Become a PADI Scuba Instructor
on Koh Tao at
Turn your passion into a career at our award-winning PADI Career Development Centre (CDC). Join our Platinum Course Directors for the most comprehensive Instructor Development Course in Thailand.
Who can join the PADI IDC?
- Be a certified PADI Divemaster (or equivalent).
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have 100 logged dives to attend the Instructor Exam (IE).
- Be a certified diver for at least 6 months.
- Have a valid Medical Statement signed by a physician within 12 months.
What’s Included in the Program?
- 14-Day Comprehensive IDC: Covering Knowledge Development, Confined Water, and Open Water teaching presentations.
- EFRI Course: Emergency First Response Instructor training (required for OWSI).
- Unique Workshops: Marine conservation, dive shop logistics, and CV building.
The Path to Instructor:
- Step 1: IDC Prep (2 Days) – Dust off the physics and physiology.
- Step 2: The IDC (14 Days) – Master the PADI System of education.
- Step 3: The IE (2 Days) – The PADI Instructor Exam (conducted by PADI Examiners).
Course Packages
IDC Standard
42,000 THB
This Package includes:
- PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
- EFR Primary & Secondary Care Instructor course with EFR Care For Children and AED Instructor
- PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor course
- PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver Instructor course
- PADI Open Water Diver course assist following the IE
- 16 Days free accommodation
- Conservation Dive
- Master Divers T-Shirt
- 15% Discount on all equipment purchases
IDC + MSDT Prep
54,000 THB
This Package includes:
- PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
- EFR Primary & Secondary Care Instructor course with EFR Care For Children and AED Instructor
- PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor course
- PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver Instructor course
- PADI Open Water Diver course assist following the IE
- 16 Days free accommodation
- MSDT Prep Training on 3 Speciality instructor ratings.
- Conservation Dive
- Master Divers T-Shirt
- 15% Discount on all equipment purchases
Important Details
All IDC candidates must have the required materials for the course:
- IDC Digital CrewPack
- IDC Slates
- EFR Instructor CrewPack
- Total Cost THB 27,000
PADI 2026 Fees (inc GST) payable directly to PADI in Australian Dollars:
- IDC Application Fee AU$ 385
- Instructor Examination Fee AU$ 1,190
- EFR Instructor Application Fee AU$ 277
- + Instructor Specialty Application Fee AU$ 159 (if applicable)
- Free MSDT Application within first year as an instructor
All Candidates are required by PADI standards to have their own personal safety equipment: dive computer, compass, cutting device, SMB and reel and CPR pocket mask.
All Professional level courses require a Completed diver medical form signed by a dive physician.
Instructor development course dates 2026
| January | February | March | April | May | June |
| 7th–22nd | 4th–19th | 4th–19th | TBD | 6th–21st | 9th–24th |
| July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 7th–22nd | 4th–19th | 8th–23rd | 6th–21st | 10th–25th | 1st–16th |
OWSI Program Performance Requirements
Note: Curriculum components for customized programs for PADI Instructors to regain Teaching status may vary from the following. Complete IDC curriculum components and direct candidates to complete IDC eLearning sections as prescribed by your PADI Regional Headquarters.
1. Complete the following PADI IDC eLearning curriculum components:
- 1 – Getting Started
- 2 – Dive Theory for Dive Leaders
- 3 – PADI System Overview
- 4 – Learning, Instruction and the PADI System
- 5 – Discover Scuba Diving and Experience Programs
- 6 – The PADI Open Water Diver Course
- 7 – Risk Management and Legal Considerations
- 8 – Managing Risk
- 9 – PADI Quality Management and Licensing
- Course Director Manual 41
- 13 – Open Water Training
- 14 – Continuing Education and Leadership Courses
- 15 – Business of Diving
- 16 – How to Teach the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) – required for crossover candidates; optional for PADI Members
2. Participate in the following IDC curriculum components:
- Orientation
- Dive Theory Workshop
- PADI System Workshop
- Discover Scuba Diving Workshop
- Open Water Dive Course Scheduling and Set Up Workshop
- Knowledge Development Presentation Workshop and Candidate Knowledge Development Presentations
- Skill Development Workshop
- Confined Water Training Workshop and Candidate Confined Water Teaching Presentations
- Open Water Training Workshop and Candidate Open Water Teaching Presentations
- Continuing Education Workshop
- Advanced Open Water Diver Course Workshop
- Rescue Diver Course Workshop
- Sales Techniques Workshop
- Course Close
IDC 14-Day Schedule
Please note: This schedule is an example and changes can be made.
| Day | In Classroom | In Water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation PADI Systems |
Skill Circuit 400 metre Swim 15 min Float Rescue #7 W/S |
| 2 | Learning & Teaching Classroom Theory Exam #1 Theory Review Confined Water Training Confined Water Teaching Presentation – Dry |
None |
| 3 | Standards Exam #1 Knowledge Development Presentations |
Confined Teaching Presentations 1 & 2 Rescue Workshop Rescue #7 Practise |
| 4 | Standards Exam Review Knowledge Development Presentation #1 Open Water Training |
Confined Teaching Presentations 3, 4 Rescue #7 Practise |
| 5 | Open Water Scheduling Open Water Teaching Presentation - Dry Knowledge Development #2 |
Open Water Teaching Presentation 1 & 2 Rescue #7 Practise |
| 6 | Continuing Education CESA, 5 Point Descent, Navigation & Knots Workshop |
Open Water Teaching Presentation 3 & 4 Rescue #7 Practise DSD Open Water Workshop |
| 7 | None | Advanced Open Water Workshop Rescue Scenario |
| 8 | EFR Instructor | EFR Instructor |
| 9 | Risk Management Knowledge Development #3 |
Confined Teaching Presentations 5, 6, 7 & 8 |
| 10 | Standards Exam #2 Discover Scuba Diving |
Open Water Teaching Presentations 5 & 6, 7 & 8 |
| 11 | Standards Exam Review Classroom Theory Exam #2 Theory Exam Review Knowledge Development #4 Sales Techniques |
None |
| 12 | Mock IE | Mock IE |
| 13 | Mock IE | Mock IE |
| 14 | Remediation & Course Close | Remediation |
| 15 | IE | IE |
| 16 | IE | IE |
Life on Koh Tao
Getting Here from Bangkok
- Fastest: Fly from Bangkok (BKK/DMK) to Koh Samui (USM), then take a high-speed Lomprayah catamaran to Koh Tao.
- Budget: Overnight VIP bus from Khao San Road direct to Chumphon, followed by a morning ferry.
- Scenic: Overnight sleeper train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central to Chumphon, linking up with the morning ferry.
Getting Here from Phuket
- Air: Direct flight from Phuket (HKT) to Koh Samui (USM), then hop on the ferry.
- Land: Bus or minivan from Phuket across to Surat Thani, then connect with a ferry to Koh Tao.
Monthly Costs & Living
Koh Tao offers a high quality of life at an affordable price. Depending on your lifestyle, eating habits, and socializing, general monthly costs average between 15,000 to 30,000 THB.
Scooter Rental
Renting a motor scooter is the most popular way to get around. Monthly rentals typically range from 3,000 to 5,000 THB.
Please always wear a helmet and drive carefully on the steep island roads!
Housing Resources
If you prefer living off-site or want to explore private rentals, these local Facebook groups are highly recommended: