SDI Instructor Angel Caballero -

Àngel Caballero

Stories from Diving with an SDI Instructor

Name: Àngel Caballero

Country of origin: Spain

Place of residence: Reus

Dive club / dive center: Naturtek

Highest diving certifications: Tech 2 GUE, TDI Adv. Mix Gas CCR, TDI Full Cave CCR

Highest instructor certifications: SDI / TDI Instructor Trainer, CMAS 3 star Instructor

What inspired you to become a dive instructor?

It wasn’t a calling or a desire to teach diving, but rather my passion for diving. I thought it would be a great opportunity to dive even more, but that’s where I made my first mistake. In a diving instructor course, you don’t learn to dive better, you learn how to teach and communicate diving knowledge and how to teach others to dive.

How do you remember your first instructor course?

I remember it with a lot of nerves. Being in front of students who are looking at you, waiting for you to explain a lot of things, it was a bit overwhelming. Luckily, I had the support of my instructor trainer, who gave me confidence and helped me through the toughest moments.

What motivates you to keep teaching diving every day?

One of my main motivations is sharing diving knowledge and techniques. But above all, seeing my students’ progress as divers, watching them improve their skills, and seeing them transform into competent divers is incredibly rewarding.

What do you think is the most important skill a student should master before being certified?

Before certifying a student at any level, they must primarily master the minimum safety protocols for that level. If they haven’t, we’re not doing them any favors. There’s a clear ethical code in SDI/TDI: Would you let this student dive with one of your family members or friends? If you think carefully about that, it’s easy to tell whether the student is ready or not.

How do you manage fear or insecurity in students, especially beginners?

I do this by explaining exactly what will happen at every moment, so they’re prepared before anything happens. If they know what to expect, it won’t be a surprise, and they’ll be ready for it. Staying close to them is key—especially in certain exercises where physical contact provides reassurance and helps them feel safe knowing you’re there and nothing will happen to them.

How do you stay updated with the latest diving techniques, equipment, and standards?

Through continuous education, keeping up with new information—thanks to social media and conferences—and honing my skills through active diving and training at my maximum diving level.

What do you think makes a good instructor versus an exceptional instructor?

This is a tough question because many factors come into play, but for me, an exceptional instructor is someone with solid knowledge who can transmit it in a way that’s easily understood and can be applied. They simplify complex concepts and have excellent diving techniques, demonstrating clearly how to perform exercises and showing the students exactly what they need to do.

What message would you give to those considering becoming diving instructors?

Being a diving instructor isn’t just about reaching another level. It’s about preparing yourself to effectively transmit knowledge, having patience and adapting to various situations. Becoming an instructor requires sacrifices—not just teaching, but also diving for enjoyment. Sometimes, you’ll have to sacrifice other things to make time for diving, so you don’t become the kind of instructor who just teaches all day and never updates themselves or dives for fun.

Why did you choose SDI as your diving agency?

I started with TDI, choosing it for its status as the world’s leading technical diving certifier. This led me to discover SDI and appreciate the flexibility of its standards. With SDI, I can run courses the way I’ve always thought they should be taught, while still following the standards. It doesn’t mean I’m teaching just any way I want, but I can focus on what matters within the framework of those standards.

What are the courses you most enjoy teaching and why?

I particularly enjoy teaching advanced courses, technical diving courses and instructor courses. With these students, you get to teach things that make everything they’ve learned before make sense. Additionally, these are often more experienced divers, so teaching them presents a challenge I enjoy.

Which courses are most requested by your students, and why do you think they are so popular?

Intro to Tech, Advanced Nitrox, Helitrox, Trimix and now the Shark HCCR courses. My students want to dive deeper, explore wrecks at greater depths and they see me regularly doing these types of dives, which is why they come to me for these courses.

What has been the most rewarding moment in your career as an instructor so far?

One of the best moments was when I passed the Instructor Trainer course with Mark Powell. It was an intense, challenging, and exhausting course—both theoretically and practically—but finishing and passing it was one of the best moments of my career as an instructor.

What do you hope your students will remember about you after completing your courses?

I hope they remember everything I taught them and that diving is fun, but requires full concentration. They will be doing dives where the risks increase, and I want them to remember the responsibility that comes with that.

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