Holly Mcleod, C.D. Queen, Blue Marlin Dive

Living the Dream Below the Surface
Holly Macleod on life, leadership, and a career beneath the waves

With an infectious smile and full of positivity and patience, Holly Macleod has resided on Gili Trawangan since almost the Iron Age, fulfilling thousands of ocean-lovers’ dreams of becoming a scuba diving instructor!

We dive in with Holly to learn just why people would want to take this incredible career path.

Dream job, dream island, dream career! How long have you lived on Gili Trawangan, and what made you stay?

Thirteen years! I was working in Bali and was very fortunate to be offered a position running Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) here. From the moment I arrived, I knew I wanted to stay.

Ironically, I’d been trying to avoid small islands, but Trawangan is a diving paradise. The dive scene is thriving, the marine life is epic, and there’s an incredible variety in such a small area. Even after thousands of dives, the sites here can still surprise you.

Where was your first-ever dive?

Like many others, Koh Tao in Thailand. I’d wanted to try diving for years and was hooked immediately.
It took a while to realise it could be a career, but since becoming a dive instructor, I haven’t stopped. I still appreciate how lucky I am to do something I genuinely love.

Any awards or special recognition?

I’ve been awarded PADI Platinum Course Director status for 13 consecutive years — the highest rating I can hold — along with PADI Elite status and an individual award for commitment to Instructor Development.

Incredible, congratulations! But, course Director sounds serious — what does that actually mean?

Basically, a Course Director is a diving instructor who teaches people how to become diving instructors.
It can’t all be smiles, bubbles and turtles. What’s the least exciting part of the job?
Easy — the admin! Same answer whether you’re a dive shop manager or a course director.

Tell us about the dive centre you run. Do you teach complete beginners too?

Absolutely. We teach everything from first-time introduction dives and Open Water courses through to professional-level training. We have a large Pro department covering Divemaster training and IDCs, plus a dedicated tech centre.

I love the sheer variety — it means lots of diving at many different sites, which keeps things exciting for both staff and certified fun divers.

You mentioned tech diving — is that your thing?

Very much so. I love the challenge and believe continuing my own training makes me a better instructor. Around Gili Trawangan and North Lombok there are incredible deeper sites only accessible through tech diving — stunning walls, a WWII shipwreck, and amazing pelagic encounters.

Who is the IDC suitable for, and what happens after passing?

Any certified Divemaster (from a recognised agency) with at least six months’ experience and 100 logged dives can enrol. Once they pass the IDC and Instructor Examination, they’re fully qualified PADI Instructors ready to work anywhere in the world.

Why did you start teaching IDCs?

It felt like a natural progression. After over 20 years as an instructor, I really enjoy professional-level training. Cheesy as it sounds, I genuinely love helping people achieve what is often a lifelong dream.

Give us five reasons to become a scuba instructor.

• Diving every day.
• Making people happy while showing them a whole new world.
• Travel — the best diving is usually in beautiful places.
• Helping people achieve something meaningful.
• There’s always more to explore.

And a final one for our readers – what’s your favourite dive site around the Gilis?

Shark Point. I love sharks, and it never disappoints — always different, always exciting, always full of potential surprises.