PADI Course Director Matt is one of the few Asian based Course Directors to have been selected to attend the prestigious Course Director Training Course at PADI HQ in California.

IDC Schedules…

Matt originally joined Crystal Dive in 1999 and quickly became Head Instructor at the resort.

Teaching all levels of PADI courses and building up an extensive knowledge of the local dive scene, Matt became Operations Manager in 2003, quickly developing the Resort into a 5 Star Instructor Development Center.

During this period he worked alongside some of the region’s leading Course Directors giving him a unique insight into various teaching styles within PADI IDC’s.

Boasting a wealth of teaching experience throughout the PADI System, Matt has conducted over 60 PADI IDCs and countless more MSDT Prep & Internship programs, certifying over 1,000 PADI Professionals. He has also certified over 1,500 PADI diver level students.

As well as boasting over 6 years management experience with one of Thailand’s premier scuba diving operations, Matt has 18 Instructor Trainer Specialty ratings as well as being an EFR Primary, Secondary and Care for Children Instructor Trainer.

Matt is also the only Koh Tao Course Director to attend the 3 Day 2005 PADI Business of Diving Seminar’s, an exclusive PADI Developmental program aimed at the industry’s business leaders.

As Crystal grew in popularity, Matt employed an Operations Manager and moved into a new position, concentrating more on the business side, answering e-mails, devising new marketing strategies as well as new educational initiatives such as the introduction of the Environmental & Conservation curriculum and Technical diving at Crystal.

He continues to spearhead the Instructor Development Programs at the school working alongside fellow PADI Course Directors Kenji Takahashi & Justin Mayers.

In 2008, after 5 years of hard work both Matt and Crystal began to receive recognition from within the industry. Invited to the Asia Dive Expo in Singapore as a guest speaker at the “Business Solutions for the Future” conference hosted by PADI Asia Pacific Matt was also on hand to receive the prestigious “Diver Training” award on behalf of Crystal Dive Resort who became the first, and to this point only Koh Tao based dive operation ever to win an award at the PADI Members Awards.

Crystal were also finalists in the “Marine Environmental” award & the “Instructor Development” award becoming the first Dive center ever to receive three nominations at one ceremony.

2009 has continued along the same lines as 2008. In January Crystal Dive won the Project AWARE Worldwide Environmental Achievement Award, presented annually by Project AWARE a nonprofit environmental & conservation organization.

Then in May PADI CEO Drew Richardson visited Koh Tao for the first time to present Matt with the 2009 PADI Asia Pacific Members Diver Retention award. This award recognizes a dive centers success and popularity in retaining student divers due to high levels of training standards & service.

Crystal also received several finalist nominations becoming not just Koh Tao’s most awarded Dive Center but also Thailand’s.

Matt has also been recognised at Instructor Development level this year receiving the Platinum Course Director rating for the third time in succession. He now belongs to an elite group worldwide that have received this accolade three years in succession and currently the only Platinum PADI Course Director on Koh Tao.

For more info, Please visit www.crystaldive.com

Raphael is a Swiss Course Director and the newest member of Exotic IDC. He has been living in the Philippines for many years. An avid PADI diver for over 15 years he became a PADI Course Director in 2007 and is now based in Zamboanguita where he manages a PADI 5* IDC. Raffi speaks 4 languages fluently and brings an international theme to our already highly experience IDC staff. We are very proud to have him as a member of our IDC team.

For more info, Please visit www.malapascua.net/diving_idc.html

Mark originally learned to dive on the Great Barrier Reef whilst backpacking around Australia. That was it. He was hooked on diving. So following completion of his university studies worked his way up to PADI Instructor, diving in many countries including Australia, Kenya, Spain, Malaysia, Croatia and Thailand.

After this Mark worked in Thailand, teaching dving courses and working his way up the PADI ladder towards the rating of PADI Course Director which he earned in 2008 at the age of 25 becoming one of the youngest Course Directors in the world. He followed this with a stint as a Course Director in the Red Sea working in the resort of Hurghada, Egypt before returning to Thailand in 2009 to work in Phuket. In the past few years Mark has worked with hundreds of students on IDC’s to help them in their goal of becoming PADI Instructors.

