Where instructors are made, not just certified
The PADI Instructor Development Course
Will Welbourn is the longest-serving PADI Platinum Course Director in the Bay Islands — and one of the most experienced in Central America. Operating on Roatan since 2003, he has certified over 500 PADI instructors. In the last ten years, every single one has passed the PADI Instructor Examination FIRST TIME.
The IDC runs monthly, year-round, at Coconut Tree Divers on Half Moon Bay, West End, Roatan. Packages are available from every certification level.
The philosophy of the IDC at Go Pro Caribbean
Not one of many. Every candidate, every time.
When I trained as a dive instructor, I wanted to be part of something smaller. A more personal environment — where I wasn't just another candidate moving through the system. That experience shaped everything about how Go Pro Caribbean runs its IDC.
Over more than 20 years, I've deliberately chosen to work with small dive centres. That's why Go Pro Caribbean guarantees a maximum class of six, with an average of just three. You will get more teaching time, more personalised feedback, and shorter days than you would anywhere that runs IDCs at volume.
Five hundred instructors have completed their IDC with Go Pro Caribbean. In the last ten years, every one of them has passed the PADI Instructor Examination on their first attempt. That isn't luck. It's what happens when a Course Director knows every candidate in the room.
There is another reason the size of your IDC matters more than you might think — and it is one most candidates overlook. Roatan has over 50 dive centres actively recruiting new instructors. The island produces fewer new instructors per year than most other Central American dive destinations, which means less competition for more jobs. The average instructor on Roatan earns $40–50 more per Open Water course student taught than in many competing locations. Choose your IDC carefully and the difference in earnings will outpace any difference in course cost within your first month of work.
The goal is not to pass the exam. It is to teach well
PADI IDC
Course only — fast and direct
IDC + Accommodation
IDC plus 4 weeks on-site
IDC Internship + Accommodation
Two extra weeks of pre-IDC prep
Internship + Accom + MSDT
All five MSDT specialty ratings included
What the IDC involves
The focus of the IDC is developing good teaching techniques. You will learn how to use the PADI system flexibly — not mechanically. Will encourages discussion, creativity and problem-solving from day one, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
What you will do across the 12 days
- Teach at least four confined water skill presentations — and act as the student when other candidates teach theirs
- Teach at least four open water skill presentations — and act as the student when other candidates teach theirs
- Teach three classroom presentations — and observe the others being taught
- Develop your rescue skills to demonstration quality level
- Attend classroom sessions covering every PADI course you will be qualified to teach
- Cover the PADI system of education in depth — how to use it flexibly, not mechanically
- Complete the Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) course
- Sit the dive theory written exams — early enough that any gaps can be addressed before the IE
- Receive detailed one-to-one feedback after every presentation you deliver
The 2-day Instructor Examination
The IE follows immediately after the IDC and is conducted by an independent PADI examiner on Roatan — entirely separate from Will. You will be assessed on a confined water skill presentation, an open water skill presentation, and a classroom presentation, as well as the dive theory written exams. In the last ten years, every candidate who has completed the IDC at Go Pro Caribbean has passed the PADI Instructor Examination.
Half Moon Bay, West End, Roatan — your classroom for 14 days
The training environment
The classroom has WiFi, air conditioning, and a pool right outside for confined water training if needed — though you will almost always be in the ocean. Half Moon Bay has crystal clear water and perfect sand patches that do not silt up for confined water presentations. A selection of open water sites within a 15-minute boat ride gives you practice at assessing sites for training purposes. All sites offer excellent visibility and warm, calm water — conditions that make the instructor training far less stressful.
The typical IDC day runs from 9 am to 4 pm with at least one hour for lunch. This gives you time for a good breakfast or morning exercise before the day begins, and time to complete homework and enjoy a proper evening afterwards. People perform better when they are not exhausted — this is a deliberate choice.
A unique option we offer is the ability to join the Divemaster internship program for $150 per week before the IDC begins — to brush up on your skills, see the Divemaster course from a fresh perspective, and arrive at the IDC sharp. It is the most effective form of IDC preparation available.
