The PADI IDC at Oceans 5 Gili Air
The PADI IDC at Oceans 5 Gili Air — From Candidate to Instructor
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The PADI IDC at Oceans 5 Gili Air |
Today is a big day at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Our current IDC candidates are starting their PADI Instructor Examination (IE) — the final step before officially earning the title of PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
For the last three weeks, they’ve lived and breathed diving education: studying standards, practicing control, mastering rescue skills, and learning how to teach the next generation of divers. And now, all that hard work will be rewarded. By tomorrow, if all goes as planned, they’ll be PADI Instructors — professionals ready to share their passion for the underwater world.
But at Oceans 5 Gili Air, this isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a new chapter.
From Student to Instructor — A Journey of Growth
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is more than just a requirement to teach diving; it’s a transformation. Over 20 days, candidates go from being experienced divers or divemasters to becoming confident, knowledgeable, and environmentally conscious instructors.
Our Course Director Waz designs every IDC around the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. It’s not about rushing through presentations or ticking boxes — it’s about building a real understanding of how to teach safely and effectively in the real world.
Each morning starts at 8:30 a.m. in our dedicated IDC classroom, located just steps away from the pool. Candidates spend their days switching between theory, confined-water skill circuits, open-water teaching presentations, and rescue practice sessions. The schedule runs until 5:00 p.m., but with plenty of breaks, group lunches, and moments to laugh together.
Because here, learning is not only about performance; it’s also about enjoying the process.
Personal Attention in a Spacious Setting
At first glance, Oceans 5 Gili Air might look like a large dive center. The spacious layout, two big training pools, and modern classrooms might give the impression of a bustling dive school. But looks can be deceiving — we keep things small on purpose.
Every PADI IDC at Oceans 5 is limited to a maximum of six candidates.
This small group size allows for personal attention, individual feedback, and a stress-free learning environment. Each candidate has the chance to receive direct guidance from the Course Director during every workshop, every presentation, and every skill practice. There’s no waiting in line to get your turn; there’s space and time for everyone.
The result?
Our candidates leave not just as certified instructors but as confident educators who truly understand what it means to take responsibility for others underwater.
Dedicated IDC Facilities — Designed for Learning
The environment plays a crucial role in effective learning. That’s why Oceans 5 Gili Air invested in dedicated IDC facilities — areas reserved exclusively for professional training.
Our classroom is fully equipped with modern teaching tools, whiteboards, multimedia displays, and PADI materials. The pool — one of the largest on the Gili Islands — offers multiple depth levels, giving candidates realistic conditions to teach in. From shallow-water skill demonstrations to buoyancy control practice in deeper sections, it’s the perfect controlled environment before heading into the ocean.
When it’s time for open-water sessions, we use our dedicated IDC training boat, designed for small groups and efficient logistics. All dives are conducted around the Gili Islands, where calm waters and vibrant reefs make every training dive both enjoyable and inspiring.
Neutral Buoyancy — The Oceans 5 Way
One of the elements that truly sets Oceans 5 apart is our commitment to teaching on neutral buoyancy.
We believe that future instructors should demonstrate skills the way they expect their students to dive: neutrally buoyant, controlled, and environmentally aware. No kneeling on the sand, no stirring up sediment — just real-world teaching, the way it should be done.
This philosophy aligns perfectly with our location inside the Gili Matra Marine Park. Every IDC candidate learns not only how to teach but also how to protect the marine environment while doing it.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, every new instructor graduates as an ambassador for the ocean.
Today: The Instructor Examination Begins
The big day has arrived. After weeks of preparation, the IDC candidates are facing their Instructor Examination (IE) — the moment they’ve been working toward since day one. Over the next two days, they’ll demonstrate their knowledge, teaching ability, and practical skills in both the classroom and the ocean.
It’s an exciting and emotional time. The IDC team is always there in the background — supporting, encouraging, and celebrating every step.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we see every IE as a collective achievement. When our candidates succeed, we all succeed.
By tomorrow, we expect to be celebrating a new generation of PADI Instructors — professionals who will soon be guiding and inspiring divers all around the world.
After the IE: The MSDT Preparation Course
After a few well-deserved days of rest, the new instructors will begin their MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) Preparation Course.
This program is where the fun really begins — it’s all about diving, exploring, and learning to teach PADI specialty courses.
The MSDT Preparation Course allows new instructors to gain experience in five PADI specialties, which can include Deep Diver, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Drift, Shark Conservation, Wreck, or Search and Recovery, among others. These dives take place at some of the most famous sites around the Gili Islands: Shark Point, Deep Turbo, Halik, Meno Slope, and the Glenn Nusa wreck.
