PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)

Overview

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.

Are you ready to join the ranks of the dedicated professionals who teach the world’s most progressive and popular scuba diver education programs? Then Go PRO with an Instructor Development Course.

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.

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.

A PADI Divemaster who has been a certified diver for six months may enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Course. You also need:

  • At least 60 logged dives and 100 dives to attend an IE.
  • Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
  • A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months

You also need to be an Emergency First Response Instructor, but you can earn this rating during your instructor training. **Equivalent programs are acceptable

What You Learn

Over a minimum of five days, but sometimes more, 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:

  • PADI Standards and Procedures for courses you can teach with in water workshops
  • Learning, Instruction and the PADI System
  • Risk Management and Diver Safety
  • The Business of Diving and your role as an instructor
  • Marketing Diving and Sales Counseling

Prerequisites

Prior to enrolling in the PADI IDC, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a current medical attesting to your diving fitness signed by a physician within the previous 12 months
  • Hold a leadership level diving certification such as the PADI Divemaster rating
  • Have been a certified diver for at least six months and be able to prove that you have completed at least 60 dives (100 before attending the IE)

If you have any questions as to whether you meet the necessary prerequisites, please contact us.

Course Fee

IDC fee: $1800 plus HST

  • This price includes the eLearning module ($425 value)

Additional Costs

  • IDC Crewpack – $997 plus HST (PADI Member Pricing)
  • IDC Registration Fee – $190 paid directly to PADI  (no HST) after IDC
  • Instructor Exam (IE) Fee – $700 paid directly to PADI (no HST) (**Instructor Exam is scheduled and run separately)

How Long Does It Take?

  • Classroom sessions – typically 5 full days (or equivalent partial days) plus 1 evening for registration
  • Pool sessions – minimum of 2 pool sessions
  • Open Water sessions – one full day (or equivalent partial days) of open water
  • Course may be able to be catered to your schedule

Forms

Just like in your previous classes, you need to completed a few forms.  It is very important that you review these documents carefully before signing.

  • The PADI medical questionnaire, available for download here
    • Note: For professional-level courses, you need to seek approval from your physician before any in-water activities.
  • Other paperwork will be completed during the course registration.

** There is no refund on classes, unless your doctor informs us that you are medically unfit to dive **