Matt Bolton
PADI Course Director / Director of Training & Education

Matt Bolton is a 7 time Platinum PADI Course Director and Crystal Dive’s Director of Operations, Training & Education.

Matt has been at Crystal Dive since 1999 working his way through the ranks, initially as a Divemaster, progressing to Instructor and then Senior Instructor.

In 2003 Matt excepted the position of Operations Manager at the resort and under his leadership, Crystal has grown from a small size Koh Tao diving center into one of the world’s most popular & successful PADI dive operations.

Receiving numerous performance awards from PADI, both on behalf of Crystal Dive Resort and also for his own achievements.

Matt has also won the "Outstanding Contribution to Instructor Development" award in the Asia Pacific region in 2008 and again in 2010.

As a PADI Course Director, Matt has an International reputation as one of the worlds few ‘elite’ Instruuctor Trainers.

As well as conducting over 100 PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC’s) on Koh Tao Matt was also selected to conduct the first ever PADI IDC’s in India, Timor Leste and Oman.

Matt's Qualifications:
.PADI Platinum Course Director
·EFR Instructor Trainer
·20 Instructor Trainer Specialty Ratings

IAIN JOHNSTON
Operations Manager/ PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Iain first stepped foot on Koh Tao in 2006 while on holiday to Thailand. Over the short time he was here, Iain completed the OW and AOW. Having seen the appeal of the island, Iain vowed to return to continue his dive education.

Come 2008, Iain finally made the long journey back to the 'The Rock' and enlisted on the 'Diving Lifestyle' program. Iain settled into island life and progressed through his training with great success and poise. His dynamic nature and ability to problem solve soon caught the eye of the DM Team and key members of staff so after successful completion of his DMT, Iain was offered a position on the DM Team.

As a member of the Crystal DM Team Iain gained valuable experience and honed his own diving skills. During this time he progressed to "Team Leader", advising and guiding the newbies of Crystal into island life. Having spent some time as a working Divemaster, Iain had equipped himself for the next step, so in late 2008 (under the guidance of Matt), Iain took his IDC.

For the last 3 years, Iain has been working soley in an instructional role at Crystal and more recently has taken up the postion as Operations Manager.

Iain can found on a day to day basis at the dive school making sure of it's smooth running. Failing that, he can be found in our beachside bar sipping a cold beer, watching the world go by.

Qualifications:
.PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
.EFR Instructor
.Holds 9 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings

KENJI TAKAHASHI
PADI Course Director / DSAT-PADI Tech Deep Instructor Trainer

Diving for over 15 years, Kenji joined Crystal Dive Resort in 2003 with a view to increase the Japanese market here on Koh Tao. With over 2,000 PADI certifications to his name, Kenji teaches all levels of PADI dive courses in both Japanese and English language, literally from Discover Scuba’s to Instructors, to Tech Deep Diver!

A keen underwater photographer and naturalist, Kenji's eye for spotting even the smallest of marine creatures is legendry with Crystal staff and customers alike. His knowledge of the marine life in and around Koh Tao is second to none.

Kenji first became involved with the PADI Instructor Development Process in early 2005 when he completed his PADI IDC Staff course with Matt. Since that day he has been a familiar face on many of the IDCs that Matt has conducted and he built up his experience & worked towards the PADI Master Instructor rating.

On the 14th March 2008 Kenji successfully completed the CDTC in Kota Kinabali, Malaysia becoming a PADI Course Director. He is currently the only Japanese speaking PADI Course Director on Koh Tao.

Always looking at new avenues within the scuba dive industry Kenji has spent the past 2 years following another of his passions….Technical Diving, and in 2009 he became Crystal Dives ‘in house’ DSAT Tech Instructor Trainer.

Qualifications:
.PADI Course Director
.DSAT/PADI Tech Instructor Trainer
.EFR Instructor Trainer
.Holds 12 PADI Specialty Instructor Trainer Ratings

JUSTIN MAYERS
PADI Course Director
IMCA Dive Medic Technician
Co-Coordinator Divemaster Training
IMCA Dive Medic Technician

Diving for over 14 years, Matt conducted Justin’s Divemaster course over 8 years ago. Justin worked as a Divemaster for a while and completed the PADI IDC in 2001. Initially working as an Instructor, Justin quickly progressed in the industry and managed a PADI 5 Star Gold Palm resort on Koh Tao.

Returning to his old mentor in 2004 Justin completed the IDC Staff Instructor course with Matt and finally decided to return to Crystal in 2006, teaching all levels of PADI courses whilst working towards his Master Instructor rating.

