For many divers, becoming a PADI instructor is the next step in turning a passion for diving into a career. But getting there takes more than strong diving skills.
At Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, PADI Course Director and Dive Center Manager Berlinda helps Divemasters make that transition through Instructor Development Philippines (IDP), the joint IDC program between Atmosphere Resorts & Spa and Liquid, preparing them for the realities of teaching and working as a diving professional.
Berlinda shares a moment of celebration with a student during a practical training session at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
With almost 20 years in the diving industry, Berlinda has worked her way from recreational diver to Divemaster, instructor and eventually PADI Course Director. Today, she wears two hats at Atmosphere: training the next generation of diving professionals while managing the day-to-day operations of the Dive Center and making sure everything runs smoothly for both guests and the dive team.
What Does a PADI Course Director Do?
An IDC takes Divemasters to the next step in their professional diving careers, preparing them to become instructors.
“The IDC is an Instructor Development Course,” Berlinda explains. “It’s a program to take Divemasters to the next level, which is instructor level.” For divers looking for an IDC in the Philippines, Instructor Development Philippines offers a structured program designed to prepare experienced Divemasters for their next step as PADI instructors.
PADI Course Director Berlinda practises in the training pool at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
Over 19 days, candidates learn how to teach, demonstrate skills, manage students and handle the challenges that can arise in the water. Training takes place across the classroom, pool and ocean, giving candidates the opportunity to put what they learn into practice.
As a Course Director, Berlinda guides candidates throughout the program, working alongside several experienced PADI professionals (Master Instructors and Staff Instructors and fellow Course Director, Tim Latimer) who support different parts of their training.
IDC students prepare for their PADI instructor training at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
A Day During an IDC
When Berlinda is running an IDC, her days start early. She begins preparing around 6:30 AM, with classes starting at 8:00 AM and continuing until around 5:00 PM, with an hour for lunch.
Her role as the Dive Center Manager, a position she shares with Jan Sledsens, also means staying connected with the dive center throughout the day. Before classes begin, she checks in with the dive team to make sure the boats are ready, guests are taken care of and the Divemasters and dive crew know what they need to do.
Berlinda celebrates with the Instructor Development Philippines team, bringing together diving professionals who help train the next generation of PADI instructors.
At lunchtime, she checks in again before returning to her IDC candidates for the afternoon. Once classes finish, there are still schedules and preparations for the following day to take care of.
It is a busy schedule, particularly during an IDC, but Berlinda says having a strong team around her makes it possible to balance both roles. As part of Instructor Development Philippines, the IDC training gives candidates the opportunity to experience the professional diving environment at both Atmosphere and Liquid, combining classroom learning with hands-on training.
Atmosphere runs six IDCs each year, with each course and its preparation taking around three weeks.
IDC students getting out of the water during their practical training at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa in Dauin, Philippines.
More Than Preparing for an Exam
For Berlinda, an IDC is about more than helping candidates pass their instructor examinations. It is about preparing them for what comes after.
Candidates learn teaching techniques, course organization and scheduling, as well as how to recognize and work through challenges when students struggle.
They also train in different diving conditions, including currents and waves, and learn how to handle situations that may not always be straightforward.
IDC students practice scuba skills during a pool training session at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
“We try as much as possible to also help them experience teaching in currents and help them experience not always the easiest way, but also some challenges,” Berlinda says.
That hands-on training is particularly valuable because IDC candidates can arrive with very different backgrounds. Some may have completed their Divemaster recently, while others may have spent years in the industry.
Berlinda sees helping candidates overcome those differences as one of the most rewarding parts of her job.
“I think what I enjoy most is helping the candidates get over challenges. And then all of a sudden you see them grow very, very quickly, and you see that they’re gaining confidence very quickly.”
PADI Course Director Berlinda with students during an Instructor Development Course at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
From Diver to Course Director
Berlinda’s own diving journey began in 2007, when she completed her PADI Open Water course in Malaysia while at university.
It was not until she started traveling in 2011 that diving became a bigger part of her life. During a 10-month trip around the world, she eventually arrived in Dauin and completed her Divemaster training.
She returned a year later and became an instructor in 2013.
Berlinda shares a high-five with an IDC student during practical training at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
After about a year and a half as an instructor, Berlinda was encouraged to work toward becoming an PADI IDC Staff Instructor. She saw it as an opportunity to expand what she could teach and begin training Divemasters herself.
Eventually, she became a Course Director.
“I decided, you know what, I’ve been teaching Open Water courses for a little bit. I still like it. But I also want to expand what I can teach.”
That progression has allowed Berlinda to work with divers at very different stages of their careers, from people taking their first steps underwater to professionals preparing to teach others.
“It’s nice to be able to talk to students at a different level as well,” she says.
IDC students celebrate completing their PADI Instructor Development Course with their certificates at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
Where Can an Instructor Career Take You?
For newly qualified instructors, the possibilities can extend far beyond one dive center.
“Anywhere where there’s water,” Berlinda says.
Some instructors continue teaching and gain experience within the diving industry, while others move into roles such as dive center management and supervision. Others combine diving with fields such as marine biology, underwater photography or liveaboard operations.
For Berlinda, becoming an instructor can be the beginning of a career that continues to evolve.
IDC students practice scuba skills during a practical training session at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
Berlinda’s Advice for Aspiring Instructors
If you’re considering an IDC, Berlinda’s biggest piece of advice is to find the right environment for you.
“I think the biggest piece of advice is to choose a dive center that you click with,” she says.
An IDC is an intensive experience, so working with a team you feel comfortable with can make a difference. She also recommends taking the time to build your experience rather than rushing through the professional pathway.
And when comparing courses, she says price should not be the only consideration.
“Don’t try to go with the cheapest possible option. Because usually there’s a reason why it’s the cheapest.”
Antennarius pictus, a tiny frogfish hoping to find small shrimps to eat.
Why Dauin?
After almost two decades in diving, Berlinda still finds plenty to discover in Dauin.
Her favorite part of diving here is the macro life. The area’s volcanic dark sand may not look particularly dramatic at first, but beneath the surface is an incredible variety of small marine life.
Shrimps, crabs, nudibranchs, worms and other tiny creatures can all be found among the sand.
“Most people just look at it, and think there’s nothing there,” Berlinda says. “But actually there are so many critters living there.”
It is this abundance of small, often overlooked marine life that continues to make Dauin interesting for Berlinda, even after so many years underwater.
IDC candidates practise their diving skills during an open-water training session off the coast of Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For Berlinda, diving has grown from a hobby into a career built around learning, teaching and helping others find their own path in the industry.
If you’re a Divemaster considering the next stage of your diving career, Atmosphere’s next PADI Instructor Development Course runs November 17 to December 5, 2026, in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
Interested in joining the upcoming IDC? Get in touch with the Instructor Development Philippines team at info@instructordevelopmentphilippines.com to learn more and secure your place.
