VIP
Martijn & Maarten Bonaire IDC
PADI Course Directors • VIP Diving Bonaire

Train with Martijn & Maarten
on the shore-diving capital of the Caribbean.

Two PADI Course Directors. One island built for diving. From your first pro course to a full **Instructor Development Course**, we keep it small, focused and fun – with world-class reefs right offshore.

Talk IDC Dates ➜ See programs
Small groups, big coaching Max attention, real feedback, no factory-style classrooms.
Flexible, human schedule We work around flights, jet lag and “I need one more dive” days.
Who you'll dive with

Two PADI Course Directors, one shared obsession with good diving.

Between us, we’ve logged a lot of dives, a lot of students, and a lot of hours on Bonaire’s reefs. You get the benefit of two different teaching styles – and one aligned standard: solid, confident, employable pros.

Martijn Klijnstra
Martijn Klijnstra Course Director
Tech-nerd turned full-time dive pro. Loves clean skills, clear explanations and long shore dives.
  • Focus on building instructors who stay calm when things get messy.
  • Strong on theory, decompression and real-world problem solving.
  • Will absolutely notice if your SMB is a mess. (And fix it.)
PADI Course Director Tec & CCR Instructor Bonaire local since forever
  Maarten van den Hazel
Maarten van den Hazel Course Director
Super social, energetic and a natural tribe builder.
  • Creates a safe, positive atmosphere where people learn fast.
  • Turns every IDC group into a real team.
  • Keeps energy high, even on long training days.
PADI Course Director Community & team vibe High energy
Programs

From Divemaster to full Instructor – and beyond.

Every program runs through VIP Diving – a PADI 5★ IDC center on Bonaire – with us as your Course Directors. We keep numbers low so we can actually coach you, not just sign your logbook.

Pros starting out

Divemaster & pre-IDC tune-ups

Get truly ready for life as a dive pro. Skills, stamina, rescue refresh and the “soft stuff” nobody writes on the slate: briefings, debriefings, and how not to lose your divers.

Ideal if you’re aiming at the next IDC here on Bonaire and want to arrive warmed up.

The main event

PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)

A complete IDC with two Course Directors in the water and in the classroom. You’ll teach, brief, rescue, repeat – until it feels natural and you’re genuinely ready for your IE and your first job.

Custom date options available. Tell us your travel window and we’ll see what fits.

Level up

MSDT & Specialty Instructor add-ons

Build a useful specialty lineup (think Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, maybe some local specials) so you hit the water employable, not just certified.

Ask about MSDT prep packages tied into your IDC or as a follow-up week.

2026 calendar

IDC & Divemaster dates at a glance.

For 2026 we’re planning 6 full IDCs and 7 Divemaster programs through VIP Diving. Here’s the overview – reach out and we’ll match you with the best start date.

PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC)

Small-group IDCs with Martijn & Maarten. All include IE prep and the option to add MSDT specialties.

  • IDC 1: Feb 8 – 20, 2026
  • IDC 2: Mar 22 – Apr 3, 2026
  • IDC 3: May 10 - 22, 2026
  • IDC 4: Jun 21 – Jul 3, 2026
  • IDC 5: Sep 13 – 25, 2026
  • IDC 6: Nov 22 – Dec 4, 2026

Not sure which IDC fits your travel plans? Send us your preferred month and we’ll recommend a date.

PADI Divemaster programs

Divemaster training with real students, real shore diving and room to grow into your IDC.

  • DM 1–7: Scheduled across the year to feed into our IDCs.
  • Flexible start dates – usually every few weeks.
  • Duration: typically around 12 days depending on your wishes.

Tell us when you’d like to be on Bonaire and how much time you have – we’ll build a Divemaster plan around it.

Your IDC home base

Powered by VIP Diving – PADI 5★ IDC Center on Bonaire.

All of our pro training runs through VIP Diving. It’s the hub where tanks, trucks, classrooms and coffee come together – and where most Bonaire dive careers quietly start.

  • PADI 5★ IDC Center with multiple Course Directors on staff.
  • Dedicated IDC-focused training with small groups and real coaching time.
  • Well-organized rental gear, tanks and logistics so you can focus on teaching, not carrying stuff.
  • Staff and crew who actually know your name, your course and your favorite dive site.
  • Perfect base for shore diving – grab a truck, grab tanks, go explore.
VIP is our shared home base – when you train here, you become part of that crew too.
Why here?

Bonaire: the perfect classroom with a reef attached.

Easy shore entries, protected reefs and warm water pretty much all year. It’s one of the best places in the world to learn how to teach diving and actually enjoy the ride.

  • Most dives start from shore – less time on boats, more time actually practicing teaching.
  • Warm, clear water and healthy coral make demo dives and skill circuits less stressful and more fun.
  • Short distances: shop, house reef, rinse tanks, classroom – all close together.
  • Laid-back island vibe that makes long IDC days feel way less “school” and way more “this is my life now”.
  • Plenty of fun dive options before / after your course to explore your new backyard.
Next step

Tell us who you are – we’ll tell you what’s possible.

No automated booking widgets. You talk to us (yes, actual humans, usually still salty from the last dive). We look at dates, your experience and your goals, then help you build a plan.

WhatsApp / Phone
+599-785-0212
Based at
VIP Diving – PADI 5★ IDC Center, Bonaire.
Good to know
We answer messages between dives and after rinsing gear. If it takes a few hours, we’re probably underwater.