Thien rang in 2012 by traveling to Mabul Island, in Semporna, Sabah, East Malaysia to conduct PADI first IDC program for 2012. Scuba Junkie, PADI Award winning 5 Star IDC center, hosted the program for the third time since 2010. The three candidates, covering 3 different nationalities, worked hard and achieved success by completing the IDC and passing the first IE in the world for 2012.

Big congratulations to Dr. Azhar bin Hussin (Malaysia), Becky Willcock (England) and Nelly Burnier Framboret (France) in becoming PADI first certified Open Water Instructors in the world for 2012.

About our PADI IDC program at Mabul Island:

The entire IDC, EFRI and specialty Instructor courses are conducted at Scuba Junkie's Mabul Beach Resort (MBR). On-site dedicated classroom, Accommodation, all meals, confined water and access to the world's best open water dive sites in Sipadan + Mabul + Kapalai + Siamil Islands are just a few minutes from the dive center. Along with Thien, the Course Director, the IDC team also included Scuba Junkie IDC Staff Instructor, Rohan Perkins, MBR Manager and a founder of SEAS, as part of the team to coach and train the candidates during the 14 days program.

Scuba Junkie's Mabul Beach Resort also is the only dive center in borneo with a dedicated Sea Turtle Hatchery Area, supporting a Shark Sanctuary for Semporna, monitor and protect sea turtles eggs on the beaches of Mabul Island. More than 10,000 RM has been raised through the sales of T-shirts to support Sharks Education Awareness Survival (SEAS) Foundation, where 100% of the sales are donated to the protection of sharks in the Semporna area.

The GoPro Thailand team at Rumblefish Adventure fully support the conservation effort by our friends and colleagues at Scuba Junkie. For more information about our next PADI IDC in Mabul, or diving with the Scuba Junkie team, please email us. We look forward to dive with you in the near future.

Continuing our support for India since 2009, Thien and the Barefoot Scuba Team, India's first and only true PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Resort, announced India's first PADI IDC Program in May 2012. The IDC and IE will be hosted at Barefoot Scuba, Havelock, the Andamans & Nicobar, India.

Thien continued his support of India's diving industry by returning to the Andaman Islands to conduct his fourth PADI IDC programs in one of the best dive destinations in Asia, Andamans Islands. Known as one of the most remote places on Earth, the Andaman Islands offer some of the best virginal dive sites in Asia. Barefoot Scuba and Thien have scheduled 2012 first PADI IDC program for India as followed.

Upcoming India PADI IDC Date:

24th April - 5th May (Prep, EFRI, IDC, IDC Staff Instructor Course)
6th - 7th May (Specialty Instructor Courses)
9th - 10th May (IE in Havelock Island, India)

How about it? You are up for a PADI IDC in one of the best dive destinations in the world? The team at Barefoot Scuba is ready to host one of the best IDC program where diving, practical training sessions, room & board are just steps away...

Come for the IDC or just come hang out and dive, we hope to see you in the water.

Travel suggestions:
Connecting to Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Territory from Kolkata, Mumbai or Chernai, India (many daily flights).

Email us if you plan to drop in, we do have to make sure we have a room for ya!

Greetings and thank you for coming to visit GoPro-thailand.com, the official PADI IDC Website for Rumble fish Adventure PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Resort, located in the serene Kata Beach, Phuket Thailand.