PADI Professional Courses: Become a Dive Pro with Sugar Land Dive Center

Welcome to GoPRO Houston, where your journey toward becoming a successful dive professional begins! We're thrilled to introduce you to Sugar Land Dive Center, Texas's premier PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center (IDC).

Whether you're looking to take the plunge and become a PADI Divemaster or a PADI Instructor or seek to enhance your skills as a PADI MSDT or IDC Staff Instructor, we've got you covered.

Our award-winning team, led by PADI Platinum Course Director Phillip Hetherington, is dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and create a fulfilling career in the dive industry. With regular professional courses offered locally and in Cozumel, Mexico, Sugar Land Dive Center is the ultimate choice for those seeking to turn their passion for diving into a rewarding profession.

What makes us stand out?

At our training center, we offer a unique set of features that set us apart from other programs. From year-round training to small class sizes, we prioritize quality education and hands-on experience. Here are some of the ways we stand out:

- Year-round training: We offer monthly IDCs, so you can start your training whenever you're ready.

- Small class sizes: With a maximum of six candidates per IDC, you'll receive personalized attention and support from our instructors.

- Flexible schedules: We offer weeknight and weekend programs to accommodate your busy schedule.

- Real-life training: Our industry-specific clinics and online processing center clinics provide quality, practical training for real-world scenarios.

- PADI digital products clinics: We offer training on the latest digital products from PADI to keep you up-to-date with the latest technology.

- Bi-lingual instructors: Our instructors are fluent in Spanish and Chinese, making our program accessible to a wider range of students.

- Realistic training conditions: Train in conditions similar to those you'll experience in the workplace.

- MSDT program: Our optional MSDT program offers a wide range of specialty instructor courses to choose from.

- IDC staff instructor program: We offer an IDC staff instructor program with every IDC to help you further your career in diving.

- International affiliate in Cozumel, Mexico: Start your IDC with us and complete the balance of the program and IE on vacation.

- Housing available: We offer housing options for students who need it.

- Financing available: We offer financing options to make our program more accessible to students.

- Job placement assistance: We provide job placement assistance to help our graduates find employment in the diving industry.

With our comprehensive training and support, you'll be well-prepared to pursue a career in diving. Contact us today to learn more about our program and how we can help you achieve your goals.

Meet our Course Director

Phillip's passion for scuba diving began in 1977 at the age of 15 in the Lakes and surrounding waters of the Northwest of England, where he grew up. Spending almost every weekend in the Lake District, he fell in love with all aquatic activities, especially those involving the underwater world. In the early '80s, Phillip moved to Texas, where he continued to pursue his passion for scuba diving and Rugby. He began teaching diving in 1984 and has since become a Platinum-honored Course Director, receiving the "PADI Elite Instructor" award each year since 2013.

Phillip is the owner of Sugar Land Dive Center and Cozumel Dive Academy, located in Cozumel, Mexico, both of which are PADI 5 Star IDC Centers. He actively teaches PADI IDCs and all levels of PADI courses in Cozumel, Mexico, and Texas. Phillip's ongoing interests and training make him an experienced instructor trainer in Sidemount, Wreck, Deep, and many other specialties. During your IDC/MSDT, you will have the chance to work closely with Phillip, enhancing and developing your teaching and diving capabilities to a whole new level.

Phillip loves his job as a PADI Course Director because it allows him to provide passionate individuals who love diving with the tools they need to become successful Dive Professionals working in the field they love. He has dived everything from the lakes of the UK and Texas to pristine dive sites around the globe. When asked about his favorite dive, Phillip replies, "They each have something unique that makes them all my favorites." He is an actively sought-after trip leader, taking groups to experience diving in Roatan, Cozumel, Fiji, Yap, Palau, Cuba, The Maldives, and the Red Sea, to name a few.