PADI Dive Instructor IDC Pattaya Thailand
Go Pro and live the dream
PADI Dive Instructor IDC Pattaya Thailand held by Real Divers is the final stage of your training to become a PADI Dive Instructor, IDC stands for Instructor Development Course. This course prepares you for the PADI Instructor Exams held directly after the IDC with a PADI examiner in Pattaya. It also will help you with your career and how to get a job in scuba diving.
Why do your Instructor course with us?
Our PADI Course Director and PADI IDC Staff Instructors have been teaching IDC’s for over 15 years and we have a 100% pass rate. We have the been teaching PADI courses for over 20 years where we have taught thousands of divers to be either divers or professionals.
We run our IDC with PADI elearning included in our price which means you can complete a lot of the IDC sections on-line in your own time before you turn up. This cuts the duration of an IDC/IE from the usual 2 to 3 weeks in Thailand down to 12 days and because of this it will save you money because you don’t have the extra living expenses, hotels, food, drink etc
We also offer optional accommodation on the IDC plus packages for dives if needed, which we adjust the price accordingly. Let us know whether you need accommodation and we will help you find the right place for your budget.
In Thailand and most places around the World, an Instructor Development Course has a 3-day preparation course followed by a 14-day program broken down into three sections, the Assistant Instructor (AI) course, and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) course and the PADI Instructor exams (IE).
Although most candidates opt to take the entire IDC/IE in one go it is also possible to do the segments of the instructor course separately, especially if you are pushed for time.
We also run IDC’s for our Bangkok and local divers over a series of weekends because they may not have the time to do a full IDC in a row because of work etc.
Our IDC training: preparation course (2 days) and Instructor Development Course (8 days) once completed you then go onto the PADI Instructor exams (2 days) which are held by a PADI examiner.
PADI Dive Instructor IDC Pattaya Thailand
Unlike some PADI Instructor courses we have you do the preparation course online so you can complete the knowledge at your own pace via PADI eLearning which is included in the course package price. Also in the packages is the PADI theory online where you prepare for your 5 exams Physics, Physiology, Dive Equipment, Dive Skills, and the Environment and Decompression Theory, these exams are also taken on the IDC and PADI IE.
We have been working in the diving industry in Thailand for over 20 years and all our IDC/IE graduates from the Real Divers Instructor program are assisted to find work after the IDC/IE maybe with us or other dive centers we know. We are also a PADI 5 STAR grade 3 IDC center which means we are the highest we can get in the PADI system and PADI helps us also to find you a job after the IE through their online services.
We also offer training such as PADI specialty courses, PADI Master Scuba diving trainer internships and PADI IDC Staff Instructor courses. At Real Divers we believe in our training methods and guarantee every candidate an IDC pass plus our PADI Course Director and IDC staff have a 100% IDC/IE pass rate.
Training Details
The PADI Instructor Development course consists of presentations by the PADI Course Director and PADI IDC Staff Instructors which are given over the course of the IDC. These presentations introduce you to the PADI system of diver training, teach you how to be a dive instructor and examine all components and courses of the PADI structure that you will be able to teach after the IDC/IE.
The PADI Instructor Course will teach you how to use the PADI Standards and teaching tools to maximum effectiveness and will show you how to prepare the presentations for teaching your own students in the
Areas where you are assessed on the IDC include:
Dive Theory Exams
On the PADI IDC you will be required to take exams similar to the Divemaster exams from the categories; Physics, Physiology, Dive Equipment, Dive Skills, and the Environment and Decompression Theory. There is PADI online theory exam preparation that can be obtained before the IDC so you can study the exams before hand.
These exams will need to be passed on the IDC and again on the PADI Instructor Exam so revise them well.
PADI General Standard & Procedure Exam
The PADI Standards exam is an open-book exam that allows you to use both the PADI Instructor Manual and the PADI Guide to Teaching manual to answer the exam questions. The exam is designed to test your ability to understand how to use the PADI Instructor Manual and how you use the General Standards and Procedures. This exam is also replicated on the PADI Instructor Exam. To revise this exam look through the Instructor manual and PADI elearning.
Divemaster Skills Circuit

Just to check that your dive skills are slow enough to be suitable for teaching we run-through of the 24 skill circuit from the PADI Divemaster course. Other skills such as tying knots underwater will be taught on the prep course such as the bowline, double half hitch and sheet bend.
