Dive Phuket with Indepth Dive Centre
Dive Phuket: Indepth is a PADI 5* Instructor Development Center (IDC) & TecRec center. And one of Thailand’s leading PADI Dive Centers.
Formed some 17 years ago, “Indepth Instruction” is the brain child of PADI Course Director and Rebreather Instructor Trainer Chris Owen. Chris now sports over 25 years’ experience working full time in the scuba diving industry in Thailand and Asia. Continuing to dive Phuket and teaching scuba diving remains his passion.
As divers, we love to dive Phuket. After so many years we still enjoy providing thrilling first time try dive experiences with the PADI Discover Scuba Diving. We also teach PADI Open Water Diver courses and offer PADI scuba diving courses all the way to the professional levels. This starts with the PADI Divemaster Course and PADI Instructor Development Course or IDC. In addition, you can dive on a Rebreather! If you are not certified to dive on a Rebreather DO NOT PANIC! PADI Rebreather Courses from diver level to PADI Rebreather Instructor are also available.
Our Dive Shop is focused on quality, safety and fun. We have achieved this by remaining small and concentrating on being thoroughly professional and building on experience. Dive Centers whose main aim is volume or who use cheap pricing to attract many students CANNOT achieve this. Therefore we decided to focus on small numbers, and on providing the best possible personal and professional touches we can.
As a result, we are not the cheapest, and to be honest we would not want to be the cheapest! To dive Phuket properly there is simply no way to provide the quality and value for money that we believe we provide and be the "cheapest".
What IDC Phuket Offers
We choose to offer what we would look for ourselves if we were looking to dive Phuket. Whether it is a Liveaboard Safari or a Phuket Day trip to dive the local Phuket dive sites. We strive to offer the best customer service and value for money possible!
Chris is first of all CEO of Indepth and is also the owner. He currently manages and teaches the Instructor Development / IDC side of the Dive Centre. Furthermore, Chris runs the Poseidon Rebreather Centre operations. Since 1992 Chris has been working full time in the scuba diving industry in Thailand. As a result this means over 25 years’ experience from working as a Divemaster to teaching Scuba Diving. And since becoming a PADI Course Director in April 2000, teaching people how to teach people to teach Scuba Diving. In addition, Chris has managed and owned Dive Shops in Thailand, before opening Indepth on Phuket.
His experience in every aspect of dive company management means that Indepth Dive Centre runs smoothly and successfully. Back in 1995 Chris was also the first to bring Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) to Thailand in 1995, and in turn Dive Phuket on Nitrox.
He became a PADI Course Director in April 2000 focusing on Instructor level training for PADI, EFR and DAN. Since 2012 Chris became addicted to diving the Poseidon Rebreather and is consequently now a PADI Poseidon Rebreather Instructor Trainer.
Dive Phuket with our Indepth philosophy!
Dive Phuket: We pride ourselves on our reputation for quality and professionalism gained since Chris started Indepth in 1999. And since opening our purpose built Indepth Training Center in 2010.
We understand just how important your time is to you while you are on holiday yet you want to Dive Phuket! We offer flexible course structures focusing on online PADI materials consequently saving you time before you dive Phuket. However this does not limit your learning experience. In addition we also offer customised dive Phuket packages including Phuket Day Trips, Similan and Burma Liveaboards and Speed Boat Charters. Therefore everything to suit your own dive Phuket schedule.
Dive Phuket successfully, safely & enjoyably by taking advantage of these key features:
PADI 5* IDC Facilities and 5* Service.
Knowledgeable & helpful staff with many years’ experience of Thailand and Phuket both underwater and on-land.
Dive Phuket Day Trips with 2 or 3 dives / days.
Variety of Dive Phuket Day Tour Packages.
We can put you on any Phuket dive site any day of the week.
Purposes built Scuba Diving Training Center incl use of 5m and 3m deep purpose built pools.
PADI Scuba Diving Courses from Beginner to Professional.
PADI Instructor Development Courses.
Poseidon Rebreather Center: Offering a full range of Poseidon CCR Rebreather Courses and Poseidon CCR Rebreather support.
Technical Dive Courses: Both Open Circuit and Closed Circuit Rebreathers incl Trimix.
