The Instructor Development Course (IDC) has two parts – the Assistant Instructor (AI) and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Generally, most divers complete both programs and then attend an Instructor Exam. If you have a professional rating with another agency, it may be possible for you to enroll onto the required part of the PADI Instructor Development Course.

The IDC lasts around 10 days and consists of water and classroom sessions focused on teaching you how to conduct all PADI core courses from DSD and BubbleMaker to Divemasters. By this point in your diving career, you will already have graduated to PADI Divemaster where you honed your dive skills, got a stronger understanding of the theory of diving and know the responsibilities that a dive professional has to perform. As well as workshops based on how to teach at different certification levels both in confined and open water, the IDC classroom sessions will focus on five topics:

>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

Before you start your IDC, you will need to have a current Emergency First Responder certification, be a PADI Divemaster and certified diver for at least six months and have logged at least 100 dives by the time you take your Instructor Exam.

If you do not already have these, we can arrange for you to complete these prior to the course commencing. We will let you know if you require any other materials ahead of your course starting.

You will complete independent study ahead of the course using the PADI e-learning hub. The PADI Online IDC product features nine interactive knowledge development sections. By completing it before arrival, you reduce classroom time, giving you more time to practice your skills.

Many students choose to also complete the PADI Dive Theory Online product to help ensure that you have the required understanding of dive theory to get the most from your time at the Instructor Development Course; you will also be credited for completing the dive theory exam requirement.

As you will be studying to be a professional Scuba Instructor, you should have all of your own personal equipment (including BDC, regulator, mask, fins), plus a computer), compass, knife/diver’s tool, two surface signalling devices (one audible and one visible). Go Pro BDC students are offered a discount at our dive store.

Once you become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor a world of opportunities await; be it working full time on a luxury cruise liner, self-employed running your own courses, or supporting your local dive center with courses at the weekends. You are now one of the most in demand dive professionals in the world.

Employment

As a PADI professional, you have access to the exclusive employment opportunities on the PADI Pro website. Here dive operations advertise their positions and you can advertise your availability. You also have access to a wide range of PADI marketing materials to help you promote your new status as an Instructor.

We work closely with our students and offer them the opportunity to work alongside our staff by shadowing and team teaching to help them gain confidence with their new status as Instructors. We also offer practical advice to our candidates who apply for dive industry roles.

Master Scuba Diver Trainer (preparation)

Should you decide to continue with your training, the next rating is the Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSTD). This rating is achieved when an Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) obtains five or more PADI Specialty Instructor certifications and certifies at least 25 divers.

Many instructors choose to undertake this rating because it demonstrates to employers their commitment to training and also enables them to teach a wider variety of courses, to be able to help their employer certify students to Master Scuba Diver – the highest recreational diver certificate.

At Bocas Dive Center, we will work with you to certify you to teach the specialties that you are most passionate about and help you gain the experience necessary to achieve your diver certifications.

Bocas Dive Center is the only PADI 5* IDC center in Bocas Del Toro. Our facilities are the best on the island - the newest equipment, specially-designed spacious boats, air conditioned classrooms, and all year round dive sites.

This top of the line, quality dive shop is within the same building as our state-of-the-art boutique hotel to cater to divers so that they could be steps from their equipment, the dive school, and the sun loungers and swings over the warm Caribbean waters.

At BDC Go Pro we ensure that our students have plenty of time to practice their skills. All our professional dive staff have been where you are and are happy to offer advice, coaching or even just to be a mock student to help you gain more confidence before your presentations.

We offer two IDC packages at Bocas Dive enter. Choose one that mosr uits you:

Basic Package:
IDC - EFR - IE
>IDC
>EFR Instructor Course
>PADI Original Materials
>Professional Advice
>BDC T-shirt

Premium Package:
IDC - EFR - IE - MSDT Preparation
>IDC
>EFR Instructor Course
>PADI Original Materials
5 Specialty Instructor Courses
>Professional Advice
>BDC T-shirt

If you would like to know more, email us at gopro@bocasdivecenter.com