Who is PADI Course Director Chris Owen?

PADI Course Director Chris Owen

PADI Course Director Chris Owen is a British national who started diving in the cold dark waters of England in 1992. But who has had the pleasure of living and diving in Asia for the last 29 years. In 1992 Chris arrived in Thailand and spent a year on the islands of Ko Samui, Koh Phangan and Ko Tao. This was back in the "Good Old Days" when the islands were unspoiled, relatively unknown and undeveloped. In fact, there were 7 Dive Centers on Koh Tao then, although there are now there are over 60

After that Chris Owen traveled south to Singapore and the East Coast of Malaysia and Tioman Island. Chris worked on Tioman as a PADI Divemaster with some of the best diving in Malaysia. It was working here that he saw his first manta ray and swam, dived and snorkeled with sharks! Sadly, sharks are rare to see there now.

After ½ year working and diving in Malaysia Chris returned to Thailand where in October 1993 he took his PADI IDC. With successful completion of his IE Chris was then offered work by his PADI Course Director. Thus, Chris moved up into the Gulf of Siam. Here he worked out of Pattaya, a coastal resort 2 hour south of Bangkok for the next 6 years. After that Chris sold his shares in Mermaid's Dive Centre where he was Manager and partner. Chris then worked as an independent Instructor before he took his IDC Staff Course and fell in love with Instructor Development.

From here Chris went on to become a PADI Course Director and relocated to Phuket where Thailand’s best scuba diving is. It was then that Chris set up Indepth Instruction Co Ltd. His now famous PADI IDC Instructor Development business.

Chris has worked as a PADI Divemaster and Tour Leader, filling tanks, loading boats and working as a dive guide.

So Chris has worked all the way through to being a Manager and owner of several PADI dive centers. This now includes his own PADI 5* IDC & TecRec Centre Indepth Dive Centre S-36108. Consequently, Chris is familiar with most aspects of the Dive Industry and The Business of Diving.

Additionally, Chris is extremely lucky to have watched the Dive Industry in Thailand grow and develop. This is from 1992 in the days when there were NO PADI 5* IDC Dive Centers on places like Ko Tao or Pattaya, till today. Chris has also been very fortunate to work extensively in both in the "Resort Tourist” environments such as Ko Tao, Ko Samui, Phuket in Thailand. And Tioman Island and The Perhentian Islands in Malaysia. This is in addition to the “Land based / City orientated” environments of Bangkok, Pattaya and Singapore. And as such is familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of both.

Knowledge drawn from over 29 years of working in these fields adds a lot of valuable information to the quality of quantity of information that Chris puts into his now world famous PADI IDC programs. Moreover, that is not to mention the number of contacts Chris now has throughout the Diving World and which he can out you in contact with if needed.

Chris Owen became a PADI Course Director in April 2000

And PADI Course Director Chris Owen has now taught over 170 IDCs. As well as certifying well over 1,500 PADI Instructors to varying levels.

Chris Owen has received many Certificates of "Recognition of Excellence" from PADI. These are mostly for his PADI IDC programs and customer service. Additionally, Chris also has a number of “Certificates in Recognition of Outstanding Performance and support conducting Instructor Development programs.”

In 1985 Chris, along with Steve, bought in the 1st Nitrox/EANx Blending station into Thailand. Consequently Chris Owen was one of the first people in Thailand to start diving Nitrox and teaching Rebreathers. This started with the Fino back in 1996. And was followed by The Draeger Dolphin / Atlantis Semi Closed Circuit Rebreathers (SCCR) in 1999. And then finally falling head over heels in LOVE with the Poseidon MKVI & Poseidon Se7en Closed Circuit Rebreathers.