“The bonus of what we do is the fact that we get to train people to become professionals in something they love. I remember the great feeling when I became a PADI Instructor and it is great to be able to enable more people to have that experience and give them that ability to pass on diving to more people”

Mark also has set another landmark. On land at least Mark is confined to a wheelchair following an accident (Non-diving related) in 2005 when Mark was working in Thailand. He is the first and only wheelchair user to achieve the rating of PADI Course Director putting him into the top 1% of PADI Instructors.

“The great thing about scuba diving,’ says Mark, ‘is that it offers someone like myself a chance to throw off those constraints that I have on land in to an environment where I am the same as everyone else in the water. The only difference is that I swim with my arms rather than my legs.”

As goes Mark’s own personal interests in diving any time he is in the water then he is happy, but he loves wreck diving, underwater photography and especially diving with the bigger marine life. He is always on the look out for more courses to do and has started his Semi-Closed Rebreather training to add another part of diving to his dive cv. Outside of diving Mark’s loves to travel and experience new places and cultures as well as chilling out reading and following sports.

Mark’s philosophy on IDC’s is not to prepare you just to pass the exam but to come out as a good Instructor. A relaxed atmosphere is also crucial to getting you through the process of an IDC and he can also tell you that you should have great fun on your program. IDCs are about learning so don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We can sort them out!

Mark also can include on the IDC package a chance to do International Association for Handicapped Divers (IAHD) Instructor training thus giving you the knowledge about teaching the handicapped to dive and adding another item to your instructor repertoire. It is an extremely rewarding course which being taught by someone who is actually a wheelchair user will give you a really hands on experience.

For Pro-level courses Mark offers PADI IDC’s, Assistant Instructor Courses, PADI Specialty Instructor, EFR Instructor, IDC Staff Instructor and IAHD Instructor. Or you can combine these in an internship option.

Certification Levels

* PADI Course Director
* EFR Instructor Trainer
* EFR Care for Children Instructor Trainer
* IAHD (Handicapped Divers) Instructor Trainer
* PADI Specialty Instructor Trainer
* DAN Oxygen Provision Instructor
* TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver

For more info, Please visit www.phuketschoolofscuba.com

Well…it’s a long story ….I’ll try to make it short!

After several years of seasonal working in the Mediterranean sea in 1995 I decided to visit Sharm ! ..everyone ,I mean clients and colleagues , were telling me “have you ever dived in the red sea? …You will love it! “

… I was very curious …so in one of my breaks from university I decided to get a flight …and without any pre-employment I landed in Sharm el Sheikh … after some days of job research and several days on the boat learning the different dive spots and the different way of working I finally found work as a free lance !

It was like being in paradise … warm water , nice people , beautiful dives ! … so I started meeting people and “building connections” … My “enterprising ” nature made me get nice deals with some diving centers in Sharm … and once back home in Italy I was arranging diving groups ….twice a year I was traveling to Sharm doing some dives… having fun … and getting paid !!  not bad for a university student!!

My main objective at that time was to finish the university but … during a Tourism Show in Milan while walking with some friends through the booth of Egypt… we got in contact with the GM of an  hotel “under construction” in Sharm…of course the first question was “do you have a Diving Center inside the resort??”  The GM was surprised…. a diving center was something new to him … but he was quite interested! … after faxes on faxes with proposals , Cvs etc etc … it was during one of my “diving group trips” that we decided to go and see the  GM personally … he was even more surprised to see us in his hotel … I think that was the right move … and in may 1998 we finally signed our contract!! In july 1998 I got my PhD in accounting … and in August we finally opened Scubadreamer DC!

After that , it was a continuous growing : the center and me! … Year after year the center was getting bigger, offering better services , “covering” more languages… on my side …I started assisting IDCs to keep myself updated and year after year my diving education was going further and further  … till when I become a Course Director.

2.  What is your attraction with Egypt? What are your favourite things of working in that part of the world?

Yes , you are right it’s an attraction ! I have to admit that at the beginning it was not easy for an “European accountant” to get used to the Arabic mentality/rhythm .. but after a while you start understanding the culture and if you respect the fact that you are “guest” you find the way to fit in it!

