Turn Your Passion Into a Diving Career
Become a PADI Instructor at one of the Philippines' premier dive resorts. Train in the world-renowned Verde Island Passage with experienced Course Director James Morton and a professional training team focused on building real-world teaching confidence.
Why Go Pro at Lalaguna Villas
More than just an IDC — it's a complete professional diving experience in one of Asia's top dive destinations.
Verde Island Passage
Train in one of the world's most biodiverse marine environments, with year-round access to drift, reef, wreck, deep, macro, and Verde Island diving.
Luxury Beachfront Resort
Stay, train, dive, eat, and relax all in one place with premium accommodation, pool, gym, spa, restaurant, and beachfront access included throughout your IDC.
Small Group Training
Smaller group sizes mean more personal coaching, closer mentoring, more teaching practice, and better preparation for both the IE and real-world instruction.
Career Mentorship
Our focus is not just on helping candidates pass the IE. We help build confident, employable instructors through mentoring, CV guidance, job advice, and post-IDC support.
Modern Equipment
Train with quality equipment from Scubapro, Gull, and Ocean Reef, with access to purpose-built training facilities, confined water areas, and Puerto Galera's best dive sites.
Multi-Lingual Support
Instruction is available in both English and Tagalog, helping support both international and Filipino candidates throughout the program.
Meet Your Course Director
Your IDC is only as good as the person leading it.
James Morton
Responsible for leading instructor development, IDC delivery, mentoring professional candidates, and maintaining training quality standards.
James has been affiliated with Lalaguna Villas for five years. He has played a key role in growing our dive operation into a well-established center that has more than doubled in size, building a loyal following of divers and professional candidates.
Certifications
- • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor — since 2018
- • Master Scuba Diver Trainer — since 2019
- • IDC Staff Instructor — since 2022
- • PADI Master Instructor — since 2025
Specialty Instructor Ratings: Sidemount, Wreck, Night, Drift, Deep, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Dive Against Debris, Peak Performance Buoyancy, PADI AWARE, Coral Reef Conservation, Care for Children with AED, Enriched Air, and Diver Propulsion Vehicle.
Education: NZ Level 5 Certificate in Adult Education and Training.
Jessica Atienza
Jessica has extensive experience in professional-level training, with over 770 certifications and multiple PADI Elite Instructor Awards. Having progressed through all professional levels in Puerto Galera, she understands both international expectations and domestic candidate needs.
Her role focuses on academic reinforcement, mentoring, and instructional consistency.
Program Differentiation & Advantages
Multilingual Support
Instruction available in English and Tagalog.
Facilities
Purpose-built training facilities supporting IDC delivery.
Mentorship
Structured post-IDC mentorship and professional development.
Career Pathways
Employment-focused instructor training.
Quality
Emphasis on instructional competence and professional readiness beyond IE performance.
IDC Packages
Choose the package that best suits your training goals, accommodation preferences, and development needs.
BRONZE
- 16 nights shared air-conditioned dorm accommodation at the DM Lodge
- Coral Reef Conservation, PADI AWARE, and Peak Performance Buoyancy specialties
- 10% F&B discount at LLV Restaurant
SILVER
- 16 nights private room accommodation at the DM Lodge
- Coral Reef Conservation, PADI AWARE, Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Choice of 2 extra specialties: Enriched Air, DPV, Deep, Wreck, Sidemount, or Drift
- 15% F&B discount
- 20% Scubapro retail discount
GOLD
- 16 nights Superior Studio accommodation at Lalaguna Villas
- Coral Reef Conservation, PADI AWARE, Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Choice of 3 extra specialties: Enriched Air, DPV, Deep, Wreck, Sidemount, or Drift
- 15% F&B discount
- 20% Scubapro retail discount
PLATINUM
- 16 nights Premium Suite accommodation at Lalaguna Villas
- Coral Reef Conservation, PADI AWARE, Peak Performance Buoyancy
- MSDT package included
- 5 additional specialties: Enriched Air, DPV, Deep, Wreck, Sidemount, or Drift
- 15% F&B discount
- 20% Scubapro retail discount
PADI IDC application fee, IE fee, and EFR fee are excluded from all packages and payable separately to PADI.
- IDC Application Fee: $364 AUD
- IE Fee: $1,190 AUD
- EFR Fee: $252 AUD
What's Included
Everything you need to focus on your training. No hidden costs, no surprises.
2026 IDC Dates
| IDC Prep | IDC | IE | MSDT |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 9–10 | June 11–24 | June 25–26 | June 28 |
| August 27–28 | August 29 – September 11 | September 12–13 | September 15 |
| November 10–11 | November 12–25 | November 26–27 | November 29 |
Class sizes are limited — early booking is recommended.
What You'll Learn
The IDC program covers everything you need to become a confident, job-ready PADI Instructor — from standards and theory to real-world teaching practice.
Workshops
- PADI System and Standards
- Risk Management and Licensing
- Dive Theory
- Learning and Teaching
- Continuing Education
- Sales Techniques and Retail Experience
Teaching Practice
- Classroom teaching presentations
- Confined water presentations
- Open water teaching presentations
- Performing all 24 Open Water skills
IDC Prep
- Skill circuits
- Rescue review
- Dive shop experience
- Fun dives and team bonding
Assessments
- Five-part Dive Theory exam
- PADI System and Standards exam
- 400m swim
- 10-minute float
IDC Prerequisites
Not yet a Divemaster? Contact us about Divemaster-to-Instructor pathways and custom Go Pro packages.
Explore our Divemaster packages to start your professional journey.
What Our Graduates Say
Real stories from real instructors who trained at Lalaguna Villas.
"The IDC at Lalaguna Villas was an incredible experience. James' teaching style made complex topics easy to understand. The resort facilities are unmatched — it felt like training in paradise."
"Best decision I ever made. The small class size meant I got personal attention on every skill. The career mentorship after the IDC helped me land my first instructor job within two weeks."
"The Verde Island Passage is the best training ground you could ask for. World-class biodiversity and conditions. Add in the luxury resort and it's hard to imagine doing your IDC anywhere else."
Ready to Start Your Instructor Career?
Whether you're ready to reserve your spot or just want to learn more, we'd love to hear from you. Fill out the form and our Course Director will personally get back to you within 24 hours.
You can also download our free PADI IDC Guide for detailed information about the program, schedule, and what to expect.
Reserve Your Spot
Limited places available per IDC. Enquire early to secure your preferred dates.
Your Diving Career Starts Here
Join the next generation of PADI Instructors trained in the world-renowned Verde Island Passage at a PADI 5-Star IDC Centre.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW