The PADI dive instructor training organization is the most widely recognized body for diving instructors worldwide. This organization is governed by a professional body, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, a non-profit voluntary organization established in 1966 by Ralph Erickson and John Cronin. There are over 800 certified PADI instructors around the world. This certification program was developed to provide instruction to people who want to become PADI diving instructors but do not have any experience or qualifications. It has now become a major force in the training industry.
One of the requirements for becoming a PADI dive instructor is to have at least a two-year training course from an accredited oceanography university. The course director will examine your written application and interview you. Then they will select two to four candidates to apply for the next certified instructor development course.
Once you have completed the instructor development course, you will be required to take a final examination. If you pass this final examination, you will be given a PADI diver’s permit. This license does not open the door to a full PADI divemaster position, but it opens the door to teaching other certified divers in open water. Once you have reached this stage in your career, you may be eligible to take a second PADI dive master’s course.
A full set of PADI instructor qualifications is required if you wish to become a qualified PADI diving instructor. To qualify as a full set of PADI instructor qualifications, you must: possess at least a bachelor’s degree, have experience in scuba diving, and have at least three years of practical experience in scuba diving. The first two requirements will ensure that you can qualify for positions as diving specialists or teachers. Practical experience will demonstrate your knowledge and skills as a dive specialist. You should also have at least three years of diving experience in scuba diving.
Once you have successfully completed the PADI instructor exam and gained certification as an instructor, you will still need to gain a crew pack to complete your training. A crew pack is essentially a travel gear package that you will take with you when you dive. Your crew pack will include a regulator, mask, snorkel, dive tank, knife, wetsuit, boots, fins, flippers, and lights.
PADI certification and extensive training can allow you to enter the lucrative world of scuba diving. With a PADI certification, you can open doors in the dive industry that would not otherwise be open to you.
