Founder | PADI Course Director | Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer
Before graduating from the 2004 CDTC at PADI Worldwide Head Quarter in California, Thien was a very active PADI Master Instructor at Dive Asia PADI CDC in Phuket. Prior to his acceptance to the PADI CDTC in 2004, he had worked in 25 PADI IDC programs (training over 300 successful instructors alongside the late PADI legendary Course Director, Bjorn Tackman). Thien conducted his very first PADI IDC in August 2004 as Sea Fun Divers’ Course Director.
More About Thien – His first view of the underwater world was through an old swimming goggle on a pristine reef off the Refugee Camp at Pulau Bidong, Malaysia in 1980. As a political refugee awaiting UNHCR to decide his future under the Orderly Departure Program, little did he know that first glimpse under the sea will be a part of his life’s passion.
Born in the former country of South Vietnam, Thien escaped political persecution with his mother and brother; they were among the lucky “Boat People” refugees to make it to Malaysia. He immigrated to the US in 1981 and grew up in San Francisco, California. A Bachelor of Art Graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, and member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Thien’s previous main professional life has been as a Store Manager for Gap Inc. and Business Development Manager for the formerly E-greetings Network Inc. (acquired in 2001 by Americans Greeting Corporation LLC).
Hobbies – Prior to making Scuba Diving his life passion, Thien was very active in the outdoors with activities included: mountain biking, running marathons, competing in triathlons, and had fallen off his skis quite often while searching for the ultimate “adrenaline rush.”
Beside training PADI Instructors, Thien loves to go diving with his former students, friends and sons (Tenor and Tin), exploring local and regional dive sites. Unlike other Course Directors, he still enjoys teaching all levels of PADI courses from beginner to Rescue level and working on community projects via our Care & Share Initiative. When he’s not in the water or filling tanks or managing our online marketing, Thien spends most of his free time with his three children.
More of Thien’s schedule is updated regularly via his Instagram and Facebook Timeline. A look back at Thien’s “23 Years Journey as a PADI Instructor” blog can be downloaded here. You also can click here to read a PADI’s short interview with our quiet, experienced and innovative leader.
Recent Update & Timeline
- Opened our third location Rumblefish Malaysia PADI Dive Center in Kuala Lumpur in February 2025
- Received PADI 2024 Elite 100 Instructor Award and ‘PADI Gold Course Director‘ recognition for 2025 PADI Frequent Trainer Program
- Received PADI 2023 Elite 200 Instructor Award and ‘PADI Platinum Course Director‘ recognition for 2024 PADI Frequent Trainer Program
- Celebrated 20 consecutive years anniversary as a PADI Member in July 2021
- Founded our community Care & Share Initiative during the pandemic to support residents, local businesses and the environment of Kata and Karon Municipalities in Phuket, Thailand (April 2020)
- Awarded Outstanding Contribution to PADI Instructor Development Recognition for 2018
- Qualified as Disabled Diver International (DDI) Instructor (#1623) in 2018
- Opened our second location Rumblefish Vietnam PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center in Ho Chi Minh City in July 2014
- Supported Oceanic Quest to be come PADI first 5 Star IDC Center in Brunei and successfully completed the first ever PADI IDC in Brunei in February 2014.
- Set Rumblefish Adventure’s PADI IDC record with 21 successful new instructors in 2013.
- Surpassed 2012 record by completing the current largest PADI IDC and IE in India in May 2013 with 12 candidates.
- Conducted the first and only PADI IDC in Lakshadweep Union Territory, India (Jan 2013)
- Successfully completed the largest PADI IDC and IE in India with 10 IDC Candidates and 5 IDC Staff Candidates in May 2012.
- Led Rumblefish Adventure to PADI 5 Star IDC Recognition in August 2010
- Started up & Conducted Scuba Junkie first PADI IDC at Mabul Beach Resort, Mabul-Sipadan Islands, Malaysia (Nov 2010)
- Started up, conducted & Received PADI Recognition for the first PADI IDC & IE in the country of India (Andaman Islands, Nov 2009), with Barefoot Scuba.
- Started up & Conducted Cambodia’s first ever PADI IDC including the first ever Cambodian Khmer candidate to be certified PADI OWSI (Sihanoukville, Oct 2008)
- Started up Bakersfield’s first ever PADI IDC program (Kern County -California, 2005, 2006 & 2007)
- Became PADI first and only Vietnamese-American Course Director in 2004
- Co-Founded Rumblefish Adventure Dive Club in December 2003
- Became a PADI Divemaster and OWSI with Dive Asia CDC in Phuket, Thailand in November 2001