If you like people, have a passion for scuba diving and want an extraordinary life – become a PADI Instructor. Teaching scuba diving allows you to share your love of the aquatic world with others while doing what you enjoy – being in, around and under water. PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and PADI Assistant Instructors are the most sought-after dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals. You earn a PADI Instructor rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) focuses on preparing candidates to function as PADI Assistant Instructors and/or Open Water Scuba Instructors. The PADI IDC provides individuals who already possess instructor-level dive theory knowledge, role-model watermanship and rescue skills, and leadership abilities with additional training that allows them to implement the PADI System in confined water, classroom and open water environments. The IDC also helps instructor candidates gain a complete understanding of PADI’s educational goals and philosophies.
The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is made up of two parts – the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification.
Successfully completing just the AI course results in a PADI Assistant Instructor qualification. When an AI is ready to progress, attending an OWSI program allows entry into an IE to earn a full PADI Instructor rating.
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Dive professionals who hold an instructor rating with another diver training organization may be eligible to enroll directly in the OWSI program. This recognizes prior instructor training and provides a path to become a PADI Instructor.
Over a minimum of five days, but usually more like seven, the IDC teaches you to conduct all PADI core courses. You’ll be able to organize and present information, conduct skill development sessions and control open water dives. Basically, you become a better public speaker and get really good at demonstrating skills while watching out for student diver safety. Key topics include:
An Instructor Examination (IE) is a two-day evaluative program that tests an instructor candidate’s teaching ability, dive theory knowledge, skill level, understanding of the PADI System, and attitude and professionalism. PADI IEs are standardized and conducted by specially trained PADI Instructor Examiners. The IE location, testing environment and examination sessions are organized to be as objective as possible to fairly and consistently evaluate a candidate’s abilities. Only those who meet the IE performance requirements earn the respected PADI Instructor certification. There is a fee for attending an IE.
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Call 520-326-DIVE for more information.
The Instructor Development Course at The Dive Shop (TDS) was highly recommended by a trusted dive mentor and I am very glad that I took his advice. Ron and Chris provided thorough direction and detailed feedback throughout every classroom, pool, and open water session. Their guidance prepared me for the Instructor Exam, but more importantly to be an attentive PADI scuba instructor. TDS was able to provide a smaller student-to-instructor ratio than I could have gotten in Hawaii and I’ve found that the marketing and operations that I learned at TDS are very relevant to being a scuba instructor here in Hawaii. — Christopher Slaughter 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed the Instructor Development Course at The Dive Shop. The classroom and in water training were thorough, and the instructional staff truly does work with you to develop you and help you become a confident and able instructor. I left the class feeling well prepared to take the Instructor Exam and to work as an Open Water Instructor. — Steve Hall 2020
As we met and went through the course material and presentations, I had no idea just how well we were being prepared for our Instructor Exam. Ron and the Instructor Development Course staff had us completely ready for action from dive knowledge to skills and presentation. There was no mistaking the students from The Dive Shop! To top it off – I gained some awesome friends, new dive buddies, and a few good stories along the way :o) Thank you for helping me reach a dream! — Kim Rafacz 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed my Instructor Development Course (IDC) with The Dive Shop (TDS)! The experience, knowledge and training provided by Ron and the other IDC Staff Instructors will not only prepare you to pass the Instructor Exam, but you will look like a rock star doing it. Thank you TDS for preparing me to share my love of diving with my students!!! — Natalie Riley 2018
Doing my Instructor Development Course (IDC) with The Dive Shop (TDS), I found that the Course Director Ron and all IDC Staff Instructors work hard and take great pride to ensure that IDC candidates are up to the challenge in all areas including professional development, teaching and presentation skills, dive theory, and off course practical diving experience. While the IDC course and exam was a challenge, TDS made sure candidates such as myself were perhaps the best prepared candidates in that exam room – ready and able to pass the IDC course and more importantly ready to teach PADI students safely and effectively. — Nathan Smith 2018
Call 520-326-DIVE for more information.
The PADI System of diver education is based on progressive training that introduces skills, safety-related information and local environmental knowledge to student divers in stages. PADI courses are student-centered and provide maximum practice and realistic application.