BECOME A SCUBA DIVING INSTRUCTOR! 

A whole new world is waiting for you as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor! You are about to start your journey towards a career that others only dream of. As an instructor, you’ll be a role model for students exploring all the possibilities that await them as Scuba Divers. For instance, you’ll guide them as they learn the ins and outs of diving, explore the underwater world, and challenge themselves to grow. You’ll also get to be a part of their triumphs as they step out of their comfort zones. Finally, you’ll be a source of inspiration for them as they go on their own scuba journey. Your adventure as a professional diver is about to begin!

UPCOMING IDCs

Our final IDC for 2020 is scheduled for December 8-December 18. The schedule is as follows:

  • Tuesday, Dec. 8th: IDC Prep (Optional)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 9th-Thursday, Dec. 10th: Emergency First Response Instructor Course
  • Thursday, Dec. 10th-Friday, Dec. 18th: Instructor Development Course
  • Saturday, Dec. 19th-Sunday, Dec. 20th: Instructor Exam

2021 IDC Schedule

We are awaiting the 2021 PADI IE Schedule to create our IDC schedule for next year. Once we have this information, the 2021 IDC and professional development schedules will be posted on our website.

For details on attending an upcoming IDC, please email info.pvd@puravidadivers.com.

COURSE DIRECTOR: BARBARA DECLERQUE

Our Course Director, Barbara DeClerque, has over 25 years of experience helping divers become professionals. She teaches PADI professional courses ranging from Divemaster up through Course Director Preparation. Additionally, she is a certified DAN Instructor Trainer. Barbara’s experience and passion for teaching instructors is clear from the moment you meet her. Her dedication reaches beyond the IDC itself. She is always happy to help graduates once they’ve completed the program, and continues to be a mentor for many. Because of Barbara’s passion and skill, our candidates have had a 100% pass rate at the IE and have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the dive industry.

Questions?

Feel free to contact Barbara personally about any questions you might have regarding the IDC, Career Level Training, or your future career as a PADI Instructor. She can be reached via email at Barbara@puravidadivers.com or at 888-WPB-DIVE.

OUR PROGRAM
We hold our PADI Instructor course over 12 days and keep classes small (no more than 6 candidates at a time). This creates the best opportunity for you to receive individual feedback as you prepare for your Instructor Exam.

HOW TO PREPARE

Before beginning your Instructor Course, you’ll complete the IDC eLearning online. This online learning is done independently and takes roughly 2 days to complete. It can also be helpful to take PADI’s Dive Theory Online course to prepare for the Dive Theory exam during your IE. Before your IDC begins, you can take an optional one-day IDC prep course to review Dive Theory with our Course Director. 

Emergency First Response Instructor

All PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors are required to be Emergency First Response Instructors as well. As such, you’ll complete a day and a half of EFR Instructor training before beginning your Instructor Development Course. You’ll learn to present the classroom portion of the EFR course as well as the practical skills. 

Instructor Development course (IDC)

We conduct IDCs monthly throughout the year based on the South Florida IE Schedule. Our IDC takes place over 9 1/2 days, giving you plenty of opportunity to practice and prepare for the IE. During your IDC, you’ll learn to conduct academic presentations, confined water sessions, and open water training sessions. You’ll also perfect your demonstration skills for Open Water Teaching and Rescue. Additionally, you’ll prepare for the two written exams you’ll take during the IE: Dive Theory, and General Standards and Procedures. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

During the course you’ll learn how to apply the PADI System of Education by completing the following:

Water and Classroom Presentations

  • 3 knowledge development presentations
  • 4 confined water teaching presentations
  • 2 open water teaching presentations (2 skills each)

Open Water Workshops

You’ll conduct 3 Open Water Workshops including:

  • Discover Scuba Diving Workshop
  • Adventure Dive Workshop
  • Rescue Exercise Workshop

Curriculum Presentations

Attend and participate in 10 curriculum presentations including:

  • Course Orientation
  • Knowledge Development 
  • 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 

Waterskills Requirements

Complete the following waterskills:

  • Demonstration quality of all 20 dive skills listed on the Skill Evaluation
  • Perform a face-down, nonstop swim for 800 metres/yards using a mask, snorkel and fins  

Practice Exams

Complete and pass practice exams in Dive Theory and General Standards and Procedures:

  • The Dive Theory exam includes 5 sections (physiology, dive skills and environment, physics, RDP, and equipment). You must score at least 75% or better on each section to pass
  • The General Standards and Procedures Exam is open book. You will be able to use your Instructor Manual and Guide to Teaching to complete this exam. You must score 75% or better to pass.

TRAINING FACILITIES

During your Instructor Development Course your training facilities will include classrooms, confined water, and open water locations. You’ll attend your academic sessions in our two classrooms right inside the shop. Your confined water sessions will be held at nearby local pools, making it convenient to complete both classroom and water work during a single day. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to train frequently at the world-famous Blue Heron Bridge, which is just minutes away from our shop. At Blue Heron Bridge, you’ll perform your open water teaching presentations and scenarios. When you’re not practicing for the Instructor Exam, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of our nearby dive sties. Being in South Florida, our waters stay quite warm throughout most of the year.

PREREQUISITES

To participate in the Instructor Development Course with Pura Vida Divers, you must:

  • Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or a PADI Assistant Instructor for at least 6 months (or be an instructor in good standing with another training organization)
  • Have a PADI Emergency First Response Instructor certification
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be certified as a diver for at least 6 months
  • Have 100 logged dives that include experience in night, deep and navigation
  • Have proof of CPR and First Aid training within the last 24 months (the Emergency First Response course meets this requirement)
  • Submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months, that reflects health and fitness for diving 

REQUIRED MATERIALS
To prepare for and complete the IDC, you will need the PADI Instructor Development Course Crew Pack. This 23-piece pack includes:

  • Instructor Cue Cards for PADI’s core courses (Open Water, 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

As an IDC Candidate you’ll receive special student pricing for the materials listed above. To purchase your crew pack and get started contact Pura Vida Divers at training@puravidadivers.com. You can also call us toll free at 888-WPB-DIVE. 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

IDC Candidates will need to provide a full set of gear. First, you’ll need your core gear, including:

  • BCD with low pressure inflator
  • Regulator  (including primary second stage, alternate air source, and submersible pressure gauge)
  • Fins, mask, snorkel
  • Timing device, depth gauge and compass
  • Wetsuit

Additionally, you’ll need to have the following accessories:

  • Knife/diver’s tool
  • Slate and dive table
  • Pocket Mask
  • Two surface signaling devices:
    • One audible (whistle, air horn, etc.)
    • One visual (inflatable signal tube, flare, signal mirror, etc.)

Please note: tanks and weights will be provided.

Continuing Education:

Your professional journey doesn’t end with the IE! There are many ways to grow as an instructor. For instance, you can complement your OWSI rating with Instructor Specialty Courses. You’ll want to continue your training by completing courses that allow you to teach beyond the core courses. This will also help you build towards your next professional level of Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

Start your Pro Journey today!

Pura Vida Divers is licensed by Florida’s Commission for Independent Education as a Professional Scuba Training Agency. Obtaining this license is rigorous and promotes a commitment to customer satisfaction above all else.

Start Diving Today