The other good things on working here are… first of all the sea (one of the most beautiful places where to dive) then  the weather (always good during the year) ,  the nearness with Europe ,the cost of life , and the fact that you can run a non-season related business!  ….you can easily dive/work all the year around  !

3. Tell us about a normal day during an IDC for Matteo as a Course Director?

Early wake up ! ….I start my day as a Manager… get to the center at 7.00am …make sure everything is sorted for the day , check the mails …. at 8ish I switch to the “CD mode” I prepare the class and the material I need for the idc… at 8.30 we start ..normally with an academic presentation …10.00 coffee break for the candidates .. and a quick look to the diving center operations for me! we normally finish at 12.30 /1.00 … a couple of hours lunch break … and we start the afternoon with the in-water sessions …I realized is the only way to keep candidates awake after lunch! .. back to the classroom until 7.00 pm … then I switch back to “manager mode” …unless there are candidates with special needs …in that case I delay the switch!! After getting updated from my Operation Manager on what happened during the day and the plans for the day after  .. I go home and relax ! I have to admit that during IDCs my “social life” is on low profile ! I normally keep all my energies for the IE parties!!

4. What is more challenging – the role as Manager or Course Director?

both .. and they go together … whenever I teach I try to use my experience as a manager to “pass” useful tips to my candidates … and whenever I manage I try to apply new standards, ideas etc … that came out during a course or an update! ….basically I always need to do something new … and being a course director pushes me to be a better manager and being a manager pushes me to be a better course director!

many times I realized that the needs of a manager are quite different from the request/needs of an instructor .. quite often instructors are forced to do standard violations or dodgy things to make their manager happy or not to lose their job position! … I feel lucky being a “Course Director Manager” !!

5. what is the philosophy behind your PADI IDC courses?

To “create” diving instructors ! … my mission is not just letting my candidates pass the IE … I want them to become professionals … use all my “know how” and my experience to be able to work in any place around the world! … be team players … be responsible …safe and fun !

6. Tell us about Scuba Dreamer and your plans in the next years in the Red Sea?

Scubadreamer is more like a son than an activity for me! I grew it up from “0″ …we started with a low budget in ‘98  and step by step by reinvesting what we were earning we grew it up!  … there was nothing when I started … I was drawing the maps with the engineers … assembling furniture , painting , drilling , welding … a bit of everything  ! … we started with 1 compressor .. few diving sets and few tanks ! That’s the reason why I’m really “attached” to the center.

For the future … is a big question mark! I’m used to think positive … so I keep on planning to grow… I never stopped … and I’m not gonna do it now!

On the other hand I’m realistic …  and I know that everything can easily suddenly finish if the politic situation in “the world” doesn’t reach a stable “buoyancy” !

7. What do you search in future instructors? What will make a great staff instructor?

What I told u before … a good instructor has to be responsible , safe , fun , speak few languages,  be good in “logistics” , be a Team Player and most important “HUMILITY”!! … that what I pretend from my employees !

It’s easy to teach someone to breath underwater … hard to respect the rules of the center, make the operations run smoothly and cooperate with colleagues of different nationality/culture! ..if you can do that you are a professional!

During the pre-employment training, I let the new instructors cover all the different positions/duties …that’s the only way they can learn how to cooperate.

8.  What are you doing when you are not diving?

Any kind of extreme sport ! … at the moment I do kite surfing , free climbing and bike rides in the desert (with my Kawasaki KLX650R!) … and when I can escape from Egypt I go skiing and sailing!

9.  Any advice to people considering doing their PADI IDC or doing a career in diving in the Red Sea?

Just do it! … there is place for everybody … if you are a dynamic person and you like challenges …that’s the place !

few other places around the world allow you to work 365 days a year ..

The only advice…. be prepared to adapt yourself to a different culture …..and you’ll succeed !

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Who knows …. I have few ideas in mind but I’m used to keep my projects secret until I realized them!

I live of objectives …my next one:  the IDC in November!

