Join the leaders in recreational scuba training!

Why Complete Your PADI Instructor Training with
The Underwater Connection?

• Recreational diving's most comprehensive Instructor Courses.
• Small classes ensure individual attention.
• Convenient weekend schedules.
• Offshore IDCs available.
• Full-time PADI Course Director.
• Instructor-level continuing education available.
• Pre-IDC dives to get you comfortable.
• Pre-IDC and IE counseling sessions- no surprises during your IDC.
• IDC Preparatory Course available- Be ready for the exams.
• We have been a leader in diver education for 40 years!
• Large selection of rental and training equipment.
• Courses recommended for college credit.

Read what past Instructor Candidates have said about us here.

About the PADI Instructor Development Course

PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) prepare candidates to function as PADI Assistant Instructors and Open Water Scuba Instructors. Candidates build on their instructor-level dive theory knowledge, role-model watermanship and rescue skills, and leadership abilities by learning how to teach in confined water, in the classroom and in open water. During the IDC, instructor candidates gain a complete understanding of PADI's educational goals and philosophies.

Training options:

• PADI Divemasters may attend the AI course.
• PADI Divemasters may attend all IDC components and the IE.
• PADI Assistant Instructors may attend the OWSI program and IE.
• Scuba instructors or dive supervisors affiliated with other training organizations may attend an IDC and IE.
• Scuba instructors affiliated with other training organizations may attend an OWSI program and IE.

Training Topics

Beginning with online independent study through PADI eLearning or live-delivery segments, the IDC can be separated into an Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Depending on the need or interest, training can be planned with breaks to gain more experience, or can be continuous all the way to instructor certification.

eLearning Topics

• Learning, Instruction and the PADI System
• General Standards and Procedures Part 1
• Risk Management Part1
• Marketing Diving
• Start Diving
• Teaching PADI Specialty Courses
• Business of Diving
• Keep Diving
• How to Teach the RDP

You can complete the Knowledge Development portion of the IDC online!
Call us today to sign up for the Instructor Development Course e-learning course!

In-class Topics

• Course Orientation
• Developing Knowledge Development Presentations
• Teaching in Confined Water
• Conducting Open Water Dives
• General Standards and Procedures & Professional Membership Part 2
• Open Water Diver Course
• Adventures in Diving Program
• Rescue Diver Course
• Divemaster Course
• Risk Management Part 2

Dive Theory Exams are also taken during the IDC, however, if you have successfully completed the Online Dive Theory Course, it can eliminate the need for the exams during the IDC. Call us today to sign for the Dive Theory e-learning course!  This is a great way to brush up on your dive physics, physiology, dive tables, and more!

Course Prerequisites

1. Dive Leader certification - PADI Divemaster or leadership-level certification with a recognized recreational diver training organization who is either:
    a. an instructor member in good standing, or
    b. a diver with proof of certification in diver supervision and management including proof of rescue diving certification; 60 logged dives; documented experience in night diving, deep  diving and underwater navigation.
2. 18 years old
3. Medical clearance attesting to dive fitness signed by a physician within the previous 12 months.
4. Certified diver for six months.
5. EFR Primary and Secondary Care course completion (or qualifying training) within the last 24 months.
6. If not a PADI Divemaster, complete the PADI Divemaster course diver rescue skills assessment.
7. Submit documentation of qualifying certifications for entry level, advanced, rescue and leadership level, as necessary.
8. To be certified as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, the candidate must also be certified as an Emergency First Response Instructor, plus show proof of 100 logged dives

2021 Course Fees
 

Required Materials for the Instructor Development Course

• Required Materials for the Instructor Development Course:

• Current IDC Crewpack, which includes the following items:
  • PADI Guide to Teaching (must have the decal in the inside pocket)*+
  • PADI Open Water Quizzes and Exam Booklet*
  • PADI Rescue Exam Booklet*
  • PADI Divemaster Exam Booklet*
  • Confined Water Lesson Prep Slate*
  • Open Water Cue Cards*
  • Confined Water Cue Cards*
  • Advanced Open Water Cue Cards*
  • Rescue Diver Cue Cards*
  • Divemaster Course Cue Cards*
  • Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Outline**
  • Project Aware Specialty Outline**
  • Project Aware: Coral Reef Conservation Specialty Outline**
• PADI Instructor Manual 
• PADI Open Water Diver Manual
• OW Skill Practice and Dive Planning Slate (for OW Students)
• PADI Advanced Open Water Manual
• PADI Rescue Manual
• PADI Divemaster Manual
• The RDP Table and e-RDP-ML
• Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
• PADI Diving Knowledge Workbook
• Project AWARE materials (Download from PADI website)
• Divemaster Cue Cards (for the divemaster)
• Discover Scuba Diving Cue Card
• OW, AOW, Rescue and DM KR answers (download form PADI website)
• * = included in IDC Crewpack
  ** = included in IDC Crewpack on the Specialty Instructor CD-ROM
  +  = or you must still have the decal from the old Instructor Candidate Workbook

For more information, or to enroll in our PADI Instructor Development Course or Instructor Specialty Courses, contact us at 262-251-8283.