Are you a PADI Divemaster?
You’re getting close. Now it’s time to start your PADI Instructor Development Course
(IDC). The IDC consists of two sections, the Assistant
Instructor (AI) course and
the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. This structure lets you divide the
course into two blocks for schedule convenience if you need to. However, you may
prefer to complete the two portions together, going through the entire IDC in as
few as seven days.
The first part of the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is the PADI Assistant
Instructor course. This course provides you additional experience as a PADI Professional
and teaches you the PADI System of diver education.
PADI Assistant Instructors:
- Teach knowledge development (classroom) presentations (under the indirect supervision
of a PADI Instructor)
- Evaluate Open Water Diver surface skills (under the indirect supervision of a PADI
Instructor)
- Teach the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course
- Teach the Project AWARE Specialty course
- Conduct PADI Discover Scuba experiences
- Teach Emergency First Response
courses after successfully completing the
Emergency First Response Instructor Course
Prerequisites:
- PADI Divemaster rating or qualifying certification from another
organization
- Be at least 18 years old
- 60 logged dives (with experience in night, deep and navigation)
- Proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months
What it takes:
- Self-study – Knowledge reviews, quizzes, lectures and presentations
- Confined water – Skills review and assessment, workshops and presentations
- Open Water – Workshops, rescue assessment and candidate presentations
The Open Water Scuba Instructor program portion of the PADI IDC further hones your
leadership and teaching skills to prepare you for life as a PADI Instructor.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Program Course Prerequisites:
- PADI Assistant Instructor certification
- Certified diver for at least six months
- 60 logged dives (with experience in night, deep, and navigation)
- Proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months.
What it takes:
- Self-study – Knowledge reviews, quizzes, lectures, presentations
- Confined Water – Skills review and assessment, workshops and presentations
- Open Water – Workshops, rescue assessment and presentations
You must have a minimum of 100 logged dives to become a PADI Instructor (though
you can begin training as one with 60 logged dives).
Instructor Examination
After you complete your IDC, you demonstrate what you’ve learned in the Instructor
Examination (IE). Here a PADI Instructor Examiner independently and objectively
assesses your knowledge and skills, testing everything from dive theory to PADI
training standards. PADI is the only certification organization that requires an
objective, independent examination to qualify as a professional instructor. This
balanced and consistent evaluation process is one of the hallmarks that makes PADI
professionals the most demanded and respected instructors in the dive industry.
Instructor Examination Prerequisites:
- Successful completion of PADI IDC
What it takes:
- Dive theory and standards and procedures exams
- Waterskills and diver rescue
assessment
- Teaching pesentations in classroom, confined and open water