s highly recommended that as a PADI Pro you own your own full set of equipment. If you would like to purchase equipment when you are here we can offer you attractive discounts on all major brands.

If you do not not own a full set of scuba, or for travel reasons do not want to bring your equipment with you, we can provide a Regulator, BCD, Mask, Snorkel and a wetsuit for you.

You will need to provide the following for the IDC, the IE and any teaching work you are involved in once you become a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor as we do not provide these items, which are all required by PADI standards.

  • Timepiece
  • Compass
  • Knife or diving tool
  • Pocket mask
  • Surface Market Buoy (SMB)
  • Whistle
  • Tank Banger

Course Price: 41,900 THB

PADI Materials for the IDC

For your own set of PADI Instructor Manuals & Materials, you can purchase our IDC “Crew Pack”.

This comprises of both the ‘digital crew pack’ and the physical crew pack with PADI Backpack

What do you get?

The PADI Digital IDC Crew Pack includes: (these are all online)

  • IDC e-learning
  • PADI Guide to Teaching
  • Diving Knowledge Workbook
  • PADI Quizzes & Exam Booklets (Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster)
  • Project AWARE Specialty Instructor Outline
  • Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Instructor Outline
  • PADI Open Water Course Prescriptive Lesson Guides

The PADI Physical IDC Crew Pack includes: 

  • PADI Backpack
  • Dive Lesson Planning Slates [Confined and Open Water)
  • PADI Dive Planning & Skill Practice Slate
  • Open Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver, Divemaster course Instructor Cue Cards

Price: 18,500 THB

 

Emergency First Response Instructor manual

You will also need an Emergency First Response Primary, Secondary and Care for Children Instructor Manual which is available either on CD-Rom (recommended) or Paper version.

Price: 3,000 THB

In addition, you also need a copy of the PADI Instructor Manual. The Instructor Manual is included in the PADI Divemaster crew pack and as a renewed PADI Divemaster it is available as a free download from https://www.padi.com/mypadi/

For candidates crossing over from another training organisation or PADI Divemaster’s that are not renewed you can purchase a copy for 3,000 THB.

All PADI Materials

Diving Instructor Course Koh Tao PADI Fees

There are a number of application and examination fees, all of which must be paid by the candidate directly to PADI.

  • PADI Instructor Exam – $AUS 1,055
  • PADI Instructor Application – $AUS 312
  • EFR Instructor Application – $AUS 215

This is a total of $AUS 1,582. These are all fees.

Our Pass Guarantee – in the highly unlikely event you are unsuccessful on the IE we will pay for your second IDC & IE.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the IDC cost?

The Instructor Development Course itself is 41,900 THBaht. You will also need to purchase educational materials required by PADI standards.

The materials include a digital Instructor crewpack, which we can give you access to before you start the course.

Once you arrive, we will also give you a set of aquatic cue cards that you will be using both, throughout your course and as a certified scuba diving Instructor.

The price of the IDC Crew Pack is 18,500 THBaht. You will also need to purchase the EFR Instructor materials, which are a further 3,000 THBaht.

There are also fees which you must pay directly to PADI. The fees are as follows:

  • PADI Instructor Exam – $AUS 1,055
  • PADI Instructor Application – $AUS 312
  • EFR Instructor Application – $AUS 215

This is a total of $AUS 1,582. These are all fees.

We also offer a variety of internship and lifestyle packages if you are looking to further your training past Instructor Development.

Can I complete my PADI Instructor Course in one month?

By PADI standards, the IDC itself can be completed in 8 days. This would include, both the Assistant Instructor (AI) and Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), components of the course.

From this point you would then need to complete a 2-day Instructor examination (IE) in order to become certified as a PADI OWSI.

At IDC Koh Tao we run a 2-week program, which includes:

  • Two full days of Dive theory and Skill Prep
  • Emergency First Responder & Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor Training
  • A Mock Instructor Examination

We truly believe preparation is the key to a successful IE and a successful career within the dive industry. We prefer to take more time in order for our candidates to feel 100% confident in taking that next step and becoming a PADI Professional.

We run courses every month, so we can easily find the right dates for you. If you are able to arrive early, we can easily keep you busy.

We offer unlimited diving during your stay with us plus the option to participate in Divemaster Workshops in order to keep your skills fresh.

Do I have to take my PADI exams straight after the diving instructor training?

All of the PADI courses are performance based rather than time based. This means that you do not have to rush your training and can take your time to feel comfortable.

That being said there are a few things to take into consideration. Based off the PADI standards, PADI offers a 1-year referral period from the last training component that was completed.

This means that once you have completed your IDC, you will have one year to complete the IE.

Upon completion of your IDC, you will also be eligible to complete an IE anywhere in the world within the 1-year time period.

That being said we do highly recommend to take the IE when things are fresh in your mind. Therefore, in the case that you would prefer to wait, we suggest that you complete additional training with us, then enrol in the next available PADI examination.

What equipment do I need to take the PADI Instructor Course?

PADI Standards state all Instructors and Certified assistants must have all standard diving equipment plus:

  • Time-monitoring device
  • Compass
  • Knife/diver’s tool
  • Two surface signaling devices *one audible and one visible*
  • Dive flag *where locally required*
  • Instructions for use for your dive computer or the RDP/eRDPml

We can provide a full set of standard equipment during your training with us. When it comes to the additional pieces of equipment, you will need to provide these.

We also recommend having a Rescue Breathing Mask, as it is used quite often during your training.

We can offer support when it comes to obtaining any equipment necessary for your training.

We also have our retail team, who can assist you in choosing the right equipment for your personal needs and budget. Contact us for more information.

Do you offer job placement after successfully passing the PADI Instructor exams?

