- Hi Martin , tell us a little bit about yourself as an instructor and how did you started in the diving industry?

It was in the summer of 1976 when I was 14; I was in our local swimming pool and went down in an old 80 kg suit with brass helmet. That’s when I saw the safety divers in the water and realized “That’s what I want” I wanted to sign up right there to do the course but they told me I was too young. “You have to wait until you’re 15”, back in the 70’s that was the starting age of a diver. 

I did my open water diver in Tenerife.  It was not until the early 90’s that I continued my advanced course on Aruba.  After that I realized this is Life!  Together with my wife we bought a dive center on Curacao and loved it.  Who doesn’t like the ocean to be their office?  After 6 years we moved to Costa Rica and bought Rich Coast Diving.  Now, with a new challenge.  I love to teach and introduce people to a new world.  The expressions on their faces usually say enough.  I realized I started to enjoy continuing education especially training with Dive master candidates.  Then I realized it was time to go one step higher.

 - When did you realize you wanted to continue up in the PADI Ladder towards the CD rating?

 During my IDC I had a great Course Director called Rico.  He knew everything and I felt I was years away from getting that far,; maybe never.  After staffing a few of his IDC’s and some with different Course Directors I realized there is different ways to teach and the ability to become a Course Director seemed more reachable.

For years I had been talking about being a Course Director, but just to take that final step………..Well as soon as we bought Rich Coast Diving we saw potential in becoming a 5* resort, which led to the following step.5*IDC center.  So early 2008 I left for Malaysia and finished the CDTC.  Now I feel I am at the same level as Rico, and am ready to teach.

 - What is the philosophy behind your future courses, what do you want to reflect?

I want to teach divers to become responsible instructors and still enjoy the teaching part.  Teach them how to transfer their interest and get other people enthusiastic about diving and everything around it. 

One of my favorite pass times is digital under water photography and now I want to teach this to the new instructors and let them experience high tech equipment.

-      - What is the best part of achieving a Course Director status? 

Finally achieving what has been on the agenda for years.  Knowing now, that I can spend more time on the professional training with other divers.  Of course I am proud to belong to the group that is less than 1% Of the PADI members.  There are about 1200 Course Directors in the world and only 20% is active, this makes this job a unique one.

 -      Tell us a little bit about the Course Director Training Course? How did you go?  

The biggest remark is the atmosphere.  I personally think this is one of PADI’s best courses. There is no stress what so ever and everything is perfectly organized.  Once you get elected to come and join the course, you have enough experience to breeze through the CDTC.  Most of the course speaks for itself, but the great part is that one still learns a great deal.  Internet marketing, communication and socializing.  To me it was a fun course and I met many colleagues, and made new friends.

-      - Can you explain to us, why you thinkCosta Rica could become in a future as potential destination for PADI IDC Candidates?

Costa Rica is booming, it’s growing and more and more tourist are finding it on the map. Now it’s our goal to promote the diving and telling people how great the Pacific really is.  Over the last few years we have had many dive master candidates who wanted to proceed in a professional career.  Well now that is possible and with all the new daily flight from the States into Liberia airport access to Costa Rica is much easier than before.

-      What is your best advice for someone planning to go to Costa Rica a nd GO PRO? 

Be flexible, and have fun.  Enjoy life; Costa Rica mis a great country to do this.  No stress and lots of socializing.  Costa Rica is growing very rapid and the dive centers are getting more divers, which results in more staff.