One of the advantages of doing your PADI IDC at Thresher Shark Divers is the wide and varied experience of our dive instructors. They have each been working in diving jobs, teaching all around the world for many years - in the tropics and in cold water, in Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, Red Sea, South Pacific... you name it. So whatever your goals and aims for the future, at least one of our staff members should have done it before and will be able to help and advise you. Most of them are PADI Master Instructors and above.

Small Classes

TSD has always been known for its small groups and individual attention both with PADI courses and fun divers. We treat our Instructor Candidates in exactly the same way. Currently we take a maximum of 6 students on any PADI IDC. With several staff members helping on the IDCs, there will often be more Instructors than students on your course. You will not be in a 'dive-factory' stuck in a class with 10-20 other Instructor Candidates with very little individual attention. When you do your IDC with us you get one-on-one attention. You will become part of the TSD family and you can expect to make lifelong friendships.

Employment Assistance for Dive Instructor Jobs

For anyone becoming a PADI Instructor, the idea of finding a diving job after certification is sure to be a daunting prospect. For all PADI IDC Candidates we offer a FREE Dive Instructor Employment Workshop after the IE. This will involve all aspects of job-hunting in the dive industry. We will help you write your resume, advise you on how to find the dive job of your dreams, help you get started on your diving career, how to use the web, pitfalls to avoid etc. As we have many years experience in managing dive shops and employing dive instructors, we will be able to help you with many tips that will help you a) get that critical first response and b) avoid any mistakes that would send your resume straight to the trash.

Work Experience as Diving Instructors

After certification as a PADI Instructor you have the option to carry on at TSD and team teach with our experienced instructors. The PADI IDC gives you the tools to teach, but you still have no experience actually teaching. Team teaching takes a lot of the stress out of your first certifications and also gives you some experience to put on your resume. You can do this as a stand alone 'Learn to Teach' program or as part of our PADI MSDT program.

Quality of your Dive Education

TSD is one of the top PADI Dive Centers in the Philippines and a PADI 5 Star IDC Center. The awards that we receive each year under strong competition are a testament to that. TSD's motto in everything we do has always been quality (and safety) above everything else - your IDC will be no different.

Fabulous Diving!!!

In the midst of worrying about becoming an instructor, don't forget the reason that most of us got into diving in the first place - the fact that diving is incredible! In Malapascua you have some of the top diving in the world. Most of our packages include free fun diving, so take advantage of that. This is the only place in the world you can see thresher sharks every day. Mantas are frequent visitors. With wrecks, walls, reef, macro, muck diving, tec and more, there will be plenty to take your mind off studying if you need a break. Located in the Golden Triangle of diving, the huge biodiversity of species in Malapascua will give you a good foundation of marine life knowledge, particularly if you do a full PADI Dive Instructor internship with us.

PADI Course Directors

Course Director, Mike Ferguson

PADI IDC - Mike's briefing Mike has a wide range of experience teaching in both the cold waters of the UK and in tropical locations. Before coming to Thresher Shark Divers in 2007 he was the Head Instructor and owner of a PADI 5 Star Dive Center in Turkey. He has a wealth of experience and you can learn untold amounts from him. Mike can teach also teach a seemingly endless number of PADI specialty courses.

As well as being our main PADI Course Director, Mike is an EFR Instructor Trainer and can teach many PADI Specialty Instructor Courses.

His involvement will not just start on the first day of your IDC. He will mentor you from your arrival and prepare you to get - not just passing - but exemplary marks on your Instructor Exam.

Mike has won several PADI awards including the PADI Keyman award for the whole of the UK, and a PADI Certificate of Excellence at TSD.

Course Director, John Taylor

John and Mike discussing Open Water presentations

John is a very experienced and dedicated Course Director and will make sure you pass your IE and achieve your goal of becoming a PADI Instructor.

John, originally from the UK, has successfully run IDCs in England, the United States, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. He worked for many years with a busy PADI CDC (Career Development Center) in Thailand, turning out a great deal of very successful instructors, including several who have worked at TSD.

As well as a PADI Course Director he is also an Instructor Trainer for EFR, many PADI Specialty courses, DSAT TecRec and Trimix, Rebreather and DAN. Please contact us if you are interested in any of these add-ons.

PADI IDC Staff Instructors

Dino (Josh) Dean

Dino is a PADI Master Instructor and has been managing resorts & hotels in South East Asia since 1992. He is TSD's Operation's Manager and logistics coordinator for all intern and IDC candidates. In addition to helping on IDCs, he will be a valuable resource for job searching after you are certified due to his extensive experience in dive resort management.

Richard Reardon

Like Mike, Rich has been a dedicated PADI Master Instructor for many years. He still teaches all levels of courses, but loves being involved in Professional level courses so much so that he is planning on applying to be a Course Director in 2011. He has worked in Egypt and all over the Asia Pacific Region including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines and Palau.

Andrea Agarwal

Andrea will probably be your first contact when you e-mail us about IDC programs. Before you arrive, she will help you with program options and logistics to build the program that is best for you.

Andrea is a PADI Master Instructor and over her many years in diving has taught in three continents, including 7 years on Malapascua. As well as assisting you before and during your stay, she may be on staff during your IDC. Andrea is also an EFR Instructor Trainer.

Trevor Holmes

Trevor is co-owner of Thresher Shark Divers with Andrea, and for those of you that want to try out technical diving, he is our resident Tec Guru. So if you want another challenge after your IDC, Trevor is your man!

Find out more about the staff of Thresher Shark Divers