Instructor Development Course

OUR IDC

Surely one of the most rewarding experiences a professional diver can have is to see the expression of wonder and delight on a new students face when they put on their dive gear and head underwater for the first time in the tropical ocean.

So whether you are a Divemaster looking to broaden your job horizons in the diving industry, or feel in need of a total change in your career, or even if you just want to gain more knowledge and experience in diving, the next step on the PADI professional ladder is to become an Assistant Instructor (AI) and then a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), and the Instructor Development Course (IDC) is the most popular way to achieve these two certifications in one go.

Many dive centres offer you an IDC Preparation Course before beginning the IDC, to brush up on your skills and diving theory. This advance preparation enables you to relax more on the course, knowing you have already revised many of the basic components of the Instructor Examination (IE). However, we believe that the IDC is such an important step in your diving career that we include this free of charge.

Many candidates choose to purchase and familiarise themselves with their new Instructor Manual well in advance of the course, and also to review their Divemaster diving theory. This is indeed a most practical way to ensure success in the IE, but a large part of the Instructor examination is in-water, so if you have time to arrive early we also offer you the chance for extra, informal confined water skills training sessions with one of our qualified instructors – at no extra cost.

Dive Centers all over the world offer you various enticements to further your diving career with them, and we believe that at Sea Dragon Dive Center we have put together the best package that will enable you to make the most of the study time available in the most relaxed surroundings. We include many of the benefits that other Dive Centers offer, but also offer competitive prices, an expanded 10 day IDC and free 3 day preparation Training, where you can study in peace and quiet, allowing you to focus whilst receiving presentations from your Course Director.

The IDC takes place in our purpose-built Dive Center in Khao Lak, with air-conditioned classrooms and on-site swimming pool. Khao Lak is a large, beachside village with a relaxed atmosphere located just one hour north of Phuket, with all the facilities you may need available close at hand but without the noise, bustle and distractions of larger towns. And if you choose to include the MSDT course with your studies, then how better to celebrate your new Instructor status than by combining your Speciality Instructor studies with a relaxing day dive trip to the clear waters of the Similan Islands.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF AN IDC WITH SEA DRAGON DIVE CENTER

• The entire IDC programme takes place at our purpose built all-in-one Dive Center in Khao Lak, the only one of its kind in the area, in a tropical, relaxed resort environment, only minutes from the beach
• Relaxed IDC course (10 days)
• Personal attention and professional organisation
• Free 3 day IDC Preparation Training
• If IE unsuccessful at first attempt, we offer your next IDC free
• Small groups. A maximum ratio of 4 candidates per staff member
• Free extra in-water skills training and rescue assessment before the IDC prep course starts – if you arrive well in advance
• Free IDC Candidate workbook
• Free EFR update (if required)
• Free Nitrox Instructor Training for Nitrox certified divers if taking the MSDT Prep course (PADI fees still apply). Reduced cost Nitrox diver certification course available, if required.
• Free use of rental equipment throughout your IDC and IE
• PADI manuals & materials available for purchase at discounted rates
• 2 nights twin-share accommodation in Phuket for the IE, plus a free lunch on the 2nd day
• Free daily buffet lunch in a local restaurant serving Thai and foreign dishes during the IDC Prep, IDC, EFRI and MSDT Prep
• Free t-shirts
• Assistance in finding the most suitable accommodation for your needs and budget, from local guesthouse to private beach bungalow to air-conditioned resort
• Special in-water workshops throughout the IDC - Buoyancy, CESA, Buddy Breathing, Rescue, Ascents/Descents...
• Spacious air-conditioned classroom at our new Dive Center
• Unlimited daily access to our on-site swimming pool throughout your IDC for training and practice, including tanks and weights
• Free tea/coffee/water during classroom activities at the Dive Center
• Free transfers to and from Khao Lak to Phuket for IE
• Full support from your Course Director and Staff Instructors during your IE – we will not abandon you after the course finishes!
• All tanks, weights and transfers to/from the IE whilst in Phuket
• 10% early booking discount if booked 30 days in advance
• 10% discount on future liveaboard dive trips with Sea Dragon Dive Center – we have three liveaboard boats diving the Similan and Surin Islands and operate from November through to mid-May
• All tanks, weights, boat & jetty fees. For the MSDT course, National Park fees of B1,000 per diver will be collected at the Dive Center before departure
• IE dinner and drinks to celebrate
• Job Placement Assistance after your IE through your Course Director, Matt Norman, who has extensive contacts in the diving industry in Thailand

