Instructor Development Courses

Assistant Instructor

The PADI Assistant Instructor course is the first portion of the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC). You'll not only gain additional experience as a PADI Professional but you'll also start learning the PADI System of diver education.

PADI Assistant Instructors can do the following:

• Teach academic 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 PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course
• Teach Project AWARE Specialty courses
• Conduct PADI Discover Scuba experiences
• Teach Emergency First Response after successful completion of an Emergency First Response Instructor course

The following are required to take this course:

• PADI Divemaster rating or qualifying certification from another certification organization
• At least 18 years old
• Have 60 logged dives, including night, deep, and navigation dives
• Have been a certified diver for at least 6 months

During the course you will do the following:

Knowledge development through self-study, quizzes, lectures and presentations. Confined water skill review and assessment, workshops and presentations. Open water workshops, rescue assessment and candidate presentations

Open Water Scuba Instructor

The PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor program is your final step in the quest to become a PADI Instructor. During the IDC, you'll learn to use and adapt the PADI System of diver education to individual student needs. Comprehensive training, supported by a wide variety of PADI educational materials, earns PADI Instructors respect from both students and peers. PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors may conduct a broad range of PADI programs from Discover Scuba to Divemaster.

The PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor rating sets you apart from the crowd. PADI Instructors may conduct the entire range of PADI programs - from Discover Scuba through Divemaster.

PADI Instructors do things others can only daydream about.

If you want to live an extraordinary life, you're in the right place.

The following are required to take this course:

• PADI Assistant Instructor certification or be an instructor in good standing with another training organization for at least six months ( check with a PADI Course Director or PADI Office for qualifying credentials.)
• Hold a dive certification for at least six months
• Have 60 logged dives that include night, deep and navigation dives
• Proof of CPR training within the last 24 months
• Medical clearance signed by a physician

During the course you will do the following:

Knowledge development through self-study, quizzes, lectures and presentations Confined water skill review and assessment, workshops and presentations Open water workshops, rescue assessment and candidate presentations Have at least 100 logged dives prior to entering a PADI Instructor Exam

Speciality Instructor

After becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) you'll want to teach divers specific types of diving dependant to what your local area offers. To do this you need to be able to teach PADI Specialties. By doing so you can heighten your students' comfort level and strengthening their underwater skills, ultimately leading to their enjoyment of diving more than ever before.

Specialty Instructors teach PADI Specialty courses to divers in a variety of areas from wreck diving to underwater videography.

The following are required to take this course:

• PADI Assistant Instructor or Open Water Scuba Instructor

Note: There are two ways to become a specialty instructor, see PADI Instructor Manual for details.

Master Scuba Diver Trainer

If you want to train your dive students to the highest purely recreational dive level in the PADI System of diver education, you'll want to be a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. By attaining this level, your dive students will know where to come when they want to learn from an expert.

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainers can teach PADI Master Scuba Divers.

The following are required to take this course:

• Hold five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications
• Have at least 25 certifications

If you want to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, you will need to apply directly to PADI.

IDC Staff Instructor

PADI IDC Staff Instructors are PADI Instructors moving towards instructor-level training or teaching the Instructor Development Course (IDC). IDC Staff Instructors can independently train and certify PADI Assistant Instructors as well as help train PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors.

What can I do as a PADI IDC Staff Instructor?

• Teach PADI Assistant Instructor courses
• Help PADI Course Directors conduct the PADI Instructor Development Course
• Help PADI Course Directors conduct instructor -level continuing education

The following are required to take this course:

• PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer certification
• 18 years old

During the course you will do the following:

Master of instructor-level dive theory, knowledge development teaching presentations and confined water teaching presentations
Audit a complete IDC

Master Instructor

What can PADI Master Instructors do?

• Teach PADI Assistant Instructor courses
• Help PADI Course Directors conduct the PADI Instructor Development Course
• Help PADI Course Directors conduct instructor-level continuing education

The following are required to apply for this certification:

• PADI IDC Staff Instructor certification
• Be a PADI Instructor for at least two years
• EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE™ Instructor certification
• Have certified at least 150 students as PADI Divers

If you want to become a PADI Master Instructor, you will need to apply directly to PADI.

Course Director

The Course Director level is the pinnacle of the PADI System of diver education, representing less than one percent of all PADI Members. Course Director hopefuls submit an application for acceptance into one of two annual Course Director Training Courses. From almost 200 applications submitted each year only about 70 participants are selected to attend the two week long Course Director Training Course (CDTC).

The Course Director rating is the equivalent of having a postgraduate degree in scuba diving instruction, there is not a more prestigious level of certification within the dive industry. Course Directors are the only people who may conduct the Instructor Development Course needed to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

The following are required to take this course:

• Hold the PADI Master Instructor certification for at least six months
• 250 logged dives
• Renewed EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE™ Instructor

In order to achieve certification, you will need to successfully complete the PADI Course Director Training Course.