SDI Assistant Instructor Course

The SDI Assistant Instructor course is where the instructor path becomes real. You move from leading dives to teaching them -- working directly alongside an active SDI Instructor, developing lesson plans, running academic presentations, and building the practical teaching skills that a Divemaster certification alone does not cover.

Completing the AI course also unlocks a specific set of teaching authorizations that Divemasters do not have: the ability to teach and certify snorkeling students, conduct SDI Inactive Diver and Refresher courses independently, and teach approved specialty courses after receiving specialty instructor training. It is a meaningful step forward in what you are authorized to do, and it is the foundation for the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor course that follows.

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be met before enrollment.

• Minimum age 18
• SDI Divemaster certification or equivalent
• Current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification (these may be combined with the program by qualified instructors, ask us about availability)
• Proof of 60 logged dives, or 50 logged dives and 25 hours of accumulated underwater time

What the Program Covers

SDI Standards, Ethics, and Professional Responsibilities

The program starts with the professional and legal framework an instructor operates within. Topics include SDI standards and procedures, the SDI Code of Ethics, the professional responsibilities specific to the Assistant Instructor role, liability and insurance, risk management, waivers and releases, and accident report documentation. This section builds directly on what was covered in the Divemaster program and goes deeper into the instructional context.

Course Planning and Dive Management

Teaching a dive course is not the same as leading a dive. The program covers how to prepare and plan a course, how to manage diving activities in pool and open water environments, and how to brief and debrief effectively. You will gain practical experience assisting with the training of actual Open Water students in confined water and open water settings, working through the problem-solving and group management skills that you will use in every course you teach.

Teaching Snorkeling and Refresher Courses

Two of the courses an AI becomes independently qualified to teach are the SDI Snorkeling Course and the SDI Inactive Diver/Refresher Course. The program covers how to set up and conduct both, including the specific knowledge and skills each course requires, how to adapt to student ability levels, and how to run a course from briefing through certification.

Emergency Procedures and First Aid

The program reinforces emergency procedures at an instructional level, covering first aid application, oxygen administration, and CPR as skills you will need to be able to demonstrate and teach, not just perform yourself.

Physical Requirements

The physical standards for Assistant Instructor are the same as Divemaster. Required skills include:

• 800-metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins, non-stop, without the use of arms, in under 17 minutes
• 400-metre surface swim, non-stop, any stroke, without swimming aids (swim goggles permitted)
• Rescue ascent of an unconscious diver from 20 feet (6 metres), followed by a 100-metre tow at the surface, completed in under 4 minutes
• All open water diver skills demonstrated to instructor quality

What You Are Qualified to Do as an Assistant Instructor

After completing the SDI Assistant Instructor course, you are qualified to:

• Teach and certify students in the SDI Snorkeling Course
• Conduct the SDI Inactive Diver/Refresher Course independently
• Conduct the knowledge quest review in the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course under the guidance of an active SDI Instructor
• Assist an active SDI Instructor during approved diving courses, provided the activities are consistent with your prior training
• Supervise and conduct dives for certified divers in conditions consistent with your prior training
• Teach approved SDI specialty courses after completing instructor training in those specialties with a qualified SDI Instructor Trainer

What Comes Next: The SDI Open Water Instructor Course

The SDI Assistant Instructor certification is the prerequisite for the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor course, the full instructor rating that authorizes you to certify Open Water divers independently. If becoming a full instructor is your goal, the AI course is the step that gets you there.

Gear and Equipment

Students must own all of their own equipment for this program. No rental gear is provided. You must own and bring all of the following:

• BCD
• Regulator
• Dive computer
• Mask, fins, boots, and snorkel
• Exposure suit appropriate for conditions at the time of training
• Surface marker buoy (SMB)
• Reel
• Whistle or audible signaling device
• Cutting device (knife or shears)

If you need to purchase any equipment before the program begins, we carry a full selection in the shop. Call us at (480) 881-4013 or stop by and we will help you put together a complete kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an SDI Assistant Instructor do?

An SDI Assistant Instructor can teach and certify snorkeling students, conduct SDI Inactive Diver and Refresher courses independently, assist active SDI Instructors during approved courses, supervise dives for certified divers, and teach SDI specialty courses after completing instructor training in those specialties. They work within the scope of their training and must operate under the guidance of an active SDI Instructor for Open Water certification courses.

What is the difference between Divemaster and Assistant Instructor?

A Divemaster leads and guides certified divers and assists instructors in the water. An Assistant Instructor can do all of that, and also teach and certify students in specific SDI courses including snorkeling and refresher programs, and assist with the academic portion of Open Water certification courses. The AI course builds teaching skills that Divemaster training does not cover.

What are the prerequisites for the SDI Assistant Instructor course?

Minimum age 18. SDI Divemaster certification or equivalent. Current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification. Proof of 60 logged dives, or 50 logged dives and 25 hours of accumulated underwater time.

Is the Assistant Instructor course a step toward becoming a full instructor?

Yes. The SDI Assistant Instructor certification isn't necessarily a prerequisite for the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor course, however it is a great stepping stone to get you to a full instructor rating that authorizes independent certification of Open Water divers.

What specialties can an Assistant Instructor teach?

An AI can teach approved SDI specialty courses after completing instructor training in those specialties with a qualified SDI Instructor Trainer. The specific specialties available depend on which instructor training you complete. Call us at (480) 881-4013 to discuss which specialty instructor authorizations make sense for your goals.

Does the Assistant Instructor program require owned gear?

Yes. Students must own all their own equipment for this program -- no rental gear is provided. Required equipment includes BCD, regulator, dive computer, mask, fins, boots, snorkel, exposure suit appropriate for conditions, SMB, reel, whistle, and cutting device.

Ready to Start Teaching?

If you hold your Divemaster certification and are ready to move into the instructor track, call us at (480) 881-4013 and we will walk through the program with you. We are open Monday through Saturday 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm, at 18618 S 186th Way, Queen Creek, inside The Shooting Range.

For more information and to see course standards, click here!