PADI 5-Star CDC · Platinum Course Director · Malapascua
Why do your IDC on Malapascua with TSD?
Not all instructor development is equal. Here’s what sets training with Thresher Shark Divers and a Platinum Course Director apart.
Photo: Simon Rogerson
The difference
Four reasons candidates choose us
A single Platinum CD mentor
You train one-on-one with Toni Plaza Baños — one of fewer than 10% of Course Directors worldwide to hold Platinum status. No staff rotations, no being passed between instructors.
A 5-Star CDC, not a basic IDC centre
Thresher Shark Divers is a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre — the highest PADI rating — with 1,000+ professionals trained since 2004. That depth of experience is rare.
Daily threshers + serious diving
Sunrise thresher shark dives at Kimud Shoal, the tunnels of Gato Island, mandarinfish at Lighthouse Reef. You learn to teach in genuinely world-class conditions.
Small groups, 100% first-time IE record
Classes are deliberately small. Every candidate Toni has prepared has passed the PADI Instructor Examination first time — she is the only sole instructor in the Philippines with this record.
How we compare
Malapascua vs Koh Tao, Bali & Utila
An honest look at where you train and who teaches you.
| Malapascua with TSD | Typical Koh Tao / Bali / Utila | |
|---|---|---|
| Training environment | 5★ CDC, world-class wall & shark diving | Often high-volume, basic IDC centres |
| Mentor | One Platinum Course Director, start to finish | Staff rotations; varying experience |
| Group size | Small, high-attention cohorts | Frequently large IDC groups |
| Diving variety | Threshers, tunnels, reefs, mandarinfish | Variable; often single-site |
| Cost of living | Affordable Philippine island living | Bali/Koh Tao busier & pricier in season |
| IE track record | 100% first-time pass rate | Rarely published |
Comparing PADI and SSI? Read our honest breakdown → PADI vs SSI Instructor
Ready to plan your IDC?
Tell us your level, goal and start date. We’ll send a clear plan with dates, costs and the best package for you.