OPEN WATER SCUBA INSTRUCTOR

Ready to share your love of diving with others who are just starting out? Become a PADI Instructor. Take students from their first breaths underwater to open water dives that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. Your PADI Instructor Development Course will prepare you for a successful career ahead. Not only will you learn tried and true ways of teaching students, but you’ll join the ranks of elite dive pros. In fact, PADI Instructors are the most sought after dive pros in the world.

UPCOMING 2021 IDC Dates:

August 18-27 (IE August 28-29)

October 13-22 (IE October 23-24)

December 8-17 (IE December 18-19)

2022 IDC Dates will be announced as soon as they become available

Instructor Development Course (IDC)

Pura Vida Diver’s Instructor Development Course (IDC) is a 10-Day program followed by a 2-day Instructor Exam (IE). Class sizes are kept small and are usually around 3 people (with no more than 6). This allows for lots of practice and individual attention, ensuring that you’re well-prepared and confident during your IE.

Our IDC is offered as a Career Program that bundles the cost of everything you need to become an instructor. This includes your Emergency First Response Instructor rating, the IDC itself, the IE, and all related fees. For a breakdown, look at the Dive Professional Level 2 Program on our Career Training Packages page.

What Will I Learn?

Your IDC will cover everything you need to know to pass the Instructor Exam. More than that, it will prepare you for a successful career in diving.

Before beginning your IDC, you’ll learn what it means to be an instructor using PADI’s IDC eLearning. Once the IDC begins, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in the classroom, confined water, and open water. Barbara, our Course Director, will guide you through the process and strengthen your skills so that you’re ready to go for your exam.

Your average day during the IDC runs from 8am to 6pm with a break for lunch. Days are a combination of classroom sessions, pool sessions, and open water sessions.

During the course you’ll learn how to apply the PADI System of Education by presenting at least:

4 Confined Water Teaching Presentations
3 Knowledge Development Presentations
2 Open Water Teaching Presentations integrating 2 skills

Open Water Workshops Include:

Discover Scuba Diving Workshop
Adventure Dive Workshop
Rescue Exercise Workshop

Demonstrate competence at performing all 20 dive skills listed on the Skill Evaluation

Perform at Face-down, nonstop swim for 800 meters/yards using a mask, snorkel and fins (no time requirements)

You’ll attend and participate in the following curriculum presentations:

Course Orientation
Developing Knowledge Development Presentations
General Standards and Procedures
Teaching in Confined Water
Legal Responsibility and Risk Management
Conducting Open Water Dives
Open Water diver course
Adventures in Diving Program
Rescue Diver Course
Divemaster Course

To prepare you for real-world teaching and the IE, you’ll need to demonstrate your knowledge of Dive Theory by passing a five part theory exam scoring 75% or better on each section,.

You’ll also take an open book Standards Exam.

PADI INSTRUCTOR EXAM (IE)

The PADI Instructor Exam or IE typically takes place over 2 days. The exam is conducted by a PADI Instructor Examiner, and the exam schedule can be found on our Course Calendar.

The IE is split into 4 components