If you have the passion for diving, water leisure activities, or exploring the deep waters, you might consider enrolling in the PADI instructor course. Working as a PADI dive instructor is fun; you get the opportunity to explore never-seen-before places in the deep waters, interact with different cultures in your training, and be able to work in different parts of the world. Nevertheless, you want to enroll for the course at a well-reputed training center that will equip you with the best skills. Here are the stages you are likely to undergo during training.
Open water diver course
This step forms the basis for your instructor course. It introduces you to the basics of diving and involves confined waters and classroom sessions. The classes serve to educate you about the changes that happen to the human body when diving and also how to plan dives safely. Confined water sessions can take place in a swimming pool or any other controlled water environment. You must complete four water dives to proceed to the next level of your course.
Advanced water dive course
The stage mainly consists of practice sessions, unlike the first level that combines academic and practical sessions. Here, you will be required to take five open water specialty dives, of which two are statutory while your choices for the remaining three depend on your preferences. However, your trainer will guide you on picking the optional dives.
Rescue diver course
The stage furnishes you with the skills to handle emergencies when diving. This could be helping other divers in trouble or how to dive with injuries such as decompression sickness. You start with a first aid course, the Emergency First Responders, and then proceed to simulations to enable you to tackle diving emergencies effortlessly.
Master dive course
The master dive course teaches you new methods and skills as well as to assist students in their lives, assist instructors in their classes, drive a dive boat, lead dive trips. Here, you dive into the sciences of diving and sit several exams. You must complete at least 60 dives to complete this stage.
Instructor development course (IDC)
IDC consists of instructor assistant course and mock and practical exams. Upon completion, you will be required to sit the instructor exam(IE), administered by PADI in its headquarters, or through examiners who visit your area. IE tests you on PADI dive theory and diving standards besides incorporating class presentations, open water skills presentation, ocean dive presentations. Passing IE gives way to awarding of a certificate of completion.
The first step to becoming a PADI dive instructor is finding the right training organization. Look for a center that offers you the whole package rather than hopping from one center to another to get the different courses. You will need to complete the above stages to be a certified instructor.
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