Dive theory is where most candidates lose marks at the IE. More people fail the written exams than any other section. Will's approach makes the theory simple — logical explanations, no unnecessary formulas, no memorisation for its own sake. If you want to see how he teaches before you commit, visit the Dive Theory section or his YouTube channel. If you like the way he explains things, this IDC is for you.
Go Pro Caribbean, Roatan vs a typical Utila IDC
- Average class size 3 candidates (max 6, guaranteed)
- Dive centres recruiting locally 50+ on Roatan
- Instructor earnings ~$40–50 more per Open Water student than Utila
- Accommodation From $5/night (Go Pro Caribbean house, short walk from shop)
- Course Director experience 500+ instructors certified since 2003
- Average class size 12–16 candidates
- Dive centres recruiting locally ~15 on Utila
- Instructor earnings Lower local wage rates
- Accommodation Low-cost dormitory accommodation
- Course Director experience Varies by provider
Go Pro Caribbean's IDC is approximately $200–300 more than some Utila alternatives. At $40–50 more per Open Water student taught, that difference is typically recovered within the first month of work on Roatan. Saving money on your IDC by choosing a destination with fewer job opportunities and lower wages is a false economy.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the PADI IDC at Go Pro Caribbean?
The PADI IDC combined with the Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) course runs for 12 days. This is followed by the 2-day PADI Instructor Examination (IE), conducted by an independent PADI examiner on Roatan — giving a total commitment of 14 days.
How many candidates are in each class?
Go Pro Caribbean guarantees a maximum class size of six IDC candidates. The average class size is just three, giving each candidate significantly more individual practice time than is possible at larger IDC providers. A smaller group means more teaching repetitions, more personalised feedback, and shorter days. By comparison, IDC classes at high-volume operations in the region commonly run to 12–16 candidates.
What is the PADI IE pass rate at Go Pro Caribbean?
Go Pro Caribbean has a 100% IE pass rate. In the last ten years, every candidate who has completed the IDC with Will Welbourn has passed the PADI Instructor Examination.
Who teaches the IDC?
All IDC teaching is delivered by Will Welbourn, a PADI Platinum Course Director and the longest-serving Course Director in the Bay Islands. Will has been on Roatan since 2003 and has certified over 500 instructors. He teaches every IDC personally — candidates are never handed off to junior staff.
Why choose Roatan over other Central American destinations for a PADI IDC?
Roatan has over 50 dive centres actively recruiting instructors — more than three times the number on Utila. Because fewer instructors are trained on Roatan each year, competition for jobs is lower and wages are higher. The average instructor on Roatan earns approximately $40–50 more per Open Water course taught than on Utila.
Go Pro Caribbean's IDC costs around $200–300 more than some Utila alternatives. That difference is typically recovered within the first month of work through higher local wages. Saving money on your IDC by choosing a destination with fewer job opportunities and lower earnings is a false economy.
Roatan is also straightforward to reach — with direct flights from the US and regional hubs — and Go Pro Caribbean's accommodation starts from $5 per night, matching the low cost of living that draws candidates to other destinations in the region.
What are the entry requirements for the IDC?
You must hold a PADI Divemaster certification (or equivalent professional rating from a recognised agency), have a minimum of 100 logged dives, hold a current Rescue Diver certification, and hold a current CPR/First Aid qualification obtained within the last 24 months. See the full list on the prerequisites page.
Is there a preparation option before the IDC?
Yes. Go Pro Caribbean offers the option to join the Divemaster internship program for $150 per week before the IDC begins. This refreshes your Divemaster skills and knowledge and offers a fresh perspective on the Divemaster course itself. It has proven to be the most effective form of IDC preparation available.
Are you ready to become a PADI instructor?
Ready to book your PADI IDC?
Monthly dates available year-round. Packages from every certification level. Ask Will directly — no forms, no waiting.
Or send an enquiry via the contact form →