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Matt Bolton - PADI #CD 463559

Originally from the UK Matt has worked in S.E. Asia for the past 6 years. Initially working as a Divemaster at one of South East Asia’a leading 5 Star CDC Centers, Matt spent some time working in Australia before returning to the region and taking his PADI IDC.

Already an experienced BSAC Advanced Instructor, Matt worked at the regions leading BSAC Premier Center and has extensive teaching experience within both BSAC and PADI.

Matt joined Crystal Dive Resort in 2000 and quickly progressed to becoming Head Instructor and in less than two years was working alongside some the country's leading Course Directors, giving him an insight into the teaching techniques of PADI IDC’s.

As Operations Manager of Crystal Dive Resort, Matt immediately developed the school into a 5 Star IDC Center and began conducting IDC's. Selected by PADI to attend the Course Director Training Course at PADI HQ in California, Matt is one of the few Asian-based Course Directors to have attended this prestigous once a year course!

With more than 2000 dives in areas as diverse as South East Asia, Australia, the USA and the UK, Matt has a wealth of diving experience to share, particularly in the waters of .

As a PADI Instructor, Matt has over 1,500 diver certifications and approaching 800 professional level certifications which only adds to his already impressive experience and reputation within the Thailand scuba diving industry.

As well as boasting 5 years management experience with one of Thailand’s premier scuba diving operations, Matt has 12 Instructor Trainer Specialty ratings as well as being an EFR Primary, Secondry and Care for Children Instructor Trainer.

Matt is also the only Koh Tao Course Director to attend the 3 Day 2005 PADI Business of Diving Seminar's, an exclusive PADI Developmental program aimed at the industry's business leaders.

At the beginning of 2007, PADI awarded Matt the prestigious 'Platinum' Course Director rating and he is now one of only a handful of PADI Course Directors in Thailand to have received this award and in a group of less than 10% of all Course Directors worldwide.

Always willing to learn something new and keep ahead of new developments, Matt has recently taken time out from his teaching activities to continue his own education, attending courses in Marine Conservation & Reef Ecology as well as completing the latest 'Dive Medical' courses sponsored by DAN.