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PADI Instructor
Imagine briefing a group of excited students in the shade of a palm tree before taking them into open water for the first time and watching their faces as they discover the wonders of a tropical reef. Now imagine getting paid to do it!
PADI Instructors are the most employable scuba professionals in the world - this really is your ticket to travel the world.
About the Course
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is the industry-leading program for training confident, professional dive instructors. With Kerrie and Edwin guiding you, the course is delivered in a unique, fun, and highly supportive way.
Our NEW Flexible IDC allows you to complete around 60% of the course from home, studying around your schedule without needing to take time off work. The in-person portion focuses on practical workshops, realistic teaching scenarios, and hands-on experience to prepare you for the PADI Instructor Examination and teaching your first course as an instructor.
Take This Course If You Want to
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Travel the world whilst earning good money or
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Do something truly fulfilling with your spare time around your existing career.
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Share your passion for diving
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Share the incredible learning journey of nervous new divers as they build their skills and confidence
Learn How to
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Teach divers new skills in a fun and safe environment
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Be an inspirational role model who brings out the best in people
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Plan your teaching to be fun, safe and integrated to maximise efficiency
Four flexible sections you can book individually.
Progress at your own pace and spread the course cost.
A
Complete the knowledge development from home with flexible eLearning, self-study and interactive online sessions.
B
Join us for hands-on classroom sessions and confined water workshops to develop your instructor teaching skills.
C
Put your training into practice through realistic open water teaching presentations and instructor scenarios.
D
Finish your journey with the official two-day Instructor Examination conducted directly by PADI.
A
Online & Self-Study Foundation
Start with a flexible online learning phase that builds the knowledge required before moving into the practical training.
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PADI IDC eLearning / Self-Study – Complete the academic sections of the Instructor Development Course at your own pace, covering PADI teaching philosophy, standards, and the role of a PADI Instructor.
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PADI Dive Theory Online eLearning / Self-Study – Refresh and strengthen your understanding of key dive theory topics including physics, physiology, equipment, dive skills, and the aquatic environment.
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Online Interactive Training Sessions & Workshops – Structured evening sessions designed to fit around work commitments, focusing on understanding PADI systems, course structure, and developing the confidence and teaching mindset needed for the IDC.
2 DAYS
B
Classroom & Pool Workshops
This phase focuses on developing your teaching skills through practical workshops, presentations, and in-water training. Working closely with our instructor team, you’ll gain hands-on experience preparing and delivering dive education in a supportive learning environment.
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Face-to-Face Classroom Workshops & Presentations – Interactive sessions covering teaching techniques, lesson planning, and how to effectively present dive knowledge to students.
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Confined Water (Pool) Workshops – Practice demonstrating and teaching scuba skills in a controlled pool environment while receiving feedback from course instructors.
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Skills Circuit & Teaching Presentations – Develop and refine your ability to demonstrate skills to instructor level and deliver structured teaching presentations.
2 DAYS
C
Open Water Workshops & Training
Put your training into practice in a real diving environment while developing the skills needed to confidently teach and manage students in open water.
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Face-to-Face Open Water Workshops – Practical training sessions focused on instructor-level demonstrations, student control, and dive management in open water.
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Teaching Presentations & Realistic Scenarios – Deliver open water teaching presentations and work through realistic training situations designed to prepare you for teaching real PADI courses.
2 DAYS
D
PADI Instructor Examination (IE)
The final step in becoming a PADI Instructor is the Instructor Examination, conducted directly by PADI to assess your readiness to teach as a professional dive instructor.
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The Official PADI Instructor Examination – A two-day evaluation run by PADI Examiners, assessing dive theory, teaching presentations, standards knowledge, and in-water skills.
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Worldwide Examination Locations – The IE is held at locations around the world, with regular opportunities available. For example, there are typically two examinations held each year in La Herradura.
Please note: The Instructor Examination is run independently by PADI and is not conducted by Ocean Turtle.
Instructor Development Course Options
Book Our IDC MSDT Add-on and earn Spec Instructor Training
FREE for LIFE to future-proof your career
ELCAS
Approved Learning Provider
Ocean Turtle Diving works with the MOD in a number of key ways:
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We are an Approved Learning Provider in the Enhanced Learning Credits scheme.
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We are a Career Transition Partnership Approved Provider.
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We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and offer an Armed Forces Discount of 5%.
The ELCAS approved Level 3 Certificate in Scuba Instruction is a comprehensive package that includes the PADI Instructor Development Course, PADI IDC eLearning and materials and PADI Dive Theory online. You need to be a PADI Divemaster or equivalent as a minimum to enrol in this course.
Contact us and your ELCAS advisor, and submit our invoice to obtain a CAN number which we will need to begin the process.
Crossover to PADI
Whether you are BSAC, SSI, CMAS or any other dive agency qualified, you can crossover to PADI and make yourself a more marketable commodity around the world. We have experience of working with numerous other agencys' candidates and can help you navigate the PADI system until you are super comfortable teaching PADI courses.
Contact our knowledgable team who will be able to advise you at what level your need to begin your PADI training. Most existing Divemasters / Dive Leaders can enrol directly onto an IDC, and if you are already an Instructor elsewhere you probably only need to do the OWSI section of an IDC and then attend an IE.
Start your career and begin a lifetime of discovery.
Join the UK's largest dive community.
@oceanturtlediving
More info
All PADI Professional Level courses requires written approval from a physician before you can begin the course. Some local GPs offer this service and you can download the Diver Medical form here to take to your doctor for sign off. Please send us a signed copy.
You can also obtain an HSE Medical if you are planing to work as a Divemaster in the UK. For either scenario, we highly recommend talking to our dedicated Diving Doctor, Dr Alastair Wilcockson, on 07768 932 484 or aqwilcockson@aol.com who will be able to review your form for sign off, or arrange an HSE Diving Medical.
If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN).
Frequently asked questions