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION TRAINING (IDC Prep)

During the IDC Prep you will revise the diving theory learned during your Divemaster course and take several Instructor level theory exams in Physics, Physiology, Recreational Dive Planner, Equipment, & General Skills and Environment, plus there is a choice of Standards Exams to familiarise you with the PADI Instructor Manual. You will also practise your 20 in-water skills, participate in Rescue Assessments and learn the evaluation criteria used in the actual IE, so you know what will be expected of you in the examination.

INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE (IDC)

The first four days of the IDC are the Assistant Instructor course. This is a performance-based course and has one PADI Standards Exam as well as performance requirements that must be met for successful completion of the course. You will be introduced to the PADI System of Diver Education, learn how to conduct theory presentations in a classroom, and how to present confined water and open water training in the pool and sea. The focus of this part of the course is on developing basic teaching techniques. You will also have workshops on the 3 PADI specialty courses that Assistant Instructors are authorised to teach: Peak Performance Buoyancy, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation and AWARE Specialist.

The second part of the IDC is a six-day program that mostly focuses on developing your understanding and application of the PADI System of Diver Education, from Discover Scuba through to Divemaster level. You will continue to expand the practical knowledge and skills learned in the AI course and learn how to teach those skills to others by participating in skills demonstrations, workshops and classroom presentations. There is an Instructor pre-assessment exam to pass and performance requirements must be met. You will be continually assessed on your classroom / in-water teaching presentations and skills. Extra study time is available for students who are having difficulty with certain aspects of the course. On successful completion of the OWSI course you will receive an IDC completion form, enabling you to attend an Instructor Examination (IE) of your choice.

INSTRUCTOR EXAMINATION (IE)

After the IDC you can choose to take the IE in any location within 1 year. However, most people prefer to take the exam immediately after the course, and we will be attending the IE in Phuket after our IDC ends. The IE is a 3-day examination organised and staffed directly by PADI - not by your Course Director. However, your Course Director will travel with you to Phuket and be on hand for any last minute questions and moral support throughout the IE.  

In the IE you will be examined in four different areas of diving, and for certification as an OWSI you must successfully complete all four parts. If you are unsuccessful in only one or two parts of the exam you will have to re-sit a future IE but you will only need to pay for and be examined in the areas in which you were unsuccessful. If you are unsuccessful in three or all parts of the IE you must re-sit the whole exam at a future date.

The four examinable parts of the IE are as follows:

1) CLASSROOM EXAMINATIONS

Diving Theory

• 5 closed book examination in Physics, Physiology, Equipment, General Skills and the Environment, Recreational Dive Planner
• Pass score 75% or higher in each subject
• One retest allowed in one area. Less than 75% in two areas will result in non certification

PADI System, Standards and Procedures

• 1 open book examination
• Pass score 75% or higher. No retest allowed

2) CONFINED WATER ASSESSMENT

Teaching assessment

• Teach one skill from the Open Water course. Your students will be your fellow candidates and you will also be expected to act as a student for other candidates
• Score evaluated on a scale from 1.0 – 5.0. Pass score 3.5 or higher
• One make up allowed

Skill Evaluation Circuit

• Perform 5 skills from the PADI Divemaster course – exactly the same as you performed during the IDC and on your Divemaster course
• Each skill evaluated on a scale from 1.0 – 5.0. Pass score a total of 17 or higher, with no individual skill less than 3.0
• One make up allowed if only one skill was assessed at below 3.0.

3) KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION

• A 5-10 minute classroom teaching presentation in front of your fellow students. Your assignment will be given to you at the start of the IE.
• Score evaluated on a scale from 1.0 – 5.0. Pass score 3.5 or higher
• One retest allowed

4) OPEN WATER

Teaching assessment

• Teach two skills from the Open Water course. Your students will be your fellow candidates and you will also be expected to act as a student for other candidates
• Score evaluated on a scale from 1.0 – 5.0. Pass score an average of 3.5 from the two skills
• No retest

Open Water Rescue examination

This is exercise #7 from the PADI Rescue Diver course and includes response, recovery, resuscitation, transport and equipment removal of a diver simulating unconsciousness at the surface in deep water.

GENERAL DIVING SKILLS EVALUATION

An overall assessment made by the IE staff during all confined water and open water training

Throughout your examination your scores will include assessment in the following areas

• Attitude
• Professionalism
• Dress
• Conduct
• Interaction with staff and other candidates 

AFTER THE IE

After the successful completion of the IE your paperwork will be processed by PADI, which usually takes between 2-8 weeks, and then you will receive a PADI OWSI certification card, the most recognised teaching certification in the dive industry, enabling you to teach students from entry level through to Divemaster all over the world.

Please note that you can NOT start teaching until you have received confirmation of your certification from PADI.

OTHER COURSES AVAILABLE

EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE INSTRUCTOR COURSE (EFRI)
and CARE FOR CHILDREN INSTRUCTOR (CFCI)

These courses are open to certified Divemasters as well as Instructors. In the EFRI you will learn how to teach people CPR and First Aid. The contents of this course are not limited to dive related accidents and injuries and therefore appeals to divers and non divers alike. Many Dive Centers insist their dive staff have this certification as it is a required teaching component of the PADI Rescue Diver course. Care for Children specialises in CPR and First Aid for children up to 8 years of age, and infants. You will learn how to instruct the different ways of CPR effectively, keeping the anatomical differences of infants and children in mind.

This course is usually offered just after the IDC and before the IE, but we prefer to schedule the EFRI course during the IDC, so when you finish your IDC you will not have the distraction of having other course material to learn, plus you will have already achieved one Instructor level certification to boost your confidence.

IDC STAFF INSTRUCTOR COURSE (IDCS)

A Staff Instructor works with and assists the Course Director on IDCs and can also independently teach the Assistant Instructor course, which consists of the first part of the IDC. On this course you will work closely with the Course Director during an actual IDC and receive tuition, guidance and feedback throughout. You will learn about IDC standards and evaluation techniques and assist the Course Director in evaluating the IDC candidates on the course. You will also be evaluated on one classroom presentation and one confined water presentation during the IDC. We expect you to attend the IDC preparation course, the IDC, the MSDT and the IE and be on hand to support and counsel the IDC candidates alongside the Course Director. Please note you must be a PADI MSDT to be eligible for this course.

MASTER SCUBA DIVER TRAINER PREP COURSE (MSDT prep)

After completing the IDC and IE you can take the opportunity to enhance your employment prospects by learning how to teach PADI specialty courses.   The MSDT Prep course allows you to have an in-depth look at the different specialties available and how to teach them under the supervision and guidance of your PADI Course Director.  

It is called the MSDT Prep Course because you still need to certify your first 25 students prior to applying for the rating, however you can teach these specialties once the applications have been processed by PADI. This enables you to earn money whilst teaching, and not working for free to accumulate the certifications. For the MSDT rating you can choose a minimum of 5 Instructor Specialties that interest you most, of course you can take more if you like. The MSDT rating is a prerequisite for the IDC Staff Instructor Course and is recognised and respected as achieving a level of experience.

Multilevel Diver Instructor
1 dive

The Multilevel and Computer diver PADI speciality is what we call "The art of real and safe diving. Real diving, because in the modern world most divers use computers to extend their bottom time. Safer diving, because it is important to plan dives and not blindly follow dive computers alone.

