Blue Crew Divers
Floating IDC in the Bahamas
Liveaboard PADI Instructor Development Course
February 15-25, 2024
Welcome to the most immersive and stress-free IDC ever! In this IDC program, you are learning to become a Scuba Instructor while also enjoying the fun, relaxed, vacation-ready atmosphere of a liveaboard. If you’ve been considering becoming a PADI instructor, enroll in this extraordinary, first-of-its-kind Floating IDC.
Eat, Sleep, Learn, Dive! The Floating IDC program will be conducted primarily onboard the Bahamas Aggressor, a full service, luxury liveaboard. You will enjoy distraction-free learning while training on-location in the Caribbean. No dingy hotel rooms, no frat house apartments, no overwhelming crowds, no cattle-call exams, and (most importantly) NO STRESS! There is no better way to learn than in the most comprehensive and intimate IDC ever, while also enjoying the warmth and atmosphere of The Bahamas.
See below for more information about the itinerary, FAQ’s, and other important details. Rest assured there will be plenty of time for fun dives in between sessions!
The Floating IDC Team
The Floating IDC will be led by two highly decorated PADI Course Directors, Chris Donnelly and Everette Ingram. Both Chris and Everette represent a combined Instructor Development experience of over 30 years, and more than 60 years of diving.
Chris Donnelly, Chief Adventure Officer of Blue Crew Divers, will lead this program from start to finish. Chris brings his award-winning expertise as an instructor and as a dive operator to this IDC. Some of Chris’ accolades include:
- 3-time recipient of the PADI Platinum Course Director award
- 1-time gold recipient and 10-time silver recipient
- Awarded Elite Instructor 150, 100 and 50 multiple times
Chris has conducted more Instructor Development programs than any other Course Director consistently east of the Mississippi and north of Florida in the last 20 years. You will benefit from Chris’ extensive professional experience as a career PADI Diver. Some of Chris’ experience includes:
- Developed programs with NYPD Scuba Team, US Army Test Center
- Has conducted over 150 IDC’s nationally for 20+ years
- Currently oversees all Blue Crew Divers operations in Frazer, PA, and the Persistence Charter boat operations in Ocean City, NJ
- Spent 10 years as a manufacturer’s representative for Sherwood Scuba
- Has trained divers in every environment, from local lakes to international wrecks, up into Canada under ice, and all over the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans.
Also in this trip, you’ll train with Everette Ingram, a man who has traveled to over 190 countries - many of those for diving! Everette began his professional diving career in Jordan and earned his Course Director rating there as well. Everette has worked in Jordan, Atlanta, Fiji, Honduras and now Pennsylvania, USA. He manages Blue Crew Divers and continually mentors our instructor team daily. Everette has conducted IDC's and Specialty Training programs in Jordan, Honduras, Trinidad & Tobago, Maldives and Georgia and Pennsylvania, USA.
Everette is a highly experienced, highly decorated PADI Instructor. Just a few of his accomplishments include:
- Awarded both the Silver and Gold Course Director award multiple times
- Has earned the Elite Instructor award year after year, including…
- The Elite 300 Award - 2 Times!
- The Elite 200 Award - 2 Times!
- The Elite 150 Award – 4 Times!
- The Elite 100 Award – 6 Times!
Learning from Chris and Everette on not only how to be an instructor, but how to maximize your income as an instructor, will be a lucrative experience. Chris has dedicated the last 15 years of his career focusing on the success of diving businesses and mentoring other local dive centers with guidance on how to successfully grow their businesses.
The Floating IDC program will also include IDC Staff Instructors, IDC Staff Instructor Candidates, and Master Instructors.
"I completed my IDC with Everette and Chris and as a student, client, and a professional diver who works at another shop (in Belmar, NJ)- I cannot recommend Blue Crew Divers enough. Their team is full of well trained divers understanding how to keep everyone safe, but also to have fun. If you are in the area and want to check out diving- Blue Crew all the way. I look forward to working with them again and hopefully soon!" - Victoria Ruibal
"Chris is one of the most knowledgeable and respectful dive professionals I have ever met. I live in Virginia and found out about Chris during my search for an OWSI course. I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor who I also call a great friend." - Tonya Atwel
About the Bahamas Aggressor
When considering your options for liveaboard scuba diving in the Caribbean, the Bahamas and her Out Islands offer a distinct blend of international glamor and tropical ease.
The many islands and cays of the Bahamas form the background of your liveaboard scuba diving trip, sprawling across nearly 100,000 square miles of ocean, beginning at the northern point east of Palm Beach, Florida and spanning 750 miles to the southeast where they come within 50 miles of Cuba and Haiti.
- Length: 100 ft
- Passengers: 14
- Staterooms: 6 including 1 Quad Stateroom
- Boarding: Saturday 3 pm
- Check out: Saturday 8 am
"Wonderful trip, delivered on all promises. Our chef (Vanessa) was amazing, crew was fun and friendly, diving was amazing." - Iona K
Sample IDC Itinerary
Below is an example of the Floating IDC itinierary. This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, location, and other factors. Please use the below information as a general guide only. there will be plenty of time for fun dives, too.
REMOTE LEARNING: 3 to 4 Zoom sessions prior to the start of the program
February 15-16th: Classroom & pool training at Blue Crew Divers in Frazer, PA
February 17th: Travel to Nassau, Bahamas, and board the liveaboard vessel
February 18-23rd: Floating PADI Instructor Development Course
February 23rd: Instructor Exam Orientation
February 24th: Disembark the vessel
February 24th: Check into local Nassau hotel
February 24-25th: Instructor Exam in Nassau, Bahamas
February 26th: Fly home
FAQ for the Floating IDC
Q. How many students will be able to participate?
A. This IDC Program is limited to 6 IDC / OWSI Candidates.
Q. Does this program meet all PADI standards for IDC?
A. Yes, and then some!
Q. Who should attend the Floating IDC?
A. This program is open to all divemaster’s wishing to enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Program, or PADI Assistant Instructors wishing to earn their Open Water Scuba Instructor rating. This is also open to anyone interested in the PADI Staff Instructor rating.
Q. What are the prerequisites for this program?
A. All candidates must be 18+ years old, have logged 100+ dives, an Emergency First Response Instructor, and a PADI Divemaster or equivalent.
Q. Are there any other certifications available?
A. Specialty instructor certifications are also available. Inquire to learn more.
Q. How seriously do the attendees take this course? Isn’t it just like a vacation?
A. This is a comprehensive immersive Instructor Development program, catering to all levels of the Instructor Development process from DM to Master Instructor. This program is limited to divers who are ready to take the next step in their PADI career.
READY TO BOOK?
We are just as excited as you are about this program! The Floating IDC is a unique, immersive experience that will provide the tools and support necessary to support your professional growth as a PADI Instructor. We are here to help you every step of the way.
Questions? Please email, call (610) 665-3483 (DIVE), or use the Contact Form.
Booking is a 2-step process. Please book the program and the trip separately. We have buttons below to help make it easier.
