Philippines –
Graham Hogg
PADI Course Director.
Address
Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort Logon, Daanbantayan Cebu 6013, Philippines.
Do your PADI IDC with Graham in the Philippines
Take your IDC in the Philippines with Graham Hogg, PADI Course Director.
About Graham
Graham grew up around Salisbury Plain. Stonehenge used to be just large football posts before a man came along and erected a fence. Growing up Graham always loved the outdoors and loved camping, mountaineering, kayaking amongst others.
Graham left University with two diplomas, one in Sport Science and the other in Computing. After 8 years in the Kent County Constabulary where he specialized as a traffic cop, he left to take up diving as a full time career.
Grahams diving has taken him from Thailand to Sipadan, Australia, Middle East and the Caribbean. His roles have been as varied as the locations in which he has worked from Dive Master through Dive center manager, Liveaboard guide, photo pro, videographer, through to First Mate and Captain. He has worked not just in the recreational dive industry but also in the megayacht industry.
As a PADI Course Director, EFRIT and Tec Deep Instructor Trainer, Graham has worked in Oman and now at Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort with a 100% success rate.
What is the philosophy of your company?
It is the view of Exotic Dive Resort and Graham the Instructor Development Course does not need to be a short stressful experience with the goal of passing an exam at the end.
At Exotic our programs are run over a 16 day period. During this time we run a prep course to practice those dive skills and refresh your dive theory. An EFR Instructor course for those that require it. A 10 day IDC with a day off in the middle for relaxing, diving or remediation as required and then a 2 day mock IE. The facilities are superb, the multi media air conditioned classroom over looks the crystal blue water of House reef, that’s when you are not having your presentations around the hammocks on the golden sand beach.
With dives leaving every morning to go and see the Threasher sharks out at Monad shoal and back by 0730 there is plenty of opportunity to do what we love to do most, Dive, during your IDC.
Exotic Dive Resort and Graham will do everything possible to ensure that your stay that your stay with us not only meets but exceeds your expectations, and when you leave you not only have passed that exam but have the skills, knowledge and most important, the confidence to go out and be the best Instructors you can be.
Why should you take your IDC with Graham and Exotic?
Graham attention to detail and his empathy with his students allows him to identify and develop on the best of his candidates strengths and overcome weakness to enhance their skills , knowledge and confidence. Helping them in becoming the best dive educators.
Being part of the Exotic team will also give you the benefit of witnessing how one of the most successful dive resorts in the Philippines functions. It’s emphasis being on quality of service.
The Thresher Shark! Malapascua is reputedly the only place in world where divers can regularly encounter these majestic sharks at recreational diver limits. So by coming to Exotic you can experience something really special.
Unlimited Diving. Yet another great reason to choose Exotic as your PADI IDC destination. As the original dive shop on Malapascua we were the pioneers of the thresher shark encounters and wrote the original thresher shark speciality course that has been endorsed by PADI as a distinctive speciality. During your IDC you will be able to dive at the famous thresher shark sites for a chance to see these majestic creatures, as well as many other great dive spots.
Our tranquil setting. Exotic’s stunning white-sand beach, away from the crowds, and with its natural shade and hammocks, will ensure that all our candidates can find the necessary peace and quiet to be able to focus and enjoy the course. 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 couldn’t be better placed. There are many up and coming dive locations in the Philippines and you are always just a cheap flight from the world’s dive hot spots of Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.
Graham will continue to support you after your IDC with advice on where to go next, continuing your education, how to approach potential employers.
Has anything funny happened during your IDC courses?
A candidate got so focused on assigned problems of the role playing students that he kept descending with his own snorkel in his mouth numerous times.
Every IDC has its funny moments whether its like the above mentioned incident or a mispronounced phrase or word during a presentation.
What do his IDC students think of Graham?
“Graham was awesome all through the IDC, patient and accommodating be it in a group or one on one.
After the IDC I was thinking ‘That’s It?’
After the IE I was thinking ‘You got to be kidding me!’
Graham works hard at making it easy for us. A great coach”
(Keith Fernandes, PADI OWSI, IDC April 2012).
What else do you like to do when not diving?
You will probably find Graham enjoying a cold beer and playing a game of pool with friends, talking about diving.
What does Graham love about being a Course Director?
That warm feeling at the end of every IE when the examiner shakes the candidates hand.
What does the future hold for Graham?
Graham moved to Exotic Dive Resort in April 2012. His plan to help grow the Resort and the Island as an IDC destination. Exotic Dive Resort certainly has the facilities, location and the professional, experienced staff to make it a perfect choice for Divemaster and Instructor candidates who want to become dive professionals that stand out from the crowd. They have plans for expansion into the technical Instructor diver training. With their free internship program it is the ideal location to gain those additional speciality ratings that stands you out from the rest.
Click on the photo to the right to view a photo gallery from a recent IDC clas
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