DAN Courses from Provider level up to DAN Instructor Levels
Liveaboards to the Similan & Surin Islands: North of Phuket
Liveaboard trips to Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and Ko Haa: South of Phuket
Liveaboard Safaris to Burma
All Indepth Staff qualified and current with CPR, First Aid and Oxygen Administration
Hotel and taxi reservations
TAT License
Visa inquiries and Help
And last but not least: Dive Phuket with Indepth Dive Centre! For a fun, safe, exciting and enthusiastic Thailand scuba diving experience for you to remember!
PADI IDC: Not all PADI IDCs are the same!
We run the most dynamic, innovative, updated to the minute PADI IDC Instructor Development Course and Scuba Diving Internships. We strive to keep you always on the PADI IDC cutting edge and one step ahead of the rest. This is absolutely vital when looking for work in such a competitive industry. And after 25 years working full-time in the Dive Industry, and 18 years of teaching PADI IDC programs, we do know what we are doing!
What is one of the most important decisions you will ever make when you looking to become a PADI Instructor and join a PADI IDC? Choosing your PADI Course Director is the answer!
Some questions which spring to mind when looking for a PADI IDC and PADI Course Director are:
How long have they been diving?
When did they become a PADI Instructor?
When did they become a PADI Course Director?
How many PADI IDC have they taught?
What is their REAL PADI IDC and IE Pass Rate?
What scuba diving and Instructor Development (PADI IDC) experience do they actually have?
Are they offering lot of FREE PADI Specialty Instructor Courses then WHY? If they are successful why are they giving away these PADI Instructor Courses away for FREE??
What are their PADI IDC Training Facilities like?
Can they help you find work afterwards?
Will they still support and Mentor you once the PADI IDC and IE are over?
Since 1999 our PADI Course Director Chris Owen has taught over 170 successful PADI IDC programs. And he has certified over 1,700 PADI Instructors to varying levels.
Please remember NOTHING replaces experience in life! if you were to have an operation would you choose a new Dr who had done the operation 5 times? Or one who was up to date and had performed more than 160 of them over the past 17 years!
PADI IDC IE Pass Rates:
Not only are Chris's PADI Instructor Development Courses (PADI IDC) some of the best available anywhere in the world. They also produce unmatched pass rates year after year with his PADI IDC Candidates regularly scoring way above average:
2000 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2001 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2002 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2003 - First unsuccessful candidate at first PADI IE
2004 - Two Candidates unsuccessful at first PADI IE
2005 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2006 - Two Asian Candidates unsuccessful on written exams in English
2007 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2008 - One English candidate unsuccessful in OW, did the wrong skill.
2009 - One French candidate unsuccessful; nerves. One Swedish Candidate problem with translations but no problem second time around.
2010 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2011 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2012 - 100% First PADI IE Pass Rate
2013 - One Asian Candidate unsuccessful. They taught wrong skill in OW NERVES I'm afraid.
2014 - 100% First IE Pass Rate
2015 - One Asian Candidate unsuccessful on written Exams in English didn't take the IDC seriously unfortunately
2016 - One Asian Candidate unsuccessful on written Exams in English: ran out of time due to English language difficulty.
2017 - 100% First IE Pass Rate
2018 - 100% First IE Pass Rate
2019 - 100% First IE Pass Rate
By teaching the very latest PADI Courses as soon as they are released and using all the very latest PADI materials as soon as they become available. We ensure that your PADI IDC Instructor Development Course experience is the most updated, comprehensive and professional available!
Chris's Indepth PADI IDC includes:
Small Classes - Our PADI IDC is limited to 6 Candidates
IE Pass Guarantee
5% Early Bird discount
5% Cash Incentive discount
10 day Indepth PADI IDC program
3 day PADI IDC Prep including PADI EANx Diver and DAN Oxygen Provider Courses
Purpose built 5m & 3m deep scuba diving training pools.
Thai Buffet Style lunch for all PADI IDC Candidates - 10 days.
Complementary High-speed onsite Wifi for E-mail & Internet use.
Computerized classrooms with full multimedia support; including LCD Projectors, speakers in the ceiling, desk top computers etc.
PADI IDC Candidate Social area with full size fridge, coffee, tea, drinking water etc
Access to Training Centre 24 hrs / day for evening or afternoon study.
