What is the goal of the VIP Instructor Course?

There is no doubt that the diving industry needs more "basic" diving instructors than it needs those with "VIP Instructor Training". Teaching diving and doing introductory dives is time intensive. It is not an exception to see more than 10 instructors teaching and guiding divers in a single dive center. For the day-to-day teaching and guiding, a "basic" Diving Instructor with adequate human relations and language skills is all that is needed.
But then there is somebody who needs to "keep the show on the road". Handle client complaints, keep the compressor running, scheduling the instructor team, keeping the equipment safe and in working order, keeping the administration and marketing on track, offering special information or training that a "basic" instructor can not handle, etc. The work within a diving operation is a lot more varying (and interesting) than just "teaching and guiding".
The goal of the VIP Instructor Course is to train the core staff of a dive center, the ones who (after an appropriate period to gain general experience) progress to the role of leader within a team of dive guides, instructors, administrators, reception and technical staff. The ones who have a good working knowledge of all the aspects of running a dive center - from sales to training, from administration to compressor maintenance, from biology to equipment repair, etc.
If you want to work in the diving industry, but you want more challenges than guiding dives and teaching beginners (for years in a row) have to offer, then the VIP Instructor Course is for you.

What do graduates do after their training is completed?

Although there are some who found and accepted a position as base leader immediately, most start their career as a "basic" instructor and then work their way up in the diving industry.
From the first job on, opportunity and personal preference start playing a big role. Some are found as base leaders, some have their own dive center, some open a dive store in a residential area, some become Course Directors and others take up key positions in a factory or import company for diving equipment.
Obviously there are also those who drop out of diving, but that number is surprisingly low compared to the number of drop-outs we see with "basic" instructors.

How does the training work?

There are 4 phases. Phase 1 is the beginner and advanced training as a diver and involves a minimum of 50 dives. In full-time training, this phase would take approximately one month. Those who are already certified as a diver beyond entry level and meet the dive experience requirements are credited for that. They start their VIP course in Phase 2.

Phase 2 is the "basic" diving instructor training and consists of the following well-known PADI courses - Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response (First Aid), Oxygen First Aid, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor, EFR Instructor and Oxygen First Aid Instructor. In full-time training, this phase would take approximately  one month. Those who already completed some or all of these courses are credited for that.

Phase 3 is the "core" of the VIP Instructor Training. It consists of 7 modules. Each module is dedicated to one or more aspects of the work in the diving industry and consists of 5 days of training.

• Module 1 - functioning, care and repair of diving equipment
• Module 2 - biology and knowledge of the marine environment
• Module 3 - compressor knowledge & repair and diving computers
• Module 4 - underwater photography
• Module 5 - sales & business training and client relations
• Module 6 - practical specialties and working with clients with physical challenges
• Module 7 - working with niche market clients

During phase 3, the students have off during the weekends. For those who want, the weekends can be used for (free of charge) computer based and diving related language training (English, French, Dutch or German).

Phase 4 is the practical application of all the things learned in the course. Throughout your course you are mostly confronted with simulated client situations. This is an excellent tool to prepare you for the job, but some "real-life" situations can simply not be simulated. This is why you do need something which could be called an "apprenticeship" period. There is no requirement to do this important part of your training as an integral part of the VIP Instructor Training. You are bound to get the experiences we would confront you with in your very first job. However, for those who "want to get it right" and for those who need to fulfill additional requirements, we offer the option to do Phase 4 as an integral part of the VIP Instructor Training.

What is the duration of the VIP Instructor Program?

Depending on the qualifications and experience you already have and depending on how much practical experience you want to (or have to) include in your training, the duration of your VIP Instructor Training can be from 7 weeks (if you are already a PADI Instructor) up to 6 months (if you are not yet a certified diver).
Although it is most common to complete one phase after the other, this is not really required for all aspects of the course (obviously there are some requirements that must be fulfilled). A diver not yet having the 50 required dives from Phase 1 could for example already do the Rescue Diver course from phase two and a student who only finished a part of Phase 2 could already do most parts of Phase 3. This gives us a lot of flexibility to adapt the scheduling of your VIP course to your personal needs. Just let us know what experience and certifications you have and we will inform you of your personal options to complete your VIP Instructor Training.

When can I do the VIP Instructor Program?

Candidates starting their training with Phase 1 (or a part of it) can start any time on a date of their wish. Candidates who start with Phase 2 (or a part of it), but plan to do Phase 4 as an integral part of their course, have a choice of 11 starting dates (almost every month there is a starting date). For candidates doing only Phase 3 (or only Phase 2 and 3), we have the choice of 3 sessions per year.