Course Directors teach PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) and other instructor-level training, and thus are the scuba diving industry’s most influential leaders and role models. This rating is the highest and most respected professional rating in recreational scuba diving. To become a Course Director you must earn a spot in a Course Director Training Course (CDTC) through a competitive application process that examines your experience and training goals.

Courses  Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer Oxygen Instructor Trainer Tec Deep and Tec Trimix Instructor Trainer Sidemount Instructor Trainer Wreck Instructor Trainer Night Instructor Trainer Ice Instructor Trainer Deep Instructor Trainer Gas Blender (including Trimix) Instructor DPV Instructor Master Instructor IANTD Advanced Enriched Air IANTD Trimix ANDI Rebreather Diver – rEvo Level 2 CCR Certified Technician for Mares, Aqualung, Apeks, Dacor, Genesis, Sherwood and Poseidon equipment. PSI certified, high pressure tank inspector. PADI Course Director John Stone CD-203477 has been diving since 1979, with 1,000’s of logged dives throughout Canada with the last 15 years focused in the maritime provinces.  Retired military, John has dove throughout the world and while each destination has been noteworthy, his favorite dive location is reportedly the Red Sea.    John is also a PADI Tec Rec, Tec TMx and EFR Instructor Trainer and holds numerous specialty instructor trainer ratings and is an avid closed circuit rebreather diver. John is the only Atlantic region active resident Course Director east of Quebec. Having taught thousands of divers at all levels from scuba diver  through to IDC Staff, John is the most experienced PADI Instructor in the Atlantic Region.   With over 20 years teaching experience, a wealth of knowledge and a philosophy that his students are a direct reflection on him, John ensures that students at the level of certification being taught have the proper tools in their toolbox, are confident and know what they are doing.  John is especially mindful of IDC graduates heading to the IE ensuring candidates have maximum technical support and a friendly shoulder.  Since graduating as a PADI Course Director, 100% of IDC candidates trained by John have achieved a first time IE success rate!

​ What is the reason people should take their IDC with you?  Since becoming a Course Director I have worked tirelessly to tweak our IDC and to make sure that it is the best value for money program in the market place.  People don’t travel from the other side of the country to do our IDC because it’s the cheapest but rather because it is simply the best.  We have a dedicated team who assist on our IDC’s so that you get that personal attention that you deserve.   What type of diving do you like the best?  As a Tec Trimix Instructor Trainer and Closed Circuit Rebreather diver being able to have the opportunity to get down to many of the wrecks that are inaccessible to the majority of divers is always something to look forward to, having said that a 15’ recreational dive to see spawning squid is equally amazing!   What else do you like (non diving)?  It is sometimes difficult to find time for other things however I am pretty much game for anything that is outdoor/adventure centric.     Why do you love being a PADI Course Director ?  I get to be a part of a life changing experience! Teaching people how to dive is amazing and the PADI instructor creed is so accurate in what you can achieve as an Instructor but as a Course Director you get to experience that and you can make it a reality for others to experience what you do as an Instructor