As I reflect on the past 20 years as a PADI Course Director, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. From the first moment I stood in front of my very first PADI IDC Class in August 2004, I cherished the opportunities to guide hundreds of aspiring PADI Instructor candidates through the intricacies of becoming Dive Leaders. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
The most rewarding aspect of my career is seeing my former Instructor Candidates becoming colleagues, striving and making positive impacts in the Dive Industry. As a PADI Course Director & Instructor Trainer, I’ve had the honour of mentoring many fantastic individuals, helping them transform their passion for diving into a professional pursuit. Watching my candidates grow into confident and competent instructors, capable of inspiring the next generation of divers, has been immensely fulfilling.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to announce three PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC) will be scheduled at Scuba Junkie's Mabul Beach Resort for February, May and November. A multi-Awarded Resort and Dive Center, Scuba Junkie is one of Southeast Asia premier PADI 5 Star Facilities, and the PADI IDC Program will continue with me, a 20 years experienced and multi-Awarded PADI Course Director (Thien X. Do, CD-469459).
The dive center at Mabul Beach Resort is designed by divers for divers. Our 2025 PADI IDC curriculum is equipping the next generation of PADI instructors with more real life skills, knowledge and adaptable teaching techniques to accommodate divers from all cultures to succeed in learning to scuba dive. The programs will be more comprehensive and efficient than ever, incorporating the latest advancements in diving education and instructional techniques to ensure all candidates are competent and confident to conduct their first PADI courses successfully.
Why Choose Our PADI IDC and Instructor Training Program?
Choosing the right instructor training program is a crucial and impactful decision for any aspiring scuba professional. It sets the foundation for your career and influences your future success in the diving industry.
Here’s why our program stands out:
Experienced PADI Course Director & supporting Pro Team of Instructors: With 20 years of instructor training experience, candidates will gain a wealth of knowledge and expertise from us. Our supporting team of PADI Staff Instructors also includes some of the most experienced and respected professionals in the industry.
Eco Friendly 5 Star Facilities: Scuba Junkie Dive Centre is among the best in Malaysia, with spacious seminar room for class presentations, FREE wifi access, hundreds of cylinders, dive equipment and "the cleanest" air & nitrox filling station in Asia. This ensures that our instructor candidates have access to the best resources available.
Regional Network: Did you know that Scuba Junkie has 5 dive centres and a Five-Star Liveaboard yacht in Southeast Asia? This network provides our PADI IDC candidates with valuable opportunities for employment, career advancement, collaboration, and continued learning.
Proven Track Record: Our program has a proven track record of success. Most of our graduates have gone on to successful careers as scuba instructors, dive centre managers, and marine conservationists.
Why wait? Reach out to Scuba Junkie now for more details on the upcoming Instructor Development Courses!
Post written by Thien X. Do PADI Course Director
As scuba divers, we all know the feeling of descending into the underwater world and realizing that verbal communication is no longer possible. The good news is that hand signals allow divers to communicate efficiently during dives. Mastering them is one of the first skills student divers learn. Knowing these gestures thoroughly before submerging is crucial for safe and enjoyable dives.
Hand signals are an essential skill that every diver must master before entering the water. They allow you to convey messages to your buddy when voice communication isn't possible, transcending language barriers and allowing divers from all over the world to understand each other. Learning them thoroughly ahead of time prevents confusion and dangerous situations underwater when you need to communicate quickly and effectively. Mastering them ensures you and your buddy have a shared understanding, even if you've never dived together before.
When executing hand signals underwater, keep these do's and don'ts in mind:
Becoming an expert in scuba hand signals doesn't happen overnight - it takes time and dedication to commit these gestures to memory. But practicing can be fun! Grab your buddy on dry land and quiz each other on key signs. Repetition helps build the muscle memory you need to flash signs smoothly once you're 20 meters underwater. Make a game out of testing yourselves so you're ready to chat easily during your dives. Before you know it, you'll be a pro!
Once you've memorized basic recreational scuba hand signals, it's time to put your skills into practice! Enroll in a PADI Open Water diver certification course from a trusted dive operator. Instructors will thoroughly review hand signals and even teach you new specialty gestures. With quality training from skilled professionals, you'll be mastering hand signals and exploring the underwater world in no time.
Want to test your hand signal skills? Reply to this article and mimic the following signals using emoji:
How did you do? Practicing hand signals like this ensures you'll be prepared to communicate underwater. Safe and fun dives ahead!
PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience. Join Cintia on her journey from beginner to Scuba Instructor.
I'm a girl from the countryside in Argentina, raised surrounded by cows and living 800km from the nearest beach, the ocean was something very scary. At the same time, I've always felt fascinated by this enormous blue magical mass of water. So when my dad suggested on a family holiday that we could go to the sea and try a Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) I didn't hesitate for one second. So many years have passed since that day but I still remember every moment.
We started very early in the morning, first things first, filling up all the paperwork. Followed by checking the equipment, BCD(buoyancy control device), wetsuit, fins, and mask. Once everything was set up we had a briefing about the basics we needed to know to go underwater. Breathing and equalization techniques, signals and communication, and the functioning of the equipment.
One by one we started gearing up and going to the swimming pool to perform some skills before the actual dive. I was very nervous, my heart was beating so fast, and my hands were shaking, but I really wanted to do this so off I go to the water. I'm floating at the surface with all the gear on, feeling scared and excited, a rollercoaster of emotions. The instructor starts deflating my BCD and little by little I started sinking.
My first breath underwater. I almost cry, not only was I excited but also so proud of me for being able to do something so challenging! There I am performing the skills needed, with total ease, to go later to the ocean. The first test passed, time for the real thing.
So out of the swimming pool and short walk to the beach, where the boat was waiting for us. Coming closer to the dream that it's kind of becoming a nightmare, the stress starts rising. The boat was not a problem but I'm more of a river person, and the ocean truly scared me.
After ten minutes we arrived to the dive spot I jumped into the water, I'm in front of my instructor, and we are starting to descend, second breath underwater? I don't think so! I panicked completely, was I going to give up? Definitely not. So I go for a second time and guess what? this time I succeeded! And it was the most wonderful experience, so amazing that I made this my profession. That day, at sixteen years old I decided that one day I was going to become a professional diver.
Ten years later, few more DSD, and many certifications my teenage dream became true, another five years have to pass to find myself working in one of the top ten diving places in the world, Sipadan, in the company that today I call home Scuba Junkie.
Today it's me who takes people for their first breath underwater and what better place to do it than at Scuba Junkie Sipadan. Here on a Discovery Scuba Dive (DSD), you can get an introduction to this wonderful blue world, you can choose to take two or even three dives and appreciate a variety of marine life that I haven't seen in my seven years of diving, just outside of our jetty (and I've been diving in all the continents). Turtles are almost guaranteed in all our dives, with no need of taking a boat and the corals are still healthy in this isolated part of the world. The water is warm and clear, perfect to make bubbles all year round.
After your first breath underwater I can promise you will get addicted to it, and the good news is, we are here to fuel your addiction.
