What's in the IDC in Komodo

The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is your final step toward becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. It builds on your Divemaster training and prepares you to teach the full range of PADI core courses—from Open Water to Divemaster—anywhere in the world.

If you're a certified Divemaster (or equivalent), have at least 60 logged dives (you'll need 100 before the Instructor Exam), are 18+ years old, and have a current dive medical, you're all set! You'll also need to have completed an EFR (First Aid) course within the past 24 months—but if not, we can easily sort that out for you.

Not quite at 60 dives yet? No stress—you're still welcome to join us early and enjoy free fun diving until you log the dives you need.

Already have the dives? Even better—you'll still get two weeks of free fun diving before the course starts, so you can ease into Labuan Bajo's life, meet the team, and get to know Komodo's underwater playground before the learning kicks off. It's the perfect warm-up.

Our IDC runs over 14 days, giving you plenty of time to absorb everything and feel confident by the time the Instructor Exam rolls around. Here's how it breaks down:

• 2 days of relaxed IDC prep (perfect for brushing up on theory and skills)
• 12 full days of Instructor Development training
• Emergency First Response Instructor course
• 2-day PADI Instructor Exam (IE) hosted onsite

Outside the classroom, you'll still have time for family dinners and Labuan Bajo's social vibes.

A lot! We've built one of the most complete and supportive IDC programs in Indonesia. Here's what you get:

• Your very own Blue Marlin IDC T-shirt to rock with pride
• 2 days of fun diving before the course, based on daily boat availability
• 2 days of IDC prep to refresh your skills and theory
• Job placement assistance through Blue Marlin Dive and Luca's network
• Dedicated IDC classroom with air-con, Wi-Fi, and all the tools you'll need
• Access to the full range of PADI teaching materials
• Shark Awareness and NITROX Specialty included
• Use of onsite diver training pool
• Discounted MSDT Specialty package
• Dedicated pool session for Sidemount and Twinset, with offers on TDI Intro to Tech
• Free lunches every day

Your IDC takes place at Blue Marlin Dive Komodo, a PADI 5-Star Dive Centre right in the heart of one of the world's top diving destinations. Think sloping reefs, sea turtles galore, dramatic walls, sharks, manta rays and stunning coral gardens—ideal for training and pure fun.

We've got an onsite training pool, a fully equipped IDC classroom with air-con and Wi-Fi, and everything you need to learn, practice, and grow as a dive professional.

And beyond the diving? Labuan Bajo is the gateway to the stunning Komodo Archipelago and the wild beauty of Flores — pink sand beaches, rugged islands, lush hills and local culture. It's not just where you train — it's where you discover a whole new world.

The IE is a two-day evaluation run by PADI, where you'll demonstrate what you've learned through:

• Written exams on theory and standards
• A classroom knowledge presentation
• Confined and open water teaching evaluations
• A rescue demonstration

It might sound intense, but you won't be doing it alone. Our Course Director and instructor team will make sure you're fully prepared, confident, and ready to crush it.

If you've got time to brush up on your dive theory—great! Things like physics, physiology, RDP/eRDPml, and dive standards are worth revisiting. But don't stress if it's been a while.

You'll have plenty of time during the course to review anything you've forgotten, with regular practice exams and as much 1-on-1 support as you need. You will receive the eLearning beforehand, and the Course Director will guide you through it.

Absolutely—that's one of the biggest reasons people choose to train with us. We offer ongoing support including:

• CV and job application guidance
• Interview tips and career advice
• Real-world experience through team teaching
• Access to jobs within the Blue Marlin network
• Recommendations and connections worldwide

Definitely. After your IDC, you can level up with our MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) package. You'll need to complete 5 specialty instructor ratings to qualify — do all five with us and one application fee is completely free.

If the season allows, you could complete your MSDT on board our liveaboard, "Ikan Biru" — a unique opportunity to continue training at a special price while unwinding after the IDC and IE.

Because if you're ready to become a dive instructor, there's no better place than Komodo — with breathtaking dive sites, a passionate team, and expert guidance from Course Director Luca, who brings over 10 years of experience and a truly personal approach to your development.

• Tailor made teaching approach
• Global job placement support
• Access to some of the world's most thrilling and diverse dive sites
• A chance to learn, grow, and relax in one of Indonesia's most stunning regions

It's really not a big deal — you don't have to start over. The IE is broken into sections, and if you fail one, you can resit it either the next day or at another PADI IE within 12 months:

• Dive Theory (5 topics): fail up to 2 and resit the next day
• Standards Exam: must pass on the first attempt, otherwise resit at a future IE
• Knowledge Development: second chance the same or next day with a new topic
• Confined Water: second chance with new skills/scenarios during the same IE
• Open Water Presentation: retaken at a future exam

We'll continue to guide, support, and prepare you until you've successfully completed everything.

Drop a text to Course Director Luca and he will share the whole pricing.

The IDC Crewpack — your complete instructor toolkit — includes:

• PADI Instructor Manual (digital)
• EFR Instructor Manual
• Guide to Teaching
• Confined Water slates for Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster
• Open Water slates for all core courses
• Skill evaluation and structuring slates

Sort of! At this level, it's a good idea to have your own gear — but don't worry if you're not there yet. We provide rental gear for the entire duration of your course, and sell equipment onsite (Blue Marlin is the sole CRESSI distributor in Indonesia).

The only items we don't provide, required for the IE: a snorkel, a surface marker buoy (SMB), a cutting tool, and an audible signaling device. All available in our shop.

The IDC is taught primarily in English, the most widely used language in the dive industry. That said, you can request official translations of all PADI materials in your native language, and we can often connect you with a Course Director, Staff Instructor, or Instructor who speaks your language for extra support.

Once you've passed your IDC and the Instructor Exam (IE), you'll officially be a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), able to teach and certify students in Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Divemaster, Discover Scuba Diving, Snorkeling programs, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project AWARE & Coral Reef Conservation specialties, Shark Aware Conservation (included free), and Emergency First Response — plus assist with continuing education and start training toward specialty instructor ratings or MSDT straight away.

Yes — that's one of the biggest advantages of going pro with PADI. PADI is the largest and most widely recognised dive organisation in the world, with over 6,600 dive centers and resorts across 180+ countries. Your certification is valid globally, from Indonesia to the Bahamas, Egypt to the Galápagos or Europe.