The PADI Instructor Development Course

PADI Course Director Will Welbourn is the longest-serving Course Director in the entire Bay Islands. His wealth of experience will ensure you get the best training possible. Will isn't there to teach you to pass the PADI Instructor Exam, he is there to teach you the skills you need to succeed as a scuba instructor. Passing the PADI IE is easy, the real test is teaching your first course. If you choose to do the instructor training with us, you and your future students will be glad you did.

The course will prepare you to succeed way beyond the Instructor Exam. You need to be given real-life examples of what a student may do when you do your IDC and be prepared for the unexpected. Will's huge experience is what makes it possible for him to create these real-life scenarios for you to deal with as part of your instructor development course.

Small IDC class sizes — guaranteed

One of the huge advantages of choosing to do your PADI instructor course with us is the small class size that we GUARANTEE. You will not be in a class larger than 6 — the average class size is just 3. Do not underestimate the value this represents to you. Since the whole course is focused on practicing your teaching techniques both in the classroom and in the water, a small group means that YOU get more practice.

Watching other people practice does have quite a lot of value — you can learn as much from others as you can by playing the instructor role yourself — but there are limits. We have held IDCs with larger groups in the past and made the decision that six is the maximum class size to strike the right balance.

Another reason for small class sizes is to avoid excessively long days. Our average day during the instructor course is 9 am to 4 pm with at least 1 hour for lunch. This gives you time to have a good breakfast or get in some morning exercise before class. Finishing at 4 pm allows you time to get your homework done and still have time to have a good evening meal and enjoy some relaxation time. People tend to perform better when they are not mentally and physically exhausted!

"I encourage creativity and imaginative points of view. During my IDC, instructor candidates quickly gain the confidence to analyze situations and take a flexible approach to problem-solving. There is no one PADI way to do things; objectives can be achieved in many different ways. I want my instructor candidates to teach with the same open-minded, flexible approach that I have. The key to an enjoyable instructor course is discussion and plenty of it. Creating a relaxed, informal atmosphere is step one when you want to encourage discussion. You won't come out of my IDC having been taught how to do things my way, you will come out with the skills you need to teach well, YOUR way."

— Will Welbourn, PADI Platinum Course Director

What the IDC involves

The focus of the IDC is to develop good teaching techniques and practices, in addition to learning how to effectively use the PADI system of education. The course starts with a day in the classroom focusing on the design of the PADI system and how to use it in a flexible manner to give your students the best possible training.

You will do a dive theory written exam on day 1 in the afternoon or day 2 at the latest — early enough that there is still time to address any issues before the IE.

What you will do across the 10 days

• Teach at least four confined water skill presentations and play the role of a student when the other instructor candidates are teaching theirs
• Teach at least four open water skill presentations and play the role of a student when the other instructor candidates are teaching theirs
• Teach three classroom presentations
• Develop your rescue skills to demonstration quality level
• Attend classroom sessions covering the PADI courses you will be qualified to teach, as well as marketing and business topics

IDC duration and schedule

The PADI IDC and EFRI course is a 10-day course. This is followed by the 2-day instructor exam, conducted by a PADI examiner here on Roatan. We have an IDC scheduled every month.

A unique opportunity we offer is the ability to join our Divemaster internship program for a short period before the IDC to brush up on your Divemaster skills and knowledge, and perhaps see the Divemaster course from a fresh perspective. We charge $150/week to do this and believe it is the best version of IDC preparation available.

The training environment

Our classroom has WiFi, air conditioning, and a pool right outside for confined water training if necessary — though we will usually be using the ocean. The ocean conditions are ideal for the instructor development course almost year round. Half Moon Bay has crystal clear water and perfect sand patches that don't silt up for confined water presentations. We then have a selection of open water sites within a 15-minute boat ride, which we visit to give you practice at assessing a site for training purposes. All sites have excellent visibility and warm, calm water — benign conditions that make the instructor training far less stressful.

You are going to have fun dealing with what Will throws at you. He will keep you on your toes from the start of the day to the end, always with a smile on his face. He is quick to praise and explains your areas of weakness in a way that makes it easy to improve next time. You will always be given clear action points. Few people enjoy having their performance analyzed and criticized, but this is an essential part of the instructor development course. Will's interpersonal skills and extensive feedback training will give you a great head start in developing your own training skills — a skill every instructor needs to build a successful and enjoyable career.