About Diving Careers

Course Director Tony Fontes heads the staff. Tony has been involved in instructor training since receiving his Course Director certification in 1981. Under his guidance, his instructor training program has won numerous awards including the prestigious Outstanding Course Director award. To date, Tony has trained over 1800 instructor candidates, a rare milestone.

Tony is a well-known figure in the Australian dive industry as his involvement goes well beyond instructor training. For 15 years he was owner/director of a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Centre on the Great Barrier Reef. He has also been involved in setting up numerous dive operations in the South Pacific.

Tony is also very active when it comes to protecting the marine environment. For nine years he was a member of the Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee, which oversees the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Currently, Tony is chairman of the Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee. He is also a Governor for Project AWARE.

When not teaching diving, Tony is often found conducting a variety of marine awareness programs. He works closely with local schools and community groups, helping them develop effective marine conservation projects.

The training venue provides instructor candidates with every possible convenience. The classrooms are large, comfortable and air-conditioned. Training aids such as computers, DVD/TV, digital projectors, and whiteboards are available for candidate use. For your comfort, coffee and tea are provided throughout the program. And, of course, the original and quite famous IDC Survival Kit.

The open water locations are chosen to ensure maximum time as well as provide realistic conditions for student training. Quality boats provide the transport to the dive sites. The instructor-training schedule can be hectic so we take care of all logistical considerations. Tank, weightbelt and air are provided at no cost. Equipment hire is available on site should the need arise. And most important – we organise the graduation dinner and the shout is on us!!