During this period Justin also become a Dive Medic Technician, completing the course in Plymouth, UK at the Diving Diseases Research Center.

The following two years saw Justin work on 15 IDC’s as an assistant to Matt and was ever present on all Matt’s IDC’s during 2008 gaining his Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer along the way.

Initially excepted on the CDTC to be held in California in July 2008, family commitments saw Justin defer and complete the course held in Kota Kinabli, Malaysia in March 2009 making him the only ever Koh Tao based PADI Course Director to be accepted on the CDTC twice!

Justin adds an additional dynamic to Matt's IDC team, having both managerial experience and being a fully qualified IMCA Dive Medic Technician. He is our third ‘in house’ PADI CD making Crystal Dive the only Koh Tao based Dive Center with three active full time PADI Course Directors.

Qualifications:
.PADI Course Director
.EFR Instructor Trainer
.DAN O2 Trainer
.IMCA / HSE Dive Medic Technician
.Reef Check Trainer
.Mares Equipment Technician

Nathan Cook
PADI IDC Staff Instructor / Environmental Awareness & Action Manager

Nathan has been living and working on Koh Tao since 2004 when he completed his IDC with Matt. Prior to this he operated an action adventure company in India called Himalayan Exposure.

Himalayan Exposure conducts adventures throughout Asia & the Himalaya, specializing in mountaineering expeditions. Nathan still conducts 2-3 trips per year.

Teaching all levels of PADI diver courses from entry level through to the Divemaster course Nathan is also a regular contributor to Matt’s IDC programs.

In 2007 Nathan’s attentions turned away from teaching the mainstream PADI dive courses and towards the environment and marine conservation projects.

Realising that marine conservation is playing a greater part in our day to day scuba diving activities Crystal Dive Resort created an ‘Environmental Awareness & Action’ department within the existing structure of the operation and Nathan became the Manager.

Regularly teaching the Reef Check Eco Diver courses, Nathans role includes organizing all environmental activities associated with Crystal Dive Resort. He mixes regularly activities like beach & dive site clean ups, with fund raisers for the community based conservation organization Save Koh Tao or Project AWARE.

Nathan is also spearheading several medium to long term projects such as Reef monitoring, coral nursery’s and alternative dive site exploration. Currently Nathan & Crystal Dive Resort are at an advance stage of developing an alternative dive site, hoping this will take pressure off Koh Tao’s existing dive sites.

"I grew up by the ocean in Melbourne Australia and although my formative years were spent swimming and surfing, it took me almost 30 years to give scuba diving a go. Being an avid climber and mountaineer the idea of diving and going underwater seemed a world away. So it wasn’t until repeated visits to Koh Tao turned a growing passion into a career.

Having worked as an instructor for the last four years I have constantly been amazed by the number and diversity of divers and the opportunities it opens up for people to get in touch with nature. Having always been considerate of our natural world it only made sense to focus on the environmental side of diving, which is where my main focus lies today. While I teach all levels of divers, the environment and its preservation is definitely my passion and my priority."

Qualifications
.PADI IDC Staff Instructor
.EFR Instructor
.Reef Check Instructor
.Holds 10 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings

Jenny Dowling
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Environmental Awareness & Action Co-Manager

Jenny has been helping to save the planet from Koh Tao for the last 3 years. Extensive training and practical experience has led to Jenny having an intimate understanding of Koh Tao’s special and unique marine ecosystem.

Jenny is an integral member of our Reef Check training and survey team and as a Marine Resource Manager her knowledge is boundless. Whenever there’s a project in motion Jenny is always on hand to help make it happen.

Qualifications:
.PADI MSDT Instructor
.Reef Check Instructor
.Documentary Film Maker
.Marine Resource Management Instructor
.Underwater Naturalist Instructor
.Coral Reef Conservation Instructor
.AWARE Fish-ID Instructor, Project Aware Instructor

Carsten Neuhaus
PADI Master Instructor/ German Instructor Development

Carsten joined Crystal Dive Resort in 2004 initially employed to teach all levels of PADI Diver courses in English & German.

Carsten quickly impressed, and as Crystal became more successful Carsten joined the Divemaster in Training Program as a Co-ordinator.

Working with the Divemasters naturally led Carsten into the Instructor Development Program and he is often seen assisting Matt with IDC’s, especially if there are German language requirements.

Recently completed the EFR Instructor Trainer course, along with Suki increasing the number of EFR IT’s at Crystal to 5.