Extra in-water workshops: CESA, Surface Skills, Pocket Mask Rescue workshop
Discount of 20-30% off PADI / EFR materials
VIP Discount card - up to 20% off all equipment purchases
VIP Discount card - 15% off all Phuket Day Trips and Liveaboards
Tanks & weights for all Prep / AI / PADI IDC / OWSI / MSDT activities
Full support during your Instructor Examination
Full range of Instructor Continuing Education directly following your PADI IDC & IE
PADI Rebreather Courses available from beginner to Instructor
Job placement service
Complementary Visa Assistance
PLEASE NOTE: As of June 2018 we no longer include IDC accommodation in our PADI IDC packages. This is due to a number of reasons, however we still use the same IDC accommodation as we have the passed 8 year. We have simply taken the price of the IDC accommodation we included out of out IDC Packages and reduced the price of the IDC packages by that amount. So essentially the cost of our PADI IDC Packages remain the same. You still get the same IDC accommodation at the same price, it's just not included in the reduced IDC package pricing.
10 Day expanded PADI IDC
Although PADI requires a PADI IDC to have a minimum duration of 7 days we have never run a 7 day program. Over the years we have found extra presentations and workshops highly beneficial to our candidates' success. To accommodate these extras that we have integrated into our program, we have found a 10 day program more suitable.
Some examples of extra workshops include: Ascents & Descents, Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA) pool and open water. Student Control both under water and at the surface and effective Pocket Mask use among others.
We work hard to keep this an efficient and relaxed program. This is important because people are most receptive to learning and perform their best in a low stress environment, whilst keeping it fun.
Small Classes = Personal Attention!
Chris is proud of his PADI IE Pass Rate. One of the ways this fantastic pass rate has been maintained has been by limiting class sizes to no more than 6 PADI IDC Candidates / IDC.
It is only by limiting Candidate numbers that ANY Course Director can spend the necessary time. And give you the personal attention that YOU need and YOU deserve to fully develop your abilities! Our staff are dedicated to YOUR IDC program and are available 24 hrs a day to answer any queries or questions you might have.
Extra remedial lectures and workshops are ALWAYS available and are scheduled during the evenings as required.
Although PADI allows a maximum ratio of 8 candidates to one PADI Course Director / PADI IDC Staff Instructor (8:1). We limit our PADI IDC candidate to staff ratio to 5:1.
Working in groups of 5 gives everyone time for discussion and individual feedback. This number is also ideal for the Confined and Open Water Teaching Presentations you will be giving during your PADI IDC. You will also profit enormously from the contributions and ideas of your fellow IDC candidates.
Due to the continued success rate of Chris's Indepth PADI IDC programs on Phuket, Thailand Chris is happy to offer you the following guarantee :
"Should you attend anyone of our PADI IDC packages which includes our IDC Preparation Program. In the unlikely event that you should not be successful, then you will be invited to attend another PADI IDC with Indepth free of charge"
"Early Bird 5% Discount Program"
This was introduced in 2003 to try and ease the chaos of last minute PADI IDC bookings. Correct you wouldn't believe how late some people leave it! We are now trying to encourage PADI IDC Candidates to as early as possible to ease our last minute PADI IDC logistics and to avoid disappointment:
Receive a 5% discount off any PADI IDC bookings made 30 days prior to the start of your PADI IDC program!
Be organised and reap the rewards!
The 5% Cash incentive program is simple ….
By paying by credit card we lose 5% to the bank. So as someone has to lose this money we thought it might be nicer to give the money to YOU rather than the bank.
Pay in CASH and receive a further 5% discount off your PADI IDC package price.
Check out our purpose built Scuba Diving Training Facility: Our IDC Training Facilities
PADI IDC Facilities and study options during the PADI IDC
You are very much encouraged to work together on your "homework assignments". We have found that staying at the same location helps this enormously! We will even give the IDC Class a key to the Training Centre. So you will have ample time to practice by yourselves or with the staff in the evenings after class and make use of the social area and facilities.
Our IDC Staff and Languages
Chris teaches his PADI IDC programs in English, although he can teach in English, French and Thai. There are two main reasons for this, the first of course being that Chris is English! The second and more important reason is that because the dive industry is such a huge, diverse and truly international business. Although you might plan to teach only in your native language the chances are your going to find yourself doing a lot of teaching in English.
Our aim is to prepare you for this from the beginning.
During the PADI IDC Chris is assisted by various PADI IDC Staff Instructors. These instructors are fluent in a number of languages and will be able to clarify any language related questions you might have. Staff languages currently include French, German, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Chinese, Maldivian and Thai. More are available with advanced notice.
Should you wish to give a presentation during the PADI IDC or the IE in your own language then with advance notice we can arrange for a suitable translator. You are however encouraged to give your presentations in English.