For many new instructors, this is their chance to rediscover why they fell in love with diving in the first place — beautiful reefs, clear water, and a sense of freedom that no classroom can replicate. It’s the perfect balance between continued education and adventure.
A Stress-Free IDC Philosophy
What makes Oceans 5’s IDC program stand out isn’t just the quality of instruction or the facilities — it’s the atmosphere.
From day one, the focus is on creating a stress-free learning environment. There’s no pressure to perform perfectly right away. Mistakes are seen as part of the process, not as failures.
Our Course Director Waz believes that relaxed candidates learn better, retain more, and perform more naturally during the IE. This philosophy has proven successful time and time again, reflected in our excellent pass rates and the confident instructors who graduate from Oceans 5.
Each IDC becomes a close-knit family. Candidates study together, dive together, laugh together, and celebrate together. Many stay in touch long after the program, helping each other find jobs, share teaching experiences, and build careers in diving.
The Final PADI IDC of 2025 — Starting 19 November
With today’s IE underway, our focus is already turning to the next and final PADI IDC of 2025, which begins on 19 November.
This will be the last chance this year to become a PADI Instructor at Oceans 5 Gili Air before we close our 2025 calendar.
Spots are limited — as always, we only take six candidates per IDC — and with the program’s growing reputation, seats fill quickly. If you’ve been dreaming of turning your passion for diving into a career, now is the time to take the leap.
After this IDC, Oceans 5 will transition into its 2026 schedule, introducing exciting updates and new collaborations. So if you want to finish 2025 as a certified PADI Instructor, this November course is your opportunity.
Why Choose Oceans 5 Gili Air?
There are many IDC centers across Indonesia, but Oceans 5 Gili Air offers something truly unique:
1. Quality Over Quantity
We never measure success by how many certifications we print, but by the quality of instructors we produce.
Every candidate receives the time and attention needed to succeed — not just at the IE, but in their future teaching career.
2. Small Groups
With a limit of six candidates, our IDCs feel personal, friendly, and focused. This intimate setup creates a family-like atmosphere where everyone supports one another.
3. Experienced Course Director
Waz brings years of international teaching experience and a passion for mentoring future professionals. His approach combines structure with flexibility, adapting lessons to the group’s needs.
4. Dedicated Facilities
Our classrooms, pools, and boats are designed specifically for IDC use. You won’t share training areas with fun divers or beginners, which ensures maximum focus and comfort.
5. Real-World Preparation
We train instructors for real conditions — currents, neutral-buoyancy teaching, and real student behavior. You’ll graduate ready to teach anywhere in the world.
6. Environmental Awareness
As part of a PADI Career Development Centre located in a marine park, Oceans 5 Gili Air integrates marine conservation into every course. Our graduates are ambassadors for sustainable diving.
7. Community and Support
From weekly beach cleanups to partnerships with the University of Mataram and BKKPN Kupang, Oceans 5 is deeply rooted in the local community.
Becoming an instructor here means becoming part of something larger — a team that cares about the ocean and the people who depend on it.
The Gili Islands — The Perfect Classroom
The Gili Islands provide the ideal environment for professional dive training.
With warm water year-round, minimal currents during most months, and visibility often exceeding 20 meters, it’s easy to see why divers from all over the world come here to learn and teach.
The marine life is rich and diverse: turtles, reef sharks, cuttlefish, and schools of fusiliers accompany almost every dive. And with more than 25 dive sites within a 15-minute boat ride, there’s endless variety for training and fun diving alike.
Beyond diving, Gili Air offers the perfect balance between professional development and island relaxation. No cars, no stress — just bicycles, sandy roads, and friendly locals. It’s the kind of place where your dive instructor dream begins and your love for island life deepens.
A Family, Not a Factory
Many who walk through the gates of Oceans 5 Gili Air are surprised by the welcoming atmosphere. Despite being a PADI Career Development Centre — the highest level of PADI recognition for professional training — Oceans 5 operates with a close-knit, family-like approach.
Our instructors, divemasters, and candidates share more than just training sessions; they share meals, beach cleanups, and post-dive sunsets together. It’s this human connection that makes Oceans 5 so special.
Here, you’re never just a number or a name on a roster — you’re part of the Oceans 5 family.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If becoming a dive instructor has been your dream, there’s no better time or place than now. The final PADI IDC of 2025starts on 19 November at Oceans 5 Gili Air.
With limited spaces and high demand, early registration is essential.
To reserve your place or request more information:
📧 info@oceans5dive.com
📱 WhatsApp +62 853 333 97823
Join us for a life-changing experience. Learn in a supportive, professional environment. Graduate as a confident, environmentally aware dive instructor ready to teach anywhere in the world.
Because at Oceans 5 Gili Air, we don’t just certify instructors —
we build ambassadors of the ocean.
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