The Things You Will Learn In Your PADI IDC
PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors is one of the most well respected providers of accredited dive training in the world. Its IDC or Instructor Development Course prepares students to teach others how to dive correctly and safely.
The IDC is composed of two sub courses, which may be taken separately or at the same time. Students on PADI courses are taught through a combination of independent study, classroom tuition and practical diving experience. Instructors assess the course participants on their knowledge and skills during the course.
The first section of the IDC is the Assistant Instructor course. During this part of the IDC, students will gain some additional diving experience and they will also begin to learn how to instruct others. Students study the PADI programs that they will be qualified to help teach after they have completed the Assistant Instructor course. They are required to demonstrate their skills during assessments in a confined water environment and in the open water. Students are also tested on their rescue skills. After completing this section of the IDC, students will be able to work as Assistant Instructors, with limited teaching responsibilities.
The second section of the IDC is the Open Water Scuba Instructor Course. During this section of the IDC, students will gain substantial additional experience of teaching others how to dive. They will begin to take a more autonomous teaching role, with greater responsibility. Students will be required to complete the independent study portion of the course before they arrive on site for the practical component.
During the course, they will be asked to complete teaching presentation assignments every day. The course will last for a minimum of four days. Students will have to prepare at least two presentations for a confined water environment, two presentations for knowledge development or theoretical teaching, and one presentation covering two diving skills for an open water environment. Students will also participate in 14 different presentations on the PADI system of instruction and the dive industry. The assessment of this course will include performance of all 20 of the required diving skills and completion of a five part exam on the theory of diving. Students must achieve a grade of at least 75 percent in each section. After completing the second section of the IDC, students will be able to work as Instructors on all PADI programs up to the level of Divemaster training.
During both sections of the IDC, students will also be able to learn more about the PADI system of diving instruction and to receive advice that will help them to make plans for their future career as a PADI diving instructor.