This course is not just teaching divers how to use the wheel and dive computers, it is teaching student divers to follow their dive plan and use their computers as back-ups and to follow safe diving practices.

Digital Underwater Photographer Instructor
1 dive

Professional underwater photographers are using digital cameras and computers to create breathtaking underwater images. With the cost of underwater housings falling, many more amateur photographers are following suit. The new Digital Underwater PADI speciality is fun and easy to teach and has a wide target audience.

During this Instructor Course you will become familiar with the new PADI materials and special equipment requirements. The course also includes tips on using computer software to enhance images.

Search & Recovery Instructor
2 dives

If you have done the PADI Search & Recovery speciality Course you will remember what a blast it was. Working with lift bags, finding small and large objects and moving objects from the bottom of the ocean to the surface.

If you have not done the course yourself, then you are in for a real treat. The Search & Recovery Instructor course is challenging, fun and is accomplished best by team work. It develops navigation skills, underwater communication and teaches you how to use equipment like lift bags, reels, and even tests your knot tying skills! This is one course that is highly under rated, and yet very rewarding for you and your students.

Wreck Diver Instructor
2 dives

As an experienced diver you may have had opportunities to dive on wrecks before. If you remember the first time you dived on a wreck, you may remember that adrenaline rush and thrill of seeing something that once existed in our world at the bottom of another world.

As a Wreck speciality Instructor, you learn how to teach one of the most popular PADI speciality courses including: the pre-planning steps, preparation, safety considerations and penetration setup for safely entering wrecks.

Navigation Diver Instructor
1 dive

Navigation is an essential skill for divers, and teaching navigation is actually a lot more fun than most instructors think. The skills and objectives involved with the speciality include different pattern swims, underwater treasure hunts and flag marking games.

The Instructor course will provide you with amazing setup information for teaching the PADI Navigation Diver speciality course, as well as interesting navigation games and tools.

A.W.A.R.E. Fish Identification Instructor
1 dive

The AWARE Fish ID speciality Course is really one of the more popular courses to teach, as well as the simplicity and enjoyment students gain from this course, it’s a great one to have! During the Instructor training course, you as the instructor will learn how to teach students to identify common fish families, fish surveying techniques and the planning, organization and procedures for identifying fish families and species while diving.

Deep Diver Instructor
2 dives

As an Open Water Scuba Instructor you will have your fair share of teaching PADI Open Water and PADI Advanced courses. This also means that most of the time you will not dive much deeper than 30m. If you enjoy diving deep, then you will have a great time teaching students how to dive deep, safely.

During the Deep Diver Speciality Instructor course we look at special logistics involved when conducting deep dives with students, as well as provide you with some interesting techniques, tips and underwater games/puzzles for use during deep dives to show students the effect of pressure at depth. We also look at the safety considerations for deep dives; such as setting up drop tanks, having emergency equipment quickly available and perfecting emergency action plans for diving emergencies.

Drift Diver Instructor
1 dive

The Drift Diver speciality Course is very exciting. It focuses on keeping divers together during strong currents and how to use the buddy system more effectively. Your students will gain from the tips and skills learnt during this course. This course is very valuable as it focuses so much on diver safety. Allow your students to explore and learn a whole new level of safer diving with the PADI Drift Diver speciality Course!

PADI Emergency O2 Provider Instructor
No Dives

A valuable addition to your instructor rating, teach people how to safely administer oxygen and respond correctly wherever they are in the world, or combine it with the Rescue or Divemaster Course.

Night Diver Instructor
1 Dive

Teach your students safe and correct procedures and techniques for night diving, allow them to enjoy this other side to diving with correct buoyancy techniques and new equipment.

Equipment Specialty Instructor
No Dives

Based on land, use the Instructor rating to show people how our equipment works, make them better prepared to respond to minor problems and have confidence with their own equipment selections. Know the difference between a balanced and unbalanced regulator.