11. When did you realized you wanted to spend the rest of your life as a diving instructor?

When I was at the University ! … at the beginning diving was an escape … was like an “award” … I was telling myself  “Teo if you do at least 3 exams in this session then you go working 3 months in Egypt rather than Sardegna “

… and it worked .. I was putting a lot of efforts in my studies …because I knew that when that was done I could go diving! … I early realized that’s could be my life … I forgot to tell you that ,at that time , I was working as an accountant in the morning and studying in the afternoon … so I knew what to expect once my studies were completed!

Once you try to work in the diving industry … you quickly realize that be an accountant sitting behind a desk 8hrs a day is not what you willing to do for the rest of your life!

12. What is the thing you miss the most from your home country?

My family:  My parents , my sister , my beautiful niece Beatrice! …my dog !

… and sometimes “italian food” and the snow!

13. What are your diving obsessions? What sort of diving do you like?

I like to explore ! Anything new is exciting for me!

…I like technical diving! … And believe me do technical dives in the red sea with warm water and good visibility is “the bomb”!

... I also do love filming underwater …I founded ScubadreamerVideo .. And when I can , I jump on the boat filming clients .. I’ve been also cooperating  on some small production filming sharks in Sudan and the Great White inSouth Africa …

14. Where do you see the diving industry heading in the next years?

My experience is limited to the Red Sea …But I’m sure that the diving Industry is going to grow!! ..less certified divers doing fun dives ….but , supported by new training materials/standards and new technologies, more and more people are going to enroll in a diving course and start their “diving experience”!

15. At to finish can you describe in a few words why you love so much diving and the underwater world?

It’s the “direct” interaction with the nature … you are not only observing ..you become part of another world … the underwater world!

SCUBADREAMER DIVING COLLEGE – PADI S-7955
C/O  DREAMS BEACHRESORT
Mobile 002.012.3658961
Tel. 002.069.3663992
Fax. 002.069.3660199
e-mail: scubadreamer@sinainet.com.eg
website: www.scubadreamer.com

He started diving some 15 years ago off the coast of Kenya and since then he has dived and worked all around the world from New Zealand to Central America, not forgetting getting wet all around the UK – although he admits to being a warm water diver preferring to don a wet suit to a bulky dry suit!

Since changing his career six years ago to be a full time diving instructor, he has worked at IDC centers around the world including the UK, Gozo, New Zealand, Thailand, Egypt and Central America before deciding it was time, together with his partner Simone, to set up their own business on the sub tropical Canary Island of Lanzarote just off the coast of north Africa. With years of experience and exposure to various locations and dive centres Kev has been able to bring to the business and in particular his IDC’s all the positive aspects and leave behind the negative!

With his various backgrounds both outside and within the dive industry Canary Island Divers is a dive centre people are proud to be associated with and IDC Candidates will go away feeling more than capable to face the real world!

As a small dive centre, Canary Island Divers provide personalised service “small enough to care but experienced enough to matter” and Kev as an active Course Director and owner thus not only teaches professional courses but also all levels from DSD and above – with this continuing all round experience Kev’s IDCs are current and up to date.

You will be surprised to know that Kev’s IDC philosophy is not for you to pass the IE – shock, horror!! – but for you to become a well rounded dive educator who is ready to go into the real world facing real students! Thus we will look during your IDC at Canary Island Divers not only at the theoretical world of diving education but as well at real world teaching issues in readiness for your career in diving beyond the IE. By the way you will be glad to hear, as a by-product this approach makes it far easier to pass the IE!!!

His Qualifications:

Over 3000 logged dives
PADI Course Director
15 Specialty Instructor Trainer ratings
PADI Rebreather Instructor Trainer
EFR Instructor Trainer
DAN Instructor Trainer
DSAT Instructor Trainer

“To all you wanabee Instructors, go on take the plunge I will guarantee you will enjoy the experience and who knows might even learn something along the way.

I won’t kid you any IDC is not easy, it takes dedication, devotion and hard work but at the end you WILL feel it was well worth it and we’ll have a bit of fun along the way.

Being a dive educator was the most challenging and is the most rewarding thing I have done in my life, if you are looking for a reward beyond money, being a PADI Instructor is the job for you. CID Lanza’s motto is “Safety, professionalism, and fun” and that about sums up our IDC.

