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About Chris
A passionate dive educator with nearly 30 years of experience, Chris Heitkemper is dedicated to shaping the next generation of PADI Instructors and Technical Divers through the PADI Instructor Development Malta program.
Chris has been in the dive industry for nearly three decades, with over 20 years as a PADI Course Director. His teaching approach blends German precision with a Mediterranean mindset, ensuring that every PADI Instructor Development Malta graduate is confident, highly skilled, and employable worldwide.
Chris is also Malta’s most experienced PADI Technical and Trimix Instructor Trainer. Since 2004, he has trained both technical divers and instructors in deep, wreck, and trimix diving, making him one of Europe’s top technical diving educators. His expertise and leadership in the PADI Instructor Development Malta program continue to set new standards in dive education.
Training Philosophy & Experience
From Thailand to Malta – A Journey in Dive Education
Chris’s passion for teaching began early. After earning his PADI Instructor certification in 1995, he spent three years in Thailand, gaining experience in high-volume training centers. In 1998, he moved to Malta, where he built a world-class PADI Instructor Development Malta program, training hundreds of successful instructors who now work in top dive destinations worldwide.
Chris has a structured yet supportive teaching style, and his mentorship has helped countless candidates pass the PADI Instructor Development Malta program and the PADI Instructor Exam with confidence.
Expert in Technical Diving & Trimix Training
While Chris is widely known for his exceptional IDC programs, his greatest passion lies in technical and deep wreck diving. He is a PADI Tec and Trimix Instructor Trainer, regularly running advanced-level technical diving courses in Malta and abroad. His work has taken him to Switzerland, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and beyond, training divers to explore depths that few ever reach.
Malta’s WWI and WWII wrecks are among the best in the world, and Chris specializes in leading technical training dives to these incredible sites. His experience in deep diving, gas management, decompression procedures, and wreck penetration makes him an unmatched mentor for those looking to take their diving to the next level.
Why Train with Chris?
A Mentor, A Leader, A Passionate Dive Professional
Chris is a PADI Gold Course Director, with a reputation for producing highly skilled and confident instructors. His dedication to mentorship, professionalism, and real-world dive training has made Starfish Diving Malta a top choice for IDC training in Europe.
His students don’t just pass the PADI Instructor Exam—they become in-demand dive professionals worldwide.
PADI IDC in Malta
What To Expect
Expert Training
Chris ensures every candidate receives individualized coaching and hands-on experience.
Multi-Language Instruction
Courses are taught in English, German, and French, making Starfish Diving Malta accessible to international candidates.
A Globally Recognized Certification
Our IDC graduates work as instructors worldwide, from tropical resorts to liveaboards and dive centers across the globe.
World-Class Dive Locations
Train in Malta’s crystal-clear waters, with access to wrecks, caves, reefs, and deep dive sites, ideal for real-world instructor training.
High Instructor Exam Success Rate
Our structured IDC preparation, mock exams, and hands-on teaching ensure you’re fully prepared for the PADI Instructor Exam (IE).
Career Support & Job Placement
Beyond certification, we offer career mentorship, specialty instructor training, and job placement guidance to help you succeed.
PADI Instructor Development Malta
IDC SCHEDULE 2025
| Feb / March 25 | April / May 25 | Aug / Sept 25 | Oct / Nov 25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC | 19 FEB-27 FEB | 23 APR-1 MAY | 27 AUG-4 SEP | 29 OCT-6 NOV | |||
| IDC Staff | 18 FEB-27 FEB | 22 APR-1 MAY | 26 AUG -4 SEP | 28 OCT-6 NOV | |||
| EFRI | 23 FEB 25 | 27 APR | 31 AUG | 2 NOV | |||
| OWSI | 22 FEB-27 FEB | 25 APR-1 MAY | 30 AUG-4 SEP | 1-6 NOV | |||
| MSDT Prep | 3-4 MAR | 5-6 MAY | 8-9 SEP | 10-11 NOV | |||
| IE | 28 Feb-1 MAR | 2-3 MAY | 5-6 SEP | 7-8 NOV | |||
PADI Instructor Development Courses Malta
Are you ready to turn your passion into a career? Train with Chris Heitkemper and become a world-class PADI Instructor or Technical Diver.
Pro Recreational Courses
€1,100.00 inc. VAT
Beyond the IDC – Technical Diving with Chris Heitkemper
PADI Tec & Trimix Instructor Trainer
Chris Heitkemper is not only a PADI Course Director but also one of Malta’s most experienced PADI Tec and Trimix Instructor Trainers. With decades of technical diving experience, Chris has trained hundreds of divers and instructors in the specialized skills needed to explore greater depths, wrecks, and challenging environments safely.
His expertise in decompression procedures, gas management, and deep technical diving has made him a leading mentor for those wanting to move beyond recreational limits and into advanced technical diving instruction.
A Leader in Technical Diving Training
Since 2004, Chris has been at the forefront of technical diving education, training both students and instructors in:
✔ PADI Tec Deep Instructor: Teaching staged decompression diving up to 50 meters.
✔ PADI Tec Trimix Instructor: Extending depth limits using trimix gases up to 90 meters.
✔ PADI Trimix Gas Blender Instructor: Blending of enriched air and trimix gases.
✔ PADI Tec Sidemount Instructor: Technical sidemount diving and cylinder configuration.