One of the most popular Instructors on staff Carsten is also responsible for the Instructional Teams logistics on a daily basis.

When not diving Carsten enjoys the relaxed Koh Tao lifestyle, playing his bass guitar, football and every sunset.

Originally planning to travel around the world for one year Carsten has been enjoying the waters of Thailand’s East and West Coast for the last 6 years!!

Qualifications:
.PADI Master Instructor
.PADI EFR Instructor Trainer
.Holds 13 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings

Suki Oi Ching Hung
PADI Master Instructor
Co-Ordinator Divemaster Training Program
Chinese Instructor Development

Originally from Hong Kong, Suki is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. She discovered scuba diving by chance while travelling around South East Asia more than 10 years ago. It was love at first sight (underwater) … and eventually, her passion for diving and the lifelong dream of becoming a professional beach bum has "forced" her to replace her high heels with fins and become a dive instructor.

Suki joined Crystal in 2007 and besides teaching recreational level diving courses, she plays a key role with Crystal’s Divemaster Training programme and Instructor Development Courses both in English and Chinese.

Qualifications
.PADI Master Instructor
.Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer (EFRIT)
.Holds 10 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings
.Dan O2 Provider

Ivan Karadzic

PADI Master Instructor / DSAT & TDI Technical Instructor

Ivan started diving at the age of 15 back in Denmark, but didn’t dive professionally for many years. In 2006 he began working within the Dive industry first as a Divemster, then Instructor.

Ivan first came in contact with Crystal Dive mid 2008, where he completed the Master Scuba Diver Trainer course with Matt Bolton, he joined the team later that year. Ivan teaches all levels of PADI diver courses in English and Danish. When Ivan is not teaching people to dive he enjoys underwater photography.

Ivan sometimes disappear from the island for days, to explore some of the deep wrecks in the Gulf of Thailand with the growing technical diving community on the island.

Ivan also works on the IDC program, assisting Matt in his capacity as a PADI Master Instructor.

Qualifications
.PADI Master Instructor
.DSAT/TDI Technical Instructor
.EFR Instructor
.Holds 14 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings

Samantha Mack
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Sam arrived in Koh Tao in April 2008, only planning to spend two weeks on the island to take the PADI Open Water course. She immediately fell in love with diving in Koh Tao and despite numerous attempts to leave the island to return to her former life working in finance in Manchester, she decided to trade it all in and follow her true passion.

After completing the Divemaster course, Sam worked on the Crystal DM team for almost a year, gaining invaluable experience underwater and developing skills in many other areas. Since taking her IDC & MSDT at Crystal in April 2009, she has certified over 200 students and progressed to a full time teaching position.

Always keen for a new challenge, Sam has also recently started teaching in French, after brushing up on her A-level language skills.

Keen to progress her scuba diving career further, she hopes to embark on the IDC Staff Instructor course in the near future.

Qualifications
.PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
.Emergency First Response Trainer (EFRI)
.Holds 5 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings

Nick Hebrant
PADI IDC Staff Instructor
French & Spanish Instructor

Diving for over 10 years, Nick joined Crystal's team in 2009 shortly after completing his IDC & MSDT Prep & Internship program there.

After moving around for a while between Africa, Russia, Central America, and Europe and quitting his job in Brussels, Belgium where he worked as a IT Technician / Business Analyst, Nick decided to settle down on the cozy little island of Koh Tao.

Together with Sam, Nick heads the French instructional team at Crystal and is also teaches in English & Spanish.

Apart for diving, Nick is an avid photographer, enjoys taking his bike off road going around the island to secluded spots, and drinking a beer and watching the sun set on Turtle Island.

Qualifications
.PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
.Emergency First Response Trainer (EFRI)
.Holds 5 PADI Specialty Instructor Ratings

Simon Dowling
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Underwater Documentary Filmmaker
Environmental Awareness & Action Team

Simon is our resident documentary filmmaker and environmental/audio-visual specialist. With a background in film production working with major television companies, his passion lies in creation of films about diving.

Simon originally came to Koh Tao to work on a documentary about a dive school. 3 years later, he is still here, having fun teaching and filming.

Qualifications:
.PADI MSDT Instructor
.Reef Check Instructor
.Documentary Film Maker, Underwater Videography Instructor
.Marine Resource Management Instructor
.Underwater Naturalist Instructor, Coral Reef Conservation Instructor
.AWARE Fish-ID Instructor, Project Aware Instructor