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July 27th, 2010
Matt conducts East Timor’s FIRST EVER PADI IDC

Once again Platinum PADI Course Director Matt Bolton produced another first, this time using his unique skills in East Timor! In December 2009 Matt conducted the first EVER PADI IDC in India, the world’s largest democracy. This time he travelled to the world’s newest country to conduct their first EVER PADI IDC.

East Timor, also known as Timor Leste comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro & Jaco and Oecusse, an enclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor.

In 1975, East Timor declared its independence, but later that year was invaded and occupied by Indonesia and was declared Indonesia's 27th province. In 1999, following the United Nations sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory and East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002.

The IDC, conducted at Dive Timor’s Lorosae’s 5 Star IDC facility in the capital city of Dili was a huge success. Five candidates from five different countries, and very different backgrounds participated. The candidates Chris, Marek, Luc, Roberto, & Pedro where from the US, the UK, France, Spain & Portugal. They were joined by three IDC Staff Instructor candidates, Marianne & Greg from Dive Timor Lorosae and Alex from Dili’s other dive centre Free Flow.

The Open Water sessions where conducted at one of the local sites outside of Dili called Tasi Tulo. The classroom & confined water sessions where conducted at Dive Timor Lorosae, Dili where there are site facilities including a purpose built swimming pool.