Career Development
At Blue Marlin Gili Trawangan, career development doesn’t stop when you pass your Instructor Examination. Becoming an instructor is just the beginning.
From MSDT preparation to Staff Instructor and beyond, our structured pathway helps you expand your specialty portfolio, gain real teaching experience, and grow professionally in one of Indonesia’s busiest dive centres.
Whether you completed your IDC with us or are joining from elsewhere, we provide a clear route forward
Career Pathway
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Staff Instructor
Master Instructor
MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer)
Requirements:
- 5 PADI Specialty Instructor ratings
- 25 certified students
MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) is an instructor rating that demonstrates versatility, experience, and commitment to professional growth. It shows future employers that you are capable of teaching across multiple environments, diver levels, and specialty areas.
It is the first major milestone beyond becoming an Open Water Scuba Instructor and represents real-world teaching experience — not just qualifications on paper.
How To Achieve MSDT
25 Certifications
To qualify for MSDT, you must have certified at least 25 students as a PADI Instructor.
At Blue Marlin Gili Trawangan, you can build these certifications through active teaching and our team teaching program. Team teaching means assisting a senior instructor on real courses — helping conduct briefings, skills sessions, confined water, and open water dives — while gaining supervised, hands-on teaching experience.
This allows you to earn certifications toward your MSDT requirement while developing confidence, control, and real-world instructional skills.
5 Specialty Instructor Ratings
You must also hold five PADI Specialty Instructor ratings. These demonstrate your ability to teach across diving environments and diver levels.
There are many specialty options available, allowing you to choose ratings that align with your interests or the types of dive centres you may work in throughout your career.
We offer structured specialty packages for IDC graduates as well as individual specialty options, helping you build a strategic, well-rounded portfolio while progressing toward MSDT status.
Specialty Instructor Options
IDC Graduate Package
If you completed your IDC with us, you already receive:
~Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor rating~
~Shark & Ray Conservation Instructor rating~
All of our IDC graduates can take advantage of our special package to gain the most from your Specialty training and really make your CV stand out. Our package lets you train in 4 more areas for only $400 USD (not including PADI application fees), check out the details below -
4 Specialty Package
$ 400 USD
Choose from any of the following instructor level options:
Deep Instructor
Everyone loves the deep, teach students to dive to 40 metres!
Night Instructor
Critters, creepy crawlies, lights off, and how to navigate in the dark.
Wreck Instructor
Learn reeling techniques and how to safely enter sunken wrecks.
Drift Instructor
Teach divers how to dive safely and get the most from diving in strong currents.
O2 Provider Instructor
A great addition to add to your Rescue courses, O2 can be a divers best friend.
Fish ID Instructor
Share the wonders of the ocean and teach the details of fish you see down there .
Underwater Naturalist Instructor
It's not all fish underwater, teach students about the whole ecosystem.
Digital Photography Instructor
Everyone wants their shots Instagram ready, teach them how!
Search & Recovery Instructor
Knots, Jackstays, Liftbags and more, a firm favourite for many divers.
Individual Specialty Instructor Ratings
If you completed your IDC elsewhere, already hold some Specialty Instructor ratings, or prefer to build your portfolio gradually, you are welcome to select individual specialties based on your interests, career plans, or employment goals.
This flexible option allows you to choose exactly which specialties you want to complete and how many, rather than committing to a package.
Non Diving Specialties
These are dry, classroom-based instructor courses. They focus on theory, standards, and how to effectively teach and conduct the specialty at student level.
There are no training dives required for the instructor rating.
Choose from the options listed below:
- Oxygen Provider Instructor Course
- Enriched Air (Nitrox) Instructor Course
1 Dive Specialties
For these specialties, you complete one training dive as part of your instructor-level course. This is reduced from the student-level requirement, which typically involves two dives.
Choose from the options listed below:
- Drift Instructor Course
- Night Instructor Course
- Fish ID Instructor Course
- Navigation Instructor Course
- Digital Underwater Photography Instructor Course
2 Dive Specialties
These specialties require two training dives at instructor level. This is reduced from the student-level course, which usually consists of four dives.
Choose from the options listed below:
- Deep Instructor Course
- Search & Recovery Instructor Course
- Wreck Instructor Course
PADI Application Fees
The following fees are payable directly to PADI:
Specialty Instructor Application
5 Specialties Submitted Together
(1 Free Application Fee. This fee total applies to our Graduate Package students)
MSDT Application Fee
Staff Instructor
Requirements:
- Hold MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) status
The Staff Instructor rating is the next major step in your professional development. It transitions you from focusing purely on teaching students to helping develop future instructors.
As a Staff Instructor, you assist on Instructor Development Courses (IDCs), mentor Instructor Candidates, and refine your evaluation and coaching skills.
The course involves assisting on real IDC programs while learning how to evaluate, coach, and support Instructor Candidates effectively. You develop a deeper understanding of instructor-level standards, presentation assessment, risk management, and professional mentorship.
This stage strengthens your confidence, refines your leadership skills, and positions you as a valued part of the instructional team within a professional dive centre.
Staff Instructor Course
As a Staff Instructor, you assist on IDC programs, mentor candidates, and further develop your coaching and evaluation skills. This step marks your transition from instructor to instructional leadership.
Requirements: MSDT Status
Additional Costs:
- PADI application fee: 236 AUD Enquire Now
- Crewpack (materials): $450 USD
Master Instructor
The Master Instructor Internship is the next major professional step before progressing toward Course Director level. The Master Instructor rating recognises sustained teaching excellence, mentorship, and meaningful contribution to the development of dive professionals.
At Blue Marlin Gili Trawangan, the Master Instructor pathway is run as a tailored internship rather than a fixed course.
Each program is designed around the individual — taking into account your current certifications, experience level, career goals, and the professional requirements needed to qualify for the rating. The focus is on building the depth of experience, leadership, and contribution necessary to meet PADI standards confidently and legitimately.
Price: Upon request.
Please contact us to discuss your experience and design a pathway suited to your professional goals.
Why Continue Your Career With Blue Marlin Gili Trawangan?
Real-World Teaching Volume
As one of Indonesia’s busiest dive centres, you gain access to consistent student flow and genuine teaching opportunities — allowing you to build certifications and experience efficiently.
Platinum Level Mentorship
Work directly alongside two Platinum Course Directors; Holly Macleod and Doug Hoy, as well as an experienced instructional team, gaining guidance, feedback, and professional insight at every stage.
Structured Yet Flexible Progression
From specialty development to leadership roles, we tailor your pathway to match your goals — whether that’s employability, long-term centre leadership, or progression toward Course Director.
Ready To Progress?
Whether you are working toward MSDT or aiming for instructional leadership, we can help you design a development pathway that aligns with your professional goals.
You can speak directly with our Platinum Course Director, Holly Macleod, to discuss your career progression and explore the options available to you. We’re happy to customise and tailor a package based on your current experience, certifications, and long-term plans.
