Become a PADI instructor even if your current certification is with SSI or another training agency. We can help you find out what you need to do.
IDC Prerequisites - To become a dive instructor:
There are a number of certifications and a minimum amount of experience you need before you can do an Instructor Development Course and PADI Instructor Exam.
Two often-overlooked requirements are the 100 logged dives and the rule that you must have held your entry-level certification for at least six months before the IDC starts. These rules mean it is not possible to go from zero to instructor in a single visit to Roatan — Honduras tourist visas allow a maximum of 90 consecutive days. If you are starting from scratch, take a look at Go Pro Caribbean and the full pathway first — then come back here for the detail.
Prerequisites
To enrol in the PADI Instructor Development Course:
- Certified as a PADI Divemaster or equivalent dive leader with another training agency
- Proof of an entry-level dive certification (such as PADI Open Water Diver)
- Proof of an advanced-level dive certification (such as PADI Advanced Open Water Diver)
- Proof of a Rescue-level dive certification (such as PADI Rescue Diver)
- Minimum 100 logged dives
- Certified at entry level for at least 6 months before the IDC start date
- A PADI Medical Form signed by a doctor within the last 12 months
- Emergency First Response (EFR) or CPR & First Aid from any agency within the last 24 monthsNote: To become a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor you must also hold an EFR Instructor rating (or equivalent CPR Instructor certification with another agency). The EFR Instructor course is included in all Go Pro Caribbean IDC packages and is completed as part of your IDC.
Note on agency equivalency: Your certifications do not all have to be PADI. SSI, NAUI, BSAC, and other agency equivalents are accepted. That said, PADI certifications do help once you begin teaching PADI courses. If you are unsure about equivalency, ask Will before you book.
One thing PADI does not require — but you really should
Recent dive experience is not on PADI's official prerequisite list, but it is almost essential in practice. Candidates who have not been in the water for several months consistently struggle in the early skill sessions of the IDC — not because they cannot dive, but because skills that should be automatic require conscious thought under the added pressure of performing in front of an assessor.
Our strong recommendation: log at least 30 dives in the four weeks before your IDC starts. Ten is the absolute minimum — below that and you will almost certainly struggle. Thirty is where candidates genuinely arrive ready. This is why all Go Pro Caribbean IDC packages include 10 free fun dives — a baseline top-up, and a starting point if you want to build on it before day one.
If you want more time in the water, Go Pro Caribbean offers an option that is almost unique in the industry: join the Divemaster internship programme for a few weeks before your IDC at a cost of just $150 per week. You will dive daily alongside working divemasters, refresh every skill in a real-world environment, and arrive at the IDC relaxed, fit, and dive-ready. Many of our strongest candidates take this route.
Preparing for the IDC
In addition to the certification requirements, you should review the materials from Open Water, Advanced Open Water (especially the altitude and multi-level/computer diver chapters), Rescue, and Divemaster before you arrive.
Use the free dive theory practice exams on this site and the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving to prepare for the written theory papers. Watch the skill circuit video and, if possible, run through a practice session before arriving — or arrive a few days early and practise here on Roatan.
What you are qualified to teach after the IE
As a newly certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) you are authorised to teach:
- PADI Scuba Diver / Open Water Diver
- Adventure Diver / Advanced Open Water Diver
- Rescue Diver
- Divemaster
- Advanced Snorkeling (Skin Diver) & Discover Snorkeling
- Discover Scuba Diving
- PADI Seal Team & Bubblemaker
- ReActivate & Discover Local Diving
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Project AWARE Specialty
- AWARE — Coral Reef Conservation
Common questions about IDC prerequisites
Do all my certifications need to be PADI?
No. PADI accepts equivalent certifications from other agencies including SSI, NAUI, and BSAC. Having PADI certifications makes the IDC itself more familiar, but they are not compulsory. Contact Go Pro Caribbean if you want to confirm your existing certs before booking.
Can I go from zero experience to instructor in a single trip?
Not in a single visit. The six-month minimum entry-level certification rule, combined with Honduras's 90-day tourist visa, makes this impossible. The fastest realistic route is: earn your Open Water (and ideally Advanced and Rescue) on a first trip, then return for Divemaster training and the IDC. All our packages are designed with this pathway in mind.
What if my EFR or CPR certification is about to expire?
Your EFR or equivalent must be valid (issued within the last 24 months) at the time of the IDC. If it is close to expiry, you can renew it on Roatan before the course starts. Let Will know in advance so this can be scheduled.
There is also an important distinction: holding EFR (or equivalent) is the enrolment prerequisite. To receive your PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification after passing the IE, you must also hold an EFR Instructor rating (or CPR Instructor with another agency). The EFR Instructor course is completed during the IDC itself and is included in all Go Pro Caribbean IDC packages.
I have more than 100 dives but no Divemaster. Can I still enrol?
No. PADI Divemaster (or an equivalent dive leader certification from another agency) is a mandatory prerequisite regardless of dive count. If you have not yet completed your Divemaster, Go Pro Caribbean's Divemaster programme runs continuously and feeds directly into the IDC.
How much recent diving do I need before the IDC?
PADI has no formal rule on recent experience, but in practice it matters enormously. Candidates who have been out of the water for several months struggle in the early skill sessions — not because they cannot dive, but because skills that should be automatic require conscious thought under assessment pressure.
Go Pro Caribbean's recommendation is at least 30 dives in the four weeks before the IDC starts — 10 is the absolute floor, but 30 is where candidates arrive genuinely ready. That is exactly why all our IDC packages include 10 free fun dives as a baseline. If you want to build on that, you can join the Divemaster internship programme for a few weeks before your IDC at just $150 per week — diving daily alongside working divemasters in a real-world environment. Few IDC centres offer this option.
What medical form do I need?
You need the official PADI Medical Form (or equivalent) signed by a licensed physician within the last 12 months. This is a standard dive medical, not a specialist assessment. Most general practitioners can complete it. Download the form from the PADI website before your appointment.
What can I teach as a newly certified PADI instructor?
As a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) you are authorised to teach the full range of courses from Discover Scuba Diving through to Divemaster, plus entry specialties including Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project AWARE, and Coral Reef Conservation. A full list is in the section above.
Ready to check your pathway?
Use the Go Pro Caribbean package finder to see your route from your current certification to instructor — including dates and pricing.