Start Your Journey as an SDI Scuba Diving Instructor
Do you have a passion for scuba diving and dream of living an extraordinary life in paradise? Becoming an SDI open water scuba diving instructor might be the perfect career path for you! Transform lives, contribute to environmental conservation, and explore the world while doing what you love.
Required Courses Before SDI Open Water Scuba Instructor Training
Becoming an SDI Instructor is an exciting journey that requires dedication and passion for diving. To ensure safety and proficiency, several prerequisites must be met. Discover the necessary courses to kickstart your instructor training:
- Open Water Diver
- Advanced Open Water Diver
- Rescue Diver
- Emergency First Response (EFR)
- Divemaster
- IDC
Although this may seem a long way, each course plays a crucial part in your development as a scuba diving instructor. After completing these courses, you’re on your way to getting your first SDI Instructor position anywhere in the world!
Required dive experience to become an SDI instructor
You 100 logged dives completed in a number of different environments with varying depths.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an SDI Instructor
Embark on your path to becoming an SDI Instructor with our comprehensive guide.
The SDI IDC (Instructor Development Course) is one of the world’s most recognized scuba diving instructor courses. The world’s most successful dive instructors were trained by SDI course directors during an SDI dive instructor course. This challenging training provided the essential knowledge, skills and confidence to teach scuba diving.
Step 1: Meet IDC Prerequisites to enroll in an SDI IDC
- Be at least 18 years old
- Certified diver for a minimum of six months
- Proof of 100 logged dives completed in various environments with varying depths
- Hold certification as an SDI Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, or equivalent
- Provide proof of current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification*, where local law permits
* Note: CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider courses may be combined with the IDC Program by qualified instructors
Step 2: Complete the Instructor Development Course (IDC)
The SDI Instructor Development Course focuses on learning how to teach, not perfecting your skills. If you need to polish or fine-tune your own dive skills before starting the IDC, contact your course directly to follow a preparation course or some mentoring sessions. Your diving skills should already be excellent as your knowledge of diving equipment, physics, and physiology. During the SDI IDC, you’ll learn how to share your knowledge and experience with others.
- SDI’s philosophy
- Learn teaching methodologies and instructional techniques.
- Give classroom presentations
- Enhance your knowledge of diving equipment, physics, and physiology
- Gain confidence in conducting classroom and water sessions (confined water in a pool or pool-like environment and open-water sessions).
- Develop risk management skills
- Marketing strategies for yourself as an SDI Instructor
Step 3: Pass the Instructor Exam (IE)
- Undergo evaluation by SDI Instructor Evaluators
- Demonstrate proficiency in teaching and safety protocols
- Obtain SDI Instructor certification
By the end of your SDI IDC, your will have the essential knowledge, skills and confidence to train scuba divers through all of SDI’s core recreational level courses and several specialties.
How Long Does it Take to Become an SDI Instructor?
Complete the SDI IDC in just 10-14 days and start your dive career journey. Flexible scheduling options are available to accommodate your needs.
Check out the dates with your IDC Center, some might offer a consecutive program, others might be flexible.
If you prefer to take your time, your IDC Center might schedule scuba diving instructor training over several weekends, accomodate a training schedule for you.
How hard is it to become an SDI Scuba Diving Instructor?
Different parts of the IDC will feel easy and others more challenging. For example, classroom presentations might be easier for you if you are already comfortable speaking in front of people. And the SDI’s Instructor Manual outlines everything you need to say. Others might feel nervous and have a hard time. Meanwhile, you might stress out about the rescue exercise while other candidates perform it effortlessly.
When starting your IDC less than a year after becoming a Divemaster, your skills are sharp but you might have forgotten some of the dive theory (oops!).
For IDC students who havn’t been active Divemasters for years, the learning curve migt be steeper. The good news is that PADI is known for its high-quality instructional curriculum that accommodates students with different learning styles at various levels. It’s one of the main reasons most dive instructors are SDI Instructors. Furthermore, SDI’s Instructor Trainers (Course Directors) are some of the most experienced and elite Scuba Diving Instructors.
Everyone is Unique! The IDC might be easy for some and more challenging for others.
- By choosing SDI, you set yourself up for success.
- If you became a Divemaster while ago or haven’t assisted classes, tell your Course Director. They might offer an IDC preparation course or recommend ways to prepare for the IDC through mentoring.
Explore Scuba Diving Instructor Job Opportunities
SDI Open Water Scuba Instructors are in high demand worldwide. Whether you aspire to travel the globe or teach friends and family, exciting opportunities await.
Start Your SDI Instructor Training Today!
Take the first step towards an enriching career in scuba diving instruction. Join our SDI Instructor Development Course and unlock endless possibilities in the underwater world.
Find Work as a Scuba Instructor (or Not!)
SDI Open Water Scuba Diving Instructors are in demand – not just for teaching scuba classes. Check out the SDI network to discover the scuba instructor jobs available worldwide.
What most people need to realize about becoming a scuba instructor is that the things you learn in the IDC are helpful in other areas of life. In the SDI IDC, you’ll learn how to explain complex ideas, positively give constructive criticism and improve your confidence in public speaking.
Becoming an SDI Open Water Scuba Instructor to teach friends or family to dive is also fine. Not every certified SDI Instrctors quit their job to travel the world, but of course the option is always available. But above all, this will bring your set of dive skills to a whole higher level and offer new perspectives.