Welcome to GoPRO Houston. Here you can find out all about the PADI Professional courses offered by Sugar Land Dive Center, both locally and in Cozumel, Mexico.
If you want to complete your PADI Divemaster Course or your PADI Instructor Development Course, Sugar Land DIve Center has you covered. Sugar Land Dive Center is one of the fastest growing and most talked about dive Centers in Texas. As an award winning PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center (IDC) we continue to be the choice for forward thinking future dive professionals wanting to build successful dive industry careers.
Under the direction of PADI Platinum honored Course Directors Phillip Hetherington and Tim Palmer, along with their highly recognized team of PADI professionals, Sugar Land Dive Center offers a full slate of professional courses on a regular basis.
What makes us different?
- Year-round training featuring monthly IDC’s
- Small class sizes – Maximum of six candidates per IDC
- Flexible schedules, including weeknight and weekend programs
- Quality real-life training, including industry-specific clinics
- On-Line Processing Center Clinics
- PADI Digital Products Clinics
- EVE specific Software Clinics
- Bi-Lingual Instructors on staff – Spanish & Chinese
- Train in conditions like the conditions where you will be working.
- Optional MSDT Program with a wide range of Specialty Instructor Courses from which to choose offered with every IDC.
- IDC Staff Instructor Program offered with every IDC
- International affiliate in Cozumel, Mexico Start your IDC here and complete the balance of the program and IE on vacation.
- Housing available
- Financing available
- Job placement assistance
Compare the difference. All our IDC’s Include
- IDC Digital Crewpac
- IDC Prep Course
- Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) Course
- EFRI Instructor Start-Up Pack
- Lunch Daily
- Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty Instructor Course
- Emergency Oxygen Provider Specialty Instructor Course
Our Promise to You:
Our promise to you is simple. We promise to provide you with the best training possible. When you complete an IDC with us we guarantee you will pass your PADI IE or you can come back and participate in another IDC at no additional cost.
(PADI fees not included)
Our goal is for you to become a successful PADI Dive Professional
With two platinum-honored PADI Course Directors on staff, along with five IDC Staff Instructors, Sugar Land Dive Center is ideally-equipped to work with other dive facilities in the region to provide simple and effective referral training. While not a new concept, Sugar Land Dive Center’s referral program includes referral rebates and an “integrity guarantee” that candidates will not be recruited by Sugar Land Dive Center.
“We believe strongly in our program and want to open it up to other facilities in the region who want to promote quality PADI Professional and Instructor training,” said Hetherington. “Our programs are offered year-round and consistently produce some of the most qualified dive professionals
PADI Course Director Phillip Hetherington
Between Texas and Cozumel, Mexico, Phillip teaches a PADI Instructor Development Course monthly. From these IDC's he has helped numerous individuals achieve their dream of becoming PADI Instructors who are now teaching in such far-flung locations as Hawaii, Grand Cayman, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Phillip also finds time to teach Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver courses as well as conducting Discover Scuba Diving experiences.
PADI Course Director Tim Palmer
Tim has conducted dive training, CPR classes and Instructor Development in the muddy laskes and rivers of Arizona, Texas and even a few times in Hawaii. Tim has conducted programs in Micronesia, Hawaii, Soloman Islands, Marshall Islands, Honduras and both coasts of Mexico. Additionally Tim has supervised dive training on live aboard vessels in California, Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands and the Soccorro Islands. Wherever you may to choose to work in recreational scuba, Tim will provide you with real world experience.
IDC Staff Instructor Kendal Larson
Photographer, Scuba Instructor, Explorer. These are just a few of the terms used to describe Kendal. Actively involved in both our Divemaster and IDC programs,Kendal is an integral part of our professional development team. An experienced trip leader and guide, Kendal will jump on a boat or plane at the drop of a hat to start the next adventure. As the resident photography expert, Kendal will also teach how to reach your potential behind the lens.