Gas Blender (Enriched Air) Instructor
No Dives
Prerequisite: Enriched Air Diver

Based on land. An essential course for the modern dive professional, this qualifies you to teach divers how to blend the Enriched Air gas that extends our bottom time. Enriched Air is very common in modern diving, so enhance your employment possibilities, and keep diving safe for everyone.

COURSE DIRECTOR

The Course Director we have chosen to conduct our IDCs is Matt Norman, PADI Course Director CD-624813. Matt is British and has been working in Thailand since 2003. He moved to Khao Lak in 2004, working also as part of the Instructor Development Team for many of the IDC and CDC Centers in Thailand. Matt's skills are not restricted to diving alone, he trained as a Diver Medical Technician, and is a DAN Level 2 Instructor, as well as a TDI Recompression Chamber Tender and Operator. Active in raising awareness of the environment, Matt was one of the first Reefcheck Instructors in Thailand.

Matt's passion is teaching, and his infectious enthusiasm is reflected in his courses. His focus as an Instructor Trainer is developing skills so that they are second nature, and ensuring that IDC candidates understand diving theory, and are ready to apply these skills in a practical 'real world' way. Matt does not want dive robots and encourages personalities to emerge, allowing you, as Instructors, to make your courses fun and interesting, which is the very essence of success in teaching.

An active diver with over 3000 dives from Belize to Borneo, Matt will often be found under the water either with a camera, teaching courses, or fun diving. His idea on life is 'Live your dream, don't dream your life!'. Sea Dragon is delighted to be working with Matt as we both have the same vision of a stress free, fun and successful IDC.

Marita Fassbender successfully conducted Sea Dragon’s first ever IDC in November 2004 with seven candidates, followed by our second IDC with Brendon Sing in October 2006, and our third IDC again with Brendon assisted by Matt Norman in May 2008 with five candidates. Since November 2008 Matt Norman has been running regular, successful IDCs with us and together we are still proud to be able to add to Sea Dragon’s growing list of achievements… 100% IE PASS RATE !!

If you have any questions about our IDC that you would like to discuss directly with Matt, or if you need any advice to help you prepare for the course, you can contact him by e-mail at: mattnormanidc@googlemail.com

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Please note that from March 2009 it is a pre-requisite that all candidates are certified as an EFR Instructor before being eligible to be certified as an OWSI.

Additional prerequisites for the AI course only:

• Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or equivalent from another diver training agency
• Have 60 logged dives showing experience in deep, night and navigation dives

Additional prerequisites for the OWSI course only:

• Be certified as a PADI Assistant Instructor or be an Instructor from another recreational diver training agency
• Have 100 logged dives showing experience of deep, night and navigation dives

Additional prerequisites for the IDC course only:

• Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or equivalent from another diver training agency
• Have 100 logged dives showing experience in deep, night and navigation dives

PADI MATERIALS REQUIRED

Following is a list of required materials for all IDC candidates - all editions must be current. Please note this is a requirement from PADI (effective 01/01/2006) and will therefore be the same on every PADI IDC course worldwide.

PLEASE NOTE: The PADI Instructor manual is also available on CD-ROM. However, we recommend you buy the paper version for ease of study and note-taking during the IDC & IE. When you renew your Instructor status with PADI at the end of your first year as an Instructor, you will receive a free CD-ROM Instructor manual from PADI.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: The PADI eRDPML must be used in all courses from January 2009 for dive planning. You should familiarise yourself with how to teach with this new planner

