PADI STAFF INSTRUCTOR : KOH TAO

The Staff Instructor Course is the next professional step after Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), allowing you to assist on Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) and help shape the next generation of instructors. It also counts as a vital milestone if you’re considering applying for PADI Course Director in the future.

Aaron Puttawong brings years of teaching experience and IDC leadership to the program, offering a supportive environment to develop your mentoring skills. Training on Koh Tao provides access to a high volume of candidates and internationally diverse groups, giving you invaluable real-world experience as an educator.

Completing the Staff Instructor Course is an excellent opportunity to refresh your PADI standards knowledge and strengthen your evaluation skills. More importantly, it gives you a new perspective on teaching diving—transitioning from focusing solely on student divers to guiding new instructors through their professional journeys.

Yes. The Staff Instructor rating is highly respected and a key step towards higher-level leadership roles such as managing dive centers or progressing toward becoming a Course Director. It signals to employers that you are serious about long-term growth in the diving industry, with the ability to train, lead, and mentor a team.

The Wreck Diver specialty is a popular option on Koh Tao. You’ll gain real skills navigating and penetrating local wrecks such as the HTMS Sattakut, a former Royal Thai Navy vessel now thriving as an artificial reef. The training covers proper line use, safety techniques, and responsible wreck exploration.

The course typically runs over 5–7 days, scheduled alongside an IDC so you can gain hands-on experience assisting with candidate training and evaluations. You are encouraged to audit the entire IDC to gain valuable experience, but Staff Instructor courses can be conducted outside the IDC schedule.