Your dive skills should be Instructor demonstration quality, in that they should be slow, pronounced and easy to mimic as you make the transition from teaching assistant to diving instructor. At Real Divers, we normally hold the skills circuit on the IDC Prep or very early in the IDC to make sure that your skills are up-to-scratch before you commence teaching presentations.
Knowledge Development Teaching Presentations
These presentations are given by you to your classmates and PADI Course Director/IDC Staff Instructors. You will prepare prescriptive and micro-teaching presentations on individual questions from PADI courses (which you will be assigned at the beginning of the IDC). These presentations usually take 5 to 10 minutes and will be graded according to a specific criteria.
Your PADI Course Director and staff will give you positive feedback on them and suggestions for how you can improve them. Remember you can make as many mistakes as you want on the IDC and you usually learn more on this course by making mistakes instaed of getting it right. We are trying to prepare you for the IE so this is a learning environment where you can correct yourself as you go along.
Confined Water Teaching Presentations
A major component of what you will learn on the IDC involves your in-water teaching. During the course you will give confined water (pool) presentations from parts of the PADI Open Water course, Adventures in Diving program and Rescue Diver course.
These presentations will involve real-life teaching to your classmates simulating students and prepare you for teaching presentations on the IE and in your future dive instructional career.
Like the classroom, you will have a number of attempts at giving presentations in the pool so don’t be afraid to make mistakes, relax and give the best presentation you can, the pool sessions are also fun.
Open Water Teaching Presentations
The last thing that you are assessed during the PADI IDC is the ability to teach in the open water. After some demonstrations of ideal teaching from the staff we will go out to the ocean on the IDC and you will give presentations where you will teach your classmates simulating students on the PADI Open Water course, Advanced course and Rescue Diver course.
The presentations will be graded and critical feedback on control, problem-solving and positioning will be given by your Course Director/IDC Staff. Again remember this is not the PADI Instructor Exam so feel free to make mistakes which you will learn from.
You will also need to give a demonstration quality teaching of Rescue Exercise 7 “Unresponsive Diver at the Surface.” which we go over on the prep course and again on the IDC.
While this might seem like a lot to take in during the short IDC we assure you that it is a fun and rewarding program which prepares you properly to go on to a PADI Instructor Exam with confidence and eventually give you the license to work in all sorts of tropical dream destinations.
PADI Dive Instructor IDC Pattaya Thailand
Prepare for the IDC
Requirements
• Be at least a renewed PADI Divemaster or equivalent rating
• A current Dive Medical (past 1 year)
• EFR trained or another medical agency in the past 2 years plus EFR Instructor.
• Appropriate visa to last the duration of the entire program
• Have been a certified diver for at least 6 months and logged at least 100 dives.
What is the best way to prepare for an IDC
• Check that you have all of your certification details. Bring all of your certification cards with you to the IDC. If you do not have all of your certification cards then contact PADI to confirm certification numbers and details.
If you have any certifications from organizations other than PADI then please photocopy both sides of the certification cards and bring the cards with you as PADI will need these copies to verify your existing credentials.
• Make sure that you have a visa to be in Thailand for the duration of your IDC.
• Make sure you have and get acquainted with the required materials such as the Instructor Manual and teaching slates. This will be helpful to you in preparing for your teaching presentations and the Standards Exams.
• Complete PADI eLearning online and give yourself enough time to do this before the IDC starts.
• Study and complete the Dive knowledge Theory online – Physics, Physiology, Dive equipment, Skills & environment, RDP and deco theory and again give yourself plenty of study time as you will do these exams both on the IDC and IE.
• Make sure that your gear is in working order with regulators serviced, SPGs working, compasses functional, etc and that you have all of the required equipment.
• If you can practice your 24 skill circuit from the DIvemaster course to get your skills better and towards Instructor demonstration quality.
• GAIN EXPERIENCE. Try and work as much as you can as a Divemaster assisting PADI Instructors to teach courses. We can provide and help you with this option but it does mean turning up to the dive center a couple of weeks before.
