Meet Dive Ninja’s PADI Course Director, Aitor Diaz

Business Owner and Natural Leader  

Even as a kid, Aitor knew he was meant to be outside in nature. His early obsession with rock climbing and white water kayaking took him around the world, guiding trips and experiencing different cultures from Nepal to Central America. He opened his first business, Guadalkayak, in his 20’s and grew it into a thriving water adventure company in Southern Spain. Each year, Aitor took time off to travel, and he found diving while exploring Thailand. While training to become a PADI Divemaster, he saw how sustainable diving as a sport was, especially in regards to physical health and longevity. 

One moment in particular stuck out when he saw an older man teaching an Open Water Course, and Aitor could see a real future in the industry. “It felt like a sign that if I switch careers, I could do this forever,” Aitor always tells IDC students. “Kayaking was fun, but it’s hard on the body… and it’s dangerous. Diving has always felt adaptable and sustainable. I can do technical diving or keep it simple with recreational courses. It has always felt like an industry where I can grow and be really happy sharing my passion.” Upon the sale of his business in Spain, he pursued professional development as an instructor and hasn’t looked back. 

Aitor is not only a mentor but a dedicated student who constantly challenges himself to learn new skills, improve his teaching techniques, and be present for his students. “Becoming a scuba instructor pushes you into a world that could never bore you. There are always new places to explore, people to meet, and skills to learn. And the best part is the instant community you have with other dive professionals. We all have found something that fires us up, and an instant bond is made no matter where in the world you meet.”

A Wild Ride in the Scuba Industry

Aitor knew he wanted to be a PADI Course Director from the time he passed his Instructor Exam. 

After developing a reputation for thorough Instructor Development Courses in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, Aitor opened the dive shop Azul Unlimited in Indonesia. He was building a leading market for IDCs in Komodo when COVID shut down Indonesia for two years. This shift made him look to other locations that were still operating, and his former student, Dive Ninja Founder Jay Clue, was in need of a dive shop manager, which eventually led into Aitor guiding the professional training programs at Dive Ninjas. One thing that Aitor always stresses to his students is to be adaptable and have diverse skills. One dream can be lost, and new opportunities take its place. Now, Aitor is pleased to take his ideas and passion from his own business and help Dive Ninjas grow in new ways while supporting their overall goal of using tourism to support ocean conservation.

What’s the best part of the IDC?

Aitor has gotten to teach IDCs in Mexico and Indonesia, but his favorite part of the course has nothing to do with the location–it’s all about the people.

“I love getting to know my IDC students and helping them reach their goals. Each person comes from a different background with varying abilities. It’s fascinating to help each person discover their strengths and further develop any weak points in their knowledge. My goal is to turn out well-rounded, professional scuba instructors who are passionate about ocean conservation. The program at Dive Ninja Expeditions provides an environment to build lifelong professional relationships and friendships between staff and students.”

Training responsible scuba instructors is key to expanding advocacy for our oceans. Wherever our PADI professionals travel or work, they are another touchpoint to conservation and share that passion with their own students. The work behind protecting the oceans we love can feel daunting, but shared work feels lighter. As part of the IDC with Dive Ninja Expeditions, Instructor Candidates will participate in extra workshops including a shark & ray tourism workshop with Dr. Frida Lara. You will also receive the PADI Whale Defender Instructor distinctive specialty, which was developed by the Dive Ninja team.

When Aitor isn’t teaching an IDC, he runs the operations at Dive Ninja Expeditions and in his free time, he explores the beautiful beaches in Los Cabos with his dog Chalá.

Join Aitor and the Dive Ninja team for your PADI Instructor Development Course! Contact us today!