We are able to provide you with written exams, both Dive Theory and Standards, in over 22 languages both during the PADI IDC and at the IE.
If you have any doubts about language please don't worry - just contact Chris.
PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Course included!
Unfortunately it is a sad fact that people do suffer accidents. As we are all aware the most important first aid for diving related accidents is that of immediate oxygen provision. What is even sadder is that a large percentage of dive professionals, both PADI Divemasters and Instructors have NEVER received training in this field. And are untrained in oxygen administration.
Consequently Chris has integrated the PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Course into our Indepth PADI IDC program!
Mandatory for PADI Instructors and PADI Divemasters in most countries throughout the World. This course gives candidates a basic knowledge for the practical administration of oxygen using various delivery systems, including demand, oronasal mask, constant flow and pocket mask.
Support During your PADI IE
Most PADI Course Directors and PADI IDC Centers do not accompany their IDC candidates during the PADI Instructor Examination / IE.
We do ...
Although we know that your preparation is completed and our job is over at the end of the PADI IDC. We also take care of all the logistics during your PADI IE. Chris and his IDC Staff will accompany you throughout your PADI IE program.
This guarantees that you can concentrate 100% on your IE! Without you wasting any time worrying about transport, tanks, weights, equipment and the like.
Looking for work as a PADI instructor?
Should we not be able to find work for you within our own operations then we have many, many contacts. Chris has lived and worked in the diving industry in Thailand for the past 25 years, 18 of those running almost monthly PADI IDCs. In Thailand for example, Chris has worked in Ko Samui, Ko Tao, Pattaya and Bangkok. As such, Chris has a huge international network, not only within Thailand. Many his past IDC Candidates now own or manage PADI Dive Centres. Consequently Chris has a huge network of contacts and is extremely successful in placing instructors. Whether it is on Phuket, Phi Phi, Ko Tao, Ko Chang, Thailand, Asia, Europe and throughout the rest of the world. It is actually quite rare in today's age of Social Media for Chris NOT to be able to find an instructor he has taught in a specific country or area.
Something else you should do to increase your chance of getting a job is to increase you qualifications. The more you are able to offer a dive centre customers, the greater you chance of being employed.
PADI Specialty Instructor Training are a good way to do this. We offer a full range of PADI Specialty Instructor training immediately after every PADI IE.
So far every one of Chris's PADI IDC Candidates who has wanted a job in Thailand for example, has been successfully employed!
We would urge you to be cautious about any PADI Course Director or Dive Centre offering you "guaranteed" Work / Job if you do your PADI IDC with them. Over the decades that we have been running PADI Instructor Courses we have heard and seen many disappointments with this type of offer.
Who is PADI Course Director Chris Owen?
PADI Course Director Chris Owen
Chris Owen is a British national who started diving in the cold dark waters of England in 1991. But who has had the pleasure of living and diving in Asia for the last 26 years. In 1992 Chris arrived in Thailand and spent a year on the islands of Ko Samui, Koh Phangan & Ko Tao. This was back in the "Good Old Days" when the islands were unspoiled, relatively unknown and undeveloped. In fact ,there were 7 Dive Centers on Koh Tao then, although there are now there are over 60.
After that Chris Owen traveled south to Singapore and the East Coast of Malaysia and Tioman Island. Chris worked on Tioman as a PADI Divemaster with some of the best diving in Malaysia. It was working here that he saw his first manta ray and swam, dived and snorkeled with sharks! Sadly, sharks are rare to see there now.
After½ year working and diving in Malaysia Chris returned to Thailand where in October 1993 he took his PADI IDC. With successful completion of his IE Chris was then offered work by his PADI Course Director, the Late Stephen Blumenthal. Thus Chris moved up into the Gulf of Siam. Here he worked out of Pattaya, a coastal resort 2 hour south of Bangkok for the next 6 years. After that Chris sold his shares in Mermaid's Dive Centre where he was Manager and partner. Chris then worked as an independent Instructor before he took his IDC Staff Course and fell in love with Instructor Development.
From here Chris went on to become a PADI Course Director and relocated to Phuket where Thailand’s best scuba diving is. Thus, it was on Phuket that Chris set up Indepth Instruction Co Ltd. And his now famous PADI IDC Instructor
Not only has Chris has worked as a PADI Divemaster and Tour Leader, filling tanks and loading boats and working as a dive guide.