IDC

• PADI Instructor Manual
• Instructor Candidate Workbook (included in the price)
• Diving Knowledge Workbook
• Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving
• Recreational Dive Planner – RDP Table (metric) (also included with Open Water Diver Manual)
• Recreational Dive Planner – eRDP
• Recreational Dive Planner eRDPML
• Open Water Diver Manual (inc. RDP Table, metric)
• Adventures in Diving Manual (inc. data carrier)
• Rescue Diver Manual (inc. Acc. Management slate)
• Divemaster Manual
• Open Water Diver Quizzes & Exams
• Rescue Diver Final Exams
• Divemaster Final Exams
• Aquatic cue cards, Confined Water (6 slates)
• Aquatic cue cards, Open Water (5 slates)
• Aquatic cue cards, Adventures in Diving
• Aquatic cue cards, Rescue Diver
• Divemaster slates
• Aquatic cue cards, Discover Scuba Diving
• Confined Water Lesson Preparation Slate
• Open Water Training Dive Lesson Planning Slate

EFRI

• EFR Instructor Manual
• Emergency at a Glance

MSDT

• Speciality Instructor Manual

IDCS

• Confined Water Teaching Evaluation Slate
• Open Water Teaching Evaluation Slate

If you would like to order any PADI materials in advance at our special discounted rates and have them waiting for you on your arrival in Khao Lak, please refer to the PADI price list.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU

• 4 passport sized photos
• Copies of all certification cards from Open Water through to Divemaster
• Copy of the last page of your log book showing proof of 100+ dives
• EFR certification dated within the past 2 years. Alternative first aid/CPR certification may be acceptable but please check with us in advance
• Medical statement confirming you are fit to dive dated within the past year
• Any PADI books and materials you have already purchased
• Your credit card – PADI fees cannot be paid in cash
• Any personal diving equipment you may have (please note that whilst we offer free equipment hire throughout your IDC and IE, we strongly recommend that you purchase and bring your own). Your equipment should consist of:
  • Regulator with octopus, console with depth gauge in metres & SPG
  • BCD with power inflator
  • Wetsuit
  • Mask, snorkel, fins
  • Timing device
  • Dive knife, compass, whistle, blank slate, safety sausage
  • Dive computer

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW

• You should arrive in Khao Lak at least 2 days prior to the start of the IDC Prep Course. This is to recover from any jet lag, if necessary, and to receive your IDC Candidate workbook
• All knowledge reviews from the IDC Candidate workbook must be completed before the start of the IDC. This will give you more time during the IDC to concentrate on your teaching presentations
• We suggest you purchase the Instructor manual as soon as you book your IDC. This will give you time to familiarise yourself with its contents and layout. Remember to ensure the manual is up-to-date – updates can be downloaded from the PADI Professional page on the PADI website www.padi.com or purchased from any retail outlet
• There is no substitute for advance preparation, so we suggest you review the Diving Knowledge Workbook and complete again all the Divemaster exams. Refer to the Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving to brush up on those areas in which you did not perform so well
• Obtain access to a swimming pool and practice your skills demonstration and Rescue skills, concentrating on the treatment and removal of an unconscious diver at the surface.  If you arrive at the Dive Center well in advance of your course we can provide one of our certified Instructors to help you assess your ability in these areas

SEA DRAGON PRICES

** Remember the 10% early booking discount if booked 30 days in advance **

• 25% deposit required at the time of booking
• Balance due 2 weeks before course start date
• All amounts payable by UK, German, Swiss or Thai bank transfer; US$; Thai Baht, Euro or any other hard currency at current exchange rate; MasterCard or Visa. There is no surcharge for credit card payment.

Following is a list of individual prices for Speciailty Instructor ratings. If you want to become a MSDT, we recommend you take package B or Package C as listed above. However, if you would like to add on more Speciality Instructor ratings other than the 5 included in package B and C, or if you are already an OWSI and have a few Speciality Instructor ratings already, please use the following prices.

PADI ASIA PACIFIC PRICES

The following payments are in Australian dollars and must be paid IN ADDITION to the above Dive Center prices. These are standard PADI fees and are the same price all over the PADI Asia-Pacific region.All payments must be made by credit card.

SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010

If you are interested in joining our next IDC, scheduled to start on 28 October 2010 with Course Director Matt Norman, with the IE taking place in Phuket 12-14 November 2010, please contact us or Matt Norman for further information and a schedule.