Where ever you decide to take your IDC I wish you all the very best in your career and happy bubbling!”

Kev Turner
PADI Course Director

For more info, Please visit www.canaryislanddivers.com

Desi completed his CDTC in March 2008 and has already met the PADI Instructor certification level criteria for his Platinum Course Director rating for 2008. As a full time member of staff at Mermaids 5* Career Development Center Desi has been involved in over 25 IDC’s and is able to teach the following Specialty Instructor Ratings.

Deep Diver

Aware Fish ID

Enriched Air Diver

Underwater Navigator

Search and Recovery Diver

Wreck Diver

Night Diver

Drift Diver

Digital Underwater Photography

Multilevel Diver

Boat Diver

Diver Propulsion Vehicle

Dry Suit Diver

Underwater Naturalist

Underwater Videographer

PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider (one of the 1st CD’s in the world to achieve this rating)

Desi also has also completed the DSAT Tec Deep and Trimix Instructor Trainer Course and is an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer with Care for Children.

Desi is originally from Ireland and has been living in Thailand for 4 years and has dived in many South East Asia locations such as Similans, Philippines, Bali, Malaysia and also in Ireland.

To know more info, Feel free to visit www.learn-in-asia.com

One of the things that Ash is most proud of is the fact that every single graduate of his programs have been able to find suitable employment after graduation. His vast amount of experience in the dive industry has allowed him to network with potential employers throughout the Caribbean from small operators to all inclusive resorts, liveaboards and the cruise ship industry. He’s even got a few former candidates that are working on mega yachts! A job that he wishes he had himself sometimes!

Over the years many instructors that have decided to carry on with their continuing diver’s education and work their way up to Course Director Level have staffed Ash’s IDC programs. In fact, every student that Ash has recommended to PADI to be accepted into their Course Directors programs have been accepted, a testament on its own of the professional level of training that he provides since only about 70 candidates a year world wide are accepted into this program.

As a PADI Course Director Ash can offer you DAN Instructor Trainer, EFR Instructor Trainer, and a choice of 20 specialties to choose from. He is also a volunteer with the “Oceans For Youth” programs and run various programs in conjunction with the “Central Caribbean Marine Institute” located in Little Caymans. You can contact Ash by emailing him at ash@caymandivingcollege.com or phone 345-925-9092

Listen to what some of Ash’s graduates have to say!

“The entire staff made my IDC a wonderful experience. I felt confident as any one could going into my IE. I would recommend this program to anyone serious about becoming an instructor.”

“Overall I found the IDC experience extremely satisfying and educational. Ash brings a tremendous amount of experience to the classroom, both in the business of diving and personal observations of having been heavily involved with the diving industry.”

“After becoming a staff instructor at another location then working with Ash on his IDC programs, it became very clear how much more energy is in his classes. He won’t just let you go on with passing grades but will work with you making sure that you have it all down before moving on to other topics.”

“Ash, I was blown away with all of your specialties instructor programs that you taught me. If I can go away and just implement half of the ideas that you gave to us, then I know that I will be well on my way of being successful in the dive industry.”

PADI IDC Instructor development in Phuket, Thailand: Indepth Instruction with Chris Owen.

Chris is a British national who started diving in the cold waters of England, but who has had the pleasure of living and diving in Asia for the last 12 years.

In 1992 Chris arrived in Thailand and spent a year on the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao before migrating south to the east coast of Malaysia and Tioman Island. After half a year there he returned to Thailand and moved up into the Gulf of Siam where he worked out of Pattaya, a coastal resort two hours south of Bangkok, for the next 6 years, before relocating to Phuket to focus on Instructor Development.

Chris has worked as a Divemaster and trip leader, filling tanks, loading boats, acting as a dive guide all the way through to being a manager of several PADI dive centres and partner and manager of a successful PADI 5* IDC centre in Pattaya and is familiar with most aspects of the business of diving.

Chris has worked extensively in both in the resort “tourist” environment and the “city orientated” environments of Bangkok and Pattaya and is familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of both.

Knowledge drawn from 12 years of working in these fields adds a lot of valuable information to the various business and marketing presentations during the IDC and various career education programs offered by Chris.

