IDC Course Director and Staff

Experience. One of the advantages of doing your IDC at Thresher Shark Divers is the wide and varied experience of our staff. Between us we have a vast range of experience and have taught all around the world - 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. See below for staff profiles.

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 IDC. With several staff members helping on the IDCs, there will often be more Instructors than Students on your course. In some 'dive-factory' locations you will be 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 anyone becoming an instructor, the idea of finding a job after certification is sure to be a daunting prospect. For all IDC Candidates we offer a FREE 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 job of your dreams, help you get started on your job hunt, how to use the web, pitfalls to avoid etc. As we have many years experience in managing shops and employing 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. After certification you have the option to carry on at TSD and team teach with our experienced instructors. The 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 program or as part of our MSDT program.

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, 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 internship with us.

Course Directors

John Taylor

John and Mike discussing Open Water presentations

We are very pleased to have John Taylor as Thresher Shark Diver's Course Director. John is a very experienced and dedicated course director and will make sure you pass your IE and achieve your goal of becoming an 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.

Mike Ferguson

Mike is currently a PADI Master Instructor and 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 23 PADI specialty courses (probably more by now!). Since his arrival has always been very involved with all our Instructor Development courses and has worked side by side with John on each IDC. Aside from that he has mentored every IDC candidate prior to the start of the IDC and prepared them to get - not just passing but exemplary marks in their IE skills.

We are delighted to announce that after a rigorous application procedure and much nail-biting, Mike has been personally chosen by top PADI staff to be one of only 70 candidates worldwide to become a PADI Course Director in 2010. In March he will be attending the very first Course Director Training Course in which PADI will be teaching their new revised IDC program. As such he will be in an ideal position to guide you through your IDC as Course Director and almost an 'inside scoop' on the new program and how best to succeed! With the new IDC curriculum, Mike will be your ideal Course Director.

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.

IDC Staff Instructors

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 has been a PADI Instructor for many years and has taught diving in three continents. She 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. As well as assisting you before and during your stay, she will be on staff during your IDC.

Dino (Josh) Dean

Dino is a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and has been teaching diving in South East Asia since 1991. He is TSD's Operation's Manger 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.

Find out more about the staff of Thresher Shark Divers