Instructor Development Course & IE -- August 2007

Aquanauts' August 2007 marked a memorable first for our instructor training program: It was the first Instructor Development Course with more female candidates (3) than male interns (1). The result was certainly not a first, however: as Laura Meckle, Megan Smith and Simon & Sally Rathbone passed their IDCs and PADI Instructor Exams, giving Aquanauts yet another in a long string of perfect IEs and a 97% pass rate for 2007.

This IE also marked a milestone for new instructor Smith, who was the first woman to take Aquanauts' full six-month "zero to hero." program. After watching a number of interns arrive after her and finish before her, to finally get her shot at the IE was great, she said. And she showed how ready she was, blowing away the record to the PADI Standards exam, which she (and Sally Rathbone) finished in just nine minutes -- 81 minutes early!

"What was striking is how easy the instructor exam was compared with the IDC," said Simon Rathbone, who pulled three perfect 5.0 scores during the three-day test.

Bur perhaps the most heart-warming part of the IDC and IE was the performance turned in by Meckle, the subject of an Aquanauts Diving Life Chronicle blog post in April. Overcoming a number of obstacles, the plucky little Canadian worked harder than perhaps any Aquanauts intern ever, earning her the respect and admiration of all who met her. Just a month after not completing her first IDC, Meckle wowed everyone turning in exemplary scores in both academics and in the water.

In short, the August 2007 class was a great one and the group of four exemplify what makes the Aquanauts internship program so special: Small groups like these become a close-knit team that works together, lifting everyone up to the highest levels while making friendships that can last a lifetime.

Below you'll find more than 30 photos of the IDC and IE.

Instructor Gallery

Click a year and month below to see photos and stories of previous Aquanauts interns on their PADI Instructor Exam and IDCs.