Frequently used to quickly summarise what recreational diving is – or should be – all about, the terms, “diving is safe, fun and enjoyable” and, “learning to dive is easy”, are without meaning unless supported by a quality system of training.

Diving, of course, should be safe, it should be fun, it should be enjoyable, and it can be, ‘easy to learn’; but only when the methods employed to teach the necessary knowledge and skills are founded on well established, educationally-proven principles that combine emerging technologies with the needs of an increasingly more sophisticated audience of diving participants.  

Taking a lead in the explosive worldwide popularity of recreational diving over the past four decades, PADI revolutionised the way that diving had previously been taught by introducing a competency-based system of training; one that focussed on providing well-researched, educationally valid programmes and courses supported by state-of-the-art teaching materials. 

An inspirational concept that broadened diving’s appeal by making the activity more easily accessible to a wider audience, PADI’s modular system of diver training ushered in a new era of industry growth and prosperity in which dive stores flourished and equipment sales sky-rocketed. 

In an industry that sometimes regards “business” as being a dirty word, this fresh new approach to training transformed the way that diving marketed itself.  No longer an obscure activity taught to a haphazard variety of standards, PADI’s focus on professional teaching methods gave diving fresh credibility as a must-do pursuit and helped pave the way for universally accepted standards of training excellence.

Actively promoting the ease of learning to dive if it’s taught in a proper and appropriate fashion – and setting the benchmark by which all other training organisations have subsequently been judged – the PADI slogan, “The way the world learns to dive” is more than just empty rhetoric.  A major force that directly powers the global diving industry by attracting more new people into diving than all of the other training organisations combined, PADI remains true to its core philosophy of offering quality training programmes that are second to none; a commitment that directly benefits every facet of the diving industry through the creation of an ever-expanding base of diving consumers. 

It’s a success story based on the simple premise of listening to the wants and needs of customers – at both the industry and consumer level – and then delivering products that not only surpass the expectations of both groups, but that are accompanied by a level of support and customer service un-matched by any other training organisation. 

Maintaining its focus as the leading provider of quality educational training programmes and materials courses for divers and diving instructors requires enormous commitment.  Recognising that diving is a constantly evolving activity subject to changing developments in both equipment and techniques, PADI has constantly sought to improve on the way that diving is taught.    

Carefully structured to meet the real-world needs of divers, each programme and course in the PADI system is thoroughly researched before release to guarantee its educational validity: And ensuring that the entire learning process becomes an enjoyable experience, PADI continues to pioneer the use of new, exciting and educationally-proven, multi-media technologies that allow individuals to absorb information at their own pace. 

It’s a system in which the role of the Instructor remains paramount.   Emphasising the importance of instructor development and the need to offer each of its teaching members the very best training; the very best teaching materials; and the very best in administrative and professional support, it’s an area in which PADI excels above all other training organisations. 

Appreciating that the key to diver acquisition and retention depends as much on the quality of teaching as it does on the calibre of the programmes on offer, PADI’s comprehensive Instructor Development programme is only a first step in providing would-be instructors with the necessary knowledge and skills that, in turn, help produce safe, confident and competent divers. 

While standards governing the way that diving should be taught are vital to the success of any training organisation, they are meaningless if there are no procedures in place to ensure their proper implementation.  Ensuring that all of its teaching members receive the level of support that professional educators deserve, PADI not only provides its instructors with regular Training Bulletins and Instructor Development updates but – and unique within the field of diver training organisations – supports their efforts with a Quality Assurance programme that is proactive and remedial, rather than punitive, in its intent. 

“When members demonstrate excellent service and are complimented by their students, they receive recognition for their work.  When members deviate from PADI Standards – most often unintentionally – the Quality Assurance programme acts to get them back on track and avoid future problems.”   

It’s a system that encourages teaching excellence, creates consumer confidence in the quality of the product, and that - by actively promoting the importance of safe diving practices - offers direct and distinct benefits to dive stores and dive operators by allowing them to quickly check on the capabilities and professional standing of the instructors and dive-masters who work for them. 

Intent on giving its members all of the necessary tools to help their businesses grow and prosper, PADI’s unique Risk Management programme is yet another industry ‘first’.  Provided free of charge to all members, the highly acclaimed Risk Management seminars help promote awareness of those steps that dive operators can take to protect themselves and their customers from possible harm. 

And appreciating the fact that even the most conscientious member may – often through no fault of their own – have to contend with a diving incident, PADI provides legal representation together with an array of professional and counselling services to help protect their interests. 

A forward-thinking organisation without equal in the field of diver training and education, PADI’s influence on recreational diving has been – and continues to be - profound.  Based on a belief that, safe, fun and enjoyable diving experiences have their genesis in the quality of the training programmes and the professionalism of the instructor, PADI’s non-partisan approach to diving education has made it the agency of choice for those dive operators who value their business independence while welcoming the round-the-clock support that only a professional training organisation committed to customer service can deliver. Where quality and safety are concerned, there is no second best!

Thailand
Aquanauts, Pattaya, PADI Career Development Center 

Acknowledging its efforts to become one of Thailand’s leading professional scuba diving training programs, PADI, the Professional Association of Dive Instructors, recently named Pattaya’s Aquanauts Dive Centre a 5 Star Career Development Center. 

The 5-Star CDC rating is the highest award given to PADI Dive Centers around the world. Of the more than 220 PADI dive centers in Thailand, only eight have achieved the CDC rating. In addition, Aquanauts is only one of three CDCs to also hold the prestigious National Geographic Dive Center rating. 

“We are extremely honored that PADI has selected us to become a Career Development Center,” said Aquanauts Managing Director and PADI Platinum Course Director Roger M. Smith. “We have made a concerted effort over the past several years to create the best professional diver training program we could and have invested heavily in training, staff and facilities to do so. We want to thank PADI for acknowledging our efforts and now, with the CDC rating, hope to bring even more people in the dive industry as instructors and divemasters.”

In order to be awarded 5-Star CDC status, a PADI center must first be an Instructor Development Center with 60 or more students who have passed an Instructor Development Course, operate an intensive career development program at least six weeks long, have at least two PADI Course Directors on staff, operate an active job-placement program and continue to certify at least 60 instructors at year.  

In addition, the center must pass the most-stringent inspection and quality requirements of any PADI center, including reviews of classroom, swimming pool and retail areas, rental equipment, advertising, and promotional materials. Finally, the records of all the center’s instructors are reviewed and must be clear of any complaints for more than one year. 

“By awarding Aquanauts 5-Star CDC certification, PADI is really saying we have achieved the best quality and performance rating possible,” said Aquanauts Director Gary Tytler. “We have worked very hard to reach that level and will continue to do so.” 

In line with the CDC requirements, Aquanauts offers comprehensive professional dive training internships for instructors, divemasters and technical divers. The programs run from two to six months and include courses, materials, certification and testing fees, private accommodations, new equipment, job placement, visa assistance and more. The internships are built upon Aquanauts’ unique “Personalized Training System” that ensures one-on-one instruction and small class sizes to ensure each student gets the best dive education possible. 

But the advantages of the 5-Star CDC rating don’t stop with professional dive students. Tourist customers and casual divers also benefit from Aquanauts top-tier facilities and commitment to quality. Whether simply diving for a day or doing a certification course, recreational divers receive the same quality instruction as professional dive students. 

Pay a visit to Aquanauts Dive Center at 437/17 M. 6, Soi Yodsak, Beach Road, Pattaya, Chonburi 20280  Thailand.   www.aquanautsdive.com       

Contact Tel: ++66-(0)38-361-724   Fax: ++66-(0)38-412-097  or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it