Outdoor Activities

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.

Not everyone thrives in an office environment. Some crave for the outdoors like they need air. They want to be free to explore in nature and be with like-minded people. For example, those who love the water may go swimming, surfing, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, or diving in their free time. The passion can be so great in a few individuals that they actually turn it into their own careers. For example, fervent divers can take courses that would progressively get them to their ultimate goal of becoming a diving instructor. They will then be able to make a living teaching others while doing what they love. Below are a few requirements for dive instructor courses:

Diving Certificates

For most instructor courses, you would have to show proof of competence in the form of past diving course certificates. You should have already passed the open water, advanced, rescue, and dive instructor courses, or at least their equivalents. These should be indicated in a qualification card that is authentic and verifiable. Each of these are akin to steps on the stairs towards your dreams. They will provide you with unique sets of skills and experience that you can use for diving at higher difficulty levels. If you can get them all, then it’s only a short leap until you are ready to teach others.

First Aid and CPR

Bad things can and will happen in the water. You have to anticipate them and be prepared for the worst. Acquire the skills necessary to be able to help yourself and other people in case of emergency. As an instructor, you would be the primary person responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your students. Therefore, one of the things required of course participants would be experience in first aid and CPR. The training should have been completed within the past 24 months to ensure that it is still fairly fresh in the mind.

Time, Volume, and Quality

It is possible to complete all of the certifications and other trainings within a relatively short period for someone with enough resources and free time. However, jumping to the instructor course right away is not recommended since some things can only be learned through time and experience. Therefore, there are additional qualifications for course takers. He or she should have been certified as an open water diver for a minimum of 6 months. There should be a minimum of 60 open water dives on the logs. Furthermore, diving experience should include night dives, deep dives, and navigation dives. For complete program requirements, ask your local dive center.