But also all the way through to being a Manager and owner of several PADI dive centers. This now includes his own PADI 5* IDC & TecRec Centre Indepth Dive Centre S-36108. Consequently, Chris is familiar with most aspects of the Dive Industry and The Business of Diving.
Additionally, Chris is extremely lucky to have watched the Dive Industry in Thailand grow and develop. This is from 1992 in the days when there were NO PADI 5* IDC Dive Centers on places like Ko Tao or Pattaya, till today. Chris has also been very fortunate to work extensively in both in the "Resort Tourist” environments such as Ko Tao, Ko Samui, Phuket in Thailand. And Tioman Island and The Perhentian Islands in Malaysia. This is in addition to the “Land based / City orientated” environments of Bangkok, Pattaya and Singapore. And as such is familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of both.
Knowledge drawn from over 25 years of working in these fields adds a lot of valuable information to the quality of quantity of information that Chris puts into his now World Famous PADI IDC programs. Moreover, that is not to mention the number of contacts Chris now has throughout the Diving World and which he can out you in contact with if needed.
Chris Owen became a PADI Course Director in April 2000 has now taught over 160 IDCs. As well as certifying well over 1,500 PADI Instructors to varying levels.
Chris Owen has received many Certificates of "Recognition of Excellence" from PADI. These are mostly for his PADI IDC programs and customer service. Additionally, Chris also has a number of “Certificates in Recognition of Outstanding Performance and support conducting Instructor Development programs.”
In 1985 Chris, along with Steve, bought in the 1st Nitrox/EANx Blending station into Thailand. Consequently Chris Owen was one of the first people in Thailand to start diving Nitrox and teaching Rebreathers. This started with the Fino back in 1996. And was followed by The Draeger Dolphin / Atlantis Semi Closed Circuit Rebreathers (SCCR) in 1999. And then finally falling head over heels in LOVE with the Poseidon MKVI & Poseidon Se7en Closed Circuit Rebreathers.
In fact his life (nor his wife’s) life has never been the same since. Because, apart from when teaching a PADI IDC, Chris hasn’t dived on Open Circuit for almost 4 years. Therefore, if you are taking any PADI Specialty Instructor Courses or diving with Chris, he will be diving his Poseidon Se7en CCR Rebreather.
You could even take the PADI Poseidon Rebreather Course with Chris and spend some bubble free, fish-full, 3 hour dives with him.
In 2009 Chris got “fed up” of working with other PADI 5* IDC centres and wanted to see things "done properly."
So with his life's savings from working in diving he bought a building on Phuket, in Chalong, 3 minutes’ walk from where all the Phuket Day scuba diving Trips leave from. Owning the building allowed Chris to renovate the building specifically to be a "Role-model" PADI 5* IDC Training Facility. And this was the birth of Indepth Dive Centre (IDC) PADI 5* IDC & TecRec S-36108 ....
Apart from being a:
PADI Course Director
Poseidon Rebreather Instructor Trainer
EFR Instructor Trainer
EFR for Children Instructor Trainer
PADI Specialty Instructor Trainer (17 Specialties)
DAN Instructor Trainer: Oxygen, Hazardous Marine Life Injuries & AED
DSAT TecRec Trimix / EANx Blender Instructor Trainer
Chris is also a qualified Dive Medic Technician on call with the local Hyperbaric Chamber in Phuket. Additionally Chris Owen is also an American Nitrox Divers International (ANDI) Level 2 Instructor, Gas Blender and Service Technician. Moreover, he is also an IAHD and DDI Instructor. And therefore works training disabled divers when he has the chance. He is also working on his Instructor Trainer for DDI.
Currently he is working on his Cavern Diver Course and Tec CCR Instructor ratings and is looking forward to teaching these soon. The only problem Chris is having is finding the time to...
GO DIVE!
Rebreather Diver
Emergency Oxygen Provider
Fish ID Diver
AWARE Shark Conservation Diver
Dolphin / Atlantis SCCR Rebreather Diver
Wreck Diver Diver
Search & Recovery Diver
Drift Diver
Underwater Naturalist Diver
Dive Propulsion Vehicle (DPV)
PADI Boat Diver
PADI Multilevel Diver
Underwater Photography Diver
Underwater Navigator
Night Diver
Deep Diver
Digital Underwater Photography
Dive Centre Employee - Distinctive Specialty
AED Instructor - Distinctive Speciality
First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries - Distinctive
Oxygen First Aid - Distinctive Specialty
Course Director
