Instructor Development Course & PADI Instructor Exam - Sept. 2009

Aquanauts' September 2009 IDC students and staff. From left, Master Instructor Gary Tytler, new OWSI Alexandra Booth, Course Director Roger M. Smith and new IDC Staff Instructor Stefan Thomi.

A 25-year-old British business consultant is now a professional scuba diving instructor, the latest of the many foreign students who’ve decided to change their lives and careers through an internship at Aquanauts Dive Centre.

Alexandra Booth, 25, sailed through her three-month course to easily pass her PADI Instructor Examination Sept. 6. The Hampshire, England resident has gone home for a few weeks with plans to return to advance her instructor qualifications this winter.

While Booth found the exam much easier than two other students did the Instructor Development Course with her, she said it was still challenging.
“People forget about the studying,” Booth said. “You don’t just get to come here and go diving… unfortunately!”

With a keen mind and a medical background, Booth excelled on the academics, however, “Thanks to Aquanauts, I felt really well prepared for the exam,” she said.

This month’s instructor development cycle also saw Stefan Thomi, who became an Open Water Scuba Instructor in May, complete his IDC Staff Instructor course, the third run on the PADI instructor ladder. He’s now off to the Maldives to begin working.

Aquanauts, a PADI 5-Star Career Development Center, hosts students from around the world through its unique 2-6 month internship program which offers private accommodations, new equipment, unlimited diving plus all courses, materials, fees and job placement. For more information see the Aquanauts professional-training website at DivingInstructorTraining.com.

This month's IDC was staffed by Course Director Roger M. Smith, Master Instructor Gary Tytler and IDC Staff Instructor Sally Rathbone. See below for photos from the I.E.