PADI
Open Water Instructor

1. ACADEMIC

Over a minimum of five days, but usually more like seven, the IDC teaches you how to conduct all of PADI's core courses. You will learn how to organise your paperwork correctly, conduct classroom presentations and skill development sessions, as well as learning how to keep your students safe underwater. You will become familiar with how to use PADI's instructor manual correctly, how to make best use of your certified assistants and how to conduct courses within the 'standards' laid down for student safety.

 

Key topics covered by the course include:

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• 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 Counselling

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During your IE (Instructor Examination) you will deliver a classroom presentation to your examiner and be expected to meet the required standard; which includes making appropriate use of non-diving related stories, teaching aids, appropriate contact, describing and reinforcing what the objectives are and their specific value(s). As well as promoting the dive industry as a whole, promoting equipment and course sales. This is the business of diving!

 

2. CONFINED WATER DEMONSTRATIONS

During your OWSI and IE you will be expected to deliver confined water classes in a safe and enjoyable manner, making good use of any certified assistants and demonstrating your assigned skills to the appropriate 'demonstration quality' standard.

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3. OPEN WATER TEACHING

The open water teaching element of the course will see you run a section of an open water course, again, in a safe and controlled manner, making good use of certified assistants and having overall control of your class.

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You will be expected to rectify any errors and both brief and debrief the skills in a positive manner.

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4. INSTRUCTOR EXAMS

Arguably the most stressful part of the IE for many candidates is the exams. There are 5 closed book exams in total:

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• Physics

• Physiology

• Equipment

• Dive Tables

• Skill & Environment

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Additionally, there is also the PADI Standards exam, which is open book.

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• PADI Standards exam 

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The passing score is a minimum of 75% on each exam.

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Preparation is key. If you are thinking about becoming a PADI Open Water Instructor then you need to be well prepared, you need to have taken several mock exams and know your subject well. Afterall, you are about to become the instructor...!

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PREREQUISITES: Assistant Instructor and EFR Instructor, 60 logged dives and minimum of 18 years old (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..)

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Divemasters who have been a certified diver for at least six months may enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Course.