Required Scuba Gear
- BCD
- Regulator with Alternate Air Source and Submersible Pressure Gauge
- Mask & snorkel
- Fins
- Appropriate exposure suit
- Cutting Tool
- Whistle
- Compass
- Depth Gauge
- Timing Device
- SMB
Recommended Scuba Gear
- Pocket Mask (You will need this for Rescue Exercise #7 and to teach the PADI Rescue course)
- John line
- Lift Bag
- Measuring Tape
- Length of Rope (For a demonstration of knot tying)
PADI Dive Instructor IDC Pattaya Thailand
Pattaya IDC Schedule 2023
IDC PREP | EFRI | IDC | PADI INSTRUCTOR EXAMS |
4 – 5 Jan | 6 – 7 Jan | 8 – 15 Jan | 16 – 17 Jan – Pattaya |
2 – 3 Mar | 4 – 5 Mar | 6 – 13 Mar | 14 – 15 Mar – Pattaya |
1 – 2 Jun | 3 – 4 Jun | 5 – 12 Jun | 13 – 14 Jun – Pattaya |
31 Aug – 1 Sept | 2 – 3 Sept | 4 – 11 Sept | 12 – 13 Sept – Pattaya |
Because of Covid 19 PADI has fewer Instructor Exams this year but they have said if we have (2 to 3 candidates) they will put a PADI Instructors exams on the dates we need.
Another option we have is to take our candidates to the Bangkok PADI Instructor exams (Bangkok is about an hour 30 minutes from Pattaya) The ocean skills for the Bangkok PADI Instructor exams is completed in Pattaya as Bangkok doesn’t have an ocean. Only the class and swimming pool skills for the PADI IE are completed in Bangkok.
Bangkok IDC Schedule 2023
IDC PREP | EFRI | IDC | PADI INSTRUCTOR EXAMS |
15 – 16 Feb | 17 – 18 Feb | 19 -26 Feb | 27 – 28 Feb – Bangkok |
15 – 16 Mar | 17 – 18 Mar | 19 – 26 Mar | 27 – 28 Mar – Bangkok |
17 – 18 May | 19 – 20 May | 21- 28 May | 29 – 30 May – Bangkok |
19 -20 Jul | 21 -22 Jul | 23 – 30 Jul | 31st Jul – 1st Aug – Bangkok |
16 -17 Aug | 18 -19 Aug | 20 – 27 Aug | 28 – 29 Aug – Bangkok |
15 – 16 Nov | 17 -18 Nov | 19- 26 Nov | 27 – 28 Nov – Bangkok |
The IDC prep is optional but we do go over the dive skills to Instructor demonstration quality and the 5 Instructor exams so it is strongly advised.
We can run the IDC’s etc on any dates but the PADI Instructor exams are set exams dates and can’t be changed.
Prices
PADI Instructor Development Course Price Packages
PADI IDC Silver package – 68,000B |
IDC Preparation course – Instructor exams and Dive Skills |
PADI IDC e-learning plus mandatory PADI Instructor materials & PADI Theory online (exams) |
PADI Instructor development course |
IE Party |
Lunch included |
PADI IDC Gold package – 77,000B |
IDC Preparation course – Instructor exams and Dive Skills |
PADI IDC e-learning plus mandatory PADI Instructor materials & PADI Theory online (exams) |
PADI Instructor development course |
EFR Instructor plus EFRI materials |
IE Party |
Lunch included |
PADI IDC Diamond package – 110,000B |
IDC Preparation course – Instructor exams and Dive Skills |
PADI IDC e-learning plus mandatory PADI Instructor materials |
PADI online Dive theory – self study Instructor exams |
PADI Instructor development course plus 5 Instructor specialties Deep, Navigation, Digital photography, Wreck, Drift. |
EFR Instructor plus EFRI materials |
IE Party |
Lunch included |
We teach in English, Thai and Chinese and also have group discounts.
The IDC Prep course is optional, if you don’t need it get in touch with me for adjusted price. We can also recommend accommodation close to the dive center, get in touch for details.
What is Included in the IDC packages
PRICES INCLUDE: ALL PADI IDC MATERIALS, PADI IDC ELEARNING, EFRI MATERIALS.
What Are the Fees to PADI for PADI Instructor examination and application fees (prices in Aussie $)
-
- PADI IDC Application Aussie $312
- PADI Instructor Exams Aussie $1055
- EFRI Application Aussie $215
TO BOOK YOUR COURSE
EMAIL: realdiverspattayathailand@gmail.com
PHONE: Dive Shop – 038-232-476
Neil – 087-602-1411
Kat – 093-594-9191