Downbelow’s Go PRO Instructor Development Team
One of the most important questions that you must ask when considering a dive centre with whom to complete your professional level training is “who will teach me?”.
At Downbelow we take all levels of diver training very seriously and when it comes to professional courses we have a dedicated team of highly qualified instructors & course directors with decades of experience in many specialized fields who teach, guide and offer advice to all candidates.
Meet the Go PRO Team…
Richard Swann – PADI Course Director
PADI Course Director Richard is already into his second decade of instructor training.
As Managing Director of Downbelow Richard heads the training team of PADI Instructors.
With a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of diver training he plays a vital role in the success of every candidate for our professional courses.
PADI Course Directors hold the highest and most respected professional rating in recreational scuba diving.
PADI Course Directors are among the dive industry’s most influential opinion leaders and role models.
Richard’s Instructor Trainer Qualifications
Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer CPR / Primary & Secondary Care w/AED Adult / Child / Infant
PADI Atlantis/Dolphin Rebreather Instructor Trainer
PADI Deep Diver Speciality Instructor Trainer
PADI Digital Underwater Photography Instructor Trainer
PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Instructor Trainer
PADI Dry Suit Instructor Trainer
PADI EFR Trainer
PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor Trainer
PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Speciality Instructor Trainer
PADI Fish Identification Trainer
PADI Night Diver Speciality Instructor Trainer
PADI Search & Recovery Speciality Instructor Trainer
PADI Tec Rec Gas Blender Instructor Trainer
PADI Underwater Navigator Instructor Trainer
PADI Underwater Videographer Instructor Trainer
PADI Wreck Speciality Instructor Trainer
Richard’s PADI Speciality Instructor Qualifications
Emergency First Response Instructor CPR / Primary & Secondary Care w/AED Adult / Child / Infant
Atlantis/Dolphin Rebreather Instructor
AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Sp Instructor
Boat Instructor
Care for Children w/AED Instructor
Deep Diver Instructor
Digital Underwater Photography Instructor
Diver Propulsion Vehicle Instructor
Drift Diver Instructor
Dry Suit Instructor
EFR Instructor
Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor
Enriched Air Instructor
Fish Identification Instructor
Medic First Aid Instructor
Night Diver Instructor
Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor
Project Aware Instructor
Ray Rebreather Instructor
Search & Recovery Instructor
Tec Rec Gas Blender Instructor
Underwater Navigator Instructor
Underwater Photographer Instructor
Underwater Videographer Instructor
Wreck Instructor
You can read more about Richard in the About Us section.
Joseph Chung – PADI Course Director
PADI Course Director Joseph took his first breath underwater in 1981 and became a professional diving instructor in 1989, to this date he has certified more than 1600 students.
In 1994, he received his Course Director training from PADI at their Headquarters in California, United States. Fondly known as Mr Joe, his company Borneo Unlimited Marine Sports Sdn Bhd is based in Semporna.
Mr Joe joins us at Downbelow for the IDC Courses and has been a good friend for many years.
Joseph holds a Master of Business Administration in Sport Management (EU), European Business School – Cambridge, England.
For 18 years Joseph held the position of Head of Training at Borneo Divers Training Institute in Sabah Malaysia, also included on his resume is Dive Resort Manager and Dive Retail Outlet Manager. I
n addition, he is a trainer for Emergency First Response (Primary First Aid and Secondary Care) for Adults and Care for Children.
He is a member of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Malaysia Institute of Management, Malaysia Institute of Human Resource Management and Cambridge Association of Managers.
Mr Joe has a wealth of experience diving in Sabah, he was one of the first diving instructors at Sipadan back in the 1980′s and continues to pioneer the industry.
Joanne Swann – PADI Master Instructor
PADI Master Instructor Joanne has been a PADI Instructor for 11 years. Working with Joseph & Richard teaching Instructor Courses since 2005.
Joanne will be the person you communicate with when mapping out your professional diving program here at Downbelow.
Her ability to recognize an individuals strength & weakness and put together a tailored professional program at outstanding value for money is the foundation for Downbelow’s exceptionally well run internships & professional courses.
Joanne is a Director of Downbelow and she brings “business of diving” knowledge with her to the Instructor Courses where candidates benefit from real life experiences of running a dive company.
Joanne’s Instructor Trainer Qualifications
Joanne’s PADI Speciality Instructor Qualifications
Emergency First Response Instructor CPR / Primary & Secondary Care w/AED Adult / Child / Infant
Boat Instructor
Deep Diver Instructor
Drift Diver Instructor
Enriched Air Instructor
Underwater Photographer Instructor
Underwater Videographer Instructor
Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor
Project Aware Instructor
AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Instructor
You can read more about Joanne in the About Us section.
Paul Jones – PADI IDC Staff Instructor
We first met Paul Jones back in the days when he joined us as a PADI Divemaster for a 4 month Professional Scuba Diving Internship.
Under the tutelage of resident PADI Course Director Richard Swann and his Go Pro Team, Paul emerged a high calibre PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
At first he left our shores to continue his world travels, but soon found the call of Borneo too loud to resist, and before long he was was back on Sabah shores to join Downbelow’s team.
Since then Paul has qualified as a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and continues to impart his skills and knowledge teaching courses from Discover Scuba through to assisting on Instructor Courses.
Paul’s Instructor Trainer Qualifications
Paul’s PADI Speciality Instructor Qualifications
Search & Recovery Instructor
Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor
Deep Diver Instructor
Navigation Instructor
Wreck Diver Instructor
Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor
Digital Underwater Photography Instructor
Project AWARE shark conservation instructor
Join Downbelow’s Professional Scuba Diving Internship
If you’re serious about your career prospects, an Internship with Downbelow in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia is a must.
Downbelow’s internship offer you endless opportunities for hands-on, real-world experience, giving you confidence in your career as a scuba diving professional.
During your Downbelow internship you will benefit from unlimited diving – and at Downbelow we dive every day!
That means you can spend as much time in the water as your bottom-time allows, be it for skills practice, scenario development or just fun diving.
An internship with Downbelow in Sabah, Malaysia is a great way to meet others in the industry and become part of the PADI family. So don’t delay – contact us today to Go Pro with Downbelow!
