Philippines –
Ayala Cohen
PADI IDC with Ayala Cohen in the Philippines.
Address
Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort Logon, Daanbantayan Cebu 6013, Philippines.
Do your PADI IDC with Ayala Cohen in the Philippines!
Take your IDC in the Philippines with Ayala, PADI Course Director. Lets have a chat with Ayala.
PADI Course Director Ayala Cohen began diving in the UK over 10 years ago, after completing all of her recreational courses and her PADI Divemaster course in the UK she decided to turn her hobby into her profession.
In 2004, she moved to Thailand and started her new life as PADI Instructor.
She has been living, diving and teaching in Asia for over 10 years and has amassed over 4600 dives in many locations – UK, Mexico, Israel, Egypt, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Philippines.
After working as a full time PADI Instructor for six years and becoming more involved with PADI Divemaster training she decided to take the next step and become a PADI Course Director and has been working as a full time Course Director ever since.
What is your philosophy on teaching Instructor Development Courses?
Ayala believes that people learn best when they are relaxed and comfortable. Her IDC program is a minimum of 16 days to allow for more opportunities to practice being an instructor rather than learning how to pass an IE and then be thrown into the deep end when teaching real students. During her IDC Program candidates will conduct many real life workshops – Rescue, Ascents/Descents, CESA, DSD, Navigation and Search and Recovery workshop. The workshops are as realistic as possible, to help candidates to develop confidence in being able to conduct all PADI courses and all manor of students. With smaller numbers, each candidate gets a more personal course and tailoring to their needs and requirements.
How do you stand out from other Course Directors?
Ayala has a 100% first time pass rate. Every candidate who has completed his or her IDC with Ayala has passed first time round! Ayala ensures that she is always available for support or advice with real world explanations, whether it be conducting skills with multiple students or Physics, her easy going personality makes for a great learning environment. Having worked for long periods of time in Thailand – both liveaboard and land based, Bali and the Gili Islands in Indonesia, she has many contacts around Asia to help candidates with job placements.
What your Dive Centre’s plans?
The main goal and focus for Malapascua, is to make it a forefront of instructor development in the Philippines. With easy access to great diving for all levels of certification and of course Thresher Sharks it has the potential to grow without overcrowding.
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Tell us some funny stories about your courses
During a confined water presentation one candidate had to demonstrate Giant Stride Entry, the briefing went beautifully and the demonstration would have been just as good, however he forgot one small thing, he didn’t actually have his fins on.
I am probably one of the only people in the world that can say that they trained a Jedi diver. I had one candidate who’s name was Jedi Master.
Why should you take your IDC with Ayala and Exotic?
Unlimited thresher shark diving! Malapascua is reputedly the only place in the World where divers can regularly encounter these majestic sharks at recreational diver limits. So by coming to Exotic you can experience something really special.
As the original dive shop on Malapascua we were the pioneers of the thresher shark encounters and wrote the original thresher shark distinctive speciality course that has been endorsed by PADI. During your IDC you will be able to dive at the famous thresher shark sites, where these majestic creatures may be seen daily. Ayala loves sharks and will probably dive with you!
Free accommodation. You will enjoy 3-4 weeks (depending on your package you choose) free accommodation during your course.
Career development programmes. We do not simply focus on your IDC. We can also help you to find permanent full time employment after it. We offer individual Speciality Instructor Training Courses, MSDT Prep and IDC Staff Instructor courses in order to make your CV stand out from the crowd.
Our tranquil setting. Exotic’s stunning private white-sand beach, away from the crowds, with its natural shade and hammocks, ensures that all our candidates can find the necessary peace and quiet to be able to focus and enjoy their courses. All-night parties and streets of bars are not what you need during your IDC!
If you will be looking for work as an Instructor after your IDC, you cannot choose a better place. There are many up and coming dive locations in the Philippines (including World-class wrecks and reefs) and you are always just a cheap flight from the hot spots of Thailand, Malaysia and Australia. We will be delighted to continue to support you after your IDC with advice on where to go next, continuing your education and how to approach potential employers.
What are your personal diving obsessions?
Wreck, deep, macro or big stuff, to be honest it doesn’t matter so long as I am in the water. I also love seeing my old candidates teaching and putting smiles on other people’s faces.
What else do you like (non diving)?
That’s a hard one to answer as a lot of what I enjoy doing involves diving, but travel is definitely up there, as well as spending time with friends.
What are your goals for the future?
I’d love to help develop Malapascua, so that it will become a forefront of instructor development in the Philippines. It’s certainly got the potential. The standard to which courses are taught is very high and we have a large number of returning customers. Most of the PADI Instructors who work on the island have been trained on the island and they stay for many years, sharing their passion with the next generation. The dive industry here is vibrant and thriving, thanks to our beautiful dive sites. I am very optimistic about the future, how could I not be when I work in paradise?
Click on the photo to the right to view a photo gallery from a recent IDC class
Where are we?
IDC Address
Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort
Logon, Daanbantayan Cebu 6013, Philippines
Email Address: gopro@malapascua.net
Website: www.malapascua.net
Facebook: Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort