Become a PADI Instructor With the Most Recognized PADI Five Star Instructor Development Stores

You are ready to join the ranks of the dedicated professionals who teach the world’s most progressive and popular scuba diver education programs.

Once you’ve completed your PADI Divemaster professional certification, the next step to becoming a PADI Instructor is to find a PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) at a PADI Five Star IDC Store to start your training.

What Is a PADI Five Star IDC Store?

PADI Dive Centers and Resorts around the world have different levels of membership – just as divers have different levels of certifications. Similar to hotels, being awarded Five Star IDC status from PADI represents the highest levels of service, facilities, equipment, safety, professionalism, and education.

PADI Five Star IDCs are dive centers that meet all PADI Five Star Dive Center standards, plus offer PADI instructor-level training. Five Star IDCs have at least one PADI Course Director on staff and are committed to offering PADI Instructor Development Courses and continuing education opportunities to dive professionals. These businesses excel in using the PADI System of Diver Education to introduce people to scuba diving and then provide the continuing education that allows individuals to progress on to the dive professional level.

You can learn more about the different PADI Professional levels in this handy article.

PADI EMEA Professional Development Excellence Award

In 2024, PADI EMEA launched a new recognition award to celebrate and amplify the dedication and professionalism of PADI 5*IDC Centers across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

PADI Five Star IDC Centers are the cornerstone of creating the best scuba instructors in the world and the PADI EMEA Professional Development Excellence Award recognizes these Centers for the time and effort they dedicate to marketing and conducting the professional training needed to grow the scuba diving industry.

Connect With an Awarded PADI EMEA Five Star IDC Store

PADI Professionals are in demand around the world. To continue your PADI Professional development with one of the PADI EMEA Five Star IDC’s that earned the 2025 Professional Development Excellence Award, we’ve put together this list by country. To connect with one of these stores, simply click on their Center name and get in touch directly.

Alternatively, the PADI Dive Shop Locator makes it easy to find a dive operator close to home or in a faraway travel destination.

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