How Much Does a PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) Really Cost?

Your PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is a major investment in your future. With several different components and costs involved, it can sometimes be difficult to understand exactly what you're paying for.

To make matters more confusing, different PADI Course Directors and IDC centres often bundle items together in different ways, making it hard to compare courses on a like-for-like basis.

At Professional Diver Training, we believe in complete transparency. Rather than hiding costs in complicated packages, we price each element separately so you can make fair comparisons with other operators and build the package that best suits your needs. The following is based on completing your IDC at the award winning Go2 Similan 5 star PADI Career Development Centre in Khao Lak.

Our IDC Tuition

Our standard PADI IDC tuition fee is 40,000 THB.

This is payable on or before the first day of your course. We currently accept:

• Wise
• Revolut
• Thai bank transfer
• Cash
• Other payment methods by prior arrangement

This fee covers your complete Instructor Development Course tuition.

PADI eLearning Crew Packs

Every IDC candidate requires the official PADI digital training materials.

These consist of:

• Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) Crew Pack – 24,000 THB
• Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) Crew Pack – 5,500 THB

These digital materials include your required course manuals, knowledge development resources and the skill slates used during confined water and open water training.

Most students purchase these through us, and we normally use this payment as the course deposit before ordering the materials.

However, there are some exceptions. For example:

• You may already own an unused crew pack from a previous IDC.
• You may already be an Emergency First Response Instructor.
• If unforeseen circumstances prevent you from completing your IDC with us, your unused PADI eLearning materials can normally be used at another PADI IDC centre.

Fees Payable Directly to PADI

Some costs are paid directly to PADI rather than to the dive centre.

As a PADI Asia Pacific region training centre, these fees are charged in Australian Dollars (AUD).

Current fees are:

• Instructor Examination (IE): 1,190 AUD
• OWSI Application: 364 AUD
• EFR Instructor Application: 252 AUD

These fees are set by PADI and are subject to change.

Optional Training Packages

Many candidates choose to enhance their IDC with additional training to improve their employability.

Local Dive Experience — 10,000 THB

Planning to work in the Similan Islands?

If you're unfamiliar with the local dive sites, you can add up to one month of diving experience with one of our partner dive boats. This is an excellent way to build confidence and gain valuable local knowledge before seeking employment.

Extra Coaching Package — 10,000 THB

Not feeling completely confident with your diving skills or dive theory?

Our optional coaching package provides additional personalised tuition before your Instructor Examination, helping you arrive fully prepared.

Instructor Specialty Packages

One of the quickest ways to become more employable after your IDC is to qualify as a Specialty Instructor.

Our most popular package includes:

• Deep Instructor
• Wreck Instructor
• Enriched Air (Nitrox) Instructor

Price: 16,500 THB

Many candidates instead choose our Advanced Specialty Package, which also includes:

• Self-Reliant Diver
• Self-Reliant Instructor
• Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor

Price: 33,700 THB

Please note that each Specialty Instructor certification also requires the applicable PADI certification fee (currently 145 AUD per specialty).

Once you hold five Specialty Instructor ratings and have certified 25 divers, you can apply to become a Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT)—an important milestone in your professional diving career.

Accommodation

Accommodation is another cost that's easy to overlook when budgeting for your IDC.

We offer comfortable accommodation right here at the dive centre:

• Air-conditioned private room
• Balcony
• Private bathroom
• Double bed (suitable for one person or a couple)

Price: 10,000 THB per month

We also have shared dormitory accommodation available for students looking for a more economical option.

Example IDC Budget

A typical student might budget as follows:

Item	Cost
IDC Tuition	40,000 THB
Local Dive Experience	10,000 THB
OWSI Crew Pack	24,000 THB
EFRI Crew Pack	5,500 THB
Deep, Wreck & Nitrox Instructor Package	16,500 THB
Accommodation	10,000 THB
Instructor Examination	1,190 AUD
OWSI Application	364 AUD
EFRI Application	252 AUD
Three Specialty Applications	435 AUD

Estimated Total (Prices and Exchange Rate as of: 28 July 2026)

• 147,290 THB
• 4,333 USD
• 6,176 AUD
• 3,828 EUR
• 3,288 GBP

Exchange rates fluctuate daily, so these figures are intended as a guide only.

Is a PADI IDC Worth the Investment?

Although becoming a PADI Instructor represents a significant investment, it also opens the door to a career that can take you around the world.

For many people, it's the first step towards a lifestyle spent teaching diving, travelling internationally, and working in some of the world's most beautiful locations.

We believe that several weeks of professional instructor training in tropical Thailand represents exceptional value—especially when every cost is clearly explained before you book.

If you'd like a personalised quotation or would like to discuss which options best suit your goals, feel free to get in touch.

WhatsApp: +66 98662 7196

We look forward to helping you take the next step towards becoming a PADI Professional.

Course Director Ed

What Do I Need Before Starting My PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)?

So, you're considering taking the big step and becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. What are the prerequisites?

1. Be a PADI Divemaster (or equivalent)

Before you can begin your IDC, you must be a PADI Divemaster or hold an equivalent professional-level certification from another recognised recreational diving agency.

Not a Divemaster yet? No problem—you can complete your Divemaster training with us before progressing to the IDC.

2. Be at Least 18 Years Old

You must be at least 18 years of age before starting your Instructor Development Course.

3. Have Been a Certified Diver for at Least Six Months

You must have been certified as an Open Water Diver (or equivalent) for a minimum of six months before attending the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).

