DIVE CENTER BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

From Instructor to Industry Leader: Train inside a real dive center in Moalboal, Philippines.

Welcome to the real world

Professional Experience & Leadership Program for New Instructors

The Dive Center Business & Leadership Academy is delivered within a fully functioning PADI Career Development Center (CDC) in Moalboal, Philippines. 

We are very active training and dive operation with daily boat departures, ongoing courses, structured retail activity, equipment logistics, and continuous customer flow.

 You will gain exposure to how operational decisions are made in real time, how resources are allocated, and how service standards are maintained while balancing safety, efficiency, and profitability.

This is professional development within a live environment. Rather than studying hypothetical business models, you observe how systems operate under real conditions.

Just finished your IE?

Modul 1 of the program particularly valuable for instructors who have just completed their Instructor Examination and want to build real-world confidence. Passing the IE confirms competence.

Applying those skills consistently with actual students in varied conditions builds assurance, control, and professional presence.

The Academy provides a structured setting where newly certified instructors can refine delivery, strengthen class management, and gain practical experience under supervision before stepping fully into independent roles.

Designed for Your Leadership Development

Mentorship and Structured Performance Feedback

Your professional growth does not happen automatically. It develops through reflection, guidance, and deliberate improvement.

Throughout the Academy, you participate in structured debrief sessions, receive targeted feedback, and engage in evaluation discussions designed to strengthen your performance. You are encouraged to assess your delivery, decision-making, and leadership presence with clarity and objectivity.

You do not simply participate in activities. You analyze, refine, and progress

The diving industry requires more than capable instructors. It requires professionals who can make informed decisions, manage risk responsibly, and contribute to the stability and growth of a dive operation.

Is it for you?

Program Framework

What This Academy Is

This Academy is a structured professional development program.  It goes beyond theory and explores the practical realities of daily logistics, operational systems, and leadership decisions that protect both quality and profitability.

You gain insight into how a dive center functions as a business, how standards are implemented, how teams are coordinated, and how consistency is maintained in a dynamic environment.

What It Is Not

This program is not employment and does not replace staff positions. Participants enroll as students and pay a course fee to take part in this professional development program.

Who This Academy Is For

• Newly certified PADI Instructors seeking greater teaching confidence
• Professionals aiming to move into management positions
• Career changers who value structured mentorship and a clear progression plan

WHERE YOU START

Module 1 — Instructor Experience Foundation Course

Passing the IE is the start. This module helps you become calm, confident, and consistent when real students, real conditions, and real timing pressure show up.

What you’ll practice (under supervision):

  • Academic presentation delivery and timing

  • Confined water demonstration quality and control

  • Open water positioning, awareness, and leadership

  • Student management and problem prevention

  • Structured debriefs and feedback

How supervision works (important):
You participate for training purposes only and under general supervision!

Savedra remains Instructor of Record and responsible for standards, staffing, and student certification decisions.

OPTIONS MODULE 1

To accommodate different time commitments and professional goals, the program is offered in two structured formats.

Option A — 2 Course Format

  • Participation limited to two (2) full course cycles
  • Focused coaching and structured debrief sessions
  • Ideal for building confidence efficiently right after your IE

Option B — 12 Week Format

  • Extended immersion with exposure to multiple course cycles
  • Workshops and structured performance evaluations
  • Designed for deeper mastery and leadership progression

Inclusions: Mentorship access, evaluation sessions, workshops, operational observation modules, certificate of completion.

MORE MODULES

Detailed outlines of the remaining Academy modules are available upon request.

Contact us to receive the full program progression pathway beyond Module 1. We will provide a comprehensive overview of the operational, financial, marketing, compliance, and leadership modules included in the extended Academy.

We are here to help

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this employment?
No. This is a paid professional development program. Participants enroll as students.

Do I need a work permit or special visa?
Participants are responsible for their own visa compliance. This program does not authorize employment in the Philippines.

Can I take only Module 1?
Yes. Module 1 may be taken independently.

How do I choose between Option A and Option B?
Option A is focused and short. Option B is deeper immersion and better for leadership progression.

Do you guarantee teaching opportunities every day?
No. Participation depends on course scheduling and supervisor availability.

Ready to move beyond certification?

Happy PADI IDC candidates at Savedra's class room in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines

Testimonials

“For any aspiring Instructors interested in completing their IDC in the Philippines I would suggest you look no further than the team at Savedra Dive Center.”

— Kent Simmonds, Australia

“Excellent dive center. Probably the best you can find in Moalboal. I did my IDC course here. Lee, the course director, is very good!”

— Tom Adriaens, Belgium

“Savedra Dive Centre is a first class establishment. The staff are extremely friendly and approachable.”

— Mandy Foyster, Australia

“I will never forget your Dive Center and my IDC. Really professional teaching level.”

— Viktor Rozhko, Ukraine

“This is where you want to do your IDC they have an awesome team.”

