SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor Course

Teaching scuba diving is one of the most direct ways to stay connected to the underwater world and share it with people who are experiencing it for the first time. The SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor course is where that career starts. This program qualifies you to teach SDI's core curriculum from Open Water all the way through Rescue Diver and Divemaster, and it is structured in two parts: the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and the Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC).

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be met before enrolling.

• Minimum age 18
• Certified diver for a minimum of 6 months
• Proof of 100 logged dives across a variety of environments and depths
• SDI Divemaster, SDI Assistant Instructor, or equivalent certification
• Current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification (where required by local law; these may be completed as part of the IDC by a qualified instructor)

The Instructor Development Course (IDC)

The IDC covers everything you need to run a professional, effective dive program. That includes the technical and pedagogical skills that make a good instructor and the business side of teaching, including how to organize and schedule courses, recruit students, and manage a scuba program. Topics include:

• SDI standards, procedures, history, and instructor ethics
• Liability, insurance, risk management, and accident reporting
• Teaching theory, oral communication methods, and lesson preparation
• Training aids and SDI's Knowledge Quest home study program
• Physics and physiology of diving
• Budgeting and running a profitable scuba program

IDC Required Skill Demonstrations

The IDC is hands-on. You will need to demonstrate both your diving ability and your ability to teach. Required demonstrations include:

• A minimum of two classroom presentations, two confined water lessons, and two open water lessons
• Demonstrated preparation, planning, and control across dive management activities
• One complete rescue scenario performed to demonstration quality
• 10-minute survival float without swimming aids
• 400-metre surface swim, any stroke, no swimming aids (goggles permitted)
• 800-metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins in under 17 minutes, no arm use
• Rescue ascent of a simulated unconscious diver from no more than 20 feet (6 metres), followed by a 100-metre tow at the surface in under 4 minutes
• All SDI Open Water Scuba Diver skills performed to demonstration quality in both confined water and open water, including pool and open water problem solving

The Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC)

After completing the IDC, you move into the IEC, the evaluation portion of the program where you demonstrate readiness to teach independently. Required for the IEC:

• One classroom presentation of at least 15 minutes
• One full lesson in confined water
• One full lesson in open water

The evaluating instructor trainer must verify that all required subjects were covered and that all skills were performed to standard.

What You Are Qualified to Teach

Graduates who successfully complete both the IDC and IEC, pass the SDI written exam, and meet all minimum requirements are qualified to teach the following SDI courses:

• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver
• Advanced Adventure Diver Specialty
• Computer Diver
• Rescue Diver
• Divemaster
• Assistant Instructor

Minimum Completion Requirements

To earn your SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor certification, you must:

• Complete the SDI Instructor written exam or its online equivalent with a minimum score of 80 percent
• Successfully complete both the IDC and the IEC
• Demonstrate sound, mature judgment in class planning and execution

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

How long does it take to become a scuba instructor?

The timeline varies based on where you are starting. Before enrolling in the IDC, you need your Divemaster or Assistant Instructor certification and 100 logged dives. The IDC and IEC themselves can be completed over several days to a few weeks depending on scheduling. Call us at (480) 881-4013 and we can walk through a realistic timeline based on where you are right now.

What do I need before enrolling in the SDI Instructor course?

SDI Divemaster or Assistant Instructor certification (or equivalent from a recognized agency), minimum age 18, certified diver for at least 6 months, 100 logged dives across varied environments and depths, and current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification.

What is the difference between the IDC and the IEC?

The IDC is where you learn to teach. It covers SDI standards, dive physics, pedagogy, risk management, and how to plan and run a course from start to finish. The IEC is where you prove it. You deliver classroom and in-water presentations to an evaluating instructor trainer who verifies you are ready to teach independently.

What courses can an SDI Open Water Instructor teach?

Graduates are qualified to teach SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, Advanced Adventure Diver Specialty, Computer Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and Assistant Instructor courses. Additional teaching authorizations for specialty courses are available through specialty instructor training.

Is scuba instruction a viable career or side income?

For many instructors, the answer is yes to both. Some use their certification to teach part-time at a local dive shop, run occasional courses, or lead trips as a working dive guide. Others build full-time careers around it, teaching year-round, leading travel groups, and specializing in technical or advanced courses over time. The SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor certification is a working credential, and what you do with it depends on how far you want to take it. Certified instructors who stay active in the water tend to stay active in the industry. If you want to talk through what a realistic path looks like from where you are now, give us a call at (480) 881-4013.

Do I need to own all my own gear for the instructor program?

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. We sell everything you need in the shop, call or stop by if you need to fill any gaps.

Ready to Start Teaching?

If you are ready to turn your dive experience into a certification that lets you bring others into the water, call us at (480) 881-4013 or stop by the shop. 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!