Other GoPro Courses

Who should take this course?

Just as scuba divers look up to divemasters, instructor candidates really respect IDC Staff Instructors. As the name implies, IDC Staff Instructors assist with instructor training and share their wisdom and experience with new PADI leaders.
Taking the IDC Staff Instructor course provides you with in-depth knowledge of the instructor development process and prepares you to shape the next generation of PADI Professionals. It’s also a great career move.

Master Scuba Diver Trainers (MSDTs) who are ready to be excellent role models and agree to use the PADI System and components in their entirety may enroll in an IDC Staff Instructor course.

What will you learn?

After a preassessment of your instructor-level knowledge of dive theory, exemplary dive skills and role-model presentation techniques, you’ll participate in these sessions:

Instructor development standards, procedures and curriculum

How to organize and conduct the PADI Assistant Instructor course

The psychology of evaluation and counseling

Evaluating knowledge development, confined water and open water teaching presentations

Plus, you’ll get to audit an IDC or practice teaching many curriculum components.

As an IDC Staff Instructor, you can independently teach PADI Assistant Instructor courses as well as assist with IDCs and other instructor-level continuing education courses.

How do you earn this rating?

The PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating sets you apart as a dive instructor who takes continuing education seriously and is committed to teaching a variety of courses. (Potential employers like this.) Being an MSDT signifies that you’ve got the experience and certifications to offer all the training a diver needs to become a Master Scuba Diver – the ultimate recreational diver rating. This rating is the next step up the professional ladder and is a prerequisite for IDC Staff Instructor as well as for many TecRec Instructor ratings. Not there yet? Ask me about a Master Scuba Diver Trainer preparation course.

Emergency First Response Instructor

Who should take this course?

CPR and first aid are key skills that are important to everyone, not just scuba divers. As an Emergency First Response Instructor, you teach skills based on internationally recognized emergency care guidelines, and you can offer courses to anyone. The great thing about EFR courses is they make learning easy by providing a comfortable environment to practice emergency care skills. Your students finish the course feeling confident with their new skills and ready to help someone in need.

The only requirements are that you’re at least 18 years old and have Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months. An EFR Instructor rating is required to become a PADI Instructor, but you don’t have to wait until you’re ready to go pro. You can complete or refresh this training during your PADI Instructor training.

What will you learn?

Your role as an EFR Instructor is to be a coach that creates a positive learning environment. Along with learning how to structure and organize EFR courses, you practice:

Presenting course content.

Encouraging self-discovery in students.

Evaluating student understanding and skill mastery during hands-on skills practice.

Managing effective scenario-based learning experiences.

Who should take this course?

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 GoPRO 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.

What will you learn?

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

How can you start learning now?

Ask me about the IDC Online – PADI’s eLearning AND THE new idc online part that lets you study independently at your own pace before class and provide you more flexibility, convenience and save money on accommodation costs.

Prestudy online saves classroom time, which allows more time for practicing the skills that distinguish you as a PADI Instructor.

Also, sign up for Dive Theory Online, if you haven’t already completed it or it’s been more than a year since you went through it. The program is a straightforward review of dive physics, physiology, skills, equipment and environment, plus using the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP). By successfully completing Dive Theory Online, you can get credit for the dive theory exam requirement during your IDC.

What’s an I.E. – Instructor Examination?

An Instructor Examination (IE) is a two-day evaluative program that tests an instructor candidate’s teaching ability, dive theory knowledge, skill level, understanding of the PADI System, and attitude and professionalism. PADI IEs are standardized and conducted by specially trained PADI Instructor Examiners. The IE location, testing environment and examination sessions are organized to be as objective as possible to fairly and consistently evaluate a candidate’s abilities. Only those who meet the IE performance requirements earn the respected PADI Instructor certification. There is a fee for attending an IE.

Who should take this course?

More scuba diving and more fun sharing what interests you – that’s what teaching specialty diver courses is all about. The best way to learn how to make your specialty diver courses really special is to take a specialty instructor course from your local PADI Course Director. Specialty instructor courses provide teaching tips and hands-on experience that you can implement right away. With 25 standard PADI Specialty Diver courses, and numerous distinctive specialties, you have lots of choose from – so get going.

All PADI Instructors will benefit from taking specialty instructor training courses, especially those who are ready to step up to the Master Scuba Diver™ Trainer (MSDT) rating, which requires at least five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications.

PADI Assistant Instructors, instructor candidates in training, and PADI Divemasters are eligible to enroll in certain specialty instructor courses. Some specialties have additional prerequisites and exit requirements – ask me for details.

What will you learn?

You’ll learn new techniques to add to the experience you already have in a specialty area and have fun fine-tuning your skills and teaching methods. Plus, you’ll get great ideas for marketing your specialty diver courses.

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.

What will you learn?

Over a minimum of five days, but usually more like seven, 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

How can you start learning now?

Ask me about the IDC Online – PADI’s eLearning option that lets you study independently at your own pace before class. There are nine interactive knowledge development sections. Prestudy online saves classroom time, which allows more time for practicing the skills that distinguish you as a PADI Instructor.

Who should take this course?

Love scuba diving? Want to share it with others on a whole new level? Take the PADI Divemaster course and do what you love to do as a career. Scuba divers look up to divemasters because they are leaders who mentor and motivate others. As a divemaster, you not only get to dive a lot, but also experience the joy of seeing others have as much fun diving as you do.

The PADI Divemaster course is your first level of professional training. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, you’ll fine-tune your dive skills, like perfecting the effortless hover, and refine your rescue skills so you anticipate and easily solve common problems. You’ll gain dive knowledge, management and supervision abilities so you become a role model to divers everywhere.

As a PADI Divemaster, you’ll lead others as you supervise scuba diving activities and assist with diver training. Whether you want to work at a faraway dive destination or close to home at a local dive shop, the adventure of a lifetime awaits you. PADI Divemasters are respected dive professionals who are aligned with the largest and most respected dive organization in the world – PADI.

PADI Rescue Divers who are at least 18 years old may enroll in the PADI Divemaster course. You also need to have:

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.

At least 40 logged dives to begin the course and 60 dives to earn certification.

Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organization may apply – ask your PADI Instructor.

What will you learn?

The PADI Divemaster course teaches you to be a leader and take charge of dive activities. Through knowledge development sessions, waterskills exercises and workshops, and hands-on practical assessment, you develop the skills to organize and direct a variety of scuba diving activities. Topics and practical workshops include:

The role and characteristics of the PADI Divemaster

Supervising dive activities and assisting with student divers

Diver safety and risk management

Divemaster conducted programs and specialized skills

Business of diving and your career

Awareness of the dive environment

Dive setup and management

Mapping an open water site

Conducting dive briefings

Organizing a search and recovery project and a deep dive

Conducting a Re-Activate Program and skin diver course

Assisting with Discover Scuba Diving and leading Discover Local Diving programs

Other GoPro Courses

IDC Staff Instructor

Master Scuba Diver Trainer Preparation

Emergency First Response Instructor

Open Water SCUBA Instructor

Specialty Instructor

Assistant Instructor

Divemaster