4. Hold a Current First Aid Qualification

You must have completed Emergency First Response (EFR) or an equivalent first aid and CPR course within the previous 24 months.

If your certification has expired, don't worry—we can arrange an EFR course before your IDC.

5. Obtain Medical Clearance

You will need medical clearance from a physician before attending the Instructor Examination.

If you are in good health and can honestly answer "No" to all the questions on the WRSTC Medical Questionnaire, obtaining a diving medical in Thailand is usually straightforward and inexpensive.

However, if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, I strongly recommend obtaining medical clearance from your own doctor before travelling and before booking your course. This gives you plenty of time to deal with any additional tests or paperwork that may be required.

6. Have Sufficient Diving Experience

PADI requires you to have at least 100 logged dives before attending the Instructor Examination.

Although we complete a small number of open water dives during the IDC, it is not enough to significantly increase your dive count. Ideally, you should already have 100 logged dives before your IDC begins.

7. Complete the PADI eLearning

The IDC eLearning must be purchased and completed before the course starts.

The online learning is quite time-consuming, so I recommend beginning it at least two weeks before your IDC. If possible, give yourself even longer. Starting early allows you to work through the material properly without unnecessary stress.

8. Arrive with Professional-Level Dive Theory

This is where many candidates come unstuck.

The IDC is not a dive theory course. While the eLearning includes refresher material, you are expected to arrive already comfortable with professional-level diving knowledge.

Before your IDC, you should be able to:

• Use the PADI Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) confidently.
• Plan dives and calculate minimum surface intervals.
• Understand all RDP special rules.
• Explain pressure, depth and volume relationships.
• Calculate the amount of gas required to inflate a lifting bag for various objects in both fresh and salt water.
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of diving physics, physiology, equipment and skills.

On the very first day of the IDC, you'll most likely complete a five-section theory assessment.

Every year, I see candidates arrive without the level of dive theory expected of a Divemaster. This creates unnecessary stress during what is already a demanding course.

If you're a little rusty, I strongly recommend reviewing your training materials before your IDC, starting with the Open Water course and working your way through to Divemaster.

If you'd like additional help, ask about our optional pre-IDC preparation package. We can review dive theory in depth before your course begins, allowing you to start the IDC with confidence instead of trying to catch up once the course is underway.

9. Diving Equipment

Most IDC candidates already own their own equipment, and we would normally expect you to bring:

• BCD
• Regulator
• Mask
• Snorkel
• Fins
• Exposure suit

If you don't own equipment, or simply don't want to travel with it, quality rental equipment is available here.

Tanks and weights used during your IDC are included.

Are You Ready?

If you're thinking about becoming a PADI Instructor and would like to discuss whether you're ready to start your IDC, get in touch.

I'd be happy to answer your questions, review your experience, and help you choose the right course package for your goals.

Why We Use Helitrox on Our PADI Tec 50 Course

Around two years ago, there was a subtle but significant shift in the way many PADI TecRec instructors approach technical diving training.

The PADI TecRec standards still permit training dives to 50 metres using air where appropriate. However, increased emphasis on breathing gas density and the effects of nitrogen narcosis means that many instructors now consider helium to be the better choice for dives approaching 50 metres.

As depth increases, two things happen:

• The density of the breathing gas increases, making it harder to breathe and increasing the risk of carbon dioxide retention.
• The partial pressure of nitrogen increases, leading to progressively greater nitrogen narcosis.

Both factors can impair diver performance at depth. By replacing part of the nitrogen with helium, we reduce both the breathing gas density and the narcotic effect of the breathing mix.

The resulting gas, often referred to as Helitrox or normoxic trimix, allows divers to complete 50-metre dives with significantly lower narcosis while remaining within current PADI TecRec recommendations and accepted technical diving practices.

So why not use helium from the beginning?

The obvious drawback is cost.

Helium is considerably more expensive than air or nitrox and, depending on location, can sometimes be difficult to obtain.

For that reason, we believe a balanced approach offers the best value for most students.

We typically recommend conducting the Tec 40 and Tec 45 courses using air and nitrox, where these gases remain entirely appropriate. Helium is then introduced for the deeper dives of the Tec 50 course, where its benefits become much more significant.

This approach offers several advantages:

• Keeps training costs under control.
• Introduces divers to trimix in a logical progression.
• Reduces gas density during the deepest dives.
• Reduces the effects of nitrogen narcosis.
• Allows students to experience trimix procedures before progressing to more advanced technical diving.

For divers planning to continue beyond Tec 50, this also provides an excellent foundation for future trimix training.

At Professional Diver Training in Khao Lak, Thailand, we believe technical diver education should balance safety, modern best practice and affordability. By introducing helium where it offers the greatest benefit, we can deliver high-quality TecRec training without unnecessarily increasing course costs.

https://www.kayak.com/Phangnga.60848.guide

Professional Diver Training Co. Ltd. Are now on Kayak, the number one travel guide to Phang Nga

If you are looking for. PADI Divemaster, Instructor, Speciality, Sidemount, Tec 40 45 50, Cavern and Trimix to Tec50TMX and beyond in Khao Lak, The Similan and Surin Islands contact course director Ed.

Looking to dive the Khao Lak Wrecks. We can help. We organise regular teips to The Seachart, Premchai, Sea Race, Boonsung and T13, and cater for recreational and technical divers. We also organise regular cave diving expeditions to Song Hong, Klang Cave, Sra Keow and other cave systems in the region. Training to full cave available on request.