Our High-Quality PADI Instructor Development Course runs monthly and includes:
✔ Language Support in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch
✔ Most experienced team in the region
✔ Hyperbaric Chamber orientation
✔ Job Placement Assistance
✔ Extended Duration of 16 days
✔ Small group sizes
The complete course costs $2099 USD (plus $1288 USD PADI fees)
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PADI IDC
Instructor Development Course
START A PADI SCUBA INSTRUCTOR CAREER
Platinum Trainers
Three Award wnning PADI Platinum Course Directors
Job Placement
80% of graduates are employed within two months
Unlimited Diving
Free unlimited diving with professional courses
MES | IDC | IE | MSDT | IDC STAFF INST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2027 | Nov 29 - Dec 12 | 13 - 15 | 17 - 21 | Nov 28 - Dec 12 |
November 2027 | 1 - 14 | 15 - 17 | 19 - 23 | 1 - 15 |
October 2027 | 4 - 17 | 18 - 20 | 22 - 26 | 3 - 17 |
September 2027 | Aug 30 - Sept 12 | 13 - 15 | 17 - 21 | Aug 29 - Sept 12 |
August 2027 | 2 - 15 | 16 - 18 | 19 - 23 | 1 - 15 |
July 2027 | 5 - 18 | 19 - 21 | 23 - 27 | 4 - 18 |
June 2027 | May 31 - Jun 13 | 14 - 16 | 18 - 22 | May 30 - June 13 |
May 2027 | 3 - 16 | 17 - 19 | 21 - 25 | 2 - 16 |
April 2027 | 5 - 18 | 19 - 21 | 23 - 27 | 4 - 18 |
March 2027 | 1 - 14 | 15 - 17 | 19 - 23 | 1 - 15 |
February 2027 | 1 - 14 | 15 - 17 | 19 - 23 | 1 - 15 |
January 2027 | 4 - 17 | 18 - 20 | 22 - 26 | 3 - 17 |
Pick a date
Book a spot
Start e-learning today
Why should I do my IDC in Utila with COLLEGE OF DIVING?
We are a PADI 5 Star Career Development Center, a recognition awarded to dive centers that meet the highest standards in professional diver training. This is especially reflected in our PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC), which goes far beyond the standard curriculum to fully prepare you for a successful diving career.
What you get during your IDC in Utila:
Alongside the official PADI IDC program, you benefit from:
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Immediate access to IDC eLearning upon registration
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A free IDC preparation course before your program begins
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Free diving for life (conditions apply)
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Dedicated career support, CV building, and job placement assistance for life
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Lifelong discounts on dive travel, equipment, and training
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Training at a PADI 5 Star Career Development Center with 25+ years of experience
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A PADI TecRec Center, including access to the region’s only Tec and Trimix Instructor Trainers
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An on-site NGO Marine Research Center
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Guidance from three multi-award-winning PADI Platinum Course Directors
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One of the most experienced IDC Staff teams in the Caribbean
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Multilingual support (English, Spanish, French, German, and Dutch)
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Access to the only hyperbaric chamber in the region
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Included Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor training
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Optional full-face mask, sidemount, and technical dive try-dives
Modern training with full support
We integrate all of PADI’s latest digital learning tools into our IDC and supplement them with our own professionally developed training materials. These include:
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Demonstration dive videos
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Dive theory study guides
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Presentation examples
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CV and job application templates
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Skills training breakdowns
All materials are designed in-house and accessible on phone, tablet, and laptop at no additional cost.
Built to prepare you for the real diving industry
Your training in Utila combines classroom sessions, confined water training, boat and shore diving, and personalized career mentoring. The goal is not just to help you pass the Instructor Examination, but to ensure you are fully prepared to work confidently in the real diving industry worldwide.
Train with proven Course Directors
Our three PADI Course Directors are all PADI Platinum Course Director award recipients, recognizing consistent excellence in instructor-level training. This means you will be trained by professionals who are actively shaping the next generation of dive instructors at the highest level.
