When it comes to wrecks, there’s always an air (water) of
mystery surrounding them. Whether it’s a world-famous site like the Thistlegorm,
Zenobia or Kittiwake, or a lesser-known, unnamed wreck tucked
away in a quiet corner of the world, they all hold secrets of the past. The
stories of sailors, soldiers, captains—and sometimes entire lost eras—call to
something deep in us. It’s a quiet, unconscious longing for adventure.
The chance to see and explore a living piece of history is
always thrilling. But imagine getting to teach others about it. For me,
that’s the essence of continued education in diving—sharing that spark of
wonder and discovery with others.
So, How Do You Become a PADI Wreck Instructor?
To earn the Wreck Instructor rating, you must first be a PADI
Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI). From there, you have a couple of
different options:
🛠️ Option 1: Specialty
Instructor Training Course
This is the most structured and beneficial path, especially
for newer instructors. You’ll take part in a Wreck Diver Specialty
Instructor Training Course led by a PADI Course Director who is also
a Wreck Instructor Trainer.
During the course, you’ll cover both theory and practical
skills, including:
- Reasons
for wreck diving - Legal
and environmental considerations - Historical
and archaeological aspects - Hazards
and risk management - Surveying
and mapping a wreck - Laying
a penetration line safely
The biggest advantage? You learn directly from an
experienced instructor who’s taught the course many times before. After
completion, your Course Director will submit your application to PADI, and
you’ll receive your Wreck Instructor certification.
🌍 Option 2: Gain
Experience Independently
This method is ideal if you’re in a location where Wreck
Instructor Trainers are hard to find—or if you’re up for a bit of travel and
self-guided exploration.
Dive famous wrecks in places like Cyprus, Malta, Egypt, or
the Cayman Islands. Explore submerged airplanes, mining machinery, or unique
wreck museums, like the ancient wreck park in Alonissos, Greece, or the
cold waters of Scapa Flow, or tropical Bikini Atoll and Truk
Lagoon. There are wrecks everywhere—each one with its own story.
You can also teach the Wreck Adventure Dive as part
of the Advanced Open Water Course. Every OWSI is qualified to do this, even on
modest, local wrecks. You don’t need a famous site—just a safe one.
Mitilini Wreck, Greece
Once you’ve gained enough experience (or taught at least 20
Adventure Dives), you can apply directly to PADI. Just be prepared to provide proof
of your wreck diving experience—logbooks, photos, and dive details help.
My Journey into Wreck Diving
Wreck diving has always been an exhilarating experience for
me. I still remember my first dive on the HMS Drake, a World War I-era
armoured cruiser off the coast of Northern Ireland. Surrounded by anchors,
munitions, and artifacts, I was diving with Phil Cross—my instructor at the
time—probably during my Advanced Course with Aquaholics Dive Centre in
Portstewart. That moment, seeing history unfold beneath the waves, was
life-changing. It was the first time I thought: Maybe I want to become a
diving instructor.
Later, I completed my Wreck Diver Specialty with Barracuda
Dive Center in Goa, India. The Suzy wreck was completely different from HMS
Drake but just as exciting in its own way.
A Dive Into the Past – Teaching the Thistlegorm
One of the most memorable Wreck Diver courses I’ve ever
taught was on the Thistlegorm, a British transport ship sunk by German
bombers in 1941. Resting within recreational limits in Egypt’s Ras Mohammed
National Park, it’s packed with wartime relics—trucks, motorbikes,
munitions, rifles, tanks, even parts of aircraft. There’s even a steam
locomotive lying on the seafloor.
Thistlegorm, EgyptIt wasn’t just a course. It was underwater time travel.
Today: Diving and Teaching Around the World
Since then, I’ve dived and taught on wrecks in Greece,
Malta, Thailand, Spain, France, Indonesia, and many more places. My
understanding of maritime history, military strategy, wreck-related laws, and
technical diving has deepened with each location.
Currently, I’m based in Halkidiki, Greece, where I
teach Wreck Diver and Wreck Instructor courses on the Mitilini Wreck—a
small cargo ship that sank about 60 years ago. It’s a pleasant and accessible
dive site, perfect for training.
Mitilini Wreck, Greece
Becoming a PADI Wreck Instructor allowed me to
combine my passion for history, adventure, and teaching. Wrecks are more than
just sunken structures—they’re time capsules filled with stories waiting to be
discovered. Whether through structured training or personal exploration,
earning this instructor rating opens the door to teaching others how to safely
explore these underwater relics. For me, wreck diving keeps the job exciting,
sharpens my skills, and offers the unique reward of guiding others through living
history beneath the surface.
Cermona II, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands