The PADI IDC Open Water Scuba Instructor Course

Begins April 02, 2023

The PADI Instructor certification is your ticket to a whole new lifestyle! It will open the door to opportunities in exotic destinations around the world. We’ve been at this for a long time and have connections with dive operators in all the hot dive spots. So we can help you get your foot in the door. Or you can teach part-time locally with AquaSub. We are always looking for good instructors!

To become an instructor you need to take the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and then participate in an Instructor Examination (IE). You’ll do the IDC over 8 days at AquaSub which is a combination of classroom, pool and open water training. This will prepare you for the IE which is run by a PADI examiner 2 times a year locally, and is required to pass to become an instructor. There are also Instructor Examinations in alternate locations every month, such as Florida.

The challenging part of this course is your personal commitment to the training. The course requires you to complete all the self-study Knowledge Reviews and refresh you dive theory knowledge before the course begins and to prepare daily assignments for teaching presentations daily. Organization and dedication are key.

Your Course Director

Peter Kalanderopoulos

"Encouraged by my chemistry teacher, I completed my training. I was certified as an open water scuba diver in 1974 by PADI, ACUC, and NAUI. Since then, I have accumulated thousands of dives in various locations around the world. I started my professional training in 2003, and was certified as instructor by PADI and SDI/TDI. I teach all courses and 17 specialties.

My greatest accomplishments are completing my doctorate in chemistry and becoming a Course Director. Both took an enormous amount of work and patience."

With Assistance from our IDC Staff Instructors...

Tyler Caughill, Melanie Lean, Helen Bertolini-Saari

 

The Fun Part

It’s about life transformations—both yours and those around you.

The fun part of instructor training is interacting with course participants while creating friendships that continue long after the course concludes.

You’ll begin networking with other professionals and begin to explore PADI Pro Diving Jobs worldwide. You’ll also have the opportunity to continue your professional education by participating in specialty instructor courses, which train you to teach specialties after instructor certification.


The Challenging Part

The challenging part of this course is your personal commitment to the training. The course requires you to complete all the self-study Knowledge Reviews before the course begins and to prepare daily assignments for teaching presentations. Organisation and dedication are key.


What You Learn

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 two skills

You will also attend and participate in the following 14 curriculum presentations:

  • Course Orientation
  • Dive Industry Overview
  • General Standards and Procedures
  • The Role of Media and Prescriptive Teaching
  • Legal Responsibility and Risk Management
  • PADI Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver Course
  • Adaptive Teaching
  • The PADI Continuing Education Philosophy
  • Business Principles for the Dive Instructor
  • Adventures in Diving Program
  • Specialty Diver Courses and Master Scuba Diver Program
  • Rescue Diver Course
  • Divemaster Course
  • Diver Retention Programs
  • How to Teach the RDP (Instructors from recreational diver training organizations other than PADI must complete.)

You will demonstrate competence at

  • performing all 24 dive skills listed on the Skill Evaluation.
  • performing a facedown, nonstop swim for 800 metres/yards using a mask, snorkel and fins.

During the course you’ll need to demonstrate competency in Dive theory by passing a five-part theory exam scoring 75% on each part .


What You Can Teach

After becoming an Open Water Scuba Instructor, you will be able to conduct the entire range of PADI programs from Discover Scuba Diving up to Divemaster. You may also choose to acquire specialty instructor ratings in areas of interest, such as Wreck Diver or Enriched Air Diver.

At a glance, compare what you can teach when you continue your professional diver education.


The Scuba Gear You Use

You will need to equip yourself with all the basic scuba gear as well as two scuba signaling devices —one audible and one visual and a cutting tool.


The Learning Materials You Need

The PADI Instructor Development Course crewpak includes most of the materials needed to prepare for the Instructor Development Course. The 23-item pack includes:

  • Instructor cue cards for PADI’s core courses (Open Water and Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster)
  • Instructor Development Course Candidate Workbook and related reference materials,
  • Lesson planning slates for confined and open water
  • Quiz and exam booklets for the core courses
  • Specialty outlines for Project AWARE
  • PADI Instructor Manual

Beyond these materials you will need to have the RDP table and eRDPml.

Prerequisites

To qualify for training as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you must:

  • Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or a PADI Assistant Instructor or be an instructor in good standing with another training organisation for at least six months (check with a PADI Course Director or Contact Us for qualifying credentials.)
  • Be certified as an Emergency First Response Instructor 
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be certified as a diver for at least six months
  • Have 60 logged dives that include experience in night, deep and navigation diving to participate in the Instructor Development Course. You’ll need 100 logged dives to take the Instructor Exams
  • Have proof of CPR and First Aid training within the last 24 months. The Emergency First Response course meets this requirement
  • Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months

 The Instructor Development Package At AquaSub includes everything you need:

  • Certification Courses: The PADI AI & OWSI as well as the EFR Instructor Course
  • The PADI IDC Digital Crewpack and e-Learning as well as the EFR Instructor Package
  • All training will be on weekends and the odd weekday evening
  • A classroom session on Dive Theory is included, though you may want to add the Dive Theory e-learning if you feel your theory is a bit rusty
  • The course begins with EFR Instructor on April 2nd and runs alternating weekends
  • The final review session will held on May 28th, just in time for ...
  • The IE (Instructor Examinations), held in Burlington on June 10th and 11th and we will be onsite to cheer you on
  • Followed by a graduation party and some nifty swag for your achievement

Once you have completed the IE your are invited to begin teaching here at AquaSub if you want to join a team of fantastic instructors!

The complete package price is $4997 and if you have an RBC Visa, financing is available!