Chris has now taught over 55 IDCs, more than 45 as The Course Director, and certified over 600 PADI Instructors to varying levels.

Chris has received a number of Certificates of Recognition of Excellence from PADI – most recently four for his IDC programs (two in 2003 !!) and customer service and also four “Certificates in Recognition of Outstanding performance and support conducting Instructor Development programs”

Apart from being a:

* PADI Course Director
* EFR Instructor Trainer
* EFR for Children Instructor Trainer
* EFR in the Work Place Instructor Trainer
* PADI Specialty Instructor Trainer ( 15 Specialties )
* PADI Rebreather Instructor Trainer
* DAN Instructor Trainer – Oxygen, Hazardous Marine Life Injuries & AED
* DSAT Trimix / EANx Blender Instructor Trainer

Chris is also a qualified Dive Medic Technician on call with the local Hyperbaric Chamber in Phuket.

Chris is also an American Nitrox Divers International (ANDI) level 2 Instructor, Gas Blender and Service Technician.

Currently Chris is working on his Cavern Diver Instructor Trainer rating and is looking forward to teaching this soon – the only problem Chris is having is finding the time to GO DIVE !!!!

To know more info, Feel free to visit www.indepth-instruction.com

“We touch the lives of others in ways we often never know. People sometimes come into our personal world for fleeting moments and can leave us forever changed”

A Life Changing Experience! We have more power to create or to destroy, than we can ever imagine. We can leave things or individuals better or worse than we found them. A look, a word, a gesture has tremendous impact and frequently we blither along through our existence unaware of the mighty power that our communication wields. Here’s my story:

It was a rainy, humid day: the mother of all bad hair days. Just another cold dark winter’s day in England. I was taking a bus into town. The windows on the bus were covered in condensation so thick you couldn’t see outside. Everyone was wilting and wet. I was sitting next to a man in a business suit and didn’t pay much attention, looking into oblivion, until we both got off at the same stop and walked to the same newspaper stand to get a morning paper.

The man, owner of the stand was obviously having a bad day too. He was rude, abrupt and unsmiling as we bought our papers, with the news headlines to only add more gloom to my day. The businessman caught my eye and smiled. He then proceeded to smile brightly, thanked the newsstand proprietor for the paper and for being open on such a cold morning, making sure we were able to get our papers. In short, he expressed his appreciation for something most of us would take for granted.

The man running the newsstand responded only with a grunt and sour expressions. The businessman then pleasantly wished him a pleasant day. As we turned away, I asked this man why he had continued to be pleasant to the newsagent owner when he obviously didn’t care about and didn’t respond to his expression of appreciation and friendliness.

The businessman grinned at me and said, “Why would I let someone else control what I say and what I feel or what kind of day I’m going to have?”

“Diving and teaching can be a passion which changes your life and you can change other peoples life’s too”

You can say that again! It is a life changing experience for me…

PADI Course Director, Joey A. Ridge

I know how difficult it is to choose the right place to make your IDC, so the choice is obvious!  Little did you know that you could have picked a world class experienced Course Director!

Joey’s passion for teaching Scuba has led to the creation of his Knowledge, Experience and Internship Scuba Training Courses. This is Joey’s commitment to support of Internship, IDC’s and the PADI Staff Instructors are taught. Prior Knowledge, materials helps us keep up to date and we like to be at the cutting edge of the dive industry, knowing this you can rest assure that Joey’s expertise is second to none.

Joey A. Ridge was born in the UK, where he lived until he was 18 and graduated from college. From that time, my passion was in Scuba Diving, I got my first seasonal Diving Job in Greece. I returned to Greece for three summers, working and gaining experience from a variety diving of centres.

My feet began to get hot and again, I travelled to the USA, helping dive centres in Florida, California and Hawaii. Australia wasn’t far, so I travelled over there and stayed a couple of years. But the most fun to be had for me was working in ASIA, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

There I had the pleasure to work for many good reputable Dive Schools, gaining valuable experiences along the way.  I lived and worked as a PADI Instructor and Underwater Photographer, Videographer in places around the world. The last 10 years I have been teaching the Padi System and conducting IDC’s.

