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News > January 27th, 2011
February
22nd, 2011
PADI IDC on "The
Rock"
Phew!
It’s been a busy few days on Koh Tao for the entire PADI diving
community.
With Februarys
IDC programs coming to an end it was that time again for the PADI
Instructor Examinations. Crystal Dive fielded an extremely strong,
and diverse group of candidates, coming from the UK, New Zealand,
India, Russia, Canada & Finland! The program was conducted by
Crystal Dive Resorts two Platinum PADI Course Directors Matt Bolton,
and Justin Mayers and once again Crystal’s candidates top
scored in all areas.
The Crystal IDC team minutes before sitting their theory and
standards exams on Day 1 of the PADI Instructor examinations.
In fact
one of the candidates, Henri Sanio from Finland successfully completed
all the theory and standards exams, scoring 100% in everyone, in
less 90 minutes!! The time limit is 3 hours so an amazing performance,
especially considering he is taking the exams in English, his second
language!!
All candidates
did exceptionally well and maintained Crystal’s 100% pass
record, here on Koh Tao, stretching back to 2007! Then it was time
to party and everybody had a great night, at Dragon Bar celebrating
their successful IDC/IE and letting their hair down after 17 days
of hard work.
The following
day both Matt & Justin attended the annual Course Director update,
along with 18 other Course Directors from Koh Tao, Koh Phan Ngan
and Koh Samui. Hosted at the conference facility at the Koh Tao
Regal, the seminar is designed to update all PADI Course Directors
on any changes PADI are making over the next 12 months in their
professional level programs. This particular update, hosted by Colin
Melrose, Manager for PADI Asia Pacific, focused on the new, revamped
PADI Divemaster course.
PADI have
totally revamped the program, introducing some exciting new changes,
as well as releases some brand new educational materials to support
the course. Some of these changes include the introduction of search
& recover & Deep dive in water workshops, as well as a revamp
on the Divemaster manual, and the Divemaster exams.
Keeping
with Crystal Dive’s cutting edge philosophy, Justin Mayers
conducted the first Divemaster orientation of the new 2011 program
this morning with 4 new Divemaster Trainees!!
After
a relaxing sunset beer or two to finish proceedings off it was down
to Choppers Bar & Grill in Sairee for the PADI Members Forum,
hosted by the PADI Regional Manager for Thailand, Tony Andrews.
This is an annual seminar, designed to update the entire PADI Membership
on all new courses & programs released, plus and changes to
existing programs during 2011 aimed at keeping PADI and its members
at the forefront of the scuba diving industry.
Over 100
PADI professionals, based on Koh Tao attended this forum and it
was a great night, providing an opportunity for members to get together
and discuss the changes, with expert advice from the PADI staff…..as
well as have a few more beers, and some nice food provided kindly
by the PADI team!
All in
all a thoroughly enjoyable long weekend, although I have to admit
I’m all PADI’d out..!!
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