DIfferent Backgrounds, Same Result: 4 Aquanauts Students Become New PADI Instructors

PADI Instructor Development Course & IE – May 2011

Aquanauts' May 2011 IDC/IE Class: From left (back) OWSI Cory Harner, IDCS Jason Orage, OWSI Juergen Wessel; (front) Colin Whittall, Course Director Roger M. Smith and William Watson

A 47-year-old builder, a 26-year-old cook, a German executive and a big, tall Texan seem like unlikely team members, but the four Aquanauts students from around the world became the latest PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors at Pattaya’s May 2011 Instructor Exam.

Interns Colin Whittall and William Watson of England and American Cory Harner joined long-time Aquanauts part-time student Juergen Wessel in reaching the PADI instructor level. IDC Staff Instructor Jason Orage and Course Director Roger Smith directed their training during the week-long Instructor Development Course.

Watson had come to Aquanauts last year having never been certified and spent 7 months training to become an OWSI. Whittall took four months, skipping April’s test to be ensure he passed with flying colors. Wessel long ago thought about taking an internship, but work got in the way. So he chipped away at it over time. And Harner jumped in with two big feet, committing to not only OWSI, but Master Scuba Diver Trainer and IDC Staff Instructor as well.

Aquanaut’s 4-for-4 made it a month shy of four complete years with a perfect, 100% pass rate on the PADI Instructor Exam, making the 5-Star Career Development Center’s pass rate the best in Thailand.