Be cautious of claims made by other dive centers. If you are comparing options, always verify credentials directly and speak with the actual course team before committing. If you want to discuss your IDC plans, contact us directly, our team will personally guide you through your options and help you decide if Utila is the right fit for your instructor training.
80% of our graduates are employed within two months after graduating
MEET YOUR TRAINERS
Nick Derutter
PADI Platinum Course Director
Trimix Instructor Trainer
Nick runs PADI Instructor courses regularly, as well as Technical Diving Instructor courses. In the meantime he is also on stand-by as an operator for the local Hyperbaric Chamber. Because it's important to be well-rounded and to dive for fun, Nick also organizes dive travel with our alumni and is a professional underwater filmmaker. He is also a SCUBAPRO Ambassador.
Nick worte the book "Career in SCUBA" which is available right here.
Claudia Friederici
PADI Platinum Course Director
Claudia was born and grew up in Spain, where she first got into SCUBA. She is fluent in Spanish and English and has worked throughout the Caribbean since 2018.
At the College of Diving she is the Shop Manager, Director of training and leads several of our world-class IDCs
Her background is in Marine Conservation which is reflected in her approach to teaching and emphasis on mindfulness and marine education.
Stephen Aynsley
PADI Platinum Course Director
Stephen got into SCUBA Instruction after serving his country in the Royal Marines. He has dived the seas of Barbados, Cayman Islands, Cyprus and England and decided to pass on his knowledge of diving instruction through the College of Diving.
His graduates love his relentless dedication and with his 100% pass rate, we’re very proud to have him on the team!
YOUR IDC AT COLLEGE OF DIVING IN UTILA – CAREERS IN SCUBA START HERE
Start your career as a SCUBA instructor under the guidance of experienced instructors and our two PADI Platinum rated Course Directors. No other dive center in the region packs this much in-house experience and recognition.
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PADI Five Start Career Development Center award
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Awarded the PADI ECO CENTER Award for efforts in conservation
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100% AWARE Dive Center
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The only DAN (Divers Alert Network) medical facilty
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Offering scholarschips for underprivileged local youth
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Only TecRec awarded center who can offer Technical Diving Instructor Training courses
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Preferred partner of the Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center NGO
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Multiple time Gold Palm Resort winner
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Authorized ScubaPro, Aqualung and OTS service center
The College of Diving is the defining Professional SCUBA facility . This includes a high-end designated conference room for IDCs. In addition we host the only hyperbaric chamber and trauma center on the island and we have large and comfortable dive boats. On top of that, we host an on-site NGO Marine research center (www.wsorc.org) and well-maintained equipment. additionally, we also have a great team of experienced dive professionals that you will be mingling with and observe in action. Moreover, all our staff has been trained in-house and hired from within!
Bay Islands College of Diving has over 30 years of experience with Instructor Development and has trained thousands of Professional divers who now enjoy successful careers all over the world in dive centers, resorts, liveaboards etc. Having done your training with us, will tell potential employers that you mean business! The College of Diving also holds the prestigious PADI Five Star Career Development Center rating. This is awarded only to those dive centers who truly engage in professional training of dive instructors and beyond.
Besides, next to recognition for excellence and exceeding expectations for many consecutive years, we are also Utila’s first 1PADI ECO Center and won the PADI Green Star award for our environmental practices. We are also affiliated with the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center. Marine Conservation internships are available. We have also engineered our IDC to go above and beyond any other facility in the Americas.
COMPARE | College of Diving | Others |
|---|---|---|
3 Platinum Course Directors | ✅ | ❌ |
IDC support in 6 languages | ✅ | ❌ |
Hyperbaric Chamber | ✅ | ❌ |
PADI ECO center | ✅ | ❌ |
Tec Instructor Trainer Program | ✅ | ❌ |
100% IE pass rate | ✅ | ❌ |