— Gary Andrews, USA

EXCELLENT
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Based on 534 reviews
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Paolo89livorno profile picture
Paolo89livorno
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Great Diving Center! Very organized Diving Center. We had a day with two dives, one is the famous “sardine run” that absolutely deserves to be done. The second was by boat to “ pescador island” Very good driving! Thank you and for everything!
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Lewis S profile picture
Lewis S
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Diving as a guest and building professional development I am just about to complete my PADI Instructor Exam after a fantastic IDC with Savedra Dive Centre.Incredible dive sites, fantastic staff (including Course Director Koz, Staff Instructor Matt, and soon to be Instructor Leon!).I really feel that I have developed professionally and with that, my diving abilities under great guidance, mentorship and diving with great people! Koz is a fantastic course director and go to person for all things diving whilst in Moalboal, her experience and guidance have been fantastic to learn from! All the divemasters are great, safe, knowledgeable and find some amazing wildlife for you to see.
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UkCharley profile picture
UkCharley
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Amazing dive centre This dive centre are amazing. They are very professional but more than that, they are so friendly and make you feel like you are ‘one of them’ straight away. Their prices are good and I cannot recommend them enough.
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LightPacker616620 profile picture
LightPacker616620
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Choose Savendra for your dive experience and get Yohan… wait for him as he is worth it. There are so many dive centres to choose from. This place was brilliant but what made it outstanding was the instructor Yohan. If your trying to choose a dive centre , make your choice Savendra and get Yohan. I had one to one personal experience with this guy who was brilliant. This experience was only enhanced by Yohan and is one of the greatest travelling experiences I have ever undertaken. I will be coming back to Moalboal largely because of my experience at Savendra and Yohan. They organised excellent, efficient and economic airport transfer. I would suggest getting the earliest possible airport transfer or staying the night in Cebu and leaving early next day as the journey to Moalboal can be pretty awful if traffic.
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Venture673537 profile picture
Venture673537
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Savedra Dive Centre Visit I visited again in August 2024.It is my go to place in Moalboal.A professional and friendly setup with some amazing dives.Kos and The Team will accommodate your needs be it courses or fun dives.Vernal was my guide on this trip and all went well.As I went during the quite season we had plenty of space on the boat.Sadly didn't see the whale shark which makes an appearance on the odd occasion.Enjoyed it so much I will be out this February.Roland
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Nena P profile picture
Nena P
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Best dive centre My partner and I came here for our open water padi certification and we are so happy we did. Absolutely top quality place, good solid equipment and the best instructors. We are so so happy to have had Koz as our instructor, she truly was the best we could have hoped for and can’t wait to start our diving journey now, thanks to her. If you’re looking for a place to do any PADI diving or course, this place is highly highly recommended
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BoSeiffert profile picture
BoSeiffert
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Grest operation I've completed a week's worth of diving, 9 dive divesSavedra Dive Center arranged pickup from Cebu City and return too. Soo smooth. Driver waited work my name, he had already checked that I was delayed, got me quick and safe to Moalboal even in the late late evening. Savedra Dive Center has got several boats, which are all well equipped. Dives are preceed with full dive briefing including safety. The guides are so helpful, making sure you are informed and comfortable, that is procedures in the shop, setting up gear, procedures for boarding the boat from the beach and dive procedures including the entry and exit procedures (varies depending boat) I can only recommend Savedra Dive Center. I will use them again for sure
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Chris L profile picture
Chris L
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Superior Diving Experience I found this shop through the PADI website. I selected it based on the prefessionalism of the website and the friendliness and timeliness of their responses to my inquiries. In addition to providing information about their operation, they arranged for my transportation from the airport. When I arrived at the shop, I was amazed at the size and organization. It's the biggest and best shop I've ever been in. There was lots of room to store, gear up, shower, rinse equipment, and socialize (free coffee and water). The staff is friendly, numerous, and highly professional. Big thanks to the divemaster Arnie, and Dive Master Candidate Roal. They took good care of me.If an operation can be judged by whether the dive starts on time, Savedra if spot on. A 7:30 am dives starts at 7:30 on the dot. Same thing with the 10:30 am, and 2:30 pm dives. I will certainly be returning to dive again.
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Jim R profile picture
Jim R
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An excellent dive shop in Moalboal!!!! I completed my PADI Advanced Open Water. The dive shop was exceptional throughout. Excellent equipment, friendly helpful staff and fantastic diving. I had Yohann Nauleau as my instructor and thoroughly recommend him. Excellent instruction throughout, constantly inspiring confidence.
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Ian A profile picture
Ian A
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Excellent open water experience My partner and I had a great experience obtaining our Open Water certification with Savedra. The Dive Centre is well run and all the equipment is in good condition. The staff are all lovely and we felt at ease straight away. Our instructor, Yohann, was excellent. He was professional, patient and thanks to him we now feel so much more relaxed and confident in the water - thank you Yohann! We can't recommend this centre and Yohann in particular highly enough.