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How to Become a Scuba Dive Instructor

How to Become a Scuba Dive Instructor

Written by Rianne Poesse
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Updated on October 17, 2023
group of scuba divers underwater

Do you love diving so much that you want to share the magical underwater world with others? One way to do is by becoming a scuba dive instructor. As a scuba dive instructor, you can work anywhere in the world and teach others how to dive. If you have a passion for the ocean and marine life – and you enjoy teaching people, then working as a scuba dive instructor might be just the perfect job for you. Curious how you become a scuba dive instructor? Allow us to outline the process.

two scuba divers underwater with reef
Photo by Karl Callwood on Unsplash

Steps to Become a PADI Scuba Dive Instructor

There are three clear steps anyone needs to take to go from zero to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. First you need to meet al requirements to be eligible for the Instructor Development Course (IDC), then you need to successfully complete the IDC and finally you need to attend and pass the Instructor Exam (IE).

Step 1: Complete all the prerequisites to become a scuba dive instructor

Before you can start your training to become a scuba dive instructor, you’ll need to complete several prerequisites. In short, they are:

  • Be a certified diver for at least 6 months
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have at least 60 logged dives
  • Be a certified Dive Master or Assistant Instructor
  • Be a certified Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor
  • Have updated EFR training (training within the last 24 months)
  • Be fit for diving (medical statement signed by physician in last 12 months)

Are you starting from scratch? Not sure how to meet all these requirements? Don’t worry. Every scuba instructor was once where you are now. Allow us to elaborate on all the required steps. There’s quite a logical process to all of it.

1. Complete your PADI Open Water Diver

It almost goes without saying, but to become a scuba dive instructor you need to become a recreational diver first.

You can sign up for Open Water Diver Courses through Scuba.com:

2. Complete your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver

The PADI Advanced course will allow you to dive to 100 feet (30 meters) and teach you additional skills such as deep diving and underwater navigation.

You can sign up for Advanced Open Water Diver Courses through Scuba.com:

3. PADI Rescue Diver

By becoming a rescue diver, you’ll be able to help others in case of an emergency. You will learn valuable skills to help a diver in need. To complete this course, you’ll also need to do EFR Primary and Secondary Care training. This is almost always included.

You can sign up for PADI Rescue Diver Courses through Scuba.com:

4. PADI Dive Master

Once you have 40 logged dives and are a certified Rescue Diver, you can start your first professional PADI Course: Dive Master. During this course you learn a lot of new skills and dive theory. You will also focus on perfecting dive skills. To complete this course, you’ll need to have a total of 60 logged dives — exactly the amount required to start your instructor course.

5. Emergency First Response Instructor

Often the EFR Instructor course is offered as part of the scuba instructor program, but it can also be done separately. When you completed your Rescue Diver course, it included the EFR Primary and Secondary Care training. This time, at the instructor course, you learn how to teach other students EFR Primary and Secondary Care skills. The student becomes the master. To complete this course, you need to have had CPR and First Aid training in the last 24 months.

Have you completed requirements 1 up to 4? And are you at least 18 years of age? With a signed medical statement by a physician? Then it’s time to start the Instructor Development Course (IDC). This is the program you want to follow to become an instructor. Don’t worry too much about the EFR Instructor bit (5), because it’s almost always included in the IDC.

You can sign up for PADI Emergency First Responder Courses through Scuba.com:

scuba diver on beach with gear
Photo by Mael BALLAND on Unsplash

Step 2: Enroll in the Instructor Development Course (IDC)

The IDC is the program specifically designed for divers who want to become a scuba dive instructor. It exists out of two parts: the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) course. If you’re already an Assistant Instructor, you can skip the AI part and instead of an IDC you’ll just follow the OWSI course. Most students however, complete both the AI and OWSI at the same time — that’s the IDC.

Part 1: PADI Assistant Instructor (AI)

During the AI course, you get training in teaching PADI courses, complete independent study assignments, follow workshops and sales sessions, develop your 24 dive skills on demonstration level, and pass a written exam.

Part 2: Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)

Once the AI is completed, the final step is the OWSI. The OWSI course will prepare you for the Instructors Exam (IE). Once you become an instructor, you’ll be allowed to teach a whole range of PADI courses, from Discover Scuba Dive programs up to Dive Master.

During the OWSI, you will prepare yourself to teach all these courses. You’ll practice your 24 dive skills, and this time you’re expected to demonstrate them almost perfectly. You’ll also give several presentations to demonstrate you can apply the PADI System of Education. Presentations will include confined water teaching, knowledge development and open water teaching – with skills.

During the OWSI course, there will be many curriculum presentations covering courses, standards and procedures, legal responsibility and management, a dive industry overview, and much more. You’ll be expected to attend and participate in all of them.

