It was a rainy, humid day: the mother of all bad hair days. Just another cold dark winter’s day in England. I was taking a bus into town. The windows on the bus were covered in condensation so thick you couldn't see outside. Everyone was wilting and wet. I was sitting next to a man in a business suit and didn't pay much attention, looking into oblivion, until we both got off at the same stop and walked to the same newspaper stand to get a morning paper.
The man, owner of the stand was obviously having a bad day too. He was rude, abrupt and unsmiling as we bought our papers, with the news headlines to only add more gloom to my day. The businessman caught my eye and smiled. He then proceeded to smile brightly, thanked the newsstand proprietor for the paper and for being open on such a cold morning, making sure we were able to get our papers. In short, he expressed his appreciation for something most of us would take for granted.
The man running the newsstand responded only with a grunt and sour expressions. The businessman then pleasantly wished him a pleasant day. As we turned away, I asked this man why he had continued to be pleasant to the newsagent owner when he obviously didn't care about and didn't respond to his expression of appreciation and friendliness.
The businessman grinned at me and said, "Why would I let someone else control what I say and what I feel or what kind of day I'm going to have?"
"Diving and teaching can be a passion which changes your life and you can change other peoples life’s too"
You can say that again! It is a life changing experience for me...
PADI Course Director, Joey A. Ridge
I know how difficult it is to choose the right place to make your IDC, so the choice is obvious! Little did you know that you could have picked a world class experienced Course Director!
Joey’s passion for teaching Scuba has led to the creation of his Knowledge, Experience and Internship Scuba Training Courses. This is Joey’s commitment to support of Internship, IDC’s and the PADI Staff Instructors are taught. Prior Knowledge, materials helps us keep up to date and we like to be at the cutting edge of the dive industry, knowing this you can rest assure that Joey’s expertise is second to none.
Joey A. Ridge was born in the UK, where he lived until he was 18 and graduated from college. From that time, my passion was in Scuba Diving, I got my first seasonal Diving Job in Greece. I returned to Greece for three summers, working and gaining experience from a variety diving of centres.
My feet began to get hot and again, I travelled to the USA, helping dive centres in Florida, California and Hawaii. Australia wasn’t far, so I travelled over there and stayed a couple of years. But the most fun to be had for me was working in ASIA, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
There I had the pleasure to work for many good reputable Dive Schools, gaining valuable experiences along the way. I lived and worked as a PADI Instructor and Underwater Photographer, Videographer in places around the world. The last 10 years I have been teaching the Padi System and conducting IDC’s.
I am the youngest local resident PADI Course Director in Cyprus. As I am English I speak English, Greek and a little Swedish. With support from my PADI Staff Instructors, I can teach IDC Courses in English, Greek, German, French, Finish, Swedish and Danish.
Now here in Cyprus for over 12 years, I have established myself and Easy Divers Cyprus with a firm foot hold in the dive industry here in Cyprus. Joey has a time-honoured and valued opinion as an Honorary Committee Member in the Cyprus Dive Centre Association (CDCA)
EZDivers Cyprus has a comprehensive selection of top Scuba Professional Traineeship programs, some designed by Joey himself. The Go Pro Scuba Internship caters for all budgets. Go from complete novice to Dive Master; take a look at our Instructor Internship / Trainee Programs. You can have that life changing Scuba Job and not only a dream wish.
Joey also runs the most dynamic, updated PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC) in Cyprus. A full multimedia, network of computerized classrooms: laptops, LCD projectors, video etc. We will ensure that your PADI IDC experience is the most up to date, comprehensive and professional available.
Although PADI requires an IDC to have a minimum duration of 7 days we have found some extra presentations and workshops highly beneficial to our candidates' success. To accommodate these extra presentations, workshops and courses that we have integrated into our program, we have found an 8 – 9 day Prep and IDC more ideal.
Extra workshops include our DM/IDC Prep: Ascents & Descents, Buoyancy control, Buddy Breathing both swimming and stationary, Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA), Rescue and Student Control, both under water and at the surface an added bonus.
Joey is always very helpful, friendly, thorough, funny, approachable, knowledgeable and professional. He somehow makes the gruelling IDC courses a lot of fun. All of Joey’s instructor candidates have passed 100%. Joey is determined that each person he teaches gets individual attention and personalised counselling. He doesn't just teach someone to pass the exams; he is passionate that his candidates are confident and knowledgeable and prepared to be an effective PADI Scuba instructor in the ever changing world of the dive industry. Joey’s motto is ‘You either know it or you don’t’.
One of my Staff Instructors once told me, I never realised just how much you taught me and I now realise the more I teach, not only in your Instructor Development Courses, the more I put into practice your training styles, you taught me to be a better teacher...how to pace a class and cover all course requirements but still keep it fun. Thank you. Joey you are such a great role model.
When I teach, I tell all my new students, that this day, I will learn something new from all of you?
To all new instructors, I say you will definitely learn something from every new course you teach, from all the students you train!
For one instance, PADI teaches us how important positive feedback is for our students. I love to watch this in action; I see how proud my students looks when I tell them that they performed a skill just right, Perfect!! One of my very first Open Water students took the time to write some positive comments about me and PADI passed it on to me. It was really nice to get that feedback. This reminded me that my students aren't the only ones that deserve positive reinforcement! We all do, so I wanted to take the time to say THANKS!!! To all my students and New Padi Instructor Candidates who train here, I hope to pass on my relaxed positive attitude to everyone that joins me at Easy Divers Cyprus for their training.
For more info please visit www.ezdivers.com
