PADI Diving Instructor Development Course

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

• Discover Scuba Diving
• Bubblemaker
• Seal Team
• Open Water Diver course
• Advanced Open Water course
• Rescue Diver course
• Peak Performance Buoyancy course
• Project AWARE specialties

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.

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. 

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.