Meet Dive Ninja’s PADI Course Director, Anders Heegaard

From the Big City to the Diving Industry  

In his early 20’s, Anders had a successful career at a marketing firm in Copenhagen with all the perks of big city living- nice car, salary, luxury lifestyle, nightlife, etc. However, the rat race had its costs- working 16 hour days, stress, unhealthy habits, and burnout to name a few. When he was 23, he did his PADI Open Water Course in the North Sea while working in Copenhagen. “Everybody thought I was crazy, the water was freezing, but it was a way for me to temporarily escape the rat race, zone out of work, not bound by the limits of gravity,” explains Heegaard. This temporary fix didn’t last, and it wasn’t long before he bought a flight to Thailand to become a PADI Divemaster in Koh Tao.  “I thought I just needed a break, maybe 6 months or a year, but the diving industry allowed me to see beyond the hamster wheel, to create a different life. It was the hardest and the best thing I ever did. To leave everything behind- my family, my stuff, my house and car, and the whole lifestyle to start a new life,” says Anders. 

The Journey to the Top

Originally, Anders only wanted to become a divemaster, but then things changed. “I found myself moving up to the next level in diving because it was a challenge, and I needed to keep challenging myself,” says Anders. After teaching thousands of introductory PADI courses, he moved to Utila, Honduras where he became a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. Three years later he went on to Turks and Caicos to become a Course Director. He then worked as a Course Director at Pro Dive Mexico, where he also lead technical cave diving training and exploration all over the Yucatan Peninsula. But after a few years someone at PADI noticed his talents and offered Anders the role as the Regional Manager for PADI of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as an IE examiner. (NOTE: It’s always good to have a former examiner preparing you for the PADI IE! Especially one that is also an accomplished Course Director because they know both sides of the instructor exams and can help you prepare. ) Now, 15 years since he first did his Divemaster in Thailand, he holds more than 20 instructor trainer specialties including DSAT and Technical Diving Instructor Trainer!

The Best Part of Being a PADI Course Director

After hearing Anders’ story, you won’t be surprised to hear his answer when I asked him his favorite part of teaching an IDC: 

 “Definitely the Transformation. From the first day to the last day, working with the students every day to improve their skills, theory, and knowledge of ocean conservation. To see the transformation from the student they start as on their first day to the instructor they become on the final day, and the confidence it gives them is my favorite part. Transforming people and giving them the opportunity to change their lives, like I was able to change mine.” 

Passion to create a better future for our oceans, and his dedication to each individual student as well as the diving community as a whole, are the reasons why Anders is the PADI Platinum Course Director that he is today, not to mention his 100 percent pass rate at the Instructor Examinations.  Nowadays, when he isn’t teaching an IDC you can find Anders enjoying Los Cabos’ remote beaches with his family, paragliding, camping under the stars, or eating at his favorite downtown sushi joint: The Fish!

Interested in Joining Anders and the team for your PADI Instructor Development Course or another Course? Give us a shout today!