WHERE YOUR DIVE CAREER BEGINS!

Yes, you can! Before arriving in Koh Tao, you’ll complete the “IDC LIVE” online section, which covers all classroom curriculum workshops. This online module takes place over 7 consecutive days, with 3-hour sessions per day (plus an optional 8th day for EFR Instructor academics). The sessions are flexible and can accommodate different time zones.
After completing the online section, you’ll join the in-water training at Assava Dive Resort over eight days, followed by the two-day PADI Instructor Exam (IE). You can start the IDC LIVE on the 1st or 15th of any month.

We recommend completing it the month before your IDC to keep everything fresh.

There is also an option to take a full 14 day in person IDC with the Scuba Dive Online team, on Koh Tao if you have time. 

The full PADI IDC Course in Koh Tao with Assava costs 68,900 THB, whether you choose the hybrid format (IDC LIVE online + in-water) or the full 14-day in-person option. Here’s what’s included:

• IDC LIVE online: 7 days, 3 hours per day
• Optional 8th day covering EFR Instructor academics
• All IDC workshops and presentations
• Unlimited access to Dive Theory Live (live and recorded sessions)
• Exclusive Scuba Dive Online study materials (yours to keep)
• Daily digital practice exams with live progress tracking
• 8-day in-water IDC at Assava Dive Resort
• EFR Instructor course with digital materials
• Emergency O2 Provider Specialty Instructor rating
• Additional dry workshops and practice presentations
• Full PADI IDC Crewpak with eLearning, cue cards, workbook, and PADI rucksack
• Daily lunch during the in-person

IDC PADI fees are not included and are paid directly to PADI in AUD during your course.

In 2025, you can choose to complete a full 14-day in-person IDC with the Scuba Dive Online team at Assava Diving Resort on Koh Tao. This schedule shows both the full 14-day in-person IDC start dates (Prep week) as well as the in-water-only dates for candidates who have completed the IDC LIVE Online section. PADI IDC 2025 at Assava Diving Resort:

• PREP: Jan 7-12 | IDC: Jan 13-20 | IE: Jan 21-22
• PREP: Feb 4-9 | IDC: Feb 10-17 | IE: Feb 18-19
• PREP: Mar 4-9 | IDC: Mar 10-17 | IE: Mar 18-19
• PREP: Apr 8-13 | IDC: Apr 14-21 | IE: Apr 22-23
• PREP: May 6-11 | IDC: May 12-19 | IE: May 20-21
• PREP: June 10-15 | IDC: June 16-23 | IE: June 24-25
• PREP: July 8-13 | IDC: July 14-21 | IE: July 22-23
• PREP: Aug 5-10 | IDC: Aug 11-18 | IE: Aug 19-20
• PREP: Sept 9-14 | IDC: Sept 15-22 | IE: Sept 23-24
• PREP: Oct 7-12 | IDC: Oct 13-20 | IE: Oct 21-22
• PREP: Nov 11-16 | IDC: Nov 17-24 | IE: Nov 25-26
• PREP: Dec 2-7 | IDC: Dec 8-15 | IE: Dec 16-17

To enroll in the PADI Instructor Course in Koh Tao, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old. 
• Be a certified Divemaster (or an equivalent certification from another agency).
• Have been a certified diver for at least six months. 
• Have at least 90 logged dives (with experience in night, deep, and navigation diving) before the course starts, and 100 logged dives before the Instructor Exam.
•  (IE) Be medically fit for diving, with a physician-signed medical statement issued within the last 12 months. 
• Have completed CPR and First Aid training within the last 24 months (The PADI Emergency First Response (EFR) course fulfills this requirement)

If you are missing any prerequisites, our team can advise you on how to meet them before your arrival.

Yes, most likely. As of 2025, Thailand offers a 60-day visa exemption for many nationalities—more than enough to complete the IDC and IE. However, visa rules can change. Always check the latest entry conditions for your passport before you travel. If needed, you can also apply for a tourist visa or extend your stay at a local immigration office.

Koh Tao offers a diverse range of dive sites, from shallow coral gardens to deep pinnacles, catering to divers of all levels. The island’s vibrant reefs are home to turtles, blacktip reef sharks, and a colorful array of reef fish. Sites like Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock provide opportunities to encounter large schools of barracuda, bigeye jacks, and, occasionally, passing whale sharks. With over 25 dive sites featuring unique underwater topographies and abundant marine life, Koh Tao delivers unforgettable diving experiences for both novice and experienced divers. ​