To become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) you must first successfully participate in an Instructor Development Course (IDC), then pass a PADI Instructor Evaluation (IE). The IDC is a program during which you will learn about the PADI teaching system of courses like Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver and Divemaster, and specialty courses, like Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, etc..

You must be proficient on dive theory as you will be expected to know it before you arrive for the IDC. If you feel that you need some additional help in this area of knowledge, we can arrange some tutorial time prior to the IDC.

At the beginning of the IDC, there will be pre-assessment exams on physics, dive theory, physiology, decompression theory, equipment and PADI Standards. There will be a pool session to assess your demonstration skills. During the IDC you will prepare and present two classroom teaching presentations, two confined water presentations and two open water presentations. You will then have to pass the theory written exams and you will also receive an overview of the dive industry and tips on how to advance your future career as PADI Instructor.

We generally schedule our IDCs to finish a day or two from when PADI schedules their Instructor Examinations. IEs last two to three days. These are conducted by independent PADI examiners, and must be done within 12 months after completing of the IDC. In Pattaya IEs are regularly scheduled almost every month and within Thailand there are monthly IEs.

Your personal commitment to the training is the challenging part of this course. The course requires you to complete all the self-study Knowledge Reviews before the course begins and to prepare daily assignments for teaching presentations daily. Dedication is the key.

Prerequisites

To qualify for training as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you must:

• Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or a PADI Assistant Instructor or be an instructor in good standing with another training organization
• Be certified as an Emergency First Response Instructor
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be certified as a diver for at least six months
• Have at least  60 logged dives that include experience in night, deep and navigation diving to participate in the Instructor Development Course. You’ll need 100 logged dives to take the Instructor Exams
• Have proof of CPR and First Aid training within the last 24 months. The Emergency First Response course meets this requirement
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months