MSDT HIMMAFUSHI

Completing specialty instructor training on Himmafushi, Maldives, gives dive professionals a unique blend of thrilling underwater experiences and valuable career advantages. Here are the most frequently asked questions and detailed answers for those considering Specialty Instructor or MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) Prep at the Maldivian Academy of Diving.

Instructor specialty training here means immersion in world-class Maldivian diving. The program includes exhilarating shark dives at Hulhumale—offering encounters with tiger sharks, hammerheads, bulls, and spinners—and repeated visits to famed spots like Manta Point, where manta rays gather at cleaning stations, and the Maldives Victory wreck, a 100-meter sunken ship perfect for deep and wreck specialty instruction. These sites provide hands-on experience in teaching complex dive specialties while exploring vibrant reefs, challenging currents, and high-adrenaline megafauna encounters—preparing instructors for anything their students may face.

Earning instructor specialties greatly increases employability on Maldivian resorts and safari boats, as most dive centers seek instructors qualified to teach multiple specialties. Specialties such as Deep, Wreck, Nitrox, Shark, and Manta Ray diving are particularly in demand, allowing new instructors to offer a broader range of courses and guiding experiences to resort guests and liveaboard clients. Having real practical experience with these dives during instructor training on sites like Victory Wreck and the famous shark points gives candidates a strong advantage for job placement with Maldives’ top diving operations.

Mark Soworka and Adam Ashraf bring a rare combination of global and local expertise. Mark is the world’s most experienced Platinum Course Director, with decades of instructor development in various environments, and Adam is among the Maldives’ few local Platinum-rated trainers with deep insight into the Maldives' unique diving challenges and guest expectations. Their supportive approach, industry connections, and up-to-date teaching skills help candidates develop both teaching confidence and local Maldivian dive knowledge.

The MSDT Prep goes beyond traditional specialty instruction. It includes seminars on marine resource management—teaching how to conduct dives that protect local marine ecosystems, a Scubapro equipment workshop providing troubleshooting and an in-depth look at how dive equipment, particularly regulators and computers, function, and a “Diving in the Maldives” seminar offering practical guidance in reading currents, understanding local regulations, and mastering boat procedures. Candidates also gain the ability to “dive like a local,” learning how experienced Maldivian guides approach challenging conditions and maximize safety and enjoyment for guests. By combining advanced specialty training with seminars focused on the realities of working in the Maldives, graduates emerge not only as versatile instructors but as true professionals prepared for rewarding careers in the vibrant dive tourism sector.