PADI Assistant Instructor
(Please visit PADI's page on ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR to learn more.)
The PADI Assistant Instructor course builds upon the training you received to become a Divemaster to develop your teaching abilities and qualify you to assume a significantly expanded role during diver training. As an Assistant Instructor, you will be qualified to perform all the duties you have as an instructional assistant by virtue of having Divemaster level certification, but you can also perform the following additional functions:
- Teach the knowledge development portion of the Open Water course
- Introduce dive skills for Open Water students during confined water training
- Evaluate surface skills in the Open Water course during open water training
- Teach the Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware, and Project Aware Coral Reef Conservation specialties.
If you enjoy working with students, derive a sense of satisfaction from helping others develop their diving skills, and would relish the opportunity to share your sense of excitement about diving with newcomers to the underwater world, then becoming an Assistant Instructor could be just the thing for you!
The Assistant Instructor course can be completed in as little as 3 days of intense instruction, though advance study and preparation is required before course start. And note that after certification, the annual PADI membership fee and liability insurance rates are exactly the same as for a Divemaster.
Prerequisites: To enroll in an Assistant Instructor course, you must already be certified as a PADI Divemaster or equivalent. You must have current CPR and First Aid training, and you must have at least 60 logged dives before beginning training. You must also submit a completed RSTC Medical form which has been signed (within the previous 12 months) by a physician indicating you are cleared for diving. To obtain a medical release form, download the RSTC Medical Release Form here.
Tuition: Total instructional cost is $500, payable before the start of the course.
Performance Requirements. To be certified as a PADI Assistant Instructor, and individual must meet the following performance requirements:
1. Attend the seven IDC Curriculum Components including:
- Course Orientation
- Learning, Instruction and the PADI system
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Programs
- Developing Knowledge Development Presentations
- Teaching Project AWARE and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialties
- Teaching in Confined Water
- Conducting Open Water Training Presentations.
2. Present at least two evaluated knowledge development teaching presentations and score a 3.5 or higher on at least one presentation.
3. Present at least two evaluated confined water teaching presentations and score a 3.4 or higher on at least one presentation.
4. Present at least one integrated (two skills) evaluated open water teaching presentation and score a 3.5 or higher on each skill.
5. Demonstrate competence at performing all 20 dive skills listed on the Skill Evaluation. Candidates must earn 68 total points, with no individual score below 3.
6. Score 75 percent or higher on the Assistant Instructor Standards Examination.
7. Successfully complete the PADI Divemaster course diver rescue skills assessment in open water.
Required Materials: Each student must have a personal copy of all of the materials required for the Divemaster course and additionally must have a personal copy of the Instructor Candidate Workbook (available from Aquarius Dive Shop).
Schedule: The Assistant Instructor course will be conducted as the first part of each IDC. For the full schedule of IDC's conducted at Aquarius Dive Shop, please see our Instructor Development Course page. Additional course dates can be scheduled as necessary. Please contact us for further information.
So what are you waiting for? If you're already a PADI Divemaster, now is the time to take the next step to PADI Assistant Instructor!