I am the youngest local resident PADI Course Director in Cyprus. As I am English I speak English, Greek and a little Swedish. With support from my PADI Staff Instructors, I can teach IDC Courses in English, Greek, German, French, Finish, Swedish and Danish.

Now here in Cyprus for over 12 years, I have established myself and Easy Divers Cyprus with a firm foot hold in the dive industry here in Cyprus. Joey has a time-honoured and valued opinion as an Honorary Committee Member in the Cyprus Dive Centre Association (CDCA)

EZDivers Cyprus has a comprehensive selection of top Scuba Professional Traineeship programs, some designed by Joey himself. The Go Pro Scuba Internship caters for all budgets. Go from complete novice to Dive Master; take a look at our Instructor Internship / Trainee Programs. You can have that life changing Scuba Job and not only a dream wish.

Joey also runs the most dynamic, updated PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC) in Cyprus. A full multimedia, network of computerized classrooms: laptops, LCD projectors, video etc. We will ensure that your PADI IDC experience is the most up to date, comprehensive and professional available.

Although PADI requires an IDC to have a minimum duration of 7 days we have found some extra presentations and workshops highly beneficial to our candidates’ success. To accommodate these extra presentations, workshops and courses that we have integrated into our program, we have found an 8 – 9 day Prep and IDC more ideal.

Extra workshops include our DM/IDC Prep: Ascents & Descents, Buoyancy control, Buddy Breathing both swimming and stationary, Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA), Rescue and Student Control, both under water and at the surface an added bonus.

Joey is always very helpful, friendly, thorough, funny, approachable, knowledgeable and professional. He somehow makes the gruelling IDC courses a lot of fun. All of Joey’s instructor candidates have passed 100%. Joey is determined that each person he teaches gets individual attention and personalised counselling. He doesn’t just teach someone to pass the exams; he is passionate that his candidates are confident and knowledgeable and prepared to be an effective PADI Scuba instructor in the ever changing world of the dive industry. Joey’s motto is ‘You either know it or you don’t’.

One of my Staff Instructors once told me, I never realised just how much you taught me and I now realise the more I teach, not only in your Instructor Development Courses, the more I put into practice your training styles, you taught me to be a better teacher…how to pace a class and cover all course requirements but still keep it fun. Thank you. Joey you are such a great role model.

When I teach, I tell all my new students, that this day, I will learn something new from all of you?

To all new instructors, I say you will definitely learn something from every new course you teach, from all the students you train!

For one instance, PADI teaches us how important positive feedback is for our students. I love to watch this in action; I see how proud my students looks when I tell them that they performed a skill just right, Perfect!!  One of my very first Open Water students took the time to write some positive comments about me and PADI passed it on to me.  It was really nice to get that feedback.  This reminded me that my students aren’t the only ones that deserve positive reinforcement!  We all do, so I wanted to take the time to say THANKS!!! To all my students and New Padi Instructor Candidates who train here, I hope to pass on my relaxed positive attitude to everyone that joins me at Easy Divers Cyprus for their training.

First, let me tell you a bit about myself. I am originally from England, and have spent most of my free time since school working in various conservation projects around the world; including rehabilitating cheetahs in South Africa and studying Orangutans in Borneo. My first taste of scuba diving was in Indonesia after completing one of these projects. I instantly fell in love with the ocean and set my sights on the Divemaster Rating. Whilst studying for my MSc in Environmental Biology, I had the chance to study and work with Leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica. It was such a beautiful, diverse country I hoped to return one day. After completing my IDC and working for 2 years as a dive instructor in the Bay Islands, Honduras; the opportunity arose to return to Costa Rica working as a PADI Instructor, so I grabbed it with both hands and have now been here for over 4 years.

After working as a Training Director for 2 years I was accepted onto the PADI CDTC and the rest just followed on. I love every aspect of dive training and bring that enthusiasm and diversity to my teaching. As a qualified PADI, DAN and TDI Technical Instructor I have a background in many aspects of diving and offer many different Professional Dive level courses to give you a broad and well-rounded education as you venture into your career as a PADI Dive Instructor.

For more info, Please visit www.oceansunlimitedcr.com