Is the sea calling you
22 Feb. 2023
Is the sea calling you?
Did you know that scuba diving is going to be part of your life, not just a hobby?
Do you see yourself working in the diving industry?
If you answered yes to all or some of the questions above, then it's time to start your journey from beginner to professional and become a PADI Instructor! In this blog, we'll find out how to go from beginner to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and live your dream!
The PADI System of Recreational Diver Education
PADI courses are built in steps, sort of like building blocks. They must be processed sequentially; one corridor leads to another. The path to becoming an instructor starts with becoming a PADI Certified Diver. Once you complete one level of entertainment certification, you can immediately move on to the next level. Let's look at the order of entertainment certifications...
The first level of certification is the PADI Open Water Diver course. This is probably the most important course you will study, as it lays the foundation for the knowledge and skills you will build as you progress through subsequent courses. Once you are certified as an Open Water Diver, you can dive in conditions like those you have trained as another certified diver. With PADI eLearning, you can start the PADI Open Water Diver course immediately.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course
After completing the Open Water course, you can immediately join the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. Don't be intimidated by the title of the course - you don't need to be at an advanced level to take this course. This course is about building the skills and knowledge you learned in the Open Water Diver course. You will also have the opportunity to try different types of diving, possibly wreck diving, night diving and drift diving. Under the guidance of an instructor, you will complete five adventure dives, including a navigation dive and a deep dive. Upon completion, you will be trained to dive to a maximum depth of 30 metres/100 feet.
If the Open Water Diver course is one of the most important courses, the Rescue Diver course is one of the most valuable. After solidifying your existing skills and knowledge, it's time to focus on responding to emergencies and helping others.
The rescue diver course is more than just dealing with situations that arise. Great attention was also paid to how accidents were prevented in the first place.
You must also complete the Emergency First Response (EFR) Primary and Secondary Care courses to complete your Rescue Diver certification. The EFR curriculum consists of two key modules, First Aid and CPR. You will apply the skills you have learned in the EFR course in specific parts of the Rescue Diver course. It's an incredibly rewarding experience and you'll end up being part of a search and rescue scenario!
PADI Professional Courses
Once you earn PADI Rescue Diver status as a recreational diver, you're ready to take PADI's professional-level courses—you're on your way to an incredible lifestyle and dream job!
The PADI Divemaster certification is the first level of professional certification. As a certified PADI Divemaster, you can work in the diving industry or coordinate your own diving adventures.
Divemasters working in the industry typically assist instructors with course and student dives and instruct certified divers on dives. You may find that your duties also include filling tanks, loading guest equipment onto the boat, setting up equipment for clients, checking on divers, briefing boats and dive sites and ensuring clients are well informed, safe and satisfied.
In addition, PADI Divemasters can fill the following roles:
Assist PADI Instructors with training and non-training dives
Explore the management of local diving programs
Dive with certified PADI scuba and open water divers
Supports PADI Instructor Discovery Scuba Diving (DSD) courses
Help divers refresh their skills with the PADI ReActivate program
Teach Discovery Snorkeling and PADI Advanced Snorkeling
In order to progress from PADI Rescue Diver to PADI Divemaster there are some additional requirements.
You must be at least 18 years old and have at least 40 logged dives to start the program.
Your EFR certificate must also be dated within the last 24 months, and you must hold a current scuba diving medical certification.
The PADI Divemaster course can be completed in a few weeks or as a longer internship, giving you a deeper understanding of the inner workings of a dive center and dealing with clients.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
The time has finally come to become a PADI Instructor!
The PADI Instructor rating is the most coveted by dive industry employers. As a PADI Instructor, you can teach and certify PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and PADI Divemaster. Progressing from PADI Divemaster to PADI Instructor means completing the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).
IDC is an instructor-led program and you must meet the following prerequisites: Be at least 18 years old and have been a certified diver for at least six months PADI Divemaster Certificate Holder (or Certificate of Competency) Minimum of 60 logged dives to start IDC and 100 logged dives to earn Instructor level certification Completion of current CPR and First Aid courses* Have a valid medical clearance to dive.
What is an IDC?
The PADI IDC consists of two main components, the PADI Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) course.
These can be done individually, but most often they are brought together and referred to as a full IDC or Instructor Development Course. The IDC is designed to prepare you to be a dive instructor - giving you the tools you need to effectively teach and conduct PADI courses to students.
As a PADI Divemaster, you already possess excellent diving skills and in-depth knowledge. At IDC, you'll learn how to share your knowledge and skills with others.
PADI IDC will teach you how to: give a presentation in class
Work with students in confined water (swimming pools or pool-like
environments), stay safe, and achieve mastery.
Introduce students to open water diving while remaining safe and proficient. PADI's 4E Philosophy Risk Management How to Market Yourself as an Instructor - It's a Business After All!
After completing the IDC, you must take the PADI Instructor Examination (PADI IE). Although this is an exam, it's more of a review to make sure you understand and can deliver what you've learned during IDC.
There won't be anything new or surprising - nothing to worry about, and it'll be a lot of fun!
NEXT IDC STARTS 3TH APRIL 2023
Blog inspired by https://blog.padi.com/beginner-to-pro/