Step 3: Complete the Instructors Exam (IE)

The IE includes four different exams:

Written Exams

There are a total of two exams to pass. The first one is the Standards and Procedures exam. This is an open book exam where you can use your instructor manual. The second exam is the dive theory exam, and it’s closed book. This exam focusses on physics, physiology, equipment, skills, and the recreational dive planner.

Classroom Presentation

During the classroom presentation, you answer the question of a knowledge review. You do this as if you’re teaching a student about the topic. It’s important you demonstrate your ability to work with PADI materials and can explain things clearly and correctly.

Confined Water Teaching Presentation

Again, this part also consists out of two things. First, you’ll demonstrate teaching one skill from a PADI course. You’ll have a few students (other IE candidates) who will deliberately perform the skill incorrectly. Your job is to catch the errors and correct them. Secondly, you’ll need to demonstrate five dive skills. These will be chosen at random.

Open Water Teaching Presentation

This final presentation is divided into two parts. To start, you again must demonstrate two skills, chosen by the examiner, from the PADI courses. Your fellow IE candidates will be your students again. They will make mistakes on purpose, and you’re expected to spot the mistakes and correct them. For the Open Water teaching presentation, you will also have to do a rescue demonstration. This will be rescue exercise 7 to be exact.

Once you have successfully completed all four exams of the Instructor Exam, you’ll be officially a certified Open Water Scuba Instructor. The world is your oyster.

two scuba divers underwater shipwreck
Photo by Karl Callwood on Unsplash

Benefits of becoming a scuba dive instructor

Inspire

As an instructor, you get to share your passion of the underwater world with new divers and teach them the right ways to enjoy aquatic life. To many, you’ll become their mentor. Someone they look up to, and they will remember you the rest of their lives. After all, you’re the one who introduced them to a beautiful new world. Do not underestimate the impact you’ll have on many people and their lives — you really get to change their lives!

Travel

As a scuba dive instructor, you can work all over the world. The most tropical and exclusive locations have suddenly become available to you long term. Instead of spending money for a brief holiday, you’ll now get paid to work in these locations. Many instructors move around the world, working a few seasons in a location before moving on to the next place. This allows them to travel and explore the world while doing what they love. Every day you’ll be scuba diving, and if you’re not diving, you’ll at least be talking about it!

Locally involved

Even if you’re not going to work full-time as scuba dive instructor, you’ll be able to work as one. For example, at your local dive club. Often you can easily combine a “regular” job with teaching scuba diving. Local dive clubs run scuba courses in the evening and weekends. Dive clubs are great for making social contacts, finding dive buddies, and going on scuba group holidays.

Self-confidence

Another benefit of becoming a scuba dive instructor is the skills you’ve obtained during all your training. Even if you never teach scuba diving a day in your life, you’ll be a very confident diver with a ton of knowledge. You’ll be a very self-reliant diver and also able to assist in any emergency. These are very valuable skills.

Health

As a scuba dive instructor, you’ll reap the health benefits of diving. If you’re not scuba diving, you’re hauling tanks, working in a shop, or standing in front of a classroom. Most of the time is spent on your feet, outside in the open air.

group of scuba divers underwater
Photo by Karl Callwood on Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions

How do dive instructors make money?

There are three common ways you can make money as a scuba dive instructor. First, you can work full-time or part-time at a dive shop and receive a base salary. On top of that, you can make money in commissions. If you sell or complete a course, you can make extra money. For example, there’s often a financial bonus for each completed PADI Open Water course.

Finally, you can work as a freelance instructor who gets hired for a specific course or time period. As a freelance instructor, you usually make a bit more money, but your employment is less stable.

Can you make a career out of scuba diving?

Absolutely! There are many different scuba diving jobs and career paths in the scuba dive industry. Becoming a scuba dive instructor is a good first step. Some people are very happy with being a scuba dive instructor for most of their lives. However, there are many other paths you can move towards to once you’re a dive instructor. For example, you can keep climbing the PADI professional ranks — all the way to course director (the person who teaches the IDCs) or you can start your own dive shop!

How much does a scuba instructor earn?

This is a very difficult question as scuba dive instructors work all over the world and the salaries vary a lot. For example, the (full-time) salary for scuba divers within the United States ranges any where from $40,000 to over a $100,000 per year. Often, the lower end of that range is more common, but if you land a good job in places like Hawaii, and include tips, then you can make good money.

Instructor jobs in other parts of the world may not pay as much, but you’ll benefit from a much lower cost of living, so you’ll have to factor in the entire scenario.

Rianne Poesse

Rianne Poesse

Rianne Poesse is a passionate scuba diver and writer. She is the founder of the scuba blog Dutch Mermaid and travels around the globe, exploring the underwater world. She writes articles for travel agencies and dive magazines. When diving, she always has a camera with her and you can follow her on YouTube to get […]