“Don’t eat the Marshmallow”! Trust me, it will make sense by the end of it.
It is very rare that any company or individual inspires... read more me to pen an in depth review. But In this case, it seemed almost karmically blasphemous not to.
If you are here, it means you are either toying with the idea or have already made the decision to move up as a Padi Professional. The Open Water Scuba Instructor. It means something different for each of us. That’s not just an important decision, it’s a next step that’s both monetary and momentous. I don’t need to delve into the Philosophical ramblings behind it all, but for each of us it’s an ‘investment in ourselves’.
There is a reason Holly’s name reverberates throughout the Industry as one of the best Course Directors in the World. If you are like me, you’ve researched this exhaustively: The programs, the durations, the ‘add-ons’, the one on one instruction time, the pass rates, the facilities, the curriculum, the follow-up, the etc. etc. etc. etc. I can tell you now, that even though I had her name recommended many times over the years, I did my own due diligence, and after completing the Program with Holly, I was not prepared for how much more-than accurate the reviews were.
This is equivalent to having access to an Ivy League Uni education without having the application process.
Holly’s program embodies passion, standard, professionalism, family, empathy, authenticity, diligence, organization, high levels of comprehension, expectation, and sets a platinum example of excellence for her students and peers alike. If that’s not enough, then read on:
The I.E. ( Instructor Exam) is, honestly in my opinion, secondary. (It’s a forgone conclusion that you will pass the objective PADI examiner’s standards when you pass this course. We were all so overprepared it seemed unfair at times. It’s Also why she has a 99.99% pass rate. I never believe in perfect records, so I took .01% margin for error)
What you take with you cannot be taught by just anyone. Aside from her decades of experience in all environments and situations of diving, you leave with those deep ‘why’s’ and ‘How’s’ for how all things ‘Instructing’ are meant to be performed. SAFELY.
But, for those who like lists.
5 Stars for literally everything she created with her IDC Program.
Content. Training. Pre and Post Course diving. Physics and Theory Prep. Facilities. Teaching Aids . Food.(yes it was amazing). Location. Standards. Empathy. Teaching style. Group involvement. Methods to anchor learning. Skills. Skills. Skills. Preparation. Integrity. Relevance. Did I talk about the curriculum yet?!. And not to forget- The Staff Instructors that also assist. ( Justin and Ed are amazing and at the top of their game)
You should know there is no “9 to 5” with this program. They don’t clock out at the end of their day. They stay with you every step of the way. Do You need further learning, presentation ideas, skill work, or understanding of any concept?, Done. I’ve rarely seen a teacher this proud to develop and embolden their students. For me, she became more than a teacher by the end of it. She became a friend. An integral part of a journey that was mine, and became much more clear by the end of it.
As an update: I’ve since moved on to accept an Instructor position in some of the most beautiful and challenging diving in the World. Komodo. I have no doubt ( Mostly, because the shop manager told me), that I received the interview and consideration based on where I received my IDC training. FYI- If you are planning to make this a career for any length of time, It’s common for shops to look at your IDC Course Director as a bearing for your skill level.
More importantly, even with over 400 dives and a prior season of guiding under my belt, I was far more prepared to handle situations in difficult diving environments after this. And this is an understatement.
So, what about that Marshmallow? I didn’t forget about it.
The marshmallow test is one of the most famous and landmark pieces of social-science research completed:
Put a marshmallow in front of a child, tell them that they can have a second one if they can go 15 minutes without eating the first one, and then leave the room. Whether they are patient enough to double the sweet reward became indicative of a willpower that showed dividends down the line, at school, work, and overall in life.
Now, I don’t have a time machine, nor a marshmallow to test you with, but I’d assume you know where I’m going with this. Don’t settle on the instant gratification of choosing a Course Director or IDC that’s most convenient.
It’s easy to read a bunch of copy on a website for any ole’ IDC and get excited to just ‘get it done’, but listen… if you’ve gotten this far, than you know it’s important to have waited and researched and read thoroughly to feel what Program is right for you.
You’ll find that Holly’s program is the reward that materializes because you put in the effort and went through all the steps to get that ‘Second Marshmallow.’
It’s also much, much sweeter in the end. Cheers & “Welcome to the Instructor” family everyone. - Jason
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