Become a PADI Divemaster or Instructor on Malapascua
Learn to be a PADI Pro in the only place in the world with thresher shark dives every morning. Live on an idyllic tiny island in the Philippines. Walk away with a PADI qualification you can use to work anywhere in the world.
Thresher Shark Divers is the only PADI 5 Star Career Development Center on Malapascua Island, and one of a handful in the Philippines. Founded in 2004 by Andrea Agarwal, we’ve trained over 1,000 dive professionals who now not only work in dive shops from Egypt to Indonesia to the Caribbean, but have gone on to do a wide range of exciting dive-related jobs, such as marine biologist, award-winning professional underwater photographer, and Antarctic explorer!
Three pathways, one career
Divemaster Internship
4-8 weeks.
The first PADI professional rating. Lead certified divers, assist instructors, find your first dive industry job.
Instructor Internship
6 weeks.
Already a Divemaster? Train to teach. IDC, IE exam prep, teaching experience.
Zero to Hero
2-7 months.
Never dived before? Go from non-diver to PADI Divemaster (or Instructor) in one continuous program.
Why train with us
- Daily thresher shark dives. Kimud Shoal is a 60-minute boat ride. We dive every morning. No other location in the world can offer this.
- PADI 5 Star CDC status. The highest PADI rating is awarded to dive centres with a proven track record of training professionals. Less than 2% of PADI shops worldwide hold it.
- Small groups. You’re not a number.
- PADI Master Instructors. Every internship trainer holds the PADI Master Instructor rating with 10+ years’ teaching experience.
- Transparent pricing. The costs and options for many PADI Pro programs get confusing. From your very first enquiry, we aim to be as clear as possible about all costs. No surprise charges for your visa, PADI fees, etc. at the end of your course.
- Real job pipeline. Past graduates working at dive shops worldwide. See where they ended up.
Founded by a PADI Master Instructor, run by divers
Andrea Agarwal opened Thresher Shark Divers in 2004 with four staff and a tiny compressor that filled four tanks an hour. Over twenty years later, we’re one of the largest and most respected dive operations in the Philippines, and Andrea still personally oversees the internship program.
2026 cohort start dates
Divemaster trainees can start any time.
Instructor candidates need to coordinate with the fixed IDC dates. We will assist you with this.
See available start dates →
What it costs
Divemaster Internship: from around USD 1,250 + PADI fees
Use the cost calculator → | See full pricing →
Not sure which is right for you?
Most people aren’t, the first time they ask. Two pages built specifically to help you decide:
Get in touch
Email Andrea’s internship team directly: internships@thresherdivers.com. Or use the inquiry form (right column on desktop, bottom of page on mobile). We reply within 24 hours, often within an hour during Asia daytime.