When it comes to employment prospects, Koh Tao is number one on the planet in regards to pro level training.

Certifying around 80-100,000 divers annually, the island is the perfect place to gain the experience to help you succeed in the industry.

Our job as PADI Course Directors, is to support you before, during and after your IDC. This means that we will do our best to help you when it comes to job placement.

We will offer assistance when it comes to resume building and securing a potential job interview.

Additionally, IDC Koh Tao is one of Thailand’s most popular & successful dive operations.

We maximize the in-water student-instructor ratios to 6:1. As a result we require an above average number of staff members and almost exclusively hire from within our own Pro Level training programs.

We are always looking for hardworking candidates who possess the correct attitude and skill level.

I would most certainly consider looking at the MSDT Internship program as an immediate follow on from the IDC.

This will help prepare you to work as an instructor and open up more opportunities within the dive industry.

How do I become a Diving Instructor on Koh Tao?

To become a PADI Dive Instructor on Koh Tao you first need be a certified Divemaster and hold a recognized first aid and CPR certificate, valid within the past 24 months.

You also need to have at least 60 logged dives to enrol on a PADI Instructor Development Course on Koh Tao.

Although you can start and complete the course, you will need to show proof of 100 logged dives to gain your Instructor teaching status.

The minimum time from becoming a certified Open Water diver to a PADI instructor is 6 months.

With so much diving experience available on Koh Tao this is easily possible by completing one of our Diving Lifestyle Internships.

What does a Diving Instructor do?

A PADI dive instructor has many duties. These include teaching people to scuba dive, teaching certified divers continuing education courses such as Advanced, Rescue and Specialty courses and teaching Professional level divers such as a Divemaster.

Diving Instructors also supervise general diving activities for all scuba divers, including organizing the operations and logistics of dive trips.

Other duties a diving instructor may have, include being an equipment technician and sales person, general customer service duties and duties such as online marketing. 

What courses can a PADI Dive Instructor teach?

Once you have completed a PADI Instructor Development Course, PADI will certify you as an Open Water Scuba Instructor or an OWSI.

As an OWSI you are certified to teach the following PADI courses up to Divemaster.

If you complete further training with a PADI Course Director, you can become a Master Scuba Diver Trainer and teach at least 5 more PADI Specialty courses.

Additionally, if you complete the IDC Staff Instructor course you can start assisting a PADI Course Director teaching portions of the Instructor Development Course.

How much do Dive Instructors make a year on Koh Tao?

Working for a busy Koh Tao dive centre during high season can easily see an Instructor earn up to 80,000 baht per month.

Instructor pay is often all commission based so the amount you earn depends on the number of students you teach and ultimately how busy Koh Tao is.

However, there are also many other jobs around the dive centre that a Diving Instructor can do.

Other roles can be Management, equipment sales and maintenance, customer service duties, social media and online marketing, which means a combination of salaries and commissions can be paid. 

Why is Koh Tao so popular to become a Diving Instructor?

Koh Tao is home to some of the most experienced PADI Course Directors in the world in addition to the most established and recognised Dive centres worldwide.

Accordingly, the training standards are extremely high and Koh Tao has produced some of the most recognized diving industry leaders throughout the world.

There are many recreational, technical diving instructor trainers located around the world that completed their initial training on Koh Tao.

Many still make Koh Tao their home and their expertise and training experience ensures the Dive Instructor courses are first class.

Koh Tao offers a complete change of lifestyle to a tropical island location with diving all year round.  30 amazing training dive sites and surrounded by over 8 kilometres of Coral Reef, ensures Koh Tao is the envy of the diving industry.

Aside from the diving, Koh Tao offers locals and expats a huge choice of non diving activities, superb food and drink, nightlife and some of the most stunning bays, beaches and viewpoints within Thailand.

If you are serious about a career change, have a passion for diving, want the best scuba diving training, Koh Tao is the perfect choice to achieve your ambitions and goals.

IDC Schedule & Dates

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Candidate Testimonials

"An Internationally Acclaimed PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre (CDC), this is a Dive Centre that provides you with an opportunity to change your lifestyle and develop a new career."

Steve

"Was a hard but great course! Thanks a lot again to all staff who teaches and prepared us so well, that finally the IE was easy going! Thanks Matt, Tina, Steph, Kenji, Steve, Manu and everybody else who supports us."

Bernd

"They cater to your schedule during divemaster training so you can do it at your own pace and are also environmentally conscious which is an important factor. Anyone considering a professional career in diving should definitely consider Crystal."

Kristi

"They are very dedicated, and were always there to help me with the theory, and to improve my scuba teaching skills. If you are still searching for a centre to do your IDC at, I recommend doing it with Matt."

Dina

"There was absolutely nothing that could have happened during the IE the candidates were not made very well aware of. Everything ran so smoothly for the candidates."

Muzaffa

"It's a good decision to do your training with Matt, a lot of information is given and shared experiences. If you guys wanted to do IDC, I recommend doing it with IDC Koh Tao. Thank you for the amazing IDC."

Mohamad

"If you guy's are looking for good teachers and the best Course Director, this is the place..Thank you for guiding us, inspiring us and making us what we are today. Highly recommend."

Azie

"I enjoyed every single day of my IDC as well as my MSDT. Matt is an outstanding Course Director who goes all the way out for you, in preparation for the IE."

Eric

"The course was fun and you meet a bunch of new people, it’s not hard to fit in. When the day of the IE arrives, you don't even stress about it, because the Course Directors are the best."

Jasper

"Did my IDC with Crystal Dive and IDC Koh Tao and I'm so happy I chose them. Matt Bolton made sure that there was lots of learning, training and laughs! I felt more than prepared for the I.E. And it showed!"

Katharina

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