Progress, Partnerships and Professional Training Done Properly
2025 has been a productive year for Scuba Dive Online. Notably, both Neil Richards and Natalie Hunt once again achieved Platinum PADI Course Director status. This shows their long term commitment to instructor training quality. We are very proud of them both. At the same time, Scuba Dive Online expanded our professional programmes, strengthened existing partnerships and added new IDC destinations for the future.
Throughout the year, the team taught IDCs and internships across Thailand and the Maldives, with the IDC on Koh Tao continuing to be a central and highly popular programme. Alongside our other regular destinations, including Tulum, Roatan, the Dominican Republic, Koh Lanta, Phi Phi, Koh Lipe and the Maldives, we are also excited to partner with new centres in the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. Behind the scenes, each member of the team has been busy in their own way.
Monique Richards - PADI Course Director, Online Learning and Training Development
Monique focused primarily on online learning delivery and the development of teaching tools in 2025. This included running IDC LIVE sessions, refining online IDC preparation and supporting candidates before arrival at destination. In addition, Monique continued teaching in water, including programmes in Phi Phi. She remains the main online presence for Scuba Dive Online, managing digital content, communication and marketing. Outside of work, the year included summer music festivals in the UK and push bike travel in Vietnam.
Natalie Hunt - Platinum PADI Course Director, Conservation and Adaptive Teaching
Meanwhile, Natalie spent much of the year based at Assava, concentrating on conservation focused training and adaptive teaching techniques. Alongside teaching the IDC, including the IDC on Koh Tao, she continues to enjoy teaching recreational and other professional levels. Travel in 2025 also included visits to Canada and Australia with husband Tim, reconnecting with family and long standing friendships.
Tim Hunt - Platinum PADI Course Director, Partnerships and Centre Development
In 2025 Tim taught extensively in Koh Tao and the Maldives. Both locations he continues to enjoy. He is particularly known for Instructor specialty training, much of which took place this year in shark and manta rich environments. In addition, Tim plays a key role in partner nurturing and new centre acquisitions, helping Scuba Dive Online expand into new locations. Together with Natalie, he manages Assava diving resort, forming a highly effective and balanced leadership team.
Neil Richards - Platinum PADI Course Director, Technical and Expedition Diving
Alongside this, Neil also taught IDCs on Koh Tao and in the Maldives, while teaching sidemount, wreck and technical diving courses. He took part in several cave and wreck exploration expeditions in Thailand. Beyond diving, travelled to the UK and reached base camp in Nepal! He is the Professional Development Manager at our Partner Centre Davy Jones Locker, Koh Tao. Neil also mentors the Divemaster programme and in 2025, many of his Divemasters went on to complete their PADI IDC on Koh Tao.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Looking forward, 2026 will see the continuation of the IDC on Koh Tao, the six week PADI IDC and conservation programme at Assava, the six week dual location PADI IDC on Koh Lipe and Koh Tao, and the eight week all inclusive Maldives internship. Furthermore, additional IDC destinations will launch with partner centres. So far these are the Bahamas, Koh Lipe and the Cayman Islands. It has been a full year, and next year is already looking busy.
Happy New Year 2026 to all our partner centres around the world, and our amazing PADI IDC candidates past and future.
