Zürich · SwitzerlandPADI Course Director · Zürich 🇨🇭 & Dauin 🇵🇭
Turning diversinto instructors.
Train with Dominik Weckherlin — PADI Course Director at TSK Zürich and SeaExplorers Philippines in Dauin. IDC in German, Swiss German, French & English.
>95%IE pass rate
30+Years of experience
≤ 8Max. class size
4IDC languages
01 — About
Swiss precision meets tropical passion.
My name is Dominik Weckherlin. I am a PADI Course Director — the highest teaching qualification in the PADI system — and one of the few Course Directors in the German-speaking world offering the IDC both in Europe and in a tropical setting.
My multilingual approach — German, Swiss German, French and English — removes every language barrier between candidate and instructor certification. A maximum of 8 candidates per IDC, honest feedback, direct mentoring. Anyone who completes the IDC with me leaves as an instructor I would trust with my own family.
Home bases are TSK Zürich in Switzerland and SeaExplorers Philippines in Dauin — the muck diving capital of the world.
- 01PADI Course DirectorCertified March 2026 · Kota Kinabalu
- 0230+ years of divingThree decades in professional diving
- 034 IDC languagesDE · CH-DE · FR · EN
- 04Marine conservationOcean stewardship in every IDC
Dauin. The muck diving capital of the world.
Frogfish · Nudibranchs · Black volcanic sand
02 — PADI Pro Path
Everything you need to become a PADI Instructor.
Three training packages — Basic · Silver · Gold — each with a different level of support. A maximum of 8 candidates per IDC. 10–14 days of intensive training. IE pass rate >95%. PADI eLearning, application fee and IE fee are charged separately by PADI — full price breakdown in the info pack.
S/01
Instructor Development Course
10–14 days IDC + IE. Your path from Divemaster to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. Including IE preparation, standards & real teaching skills.
S/02MSDT — Master Scuba Diver Trainer
MSDT prep with 5 specialty instructor ratings of your choice. Significantly stronger employability — part of the Silver and Gold packages.
S/03Gold Package · with internship
The complete programme from zero to job-ready: IDC + MSDT + 2-week internship at a partner dive centre. Mentored by working dive professionals.
S/04Divemaster
The entry into the pro team. Guiding skills, dive theory, stress & rescue in depth. Prerequisite for the IDC.
S/05Specialty Instructor Trainings
Sidemount, Deep, Wreck, Nitrox, Night, Search & Recovery and more — individually or as a package.
S/06Free Info Pack
Full price overview (Basic · Silver · Gold), detailed curriculum, location guides for Zürich & Dauin, prerequisites & alumni voices.
Maximum 8 candidates. Honest feedback. Direct mentoring.
IE pass rate above 95%
03 — Voices
What people say about me. (original German)
Dominik war eine enorme Bereicherung für unseren IDC in Dauin. Mit seiner ruhigen und zugänglichen Art hat er uns als Staff Instructor auf jedem Schritt begleitet — vom ersten Briefing bis zum IE. Seine Erklärungen waren präzise, sein Feedback ehrlich und motivierend. Man merkt sofort: Er brennt für dieses Handwerk.
Unser IDC mit Dominik war von Anfang bis Ende eine herausragende Erfahrung. Das Mentoring war aussergewöhnlich — individuell, geduldig und auf den Punkt. Wir haben uns zu jedem Zeitpunkt sicher, gefordert und unterstützt gefühlt. Ein IDC, das weit über Standards hinausgeht.
04 — Training Partners
Two bases. One standard.
TSK Zürich for everything that happens locally — consultation, theory, pool sessions, equipment — and SeaExplorers Philippines in Dauin as the base for IDCs, MSDT programmes and open-water training in warm, clear water.
Zürich · Switzerland
Dauin · Philippines05 — Journal
From the Logbook.
What to Expect During Your IDC: A Day-by-Day Breakdown
An honest look inside a real IDC with me: from day-one orientation to the final IE mock presentations.
Why Train in Dauin, Philippines? The Muck Diving Capital of the World
Why Train in Zürich, Switzerland? IDC in the Heart of Europe
View all journal articles10 articles in the journal
06 — Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to what most people want cleared up before reaching out. Everything else — just ask.
What are the prerequisites for the IDC?
PADI Divemaster (or an equivalent pro-level rating), at least 100 logged dives, a valid EFR certificate (no older than 24 months), a medical fitness-to-dive statement and Divemaster status for at least 6 months. Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver must also be completed.
How long is the IDC and where does it take place?
10 full days of IDC plus 2 days of PADI Instructor Examination (IE), conducted by a PADI Examiner. The base is SeaExplorers Philippines in Dauin — warm, clear water, short boat rides, small groups (max. 8 candidates). Next date: 28 July – 10 August 2026.
What language is the course taught in?
I teach in German, Swiss German, French or English — you choose what helps you truly understand. PADI requires the Instructor Examination (IE) in English; I prepare you for that specifically, including English terminology and exam formats.
What does the IDC cost?
I offer three packages — Basic, Silver and Gold — depending on accommodation, meals and additional specialty courses. PADI fees (eLearning, application fee, IE fee) are charged separately and directly by PADI. Request the detailed info pack, where all current prices are listed transparently.
What happens if I don't pass the IE on the first attempt?
My IE pass rate is above 95%. If you need to retake individual segments, I support your retake preparation — PADI allows 12 months for retesting individual segments. My IDC is designed so nothing in the IE comes as a surprise.
Can I really work as an instructor after the IDC?
Yes. Many of my graduates work at top destinations worldwide (Maldives, Egypt, Asia, Caribbean, Mediterranean). I support your start — recommendations, CV, application tips and contacts to schools I know personally.
07 — Contact
Ready for the next step?
Tell me briefly where you stand and what you're planning. I'll get back to you personally within 24 hours.
- +41 79 877 80 80
- Bases
- 🇨🇭 TSK Zürich · 🇵🇭 SeaExplorers Dauin