In the Candidates in the Spotlight series, we talk to our IDC candidates about their experiences during and after the IDC.
This time it’s about Manuel from Germany, who completed the PADI IDC with us in 2020 and now runs his own dive center!
-What made you decide to become a diving instructor and why did you choose IDC with Marcel and Asia Scuba Instructors?
As a diver I sometimes didn’t have a buddy to dive with, either no one had time, no desire, or it was too cold, so I had to find a solution, which was to train my own buddies, so I would never have a shortage of diving partners again 🙂
Apart from this reason, there are of course many others. I really enjoy teaching others something that I love doing myself. It’s always nice to see someone who comes to me with concerns or fears and says after the course…. “This is the best thing I’ve ever done!”.
Why did I do my IDC with Marcel? I did the Rescue River and Divemaster in Germany together with a friend, so the question arose where to go if you want to become a diving instructor. We both knew that we wanted to do our IDC abroad and in warm water.
Marcel was recommended to us and we have never regretted it!
Of course, we compared several IDC centers on Google, but we found that Marcel was the best choice. I thought his clear homepage with all the prices displayed was really great, no nasty surprises or additional costs.
Unfortunately, there are different price structures on the highly competitive market, so transparency was very important to me.
Communication with Marcel was excellent right from the start, which is of course also an important point. Questions were answered competently and quickly, or we simply spoke on the phone.
-How was your IDC experience? Was it what you expected? What was the most important thing you learned?
Wow the IDC, what a wonderful memory!
Thanks to the information I received beforehand and good communication with Marcel, I knew roughly what to expect.
The IDC itself was challenging, of course, because you learn a lot about how to teach diving to others. It all depends on your own preparation and attitude. If you want to become a diving instructor, you shouldn’t start learning at the IDC, you should have already mastered the theory and practice beforehand, then you’ll only have to polish it at the IDC.
The most important thing about the IDC and the PADI teaching system for me is the clear structure. You learn exactly how to prepare a lesson, give a lecture and react to problems in the water. You have to stay true to yourself, but the guidelines help you to implement them.
-How was the instructor exam? Was it fun or stressful?
We were very well prepared for the IE during the IDC, so there were no surprises during the exam.
Of course, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but for me that’s part of the exam. You’ve already invested a lot of time and effort before and during the IDC, so you’re allowed to be a little nervous.
-How did it come about that you founded your own diving center?
As a freelancer, I didn’t have as many courses as I would have liked at the beginning, so I had the plan to start my own diving school and do some things differently that I didn’t like so much before.
As luck would have it, I was able to take over the diving school where my wife and I had learned to dive. Since then, the Blue Water diving school has been our passion in our free time. (www.tauchschule-blue-water.de)
I have never regretted this decision. In 2023, we expanded by taking over another diving school in Hanover.
-Working in your own dive center sounds like a dream! What do you like best about this experience? And what are the challenges?
Having your own diving school makes it easier to realize your own wishes and ideas without losing sight of the standards.
In the meantime, the team has grown, with 6 diving instructors and 6 divemasters, as well as a team for the administration, which is quite good for a hobby! This also shows the advantage of having your own diving school. I trained all the divemasters myself and two of our instructors have progressed from trial diver to diving instructor with us.
As all team members and I train in our spare time, managing capacity is the biggest challenge. I’m happy to have such a great team who share their passion with others in their free time. As a diving school in Germany, there is always the challenge of getting enough pool time if you don’t have your own pool.
-Do you have any advice for divers thinking about doing the IDC? Can you make a good income as a dive instructor? Or is it more about the lifestyle?
If I can give one piece of advice along the way, then it is, as so often….. Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing is given to anyone.
You are responsible for how easy or difficult an IDC is, preparation is everything! But if you decide to do it, you won’t regret the experience.
As I run the diving school as a hobby, income is not at the top of my list. My team and I should get something out of it in the end, but the focus is on having fun.
I know many diving instructors who do it full-time and it seems to be worthwhile. There are many opportunities to do something in the diving industry, you just have to do it!
Become a PADI diving instructor
Being a PADI diving instructor is truly the best job out there!
Imagine spending your days teaching others to dive, sharing your love for the underwater world, and seeing their excitement as they master each skill.
Dreaming of becoming a PADI diving instructor? Get in touch, and we’ll show you how!